Friday, Oct. 12 Pete Gillen has done a remarkable job at Virginia, and has brought the Cavalier program back onto the national scene in short order. But with Majestic Mapp, whose recovery was unusually slow, now out for the season with a knee injury, Gillen will have to hand the ball to his best scorer, Roger Mason, Jr. to run the point, and hope that Keith Jenifer can learn the ropes and develop quickly. Mason is incredibly talented and ready to become a star, and he has a soaring confidence level. Travis Watson is a big-time rebounder and interior scorer who is stepping out some, while Chris Williams is still the ultimate garbage man in the ACC. Williams plays looks like Clark Kent on the floor, but like Superman on the stat sheet. Adam Hall, J.C. Mathis and Elton Brown will all be major contributors, but Gillen's major concerns have to be consistent perimeter shooting, halfcourt defense, and winning on the road. If Virginia could wear home white uniforms every game, they could go undefeated.

15
Virginia
LAST SEASON: 20-9
2001 FINAL RANKING
ESPN/USA Today: No. 21

Why No. 15?
Virginia slipped when Majestic Mapp had to have surgery again on his knee. With Mapp, the Cavaliers would have been able to keep Roger Mason Jr. at his natural shooting guard. Mason has to play the point now, and it will take him out of scoring chances. While the staff is buzzing about Mason's strength, quickness and overall aggressive scoring mentality, he's still not going to be free to do what he wants. Keith Jenifer and Jermaine Harper could be ready to help at the point by the ACC season, but they've got to do it sooner. The Cavs can still play uptempo and pressure defense. Adam Hall gives them another legit scorer and disruptive defender. The key to the Cavs might be the play of Elton Brown. Travis Watson will be the first option inside, perhaps, overall. But he needs help in the post and Brown can deliver for the Cavs. He got eligible late and, especially in light of Mapp's absence, the Cavs' staff was ecstatic. Chris Williams is the team's best scorer on the court and can feed off any added attention Watson and Brown will get inside. Watson was one of the best players at the Pete Newell Big Man camp in Honolulu in August. And, more than anything, Watson returns like the Cavs to erase the disappointment of only going to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavs have enough talent and passion to finish in the top three in the ACC. But they're difficult enough to play that they can go further if they can get a better draw than Gonzaga.

Will Rise If ...
Jenifer and Harper can play more point. Mason needs to be able to drive and hit his mid-range jumper without having to worry about playmaking all the time. If one of the two freshman can be a capable point then the Cavs have a tough matchup foursome of Mason, Hall, Watson and Williams ... or Mason, Watson, Williams and Brown.

Will Fall If ...
The Cavs can't sustain the defensive ball pressure. If this happens, then they're in trouble. They've got to be able to pressure the ball at the top of the key and that responsibility lies with Mason, Harper, Jenifer and Hall. Interior defense is always a concern, but Watson's strength and conditioning might not make it as much of a problem.

-- Andy Katz, ESPN.com

SCOUTING REPORT: One ACC coach's take on the Cavaliers

“

Everything changes now that Mapp is out of the equation. Roger Mason is going to play the point. You've got to pressure their ballhandlers. He isn't a prototypical point guard. Got to get out and pressure their ballhandlers. They're a very good slashing team so you have to keep them in front of you. You've got to protect the paint defensively without fouling. They've got good offensive rebounders in Travis Watson and Hall, so you have to keep them off the offensive boards. You've got to be patient and got to protect the ball, because they'll try to turn you over with their pressure, especially at home. If you can protect the ball and have good ball movement, then you can knock down shots. ”

2001-02 VIRGINIA ROSTER
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Key 2000-01 Stats
(42) Elton Brown	Fr.	F	6-9/265	Figures to impact the Cavs' frontcourt immediately; plays bigger than 6-9
(34) Jason Clark	Fr.	F	6-8/225	Will have to battle in practice to get minutes in games
(5) Jason Dowling	Sr.	G	6-3/202	PTS: 0.6 | REB: 0.2 | FG%: 40.0
(12) Bret Gladstone	Fr.	G	6-1/171
(31) Adam Hall	Sr.	F/G	6-5/203	PTS: 10.1 | REB: 5.5 | FG%: 50.6
(24) Jermaine Harper	Fr.	G	6-3/166	Will find a role as backup in the backcourt
(10) Keith Jenifer	Fr.	G	6-3/155	Needs to add weight in order to matchup with ACC guards in the future
(11) Majestic Mapp	So.	G	6-2/184	Another season lost due to slow-healing ACL injury
(21) Roger Mason, Jr.	Jr.	G	6-5/199	PTS: 15.7 | REB: 3.7 | FG%: 47.6
(32) J.C. Mathis	So.	F	6-8/224	PTS: 3.4 | AST: 2.1 | FG%: 42.2
(30) Jason Rogers	Jr.	C/F	6-11/231	PTS: 1.9 | REB: 0.9 | FG%: 42.9
(35) Travis Watson	Jr.	F/C	6-8/225	PTS: 12.3 | REB: 9.1 | FG%: 49.7
(33) Chris Williams	Sr.	F	6-7/216	PTS: 14.5 | REB: 6.7 | FG%: 50.3
(23) Maurice Young	So.	F/G	6-4/194	PTS: 2.6 | FG%: 44.4
Head Coach: Pete Gillen (53-37, 3 years; Overall: 327-165, 16 years) Assistant Coaches: Tom Herrion, Walt Fuller, Scott Shepherd Home Court: University Hall (8,392); Charlottesville, Va.

2001-02 VIRGINIA SCHEDULE

November 16: Wagner 18: E. Tenn. State 21: Howard 28: Michigan State (a)

December 1: Virginia Tech 8: at Auburn 17: Charleston Southern 20: at Georgetown (b) 23: Rutgers 30: Grambling

January 5: N.C. State 8: at Clemson 12: at North Carolina 15: Wake Forest 19: Florida State 22: at Ga. Tech 24: VMI 27: at Duke 31: Maryland

February 3: at Missouri 6: at N.C. State 10: Clemson 12: North Carolina 17: at Wake Forest 20: at Florida St. 23: Ga. Tech 28: Duke

March 3: at Maryland 7: ACC Tournament