Wahoo Wire

This past week was successful for UVA sports, with three teams winning an ACC Title bringing the total count of ACC Titles this academic year to seven and total ACC titles won overall to over 100. The #3 ranked Women’s Rowing team won the ACC Championship for the tenth time in eleven years (marking the 100^th ACC title all time for UVA), the #1 ranked Men’s tennis team won the ACC Championship for the fourth year in a row, and the #2 ranked Men’s lacrosse team won its seventeenth ACC title. In addition to the ACC titles, honorable mention should be given to the #21 ranked Men’s golf team finished second at the ACC Championships and the #4 Women’s Lacrosse team lost in the semi-finals to #1 Maryland (who both hosted and won the ACC Championship). This weekend the Virginia Men’s golf will host the Cavalier Classic at Birdwood Golf Course as a warm up tournament for the NCAA’s. This weekend also includes the last game of the UVA Men’s Lacrosse season on Saturday at Klockner Stadium against unranked Randolph Morris at 1pm. The NCAA Tournaments for each sport mentioned except golf will be held at some point during the May 14-16 weekend. #13 Women’s golf begins NCAA Tournament play May 6-8 and #21 Men’s golf begins NCAA Tournament play May 20-22.

In terms of professional sports, the NHL Playoffs first round will come to a close this week with all series not over already over by Wednesday, most of the first round of the NBA playoffs will be over, the Champions League and Europa League finals contenders will be decided, and most European domestic leagues will be decided or waiting on a game or two as the soccer season comes to a close.

Monday April 26

NBA Playoffs

Orlando Magic at Charlotte Bobcats, Game 4 (Orlando leads series 3-0)

Though the Bobcats have done an amazing job continually getting Dwight Howard in foul trouble with aggressive, slashing basketball, they have not been able to find a way to beat the Magic. While most players on both teams have continued their regular production, Jameer Nelson has doubled the number of points per game he averaged in the regular season this series, stepping up in light of the absence of Howard. It says something about the depth and heart of the Magic that with Howard playing eight minutes less than the regular season and consistently being in foul trouble, they still find a way to win. Marcin Gortat again has stepped up in the playoffs for the second year in a row, though not in points or rebound numbers, rather in playing double his normal minutes and adequately defending the basket. The Magic have not been blowing out the Bobcats, but as through the first three games the Bobcats haven’t found a way to win, don’t expect them to start on the brink of elimination. Expect the Magic to sweep the series in a close game.

Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks, Game 4 (Atlanta leads series 2-1)

The Bucks are very solid at home, finishing the regular season with a 28-13 record at the Bradley Center. The Hawks are mediocre on the road, finishing the regular season with a 19-22 record away from Atlanta. After getting beaten in games 1 and 2 in Atlanta, the Bucks made a strong statement at home, beating the Hawks by 18. Albeit the Bucks shot the lights out in game 3, I think the strong showing was not a one-time thing. This series, which initially I thought would be won fairly easily by the Hawks, could now potentially go to 6 or 7 games. Expect a close, up-tempo game that the Bucks at least stay close in, if not win. Though the Bucks might win this game and make this series more exciting, I still expect the Hawks to pull through and set up a more interesting matchup with the defending Eastern Conference Champions Orlando Magic.

Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns, Game 5 (series is tied 2-2)

Brandon Roy might have come back to help the Trail Blazers win in game 4, but he was not the same player. I am not sure if I were the coach of the Blazers that I would risk my superstar in playoffs that will for sure not yield an NBA title (or western conference title for that matter). Though the Blazers have shown a lot of heart playing three games without their star, and one with their star at 50% health, I cannot see them beating the deeper, not injury riddled up-tempo offense of the Suns. Add in the fact the Suns have the home-court advantage and this series is just a matter of 6 or 7 games for the Suns to progress to play either the Spurs or the Mavs.

Tuesday April 27

#1 UVA Men’s Baseball (34-9) versus #10 Coastal Carolina (36-5)

The last quarter of the UVA Men’s Baseball regular season remains, and if results continue like the first three quarters of the season a trip to the College World Series looks in order. UVA swept Maryland this past weekend in a three game series at College Park, outscoring the Terrapins 43-7 including a 27-4 thumping. The Cavs are riding a five game win streak and will look to extend it against #10 Coastal Carolina. This week also includes hosting of Georgetown on Wednesday before heading to Durham for a three game weekend series against Duke. Expect the Cavaliers to add to their winning streak and hold on to their number one ranking.

