Virginia basketball set up for strong season, football prepares for Flames

I’m going to cut to the chase here today, there’s a lot happening around the corner. We brought you some good stuff on STL (like a new podcast, three games to watch in Week 11 and Mandy Alonso injury updates) but the corner was POPPIN’ so here you go. Happy Friday, happy reading.

2019 NBA mock draft: Duke freshman RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish go 1-2-3 after dazzling debuts (CBS Sports)

De’Andre Hunter goes at No. 10 to the Boston Celtics via the Grizzlies in CBS’s most recent 2019 NBA mock draft.

Five Teams Who May Have the Best Shot at Beating Duke This Season (Sports Illustrated)

Speaking of a dazzling debut... Tony Bennett’s Pack-Line defense slots in at SI’s No. 2 most likely team to take down the Duke Blue Devils this season, who are poised for what seems like an unstoppable year. Duke handily deconstructed Kentucky on Tuesday, 118-84.

UVa football: Punter Coleman enjoying storybook career with Cavs (The Roanoke Times)

After not attempting a punt in his first three seasons, Lester Coleman, now in his fifth year with the Virginia Cavaliers, has 111 to his credit, including 31 at 50 yards or more and 42 that have been downed inside the 20.

Liberty Flames excited for first-ever football clash with Virginia (WSET)

The Liberty Flames are excited for their first-ever trip to Charlottesville to take on the Cavaliers for the first time in history, despite the programs close proximity to one another.

Gill backs Wimberly as Flames’ defensive coordinator (The News & Advance)

Speaking of the Flames... Liberty’s head football coach Turner Gill is confident in defensive coordinator Robert Wimberly despite the fact that Liberty has allowed more than 1,400 yards of total offense in the past two games.

TOTD:

Fun story: Former Virginia coach George Welsh apparently climbed on top of offensive tackle Ray Roberts during a late-summer practice in 1987 in an attempt to break up a fight between Roberts and a teammate. Read for all the juicy details of Welsh’s fight-stopping-piggy-back-ride.