With the hiring of strength and conditioning coach Mike Curtis on Monday, the question begs: what exactly is new Virginia coach Tony Bennett’s philosophy when it comes to weight training?

When Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage began his homework on Tony Bennett, he was amazed by the feedback from every corner of the basketball world.

“Obviously, you’re the one who’s driving the bus, so a lot of times it starts and ends with you,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao.

Many times, when Virginia guard Calvin Baker winds up with the ball in his hands as the shot clock is running down, a collective groan reverberates throughout John Paul Jones Arena.

What a difference a week makes. Just ask Dave Leitao and Seth Greenberg.

As Sylven Landesberg jumped in the air, he seemed to have an easy layup — until teammate Solomon Tat, out of nowhere, slapped the ball out of his hands.

“Tunji, when he was out there, he gave us some positive minutes — he did good things out there,” said Virginia freshman Sylven Landesberg.

A midseason report card for Virginia’s basketball team.

Jamil “The Thrill” Tucker played the best game of his college career in Virginia’s 84-78 loss at Maryland on Tuesday night.

The Cavaliers, bidding to win their first two ACC games to start a season since the 1994-95 campaign, were able to cut the lead all the way down to a point.

Play time is over. Now the real basketball season begins.

After last season’s 38-point loss on the road to Xavier, some semblance of payback was one of the goals for the Virginia men’s basketball team. Instead, UVa penned a hideous sequel.

Virginia coach Dave Leitao knew rougher days lied ahead. Saturday was one of those days.

“I just followed directions,” said Jamil Tucker, who nailed the huge 3-pointer with 14 seconds showing to knot the game at 74-all.

“I looked at coach Leitao to see if he was going to call a timeout or anything and he just said, ‘Push it,’” Calvin Baker said.