Basketball: Bulls fall at Virginia, 77-75

USF fell just short of a huge win on the road Wednesday night, leading in the final minute but falling 77-75 at Virginia.

Sophomore guard Dominique Jones hit two free throws with 38.8 seconds left to give USF a 75-74 lead, but Virginia answered, getting a layup from guard Sylven Landesberg for a 76-75 lead with 13.9 seconds left. Jones missed a driving layup and Landesberg got the rebound, was fouled and hit one of two free throws with 7.6 second left. USF's shot at the buzzer missed with a chance to tie.

Jones had a game-high 23 points and senior guard Jesus Verdejo had a career-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers. They led four Bulls in double figures, with guard Chris Howard had 12 and center Alex Rivas Sanchez had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The two teams were tied at 34-34, with Jones leading the way with 13 points.

Comments

[DJ]

Gary, there is a difference. But Ari made it clear he did not mean it the way it sounded. Case closed.

GO BULLS!!

[Bulliever]

Ari,

You are a very funny guy...I have read most of your comments and you kept me laughing especially in the summer when I was missing football...

I just think your comments made earlier were in poor taste...

Now had you called them "Chivas"...like the soccer team in LA...that would have been hilarious....

I lived in Cali (LA) for 8 years so I miss the diversity and miss a lot of the people, I had quite a few "Mexican" friends...but we called them American, definately not immigrants...

Anyway, I don't care where any of the players come from...They can come from outer space...I just want them to play their best, go to their classess and not get into trouble... AND GRADUATE...That is the best thing about college...that piece of paper that means a lot when your done!

[velcro]

good to see people are realizing how important Howard is to this team. I can't wait for Mercer to get in the mix... but Howard is finally starting to play well.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I wasn't refering to their decent. I wasn't even refering to them at all. I was refering to their names!

Their names!...Come on!

So we don't have any espinsosas or rivas-sanchezs in Mexico City??

Where is Herman when I need him
GEEZ!

[Bulliever]

Gary,

You don't say Mexicans...you say hispanic...unless you are actually referring to people who are really from Mexico.

It happens to be that (as GA) pointed out they are not Mexican and they are from somewhere else and that is why it is deragatory...

[gary]

DJ said:

I wonder what would happen if Ari said, "Our team sounds like a bunch of N words or honkies?" What's the difference? Not funny Ari.

The difference is 'N words' and 'honkies' are deragatory terms for african americans and caucasions while Mexicans are people from Mexico. Doesn't make Ari funny but if you don't see a diffenece in 'N word' and mexican, who really has a problem?

[DJ]

I'm sorry but I really can't recall one game that was on the line that DJ got it done. I do recall him finishing once but we failed defensively the very next play and lost. (Can't remember what team we were playing last year.) DJ should have kicked the ball to Verdejo on the last shot. They knew DJ was going for it. Espinosa should have went back up afetr his rebound since we only needed two points, instead of passing out to Verdejo. Freshman thinking.

[Bull Hooper]

Ajayi had his moments last year. While I too have kinda fallen in love with Rivas' game, I think Ajayi needs to just refocus a bit to be a pretty good post defender/rebounder who can score a bit.

D Jones is clearly a pretty good college basketball player. But both this year and last year, i feel he has had a bit of trouble being a "clutch" player, delivering a needed basket or defensive play with the game on the line. It would be great to se him improve a bit in this area, along with FT shooting. If he could do that, he could be a star in his sophomore year, and my beloved Bulls Mens Hoops team could win some games, even in the BE.

[G.A.]

All I'm hearing is a sprained right ankle. No word on severity or his status for High Point. Again, based on the minutes and production at Virginia, I'd think he's starting if healthy.

[gbudzban]

G.A.---Any word on Rivas-Sanchez's injury?

Seems like a solid pickup by Stan. Would hate to see him go down.

[The Champ]

I wouldn't mind Coach Heath finding 1 or 2 more Rivas Sanchez types to sign this spring. The exact kind of big that excels on a team that is backcourt dominate like we are. Rivas is a very clever player with a high basketball IQ. Once he is fully healthy he will be near the top of the Big East in FG% because he plays withing himself and only takes shots that he is capable of making.

Ajayi on the other hand believes he is hot any time he makes 1 layup of dunk. If he makes a bucket you automaticly know that he's going to shot almost everytime he touches the ball regardless of where he is set up on offense. At times Jones and company have to purposely avoid letting BJ touch the ball while running the offense.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Ari Hinkelberger wasn't getting beat up on the playground fella. He had one lady to the left and another to the right. While you were playing "tag" and "dodgeball," the hinkelbeger was doing to the roll around in the woods with sally fields.

Now back to the team - when we get Mercer and Gilchrist aboard, this team could be pretty solid.

[G.A.]

I spent far too much time worrying whether I should be deleting comments here.

"Our team sounds like a bunch of Mexicans" is pretty bad. Makes it seem like (a) that'd be a bad thing and (b) everybody from outside the U.S. is the same crazy-sounding bunch of outsiders. It does come off a little xenophobic. The five players you mentioned hail from different countries -- different continents, even.

Yes, there's a distinctly international flavor to USF's basketball roster. It's a reminder that the best basketball players aren't necessarily from the country where the sport was born. It's hardly a new development to the sport -- check out an NBA roster, you'll find the same zany "immigration hearing." The things you say with your friends -- whether you should say them there or not -- aren't necessarily things you should post on a public forum.

