UVa. basketball in AP Top 25

Will Tony Bennett’s fifth UVa. basketball team finally break through? Basketball writers seem to think so.

The Cavs were ranked 24th in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released Thursday. The preseason ranking is the first for the program since Virginia started the 2001-2002 season at #11.

The appearance in the poll is the first for UVa. since the ‘Hoos were ranked #24 in the Feb. 27, 2012 AP poll.

Virginia opens the 2013-14 season against James Madison on Friday, Nov. 8 at John Paul Jones Arena. Seniors Joe Harris (Chelan, Wash.) and Akil Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C.) lead the Cavaliers, who are picked to finish fourth in the ACC. Harris was named to the All-ACC preseason team after earning All-ACC first-team honors last season.

The Cavaliers are scheduled to face six teams in the preseason AP top 25: No. 4 Duke (away Jan. 13), No. 8 Syracuse (home March 1), No. 12 North Carolina (home Jan. 20), No. 14 vcu (home Nov. 12), No. 20 Wisconsin (home Dec. 4) and No. 21 Notre Dame (away Jan. 28 and home Feb. 22).

Single-game Virginia men’s basketball tickets are on sale and vary by opponent and seat location. Approximately 275 tickets remain for the home game against VCU (Nov. 12) and approximately 500 tickets remain for the home game against Syracuse (March 1).

Family Package tickets are available for home games against James Madison (Nov. 8), Liberty (Nov. 23), Northern Iowa (Dec. 21) and Norfolk State (Dec. 23). Each Family Package ticket includes an $8 voucher to be redeemed at any concession stand in JPJ.  The Family Package requires a minimum purchase of four (4) tickets.

A limited number of Virginia men’s basketball season tickets and mini-packages remain available. Tickets can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com. In-person or telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821) or in-person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium.