Watch the video linked here on VirginiaSports.com to see the full postgame press conference with UVA basketball interim head coach Ron Sanchez following Virginia’s 63-51 loss at SMU in the ACC opener on Saturday afternoon in Dallas and follow along with the following transcript to read everything Sanchez said after the game.
On what went wrong late in the game:
RON SANCHEZ: I’m trying to remember the play. I know that we hit a three point shot, and it was a time out called and not sure if they executed something on one end or not. I do know that we went on a drought after that. I think they started kind of denying IMac [Isaac McKneely] the ball, very jumping and forcing other guys to make plays, which today was a little bit of a challenge, honestly. We were in such a playing really good basketball without two of our main guys with, you know, Dai Dai Ames spraining his ankle. I think he only played seven minutes tonight, and then Elijah Saunders was in foul trouble the entire game and barely played at all. So to be in that position was really energizing for us, and I was really enthused. I thought that resembled more of a Virginia basketball type of game. I think that we were playing the right way, doing certain things. Having two starters out kind of made it a little more challenging, and we had to depend on a couple of young guys. I think we missed a couple of point blank shots at the rim, and the best that we could do is to create those opportunities. Then we have to, you know, put the ball in the basket. I think Blake maybe missed a floater and I think Andrew missed a floater in there, Jacob Cofie missed a dunk. So I think some of our youth and inexperience showed down that stretch. We’ll watch it and we’ll see.
On the difficulty of growing a young team in important ACC games:
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RON SANCHEZ: Absolutely. That’s why there are some challenges in what we do. It’s not just X’s and O’s. A lot of it is emotional. It’s experiential, playing in a hostile environment back to back games on the road. You’ve been traveling since… a lot of things kind of come into play, and then you take two of your guys that are supposed to settle you down, and they’re not able to do that because they’re on the bench. So as far as our play, I mean, we had some really, really good stretches of basketball today, and I think today we took a massive step forward in our defensive side of the ball, and also the offensive side of the ball. The turnovers again plagued us. I don’t know what the exact final score the game was, 51 to 63, and we gave them 18 points out of our turnovers. And those are things that we have to continue to clean up. And when you take one of your primary ball handlers of the game out of the game, it definitely impacts, impacts that that play.
The Plus/Minus: Virginia Basketball Falls to SMU in ACC Opener
On finding someone else to step up other than Isaac McKneely:
RON SANCHEZ: Yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely. And honestly, when you take two of your main transfers that you brought in to assist in that situation – Dai Dai as a point guard, you know a playmaking kind of guy that attracts some attention when he’s attacking off the dribble. And then you take your forward who had 19 points on the road at Florida, and you take those two guys off the floor, the attention does fall on on him [McKneely], and then it falls on some of the younger guys, you know? But I do. I think that Jacob did a really good job tonight. I think that we got on the floor, we dove, we did some things that resemble us a lot more today than we have in the past. And that’s the encouraging piece.
On how Virginia’s success against SMU defensively in the middle of the game:
RON SANCHEZ: We were connected. We were covering for one another. Our ball screen defense was better. We didn’t get stretched. We contested shots. We stayed on down on shot fakes. We did all the little things well, and then that allowed us to kind of absorb the run that they went on, and then we shut them down, and then we made our run. Unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize that in the second half again, back to there were a lot of young athlete mistakes made down the stretch there with just covering from the wrong side, or doing certain things that young guys do. Unfortunately for us, we’re in a position where we have to depend on first year guys to be on the floor and do certain things.
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On what he saw from freshman Ishan Sharma in the game:
RON SANCHEZ: We want Ish [Ishan Sharma] to continue to come. You know, he handles the ball. He could do some things. He made a shot today. He made some decent plays. He got other guys some shots. I think his experience today hopefully will help him later. We’re encouraged by him. He was thrusted into the position today, and I think he did a really good job defensively as well.
On if he has updates on the injury statuses of Dai Dai Ames and Christian Bliss:
RON SANCHEZ: No, not at all. I mean, I don’t really know what happened to Ames, except that he rolled his ankle. How serious it is, we’ll find out. And Christian [Bliss] is basically day to day right now.
On what it means to add SMU, Cal, and Stanford to the ACC:
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RON SANCHEZ: Well, I will tell you, when we take that Cal trip, what that’s like after being on the road for back to back games is, you know, is definitely a competitive advantage for the home teams. I don’t know what we did wrong to have to go on the road to all three of these games. I thought that Coach Bennett had a little more respect in the league, but we’re going to figure it out when we get there. I think we have a good plan in place. But being here, this is obviously a fantastic institution. So is Cal, so it’s Stanford. And we’re happy that they’re in the league, and it’s gonna be a long trip, but you know it’s part of the journey.
The Plus/Minus: Virginia Basketball Falls to SMU in ACC Opener
Key Takeaways from UVA Basketball’s 63-51 Loss at SMU
Virginia vs. SMU Live Updates | NCAA Men’s Basketball
A First Half Plus/Minus: Virginia Basketball Keeps it Close vs Florida
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VIDEO/Transcript: Ron Sanchez Talks Virginia Basketball’s Loss at Florida
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
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About the Author
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Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.
The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.
According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.
Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.
A new effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs to help missing persons. (Ron Lach/Pexels.com)
HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.
The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.
Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.
“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”
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Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.
“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”
The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.
“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”
Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.
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“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.
“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”
She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.
“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”
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United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.
“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.
The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.
The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.
Reid said the goal is clear.
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“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”