[Bull Hooper]

when i grew up, a name like Ari Hinkelberger would get you beat up pretty bad in school. people would have figured Ari was unlike them, and hated him for it. that's why i say, "thank goodness those days are over." I personally wish Ari would find another place for his frequently ill-advised comments, this latest of which sounds racist to me.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Nobody thinks its funny that the five players on the floor at one time could be:

Rivas-Sanchez
Espinosa
Verdejo
Belardo
Ajayi

I find it very funny.

Maybe I am use to BB Waldon and Brain Lamb. Sorry

[Ari Hinkelberger]

How am I a deep south racist? It sounded like the Honduran Soccer Team out there? That makes me a racist?

Come on.

Thank god for the first amendment. I guess when I play basketball on Monday and Wends at the gym and all my fellow players talk smack, they are a bunch of racists. Its social dynamics. Lighten up.

It was a funny observation. Would it be wrong to notice a bunch of croatian names if all the players were from the balkans??

You guys couldn't laugh at a good joke if it was right in front of your face.

[G.A.]

Rivas Sanchez had surgery in May to insert metal rods into both lower legs to help with stress fractures. Here's a story that ran in Wednesday's paper:

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/college/article908562.ece

Rivas Sanchez played 31 minutes at Virginia, while Ajayi played nine. Rivas Sanchez had 10 points and eight rebounds; Ajayi had two and two. I think you might see a new starter at center for High Point.

[The Champ]

Reading the post by Ari I can tell he was trying to be funny, unfortunately it is the type humor that comedian Rush Limbaugh puts out there. Ari if you don't want to be labeled as an out of touch deep south racist you should apologize.

Was Rivas Sanchez hurt? I thought he looked pretty good in the home opener with SMU, and was interested to read that he rec'd more minutes last night.

That's a pretty good team and we came very close.

[Mike]

I agree. The comment was not funny - very poor in taste. Like Alex-Rivas, my wife is Dominican. You should exercise better judgement before you speak. Your comments reflect a lack of U.S. history.

[Mike Lakeland]

Who knew that this blog was so P.C.?

Good job, Basketbulls. Let's focus on UCF and the Big East schedule...everything else is just ice-nin on the cake!

[DJ]

I wonder what would happen if Ari said, "Our team sounds like a bunch of N words or honkies?" What's the difference? Not funny Ari.

[G.A.]

Jones had 23. Just forgot to delete an earlier reference. Thanks.

[Terry Lucas]

Sheriff Joe Arpario here in Arizona would have raided the Jeff Jones Arena with his swat team had he heard the internet broadcast last night. Two months ago, he had a full swat team invade Mesa City Hall at 1 AM to arrest a cleaning crew that lacked proper documentation.

[Reality]

Good Game, wish Sylvan would have stayed in the Big East, as SJU could really have used him, but this was a great game by the Bulls. Virginia is way down, and so far the Big East looks really good against the ACC, SJU, who is HORRIBLE, kept it very close against BC and now the Bulls did the same. It is important for the conference that we play well in the non-conference section.

[The Champ]

Chris Howard is looking good and had a good game working, however as our PG and captain he can not foul out like he did against Virgina. No doubt in my mind if Howard was on the floor during those critical last few possessions we would have won the game. Howard needs to know that his team needs him on the floor making winning plays not cheerleading.

[DELdaBULL]

GA,

Did Jones score 21 or 23? Sounds like they played well. Hopefully this team is better than we all think it is.

[Jr]

Hahahaha, funny post Ari, made me laugh

[lol]

C'mon hooper. It was harmless and funny as heck. Good stuff.

[Bull Hooper]

Ari Hinkelberger, I find your post regrettably unhumorous, although sadly ironic considering your surname, which would have at one time been categorized similarly to the names you mentioned. Thank goodness those days are gone. But let's not take away the focus from the team. Hopefully, we can come away from this game with something positive, and build on it. Even though we lose too much and don't really need any more moral victories, this is a new team with new possibilities. In addition to real good games by Verdejo and DJ, Howard played pretty well. One more guard (Mercer) and we win this game.

[B^S]

Lmao Ari..

[Windbane]

Sounds awesome.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Game was on the FM dial in DC - 94.7.

UVA play by play guys had nothign but good things to say about D. Jones.

Whats funny is our team sounds like a bunch of mexicans. Guy is doing to play-by-play and I could tell he wanted to say somethign.

Ball inbound by rivas to expinosa - espinosa passes to verdejo at the top of the key - verdejo feeds rivas-sanchez who knocks down the 15 footer.

HA HA!

it sounds like an immigration hearing. So funny.

[DJ]

What is the deal with Ajayi? Does he want to play or what? Heard he sucks in practice. How is Williams starting over him. I thought USF played a good game. Didn't get the foul calls, and didn't get many loose balls. I hope DJ knows how to share the ball when Mercer and Gilchrist start playing. Verdejo is a hell of a player. USF looks to be a pretty good team when they get the whole team. Howard can't foul out of games. Gaby, I'd transfer asap. Read between the lines. They aren't going to play him.

[Dave W]

Hopefully Rivas will be alright.

Listening to the game, it sounded like the team did some things well, but Landesberg killed us and UVA seemed to get lucky with almost every loose ball.

[Chalko]

This team will always suck!

[The Champ]

Great game we just came up short. Losing Howard hurt and I hope that Rivas is going to be OK. He played well again.

[Dan]

D. Jones takes both the shots we have in the last 10 seconds and misses them both. Close.. but no cigar.

[Bull Hooper]

Let's win!