“This is nothing,” said Sene, following Virginia’s 76-55 win over Oral Roberts in the Cancun Challenge. “I know I can do better.”

After dominating Rider on Thursday night at John Paul Jones Arena, several Virginia players said that Rider’s previous win over 18th-ranked Mississippi State had gotten their attention.

After wearing an orange necktie during Virginia’s season-opening victory over Longwood last week, Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett didn’t wear one in the team’s loss at South Florida on Monday night.

Calvin Baker, who served as one of the team’s three captains last season, made his return to the court in Virginia’s 66-49 loss to South Florida on Monday night.

When Virginia freshman Jontel Evans checked into Friday night’s game against Longwood at John Paul Jones Arena, there was a noticeable ovation from the crowd.

The Tony Bennett Era of Virginia basketball got off to a successful start on Friday night, but not without a struggle.

Almost immediately after taking his seat at the podium for his post-game press conference on Friday night, Virginia coach Tony Bennett was asked about his team’s defensive letdown late in its easy 85-72 victory over Longwood.

On Wednesday, Virginia fans received some more bad news when the school announced that senior forward Jamil “The Thrill” Tucker was taking an “indefinite leave of absence” from the team.

It was over the summer in the Big Apple when Sylven Landesberg began to see just how much potential teammate Assane Sene really had.

Last November, Sylven Landesberg’s stat line was borderline ridiculous.

Just six days from the season opener and the start of the Tony Bennett era, the Virginia men’s basketball program has suffered a big loss.

One thing is very clear when you talk to Virginia freshman Tristan Spurlock — he’s not some shy, timid kid who’s just hoping to make an impact on the program someday in the future.

With Virginia’s men’s basketball season opener little more than two weeks away, one would think the fan base would be less than enthusiastic, considering the program is coming off its worst season since they used peach baskets and this edition of Cavaliers were picked to finish 11th in the 12-team ACC.

“We’re just trying to work hard,” said Bennett, whose team opens its season against Longwood on Nov. 13. “We certainly have a lot of work to do. We’re just trying to get better every day.“

Bennett has been pleased with the offseason work that his new charges have put in, most notably that of ACC rookie of the year Sylven Landesberg.