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IBLESSING M BY WHITELAW REID IKE SCOTT'S SMILE fades quickly when he is asked about his ankle in- jury that cut his season short last year. "It was the lowest point that I ever felt," Scott said. "It was like somebody had it out for me. "It was very humbling. You just feel very depressed, a lot of depression. But I finally got over it and maybe it's a blessing in disguise." That's because Scott is fully healthy now and back for a fifth year after the NCAA granted him a medical redshirt. Returning for one more year will give Scott another crack at his first NCAA Tournament. "We definitely want to get there," Scott said. "This my last year — my last, last year — so I want to get to the Big Dance." The 23-year-old Scott is hoping he can pick up where he left off before his injury. During the 2010-11 season, he became the first Cavalier to post five consecutive double- doubles since Ralph Sampson in 1983. (Scott is tied for eighth on Virginia's career list for double-doubles with 24.) This season, Scott certainly seems like he means business. The 6-8 forward from Chesa- peake, Va., dropped about 20 pounds in the offseason. Scott said he went on a "Subway" diet, cutting out all fast food and late-night snacks. He said the results have been great, noting that he's quicker and is jumping higher than he has in a long time. Scott, who averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds before being shut down after 10 games, said his teammates have put their meltdown against Miami in the ACC Tourna- ment behind them — and are the better for it. "I had never seen anything like that," said Scott, when asked about the loss. "I was shocked. I didn't really realize what had hap- pened until like a day later. It really took me by surprise. "But it just shows that you have to finish out every game and don't take anything for granted. 20 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER I think we just had some turnovers, some fouls and they just made their shots and we didn't, and we just didn't take care of the ball." Scott, who could only watch from the bench in street clothes that day, is looking for- ward to erasing the memory. He realizes this season could be like a bonus season for him. "It's definitely exciting," said Scott, who was voted to the preseason All-ACC team (the first Virginia player to receive that honor since Sean Singletary). "I left off playing pretty well. I think there's still more to come in my game." While sitting on the sidelines, Scott saw several areas where he could improve. He says he realized the need to be quicker off the dribble against bigger defenders — and that he must work on finishing over them. In addition, the Hargrave Military alum came to understand the importance of creat- ing his own shot. Virginia head coach Tony Bennett is cer- tainly glad to have Scott back in the fold. "He's probably a little rusty from just not playing competitively," Bennett said, "but in terms of mobility, health and all that — he's been very good since we started our fall workouts and then official practices. "What he brings is an inside-outside pres- ence. He's not just your classic post-up, but he can work a little off the lane. He's worked on his shot and he's trimmed down, so he's a little more mobile than perhaps he was his first couple of years." Bennett said another plus of having Scott back will be more offensive balance. "Last year, we either had to penetrate to get there off the dribble and in the lane or it was shooting the three," he said. "We didn't generate as many free throw opportunities, and Mike will help us with that because he's shown the ability to score. "Even if he doesn't score a lot more — the attention he'll draw will open up opportuni- ties for other players, weak-side rebounding, maybe bigger gaps to drive. He certainly provides a threat that we did not have last year." A Season-Ending Ankle Injury In 2010-11 Has Given A Leaner And More Mature Mike Scott One More Shot At The NCAA Tournament Bennett has seen a different attitude in N DISGUISE Scott this season. He says having to sit out a season gave Scott a new "level of maturity." "I've seen a difference in Mike in terms of his efforts to try and lead," Bennett said. "Just from a psychological standpoint — anybody who's had an injury and had to sit out some- thing that they dearly wanted to be a part of — I think there can be a real positive with that and obviously I've seen that. Him and Sammy [Zeglinski] both want to really have a good senior campaign and move our program in the right direction." Zeglinski, who is also a fifth-year this sea- son, is glad to have somebody to share the brunt of all the "Grandpa" jokes from the younger players. "It's great to have him back," Zeglinski said. "To have him down low and be able to feed the ball to him — he always makes good decisions. "And defensively being able to have him back is definitely going to help us." Zeglinski, who's had his own share of inju- ries, can empathize with Scott. "It's always tough when you can't play and have to watch from the sideline," he said, "but I think he handled it well. He definitely grew as a player even when he wasn't playing — just being a student of the game, coaching from the sidelines and helping everybody out. "Now that he's back I think that's really helping him." Scott, an anthropology major who thinks he may want to go into coaching someday, said there's a major plus to being back as a fifth-year. "I can relax instead of trying to cram all the classes in," he said. "I'll just take one class in the fall — that's my only requirement, and then I'll get my degree and walk next May." ◆ Scott, who was voted to the preseason All-ACC team, averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds in 10 games in 2010-11 be- fore an ankle injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA