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• Head Coach Dave Leitao • 2008-09 Schedule • 2008-09 Roster • 2007-08 Statistics • Virginia Men's Basketball Site

Dave Leitao

Head Coach
Dave Leitao

Dave Leitao was named the tenth head coach in the University of Virginia’s basketball history on April 16, 2005. Leitao was named the 2007 ACC and NABC District 5 Coach of the Year after his Cavaliers posted a 21-11 mark, tied for the ACC regular season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Leitao has directed each of his last six teams into post-season play.

Prior to his arrival in Charlottesville, Leitao was the head coach at DePaul for three seasons, compiling an overall record of 58-34 (.630) and participating in a post-season tournament each year. He was 20-11 at DePaul in 2004-05 and advanced to the second round of the NIT. The Blue Demons compiled a 22-10 record during 2003-04, and lost to Connecticut, the eventual national champion, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Leitao was the associate head coach at Connecticut for six seasons (1997-2002). The Huskies had an overall record of 156-51 (.754) in those six seasons, won the NCAA Championship in 1999 and participated in a postseason tournament each year. He spent two seasons (1995-96) as the head coach at his alma mater, Northeastern University, and he was an assistant coach at Connecticut for eight seasons from 1987-94. Leitao began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Northeastern in 1984.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1983 from Northeastern, where he played four years of basketball, leading the team to America East Conference championships and appearances in the NCAA Tournament in both 1981 and 1982.

Virginia

2007-08: 17-16 Overall, 5-11 ACC
10th in ACC

2008-09 Preseason Pick: 12th in ACC

Preseason Information

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Senior Guard/Forward
Mamadi Diane

Virginia returns three starters from 2007-08 team that won six of its final 10 games to finish 17-16 overall. The Cavaliers posted a 5-11 mark in ACC play last season, but regrouped to win two postseason CBI games before being eliminated in the semifinals by Bradley.

Head coach Dave Leitao enters his fourth season at Virginia with a 53-42 record. He stands 133-111 overall in eight seasons as a college head coach.

The Cavaliers will try to fill the void left by departed three-time first-team All-ACC selection and second-round NBA Draft pick Sean Singletary (19.8 ppg, 6.1 apg as a senior). Virginia will also be missing forward Adrian Joseph and center Ryan Pettinella from last season's squad.

Mamadi Diane ranked second on last season's team in scoring with 11.8 ppg, shooting .414 from 3-point range. Diane pulled down 4.4 rpg while making 22 starts and playing an average of 28.8 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 22 points in win over Northwestern in ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Diane closed out the season by scoring in double figures in seven straight games.

Jeff Jones broke in as a freshman with 25 starts. He averaged 4.8 ppg and scored a career-high 26 in season finale vs. Bradley. Jones started eight games in ACC play. Sophomore Guard
Mike Scott

Mike Scott made 21 starts as a freshman. He averaged 5.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg and his season-high 15 points keyed win over Hampton. His double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds helped Cavaliers to a 79-74 road win at Boston College.

Calvin Baker started eight games as a sophomore last season. He averaged 8.6 ppg and 2.4 apg. Baker scored 16 and 17 points in back-to-back games against Georgia Tech and Maryland. He closed regular season by scoring in double figures in three straight games as the Cavaliers won two of three against Georgia Tech, Duke and Maryland.

Tunji Soroye played in only two games a year ago because of an injury. He has played in 81 games with 36 starts during his Virginia career. Soroye has scored 128 points with 226 rebounds and 78 blocked shots. He led UVa in blocked shots in 2005-06 with 37.

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