Virginia basketball has had some amazing guards in its day. Bryant Stith was a pure scorer, one who set a career scoring mark that has yet to be touched at this school. Jeff Lamp was a picture of consistency and determination. Ricky Stokes, Curtis Staples, Donald Hand, Roger Mason Jr. and Jeff Jones (the American University coach, not our freshman) have all made memorable moments in Virginia history.
However, looking at all of these great players, it is no question that Sean Singletary has officially booked a place in that pantheon.
Singletary was simply unconscious against the Miami Hurricanes last Saturday, netting a career-high 41 points with an entire defense geared against him. Singletary provided a complete offensive performance, feeding the rock to his teammates and not turning the ball over. However, the result was one Virginia has become accustomed to this season - a close loss. So against Georgia Tech, the star guard had to flip the script, and this time he would have an unlikely supporting actor.
Hoos use late heroics to top Tech
Last year, Singletary reached the promised land of March Madness because of his running mate J.R. Reynolds. Calvin Baker may never be Sean Singletary or J.R. Reynolds, but on March 3rd, 2008, he can say he contributed to a signature victory.
The sophomore bailed out his teammate and mentor twice in the final minute, both times with Virginia trailing. First, Baker scored on a tip-in after Singletary stole the ball with 42 seconds to go but missed a lay-up. Then, after a Yellow Jacket drive by Jeremis Smith gave Georgia Tech the 74-73 lead, Singletary found Baker wide open on the wing, where he drilled a three-pointer with 4.2 seconds left.
“They had like three or four people in the lane and Calvin was wide open for the shot that he takes everyday,” Singletary said. “He works hard on his game every day. It’s not a mystery why that shot went in.”
The cold-blooded shot gave Virginia an improbable 76-74 road victory, and rewarded the Cavaliers for one of the gutsiest performances in the history of the program.
44 overcomes obstacles
Singletary is no stranger to pain. Physical pain has followed him throughout his career; his shoulder required surgery since he injured it in high school, and he played his entire first year as the Cavalier with it hurting. Then a hip pointer resulted in another off-season surgery for Singletary, but it did not stop him from playing all but one game in considerable pain. This year, Singletary seems to have been plagued with the injury bug. Whether it was a flu that required an IV at halftime, a tweaked ankle, or just plain fatigue, Singletary has been bruised and battered by opposing defenses who know that he is the critical piece to Virginia. Without Reynolds, it is sometimes painful to see the heroic superstar play as defenses hack at him with two or three players in his face. The sight of Singletary decked out on the court is one that Virginia fans have seen many times this season. However, he always gets up.
More painful than the physical agony has to be the mental anguish. Singletary has experienced plenty of heart break this season, not just on the court but off of it. At the time of the N.C. State game, Singletary had been told of the death of one of his childhood friends, who was murdered when Virginia traveled to Atlanta the first time (before a leaky roof postponed the game to yesterday). This news was not only tragic but all too familiar for him.
"It's tough," Singletary said. "But it's happened about seven times in my career. So I just deal with it."
Despite all the struggles on and off the court, Singletary has remained optimistic. Maybe deep down he thinks about his decision to come back to the team. He decided to forego a major pay day in the NBA to return to Virginia and has been rewarded with a disappointing 14-13 record and more bumps and bruises than he would care to share. This was not what he must have envisioned for a team that had made the second round of the NCAA tournament just a season ago. After a two-point loss on the road to Miami, even Singletary had to be realistic.
“We just have to get hot and see if maybe we can run the table in the ACC Tournament,” Singletary said.
Singletary has had some amazing performances in his time. His shot against Duke in overtime lives in Virginia lore forever. His dominant performance against Gonzaga and even last Saturday’s performance show the kind of prolific scorer he is. For me, tonight’s contest will be the one I remember. Singletary was tired, and he was hurt when he fell awkwardly off a screen in the first half. In all likelihood, he re-aggravated a knee injury from the Miami game and it was obvious where at certain points it seemed a chore just to get up and down the court. He clearly was not at full strength; he may not even have been at half strength.
Still, Singletary simply willed his team to victory. In the final minutes, despite gasping for breath, he was able to drive to the basket and draw a foul. While all his teammates were missing free throws left and right, Singletary coolly made both to cut the deficit to one. Then his amazing defense allowed him to strip the ball cleanly on the next possession. For a guy who at times could barely make it up and down the court to fly to the other end at the speed he did, there is no doubt Singletary may be the toughest player in Virginia history.
“He has an intestinal fortitude of which I don’t think I’ve ever seen before,” Virginia coach Dave Leitao said.
Baker: The future?
Singletary’s injury cost him valuable minutes and Virginia fans got their first real look at how their offense would like without the senior captain in it. Most of the year, the result was not pretty, and this time around it was not much different. However, one man seemed to handle the pressure better than anyone could have expected. Calvin Baker was asked to control the offense more than any other time in his young Cavalier career. He had to play point guard so Singletary could avoid more abuse, and Baker did not disappoint. His 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals were all key contributions from a guy trying to prove he belongs in a conference that is one of the best in America.
While Singletary is used to praise being heaped on him, it is typically much more difficult for his backcourt mate Baker. Many doubted whether he could ever become a big time contributor for the Cavaliers. However, Baker has had some big shots already in ACC play, even with an unorthodox hitch in his jump shot. His three pointer in the final minutes against UNC helped cut the gap to one before Tyler Hansbrough’s jump hook destroyed a Cinderella story. It was Baker who hit two big free throws to ensure the Boston College road victory, and he also made two big treys late in the second half to stave off a N.C. State run. However, it will be that three-pointer in the “Thriller Dome” of the Alexander Joel Coliseum that fans will remember him for this season. When other would be contributors like Diane and Joseph were nowhere to be found, the former CAA Rookie of the Year simply refused to lose.
"A big shot like that, no matter how many games you play, you're always going to remember it," said Baker.
What’s next?
Certainly Virginia will remember this game for it takes them out of the cellar and helps them avoid their worst ACC mark in nearly 10 years. Singletary’s 17 points may not seem heroic, but under the circumstances, it impresses me just as much as any other great performance we have seen from the soon to be three-time All-ACC guard.
Singletary will enter the Maryland game this Sunday with lofty numbers. He is currently 43 points away from the 2,000-point club, fifth all-time at Virginia. As far as Virginia’ records, he is second all-time in steals with 191, tenth in career field goals, fifth in free throws, third in assists and fourth in career three-pointers. Last fall, the Cavaliers did the impossible, retiring Chris Long’s jersey while he was still playing for the team. If Virginia has any sense, they will do the same for Singletary this Sunday. He’s earned it.
Thankfully for Virginia fans, the story is not over. The Cavaliers have at least three games left and a cast of misfit characters who seem to be a turning corner. Baker has proven he has the ability to become a big time contributor and Singletary has proven he is one. In 1976, the Cavaliers entered the ACC tournament as the 6th seed and summarily went through the top three teams in the conference en route to their one and only tournament title. I’m not saying history will repeat itself, but I am saying with Sean Singletary, nothing is impossible.
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