The UVA Basketball program is back in the AP Top 25, voted this week to the #24 spot – note to the writers: Virginia is 17 in the NET; might need to start paying closer attention.
The ‘Hoos (8-1) face Maryland Eastern Shore (4-8, NET: 338) tonight at 7 p.m. ET at JPJ.
The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and the Virginia Sports Radio Network, ahead of an 11-day exam break.
The game after the break is interesting: Maryland.
The Terps are only 6-4 in Year 1 of the Buzz Williams era, but hey, we get to see Buzz roaming the sidelines at JPJ again.
That one is on Saturday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN.
Tonight, we’re on the streaming, facing a team with two D1 wins, and two non-D1 wins.
To their credit, the Murder Hawks – OK, they’re actually just the Hawks, but that’s just because the PR people there don’t see the potential – took Georgia Tech to OT in a 56-52 loss in their Nov. 3 season opener.
I had to double-check the score of their next game to make sure it was right – they lost 94-29 at Georgia on Nov. 5.
They did beat Longwood, 83-82, in another OT game, Nov. 18.
DraftKings has Virginia as a 37.5-point favorite, with a 135.5 over/under, suggesting a final score in the range of 87-49 ‘Hoos.
Update: 7:09 p.m. Game tied at 10-10, 14:35/1st
Not a lot of D being played.
Maryland Eastern Shore is 4-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-4 from three.
Update: 7:16 p.m. Virginia 21-10, 11:42/1st
That was better.
The Murder Hawks haven’t scored in 3:12.
Virginia is 6-of-10 from three; five different guys have threes.
Update: Virginia 38-18, 5:38/1st
Just eight points in the last 9:16 for Maryland Eastern Shore.
On the other end: UVA is 10-of-15 from three. Jacari White: 0-of-1 3FG.
Update: Virginia 41-24, 3:39/1st
More playing with their food, which is understandable: this one is the last game before an 11-day break, and they’re playing a guarantee team.
Exams start on Thursday.
Not that anybody out there is taking 15 credit hours.
Half: Virginia 46, Maryland Eastern Shore 32
Ugly end to the first half for the ‘Hoos, who led 38-15 with 7:12 to go, and were outscored 17-8 thereafter.
Playing with their food.
Gotta break that habit. The games are about to get tougher.
Virginia was 11-of-19 from three, 4-of-7 at the rim, missed two mid-range jumpers.
MES was 13-of-28 from the floor, which is unacceptable.
The Murder Hawks averaged 1.000 points per possession. They were averaging 0.942 PPP coming in, and should be scoring more in the range of 0.840 PPP in this one.
Update: 8:10 p.m. Virginia 53-38, 14:15/2nd
I’m glad I didn’t risk my life driving over to see a game the UVA kids don’t seem to want to play.
UMES cut the lead to 10 a couple of times here.
I’d have guys running gassers starting around 9:45 p.m.
Update: 8:19 p.m. Virginia 61-44, 11:25/2nd
Virginia is 9-of-18 at the rim, to answer one question that I know you had.
Should be 12 or 13 makes there.
I hate these kinds of games. Can’t wait until we get back to the competitive stuff.
Update: 8:28 p.m. Virginia 76-48, 8:03/2nd
UVA on a 12-0 run. The Murder Hawks are out of gas.
Chance Mallory has 10 points, five assists, six steals.
Johann Grunloh has seven points, six boards, three blocks.
Final: Virginia 84, Maryland Eastern Shore 60
Recap to come.
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Chris Graham
