Sammy Zeglinski News

On April 1, 2009, Tony Bennett was introduced as the 11th head coach of Virginia's basketball program ... in three seasons at Washington State, Bennett led the Cougars to a 69-33 record, including a 32-22 mark in the Pac-10 ... Washington State's 69 wins were the most in a three-year span in school history ... the 2007 consensus National Coach of ...

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Oct. 12 -- Practice officially begins Friday, but Monday was the first time all the Virginia's men's basketball players spoke publicly in the same room since the season ended with a loss to Boston College in the ACC tournament. That was Dave Leitao's final game as head coach after leading the Cavaliers to one NCAA tournament in four seasons. Tony Bennett replaced Leitao on March 31 after taking Washington State to two NCAA tournaments in three seasons.

He inherits a roster that returns eight players who averaged at least 10 minutes, including Sylven Landesberg, the ACC rookie of the year. But he also must rebuild confidence in a group that finished 10-18 last season and endured 34 losses during the past two seasons.

Virginia point guard Calvin Baker said this afternoon that he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in August and has missed the Cavaliers' preseason conditioning sessions.

The University of Virginia may have had a down year in its major revenue sports, the season was far from lost.

November signees Tristan Spurlock, a 6-7 small forward out of Woodbridge, Va., and Jontel Evans, a 5-11 guard from Hampton , Va., both confirmed they will honor the letters-of-intent signed when Dave Leitao was the coach.