NBA Playoffs

Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, Game 5 (Boston leads series 3-1)

The Heat look headed for another first round exit from the playoffs this year. In order to win game 4, Dwayne Wade needed to score 46 points for the Heat. The Celtics dominated the Heat in Boston and managed to squeak by in game 3, making this series nearly impossible for the Heat to win. I expect the visit back to Boston to bring the Celtics back to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. What will be interesting is whether or not this early exit from the playoffs by the Heat affects whether or not Wade re-signs with the team. They have around $24 million in cap room, but if the organization cannot attract anyone else, will Wade really stay?

Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 5 (Cleveland leads series 3-1)

After handily defeating the Bulls in the first two games, the Cavs slipped up in Chicago in game 3. Though it got the press buzzing that maybe things would not be so easy for the Cavs after all, they made sure to put to rest all the doubters, crushing the Bulls 121-98 in game 4. Given that the Bulls have no answer for the outrageous statistics that LeBron James is putting up, it will be up to James’ supporting cast whether or not the series ends at 5 or 6. The game is back at home and between Shaq, Antawn Jamison, and Mo Williams, someone should be able to step up enough in support of James that the series ends. Derrick Rose has shown he really is headed for great things, but his performances alone will not be able to save the Bulls from the inevitable.

San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks, Game 5 (San Antonio leads series 3-1)

The games have been close for the most part as expected (with three of the four games decided by six points or less), but the results and the momentum have ended up strongly in the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. Looks like the extreme depth of the Mavericks brought about by the trade deadline’s yield of Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson has not gelled enough for them to make as strong of a push as they could given their talent. Manu Ginobili has continued to do all the intangibles on top of averaging 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. Even Tony Parker and George Hill have fed off each other, causing serious problems for the Mavs with their half-step slower starting point guard Jason Kidd. Basically the question will be, can the Mavericks step up their game or will they be beaten again by the Spurs who seem to want it more. I expect the Mavericks to take game 5, but no guarantees on what happens in San Antonio in game 6 or in Dallas should the series go to a game 7.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 5 (series is tied 2-2)

The youthful, inexperienced, and up-tempo Thunder have shocked everybody and tied up the series at two games apiece. Kevin Durant has continued to shine as has Russell Westbrook. They almost took game 2 in Los Angeles, barely losing by three points. Given this new found energy and ability to beat the older, more experienced Lakers, can they keep it up? If they can hold Kobe Bryant to 12 points again then I see no reason why they can’t BEAT the Lakers in Los Angeles and close out the series in Oklahoma. I doubt that will happen again, but maybe Kobe is more hurt than we realize. The Lakers need Kobe to put up big numbers to win. Derek Fisher is getting destroyed by Westbrook and has to focus on getting back fast enough to contain him and the three headed monster of Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Pau Gasol has not impressed or collected the majority of rebounds like I thought they would. Expect another close game, but for the Staples Center to be just enough to keep the Lakers in the playoffs in a series that looks bound for 7 games.

Wednesday April 28

Champions League Soccer: Inter Milan at Barcelona, Second Leg

Last week Inter Milan shocked everyone as they beat defending Champions League champions Barcelona 3-1 in the first leg in Milan. The game took place during the volcanic ash cancellations unfortunately, as Barca had to take a bus 14 hours to Milan, but that does not fully excuse Barcelona nor does it downgrade the performance by Inter. Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is a truly phenomenal manager, having won the Champions League with Portuguese side FC Porto and guiding Chelsea FC to the Premiership title two years in a row, and he knows his job rides on Inter’s success in the Champions League. It was clear he did his homework on Barcelona and Inter might finally make their first appearance in a Champions League final. They will have to do it without arguably their most important player midfielder Wesley Sneijder, though Maicon will be back after losing a tooth in a collision with Barcelona Midfielder Lionel Messi. Domestically both teams are top of the league with Inter two points up on AS Roma with three games left in the Serie A and Barcelona are one point up on Real Madrid with four games left in La Primera, but Champions League means more than a domestic title. Expect an exciting game that will see a fair amount of goals. Who goes through will depend on how well Messi plays, if he plays like he did against Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals then Inter Milan is doomed.

