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Game Notes: #1 seed UVA opens ACC Tournament title defense Thursday

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storylogo2No. 1 seed UVA (28-2) plays No. 8 seed Clemson (16-14) or No. 9 seed Florida State (16-15) in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday (March 12). Tipoff at Greensboro Coliseum is set for 12 p.m.

 

For Openers

  • Virginia went 1-0 vs. No. 8 seed Clemson and 1-0 vs. No. 9 seed Florida State during the regular season.
  • The Cavaliers rank No. 1 nationally in scoring defense at 50.3 ppg, which is the third lowest average in the shot clock era (since 1986).
  • UVa’s 28-2 record ties for its best through 30 games (1981-82).
  • Justin Anderson has missed eight games with a fractured finger (Feb. 7) and appendectomy (March 5).

 

Broadcast Information

  • Virginia’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game will be televised on ESPN and the ACC Network, and streamed online at WatchESPN.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 Coach

  • Virginia: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992), 134-62 in six seasons at UVa and 203-95 in nine seasons overall.

 

UVa Ranked No. 3/4 in Latest National Polls

  • UVa is ranked Nos. 3 and 4 in the AP and USA Today coaches’ polls.
  • The Cavaliers have been ranked in the top 10 for the first 19 weeks of the season for the first time since 1982-83.
  • The Cavaliers achieved their first No. 2 ranking this season for the first time since March 8, 1983.
  • 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 21 straight weeks dating back to last season.

 

Virginia All-Time in the ACC Tournament

  • Virginia is 34-59 all-time in the ACC Tournament.
  • UVa is the reigning ACC Tournament champion after posting wins against Florida State, Pitt and Duke last season.
  • Virginia also captured the 1976 ACC Tournament championship with a 67-62 win over North Carolina.
  • Virginia is 16-24 in ACC Tournament games in Greensboro.
  • Tony Bennett is 4-4 all-time in the ACC Tournament.

 

All-Time vs. Clemson

  • Virginia is 71-52 all-time vs. Clemson, including a 6-1 record in the ACC Tournament, in the series that dates back to 1935-36.
  • The Cavaliers have a three-game winning streak vs. the Tigers and would meet Clemson in the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2004 (83-79 overtime win in the first round).
  • The Cavaliers are 3-2 in their last five meetings vs. Clemson and 6-4 in their last 10.
  • The Cavaliers went 1-0 vs. the Tigers during the regular season, posting a 65-42 win at John Paul Jones Arena on Jan. 13, 2015.
  • Head coach Tony Bennett is 5-3 all-time vs. Clemson.

 

All-Time vs. Florida State

  • Virginia is 22-22 all-time vs. Florida State, including a 1-0 mark in the ACC Tournament, in the series that dates back to 1991-92.
  • Last season, UVa defeated Florida State 64-51 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Greensboro, N.C.
  • Virginia has a four-game winning streak vs. Florida State and has won five of the last six contests in the series.
  • The Cavaliers posted a 51-41 win over Florida State in the only regular season meeting between the teams on Feb. 22
  • Head coach Tony Bennett is 5-5 all-time vs. Florida State.

 

Last Time Out

  • Louisville defeated Virginia 59-57 in the ACC regular season finale at KFC Yum! Center on March 7.
  • Mangok Mathiang hit the game-winning shot from the foul line extended with 2.7 seconds left in regulation.
  • Montrezl Harrell had a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Louisville.
  • Malcolm Brogdon led Virginia with 17 points and Darion Atkins added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
  • Virginia shot 47.7 percent from the floor, but was outrebounded 29-27 and had 13 turnovers.

 

On The Horizon

  • If Virginia defeats No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Florida State in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, the Cavaliers would advance to the semifinals on Friday, March 13. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.

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