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The start of the Virginia Basketball season is right around the corner, and we are counting down the days until the Hoos welcome Towson to John Paul Jones Arena on November 6. Every day until tip-off, we’ll be feeding you everything you need to know to be ready for the 2018-2019 campaign. Missed a day or joining us late? Catch up here.
Virginia fans got their first chance to check out the 2018-19 basketball team in person as the Hoos held their annual Pepsi Blue-White Scrimmage at John Paul Jones Arena. Admission was free, and to say the Cavalier faithful were clamoring to check out the squad would be an understatement:
The anticipation for today’s Blue-White scrimmage is #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/k0CR34B0Bs
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 13, 2018
The lineups for the first portion of the day were as follows:
Lineups for today's @pepsi Blue-White scrimmage!
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 13, 2018
White - Guy, Jerome, Salt, Anthony, Hunter, Katstra
Blue - Nixon, Stattmann, Huff, Diakite, Clark, Key#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/YmlxMgBFb8
Big time targets Henry Coleman and Johnny Juzang were in the building during their unofficial and official visits, respectively. Juzang, a 6-6 five-star small forward, tweeted about his visit earlier today.
Great official visit with @UVAMensHoops ! Amazing place but more importantly amazing people. Thanks for having me out ! pic.twitter.com/sMGHak8biR
— Johnny Juzang (@JohnnyJuzang) October 13, 2018
Jack Salt went to the line for two, making one of his two shots.
Jack Salt at the line. Shooting two. #BlueWhiteScrimmage pic.twitter.com/jAurDVw9Cb
— Damon Dillman (@DamonDillman) October 13, 2018
Oh, and Huff can dunk.
Key just threw an alley-oop to Huff that was Grant Hill in the 90s level. #gracious
— Brad Franklin (@Cavs_Corner) October 13, 2018
Update from JPJ: Jay Huff can still dunk pic.twitter.com/mbXBji96hv
— Damon Dillman (@DamonDillman) October 13, 2018
Following up on the story we brought you earlier from JPJ... pic.twitter.com/9KJGLZsLAS
— Damon Dillman (@DamonDillman) October 13, 2018
Coach Bennett took to the mic for an, um, interesting motivational speech to get more support for the younger guys on the Blue team:
Bennett takes the mic, implores crowd to cheer for the young kids on the Blue squad. Called the vets on the White “bums.” So as Jerome, Guy, and Co. come out, crowd boos.
— Brad Franklin (@Cavs_Corner) October 13, 2018
White took down Blue in the first 15 minute game, led by 11 points by Ty Jerome. Diakite had eight and Huff added six for the Blue squad. Coach Bennett switched the teams up for a second 10-minute game:
Lineups for the next 10-minute game:
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 13, 2018
White - Guy, Jerome, Salt, Diakite, Hunter, Katstra
Blue - Nixon, Stattmann, Huff, Anthony, Clark, Key#GoHoos
* - @Dr_Dre14 with the fresh cut pic.twitter.com/YnqJhrGwW6
Alabama transfer Braxton Key—who is still waiting to hear from the NCAA on the status of his waiver to play immediately—and Huff opened the second game with back-to-back threes. A walk-off three from Diakite (yes, you read that right), gave White the 18-15 win in the second segment of the scrimmage.
Mamadi Diakite hits a walk-off 3-pointer to lift White past Blue, 18-15, in a second live scrimmage period. That ends the #UVa men's scrimmage.
— Ron Counts (@Ron_CDPsports) October 13, 2018
... and a walk-off 3 from Mamadi Diakite ends the #BlueWhiteScrimmage pic.twitter.com/JO6vD3Lc5P
— Damon Dillman (@DamonDillman) October 13, 2018
We’ll have more on the scrimmage with takeaways and highlights when available, but until then, follow the advice of Kyle Guy and get out there to support the Hoos tonight against No. 16 Miami.
If y’all come to basketball scrimmage I better see all y’all at the football game too!!!! #NEWSTANDARD ... big day for the hoos
— Kyle J Guy (@kylejguy5) October 13, 2018
UPDATE
Check out the highlights from today’s scrimmage, courtesy of VirginiaSportsTV:
is back! from today's @pepsi Blue-White Scrimmage ⤵️ #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/1AarJpQi0r
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 13, 2018