SPORTS FOLDEROL

  I have come to the conclusion that Virginia, the state of, lives in an alternate universe when it comes to college athletics. Where else would they celebrate a basketball coach who makes $1.7 million annually… yet has been to three NCAA tournaments in … 19 years?   Or, would they hire an Ivy League coach with a losing record  … who relies on three-point field goals (33, making 12, in a  three-point NIT loss at Ohio State) … which is like watching  the NBA … which, frankly, would never be described as an  endorsement here? And, they have the nerve to say, “We are  committed to athletic excellence.” THEN THERE  is the man in charge of the DI program in  Charlottesville … where he has built a winner unlike any other  … based on defense … not just rolling the ball out on the floor  and allowing the players to create one-on-one offense on their  own.  TONY BENNETT  is a coach who … are you ready for  this? … actuall...

Cory Alexander did nothing wrong last week when a replay favoring Virginia was overturned. Quite the contrary, had he not noted the game officials’ mistake and/or refused to make the ACC Network’s better look at the erroneous call late in the game against Florida available … only then the U.Va., alumnus would/should have been subjected to serious grief.   In case you missed it … the Cavaliers held a two-point edge with 54.9 seconds remaining when Blake Buchanan made a key defensive play, knocking the ball away from Florida’s Walter Clayton. It went out of bounds, last touched – the officials ruled – by Clayton. Because none of the three was 100 per cent sure, they checked their only available replay … and determined the right call had been made.   Meanwhile, Alexander, looking at the network’s version, noted out loud the ball had not touched Clayton. One of the officials standing near-bye, Pat Adams, heard him and quickly told crew chief Lee Cassell, who was about ...