NBA Playoffs: Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets, Game 5 (Utah leads series 3-1)

The Jazz are nearly unbeatable at home this season, having a regular season record of 32-9 at EnergySolutions Arena. They continued their home-court dominance winning both games 3 and 4. The series now goes back to Denver, where a Nuggets victory necessary for another game which, if it occurs, would bring them back to Utah where the series will end. I mentioned last week that the key to this series was the supporting cast and the big man battle. The Jazz have cleaned up in both matchups with small forward C.J. Miles stepping up and averaging 16 points a game this series and guard Wesley Matthews averaging 16 points per game the past two games against the Nuggets only real guard threat Chauncey Billups 18 points per game. Jazz power forwards Carlos Boozer (22 points and 11 rebounds per game) and Paul Millsap (17 points and 10 rebounds per game) have clearly outclassed Nuggets big men Kenyon Martin (10 points and 9 rebounds per game) and Nene (14 points and 7 rebounds), putting up much better numbers and better supporting their superstar. In the superstar battle, Jazz point guard Deron Williams is putting up 27 points and 12 assists per game while Carmelo Anthony is putting up 35 points and 7 rebounds per game. If your best player puts up 35 points and 7 rebounds per game and you can only win one of four games, then you know you are in trouble. With the Jazz highly likely to go through to the next round I will leave with you with one thought, imagine if the Jazz had starting Center Mehmet Okur and jack of all trades Andrei Kirilenko healthy. No doubt that team would have a legitimate shot at the NBA title.

Friday April 30

#4 UVA Women’s Lacrosse at #2 Northwestern

After a very successful season thus far, the #4 UVA Women’s Lacrosse team (13-4, 5-2) looks to pick themselves up after a heartbreaking loss in the ACC Tournament semi-finals and prepare in a major way for the NCAA Tournament with a tough road trip to #2 Northwestern. Northwestern are 13-1 with their only loss to #3 North Carolina. A win in this game could launch the Cavaliers to a number 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament which starts May 16, making the game all the more important. Expect a close one, but for the Cavs to pull off another hard road win.

Saturday May 1

Premier League Soccer: Aston Villa at Manchester City

This match is so important; it was picked over Sunday’s Liverpool – Chelsea clash at Anfield. Liverpool has European distractions during the week as they look to turn around a 1-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid and has been a disappointment the whole year. Usually a match against Chelsea would have top 4 implications, but this year Liverpool would need more multiple miracles (including an improbable victory over red hot league leaders Chelsea) to even finish fourth. Aston Villa and Manchester City, on the other hand, are part of the main three (along with Tottenham) fighting for the fourth place spot and a place in qualifying for next year’s Champions League. As it stands now, Aston Villa (64 points) looks the least likely to finish fourth as they have only have two games left and the lowest goal differential compared to Manchester City (63 points) and Tottenham’s (64 points) three. Do not fully rule them out though, as a victory over Man City, coupled with the fact Spurs and Man City play the following week, still gives them a chance. After a 7-1 humbling at the hands of Chelsea at the end of March, Aston Villa have gone on a five game league unbeaten string and finish out the season at Villa Park again Blackburn. Manchester City have hit a rough patch in their schedule, having played second placed Manchester United and third placed Arsenal the past two weeks; not scoring in either fixture. City host fifth placed Aston Villa this week, and finish out arguably the toughest eighteen day span of any Premier League team by facing fourth placed Tottenham. To make matters worse they will have to play their last three games without starting Goalkeeper Shay Given who dislocated his shoulder this past Saturday at the Emirates. Luckily for Man City they finish out the season against West Ham, but by then it might not even matter the result. With Spurs playing at home versus Bolton, a win in this match between Aston Villa and Manchester City becomes all the more important. Expect a great game that sees Man City’s Champions League aspirations foiled and Villa praying to the soccer gods that Spurs slip up in their last three games.