Home Game Notes: #2 UVA basketball hosts Virginia Tech in ACC action on Saturday
Sports

Game Notes: #2 UVA basketball hosts Virginia Tech in ACC action on Saturday

Contributors

Clash_smallNo. 2 UVA (26-1, 14-1 ACC) hosts archrival Virginia Tech (10-18, 2-13 ACC) in a Commonwealth Clash game on Saturday (Feb. 28). Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 4 p.m.

 

For Openers

  • UVa ranks first nationally in scoring defense at 49.9 points per game, which is the third lowest average in the shot clock era (since 1986).
  • Virginia is first in the ACC at 14-1, while Virginia Tech is 14th at 2-13.
  • Virginia’s 26-1 record ties its best 27-game start in school history (26-1 start in 1981-82).
  • The Cavaliers have won 23 or more games in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1981-83.
  • Virginia has 14 or more ACC wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.
  • UVa has held its opponents to fewer than 50 points in five of the last six games.
  • Junior guard Justin Anderson fractured a finger on his left hand on Feb. 7 and is out 4-6 weeks.
  • Sophomore guard London Perrantes, who missed the Wake Forest game, remains day-to-day after suffering a broken nose and mild concussion vs. Florida State on Feb. 22.

 

Commonwealth Clash

  • The Virginia-Virginia Tech game is part of the Virginia 529 Commonwealth Clash, which is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams of the Hoos and Hokies.
  • The competition includes the 21 sports in which the two schools compete against each other, plus one fan-decided point.
  • Today’s game is sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of University of Virginia Athletics.
  • The UVa-VT game is worth a half point in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash.
  • The Cavaliers entered the week with a 7-2.5 lead in the Clash.
  • Learn more about Virginia529 and this new competition at TheCommonwealthClash.com. “Who will surrender, Hokie or Hoo? It could be up to you.”

 

Senior Day

  • Seniors Rob Vozenilek, Maleek Frazier and Darion Atkins, and managers Marcus Conrad, Reid Moseley and Aaron Paul will be honored prior to the game.

 

Game Day Recycling Challenge

  • Virginia is one of 392 schools, competing to reduce waste and increase recycling on campuses nationwide.
  • The Game Day Recycling Challenge brings this competition courtside, with over 100 Virginia student volunteers helping fans at the UVa-Virginia men’s basketball game divert recycling and compost out of the trash.

 

Broadcast Information

  • The Virginia-Wake Forest game will be televised on the ACC Network and streamed online at ESPN3.com.
  • The game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network, VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Athletics mobile app on iTunes or Android.
  • Live statistics will be located on VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.

 

The Head Coaches

  • Virginia: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992), 132-61 in six seasons at UVa and 201-94 in nine seasons overall.
  • Virginia Tech: Buzz Williams (Oklahoma City University, 1994), 10-18 in first season at Virginia Tech and 163-104 in eight seasons overall.

 

UVa Ranked No. 2/3 in Latest National Polls

  • UVa is ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the AP and USA Today coaches’ polls.
  • The Cavaliers were ranked No. 2 in both polls from Jan. 12-Feb. 1.
  • Prior to this year, the Cavaliers achieved their last No. 2 ranking on March 8, 1983.
  • Virginia has delivered three of the 14 home losses by teams currently ranked in the top 17 of this week’s AP poll (Notre Dame, North Carolina, Maryland) and the Cavaliers’ four road wins over current top 25 teams lead the nation.
  • The Cavaliers have been ranked in the top 10 for the first 17 weeks of the season for the first time since 1982-83.
  • The No. 9 AP preseason ranking was UVa’s best since a No. 1 ranking to start the 1982-83 season.
  • UVa is one of three teams (Duke and Arizona) that have been ranked in the top 10 for 19 straight weeks dating back to last season.

 

Virginia All-Time vs. Virginia Tech

  • Virginia is 87-53 all-time vs. Virginia Tech in the series that dates back to 1914-15.
  • The Cavaliers have won six straight games against Virginia Tech, including a 50-47 decision on Jan. 25 in Blacksburg, and eight of the last nine contests in the series.
  • The Cavaliers are 35-12, including a 5-3 mark at John Paul Jones Arena, against the Hokies in Charlottesville.
  • Virginia has a two-game home winning streak against the Hokies.
  • Head coach Tony Bennett is 8-3 all-time vs. Virginia Tech.

 

Last Time vs. Virginia Tech

  • Justin Anderson scored eight of his 12 points during a late 12-0 run to send No. 2 Virginia to a 50-47 victory at Virginia Tech on Jan. 25.
  • Virginia Tech went on a 16-0 run after Malcolm Brogdon (8 points) opened the second half with a 3-pointer for the Cavaliers, who have won five straight games against the Hokies in Blacksburg.
  • Darion Atkins chipped in nine points, and Anthony Gill added eight points and seven rebounds for Virginia.
  • London Perrantes had a game-high seven assists for Virginia, which outrebounded Virginia Tech 33-21.
  • Adam Smith led the Hokies with 15 points.

 

Last Time Out

  • Anthony Gill had 11 points and Darion Atkins added 10 as No. 2 Virginia posted a 70-34 road win at Wake Forest on Feb. 25.
  • All 11 Cavaliers who saw action scored, including Rob Vozenilek (3 points) and Maleek Frazier, who scored his first career points.
  • UVa shot 50 percent (28-56) from the field and held the Demon Deacons to 21.8 percent (12-55).
  • The Cavaliers owned a 45-29 advantage on the glass, led by Isaiah Wilkins’ season-high nine rebounds.
  • Virginia had a commanding 46-14 advantage on points in paint.

 

On The Horizon

  • Virginia plays at Syracuse on Monday, March 2. Tipoff at Carrier Dome is set for 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN as part of ACC Big Monday.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.