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Dec. 29, 2000
Keith Friel hopes for a happy homecoming Saturday as he leads Virginiaintoa non-conference game at Dartmouth.
Friel, a native of Durham, N.H., has become the top 3-point threat offthebench for the No. 9 Cavaliers (9-0). After transferring from Notre Dame, theguard has found his niche for Pete Gillen’s uptempo squad, averaging 10.6points. He is shooting a team-leading 24-for-44 on 3-pointers (54.5percent).
Friel hit three 3s as Virginia routed Bucknell 99-49 Thursday. TravisWatsonhad 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 20 minutes for the Cavaliers, whoforced27 turnovers that led to 40 points.
“Our defense was excellent,” Gillen said. “The defense helped us getpoints, and we were very unselfish.”
Virginia has topped 90 points in five of nine games, and is averaging94.5points in its last six. Roger Mason is averaging a team-best 15.9 points,oneof six Cavaliers in double figures. Watson (13.7 ppg), Chris Williams (13.5ppg), Donald Hand (11.9 ppg), Friel and Adam Hall (10.3 ppg) also factorheavily in Virginia’s offense.
Dartmouth (2-7) is playing host to a ranked ACC powerhouse for thesecondtime in three seasons. North Carolina completed a home-and-home series withtheBig Green in the 1998-99 season and posted an 82-68 win at Leede Arena.
Dartmouth is coming off an 81-62 setback at Minnesota on Dec. 22. GregButh,a Minnesota native, was held to seven points on 3-for-10 shooting in hisreturnhome as the Big Green shot just 36.2 percent from the field and wereoutrebounded 40-33.
Mark Kissling had a season-high 18 points for Dartmouth, which is 0-5on theroad this season. Buth is averaging 18.6 points and shooting 37.1 percent on3-pointers. The loss at Minnesota ended his four-game streak of scoring atleast 20 points.
Dartmouth is shooting just 38.2 percent from the field, including 31.6percent on 3s.