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Preview: What UVA Basketball fans need to know about Wake Forest

Chris Graham
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Photo: Mike Ingalls/AFP

The Virginia kids talked, ahead of the Duke game, about the need to respect their opponent. Probably went overboard there: they practically asked for autographs and posed for selfies instead of trying to compete.

Let’s see if the ‘Hoos can get back on track Tuesday night against a Wake Forest team that seems to be better than me than its 15-14 record would seem to indicate.

The Deacs played Duke better in Cameron, lost by one in OT to Michigan – that one was back in November, but still.

And they’re 4-2 in their last six.

I wouldn’t look past them, is what I’m saying.

Game Details


Wake Forest (15-14, 6-10 ACC, NET: 69) at Virginia (25-4, 13-3 ACC, NET: 15)
Day/Time: Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET
TV: ACCN

Podcast


Getting to know: Wake Forest


6’7” sophomore Juke Harris is a big-time scorer (21.4 ppg, 6.6 rebounds/g, 45.4% FG, 34.7% 3FG, 7.0 FTAs/g).

I wonder who Ryan Odom puts on him, since Wake goes with a two-guard, three-forward lineup for about 65 percent of its minutes, with Harris alongside 6’7” senior Tre’Von Spillers (10.9 ppg, 5.7 rebounds/g, 54.2% FG, 33.3% 3FG), 6’8” junior Omaha Biliew (6.0 ppg, 43.4% FG, 35.4% 3FG) and 6’10” junior Cooper Schwieger (5.3 ppg, 54.8% FG, 39.3% 3FG).

The lineup has size – the starter the past two games at the point is 6’4” freshman Isaac Carr (6.5 ppg 22.5 minutes/g over the past two), and the off-guard is 6’5” junior Myles Colvin (12.2 ppg, 41.6% FG, 37.6% 3FG).

Colvin had 32 points (9-of-12 FG, 7-of-8 3FG, 7-of-7 FT) in Wake’s 88-83 win over Syracuse on Saturday.

The other options at guard are 6’5” sophomore Mehki Mason (7.1 ppg, 37.1% FG, 32.2% 3FG) and 6’2” sophomore Sebastian Akins (5.3 ppg, 41.4% FG, 14.3% 3FG).

Analytics: Wake Forest vs. UVA


Data: KenPom and CBB Analytics; rankings: among 365 D1 teams

Points per possession

Wake Forest offense: 1.171 PPP (66)
Virginia defense:
 0.963 PPP (16)

Virginia offense: 1.225 PPP (29)
Wake Forest defense: 1.065 PPP (111)

At the Rim

Wake Forest offense: 290/431, 66.1% (FGA/g: 323; FG%: 81)
Virginia defense: 264/474, 55.7% (FGA/g: 83; FG%: 17)

Virginia offense: 367/581, 63.2% (FGA/g: 104; FG%: 150)
Wake Forest defense: 316/472, 66.9% (FGA/g: 79; FG%: 320)

Paint 2s

Wake Forest offense: 165/345, 47.8% (FGA/g: 92; FG%: 34)
Virginia defense: 136/367, 37.1% (FGA/g: 307; FG%: 32)

Virginia offense: 116/266, 43.6% (FGA/g: 262; FG%: 118)
Wake Forest defense: 129/295, 43.7% (FGA/g: 157: FG%: 240)

Midrange 2s

Wake Forest offense: 69/188, 36.7% (FGA/g: 148; FG%: 176)
Virginia defense: 83/236, 35.2% (FGA/g: 336; FG%: 134)

Virginia offense: 40/96, 41.7% (FGA/g: 326; FG%: 47)
Wake Forest defense: 50/132, 37.9% (FGA/g: 35; FG%: 226)

Threes

Wake Forest offense: 263/768, 34.2% (3FGA/g: 62; 3FG%: 168)
Virginia defense:
 194/631, 30.7% (3FGA/g: 120; 3FG%: 35)

Virginia offense: 294/825, 35.6% (3FGA/g: 29; 3FG%: 86)
Wake Forest defense: 265/795, 33.3% (3FGA/g: 347; 3FG%: 141)

Free throws

Wake Forest defense: 20.6 FTAs/g (180); 76.7% (39)
Virginia defense: 19.8 FTAs/g (138)

Virginia offense: 20.6 FTAs/g (177); 71.6% (219)
Wake Forest defense: 21.1 FTAs/g (220)

Rebounds

Offensive-Wake Forest: 30.4% (193)
Defensive-Virginia:
 71.3% (98)

Offensive-Virginia: 38.5% (7)
Defensive-Wake Forest: 67.4% (287)

Turnover rate

Wake Forest offense: 15.5% (95)
Virginia defense:
 16.0% (233)

Virginia offense: 15.9% (126)
Wake Forest defense: 18.6% (79)

Analysis


Wake is too soft defensively – they give up a lot at the rim and in the paint, and don’t rebound well.

They can score, but could have a challenge against Virginia’s elite interior defense.

I would look for Virginia to get healthy offensively after the ugly outing at Duke.

Forecast


KenPom: Virginia 81-67
BartTorvik: Virginia 80-67
ESPN BPI: Virginia +11.1

ICYMI: UVA Basketball recent archives


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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].