It’s official: UVa hoops Canada-bound

By Whitey Reid

Published: July 21, 2008

The Virginia men’s basketball team’s trip to Canada over Labor Day weekend is officially set.

UVa will play three exhibition games within a two-day span, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Cavaliers will take on St. Lawrence University in the morning and then play Concordia University in the afternoon. The games will take place at Concordia, which is located about 20 minutes north of Montreal.

On Sunday morning, Virginia will play in downtown Montreal at McGill University (alma mater of basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith).

None of the games will count toward Virginia’s 2008-09 record. The main value of participating is the 10 days of extra practice time that coach Dave Leitao is allotted leading into the trip.

For a team that returns only two seniors and lost its best player, Sean Singletary, to graduation, that could prove invaluable.

“They get a little cultural experience,” said Basketball Travelers Tournament Director Jason Sarkies. “They get to establish some continuity, some chemistry. It’s a bonding scenario.

“The coaches can experiment with different lineups because the games don’t mean anything with regard to wins and losses.”

The games will be played using FIBA rules. That means a 3-point line that will be about three inches closer — the college line has been moved back one foot to 20 feet, 9 inches for the upcoming season — and the use of a trapezoidal three-second lane.

Sarkies estimates that the Canadian schools in the event usually range in talent level from low Division I to mid-Division II. Last season, McGill defeated Illinois in the event.

“It should be some solid competition,” Sarkies said.