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Related Topics: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.
 is the team’s second leading scorer at 10.9 points per game, but hasn’t scored in double figures in consecutive games since November.','pp'))
Virginia sophomore Mamadi Diane (DeMatha High) is the team’s second leading scorer at 10.9 points per game, but hasn’t scored in double figures in consecutive games since November.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Map, News) - The statistics read like a roller coaster.
Ten points and seven rebounds one night. Four points, one board and five personal fouls the next. Nearly a season-high 22 points on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range one game. Two points and an 0-for-3 performance behind the arc the next.
Virginia sophomore Mamadi Diane is searching for consistency and his wild swings have nearly mirrored the Cavaliers’ uneven season.
“Some nights I’ve focused on the wrong thing, just thinking too much about what I need to be doing, and just not focusing and playing the game,” said the Potomac, Md., native and DeMatha High alum.
Diane opened the season — and the Cavaliers’ new home in Charlottesville, John Paul Jones Arena — with a career-high 25 points in a win over Arizona, and he’s the team’s second leading scorer at 10.9 points per game. He also hasn’t scored in double-figures in consecutive games since November but continues to start every contest for second-year coach Dave Leitao.
“It’s reassurance that I must be doing something right to be in the position that I am,” said Diane, the team’s best 3-point shooter (41.4 percent).
Virginia (9-6, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) is currently mired in its second multiple-game losing streak of the season entering tonight’s border showdown against visiting Maryland (15-3, 1-2).
“We’ve lost three games in a row and we’ve got a difficult opponent tomorrow. It doesn’t give anyone, particularly myself, any reason to look at things optimistically,” said Leitao, whose team surrendered leads in road losses to North Carolina and Boston College.
Led by the standout backcourt tandem of Sean Singletary (18.1 ppg) and J.R. Reynolds (16.1 ppg), the Cavaliers can be explosive. They pummeled Gonzaga with a school-record 18 three-pointers, something that wasn’t missed by Maryland head coach Gary Williams.
“That’s the thing: You can be playing well — especially in league play in a very good league. You don’t get the wins but that doesn’t mean you’ve played poorly,” said Williams. “You might’ve done a couple things wrong at the wrong time, and that’s the way it goes in close games, but it’s there for Virginia.”
Maryland at Virginia
» When: Tonight, 8
» Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville
» TV: WDCA-20
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:47 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008 re: "Steinmetz: An NBA guy’s take on Kansas-Memphis"
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
9 agree | 11 disagree
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
80 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
513 agree | 248 disagree
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
607 agree | 366 disagree
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