Game Preview: #7 Virginia looks to get back on track with NC State

It’s raining, it’s snowing, the frustration of Virginia basketball fans is showing.

The Cavs’ seven-game winning streak was snapped in dramatic, controversial fashion on Saturday in Durham, when a runner in the lane by Grayson Allen at the buzzer lifted Duke to a 63-62 win.

With the upheaval at the top of the national polls, breaking news there, that we had more upheaval, UVA (20-5, 9-4 ACC) would have likely risen all the way to #3 in the rankings.

Instead, Virginia starts the week tied for third in the ACC, a game and a half back of UNC.

And sure, none of that matters, but even so …

NC State comes to town, along with snow falling in Central Virginia, Monday night. The Pack (13-12, 3-9 ACC) feature the ACC’s leading scorer, Cat Barber, and little else.

After the game with State, Virginia gets a week off to rest, recover and get ready for the stretch run, with Miami next on the schedule.

After a heartbreaking loss at Duke, and a week off to look ahead to Miami, with what we can expect will be a much-less-than-capacity crowd with the snow, this one has the makings of a trap game, so beware.

 

Inside NC State

• More Cat Barber, anyone? The 6’2” junior leads the ACC in scoring at 24.1 points per game. And yes, he’s a volume shooter, averaging 17.2 shots a game, hitting 43.0 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three. And yes, he gets to the line: averaging 8.8 free-throw attempts per, and shooting 86.7 percent. Barber also creates for his teammates, putting in 4.6 assists per game. Malcolm Brogdon, who checked Grayson Allen and then Brandon Ingram at Duke, likely gets some fun with Mr. Barber.
• Two other volume shooters for State: Maverick Rowan averages 6.9 three-point attempts per game (and shoots 33.5 percent from three), and Caleb Martin averages 6.6 three-point attempts per game (connecting on 35.2 percent).
• The Pack’s best post option is 6’8” sophomore Abu Abdul-Malik, who scores 12.8 points per game on 46.8 percent shooting and averages 8.6 rebounds per game.
• Offense: State averages 76.2 points per game, eighth in the ACC, shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 13th in the ACC, and 34.6 percent from three, 10th in the ACC, scoring 1.118 points per possession, eighth in the ACC and 37th nationally. State is fourth in the ACC in offensive-rebound percentage (37.2 percent).
• Defense: NC State allows 73.2 points per game, 14th in the ACC, and allows opponents to shoot 42.7 percent, seventh in the ACC, and 37.5 percent from three, 14th in the ACC, scoring 1.013 points per possession, 12th in the ACC and 127th nationally. State is 11th in the ACC in defensive rebounding percentage (69.9 percent).
• Tempo: 68.2 possessions per game.

 

Inside Virginia

• Anthony Gill has been battling it for the past couple of weeks. The 6’8” senior has averaged 10.5 points per game over his last four, down from his season average of 14.2, shooting 43.8 percent from the field (season average: 57.8 percent) and pulling down just nine rebounds total over his past three (season average: 5.8).
• Offense: UVA averages 71.0 points per game, 13th in the ACC, shooting 49.5 percent from the field, best in the ACC, and 39.8 percent from three, best in the ACC, scoring 1.171 points per possession, fourth in the ACC and 12th nationally. The Cavs are 14th in the ACC in offensive rebound percentage (29.5 percent).
• Defense: The world is back on its axis with Virginia leading the ACC in scoring defense (59.8 points per game). UVA opponents shoot 41.7 percent from the floor (fifth in the ACC) and 34.6 percent from three (ninth in the ACC) and score .924 points per possession, second in the ACC and ninth nationally. Virginia leads the ACC in defensive rebound percentage (75.0 percent).
• Tempo: 61.8 possessions per game.

– Preview by Chris Graham