U.VA. NOTES: Hourigan will do well, London says

By Jeff White

Published: January 12, 2009

Hourigan will do well, London says

Brandon Hourigan impressed Mike London in their one season together at the University of Richmond. The Spiders' football coach predicts continued success for Hourigan at the University of Virginia.

Hourigan was hired late last week as U.Va.'s director of football training and player development. He replaces Matt Balis, who left last month for Mississippi State.

"Brandon's going to bring his energy and passion," London, a former U.Va. defensive coordinator, said yesterday. "He reminds me of the guys that were there before him, Evan Marcus and Matt Balis."

Hourigan spent the four seasons as UR's head strength-and-conditioning coach for football. The Spiders won the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision title last month.

"He's very up to date on the latest techniques, very innovative, and he cares for his players," London said. "He's a good man and a hard-working guy. He's among the best I've been around."

U.Va.'s 'X factor'

In talking last week about his team's upcoming opponent, Virginia Tech men's basketball coach Seth Greenberg said U.Va.'s "X factor" is forward Jamil Tucker.

"When he scores," Greenberg said, "they win."

That's overstating things, but not by much. As Tucker goes, so goes Virginia, it often seems.

U.Va. is 7-6 overall after losing 78-75 at Tech on Saturday. In the Cavaliers' wins, Tucker has averaged 11 points. In their losses, he's averaged 2.8.

The 6-9 junior went scoreless in four of those defeats. Against the Hokies, he was 2 for 8 from the floor and finished with five points. Tucker hit a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left to pull Virginia to 76-75.

U.Va., which leads the series 78-50, has dropped three straight to Tech for the first time since the late 1960s.

The Hokies beat the Cavaliers twice in overtime last season. Their next meeting is Feb. 18 in Charlottesville.

Scott is on roll

More consistent than Tucker has been the teammate he backs up at power forward, 6-8 sophomore Mike Scott.

Scott had 16 points and six rebounds against the Hokies. He's scored in double figures in five consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. Scott, who also hit his first trey of the season Saturday, is averaging 11.7 points and 9 rebounds and shooting 57 percent from the floor.

That Scott and Virginia's starting center, Assane Sene, battled foul trouble in the second half helped the Hokies immensely. Sene, a 7-foot freshman, matched his career highs in points (six) and blocked shots (four) and grabbed eight boards. Scott played only 26 minutes and Sene 25 against Tech.

Zeglinski downplays hit

U.Va. point guard Sammy Zeglinski was blindsided by a hard but legal screen set by Tech big man Jeff Allen late in the game Saturday. The impact knocked Zeglinski to the court, and he stayed down on his hands and knees for a few moments, trying to clear his head, while many Tech roared with delight.

In the locker room afterward, the redshirt freshman from Philadelphia tried to downplay the blow he took.

"I used to play football, so I'm used to getting hit like that," Zeglinski said. -- Jeff White