Cavaliers Look to Break School Record for Consecutive Non-conference Wins

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Dec. 17, 2001

Even legendary Virginia center Ralph Sampson didn’t win 23 consecutiveregular-season non-conference games during his illustrious tenure with theCavaliers.

That’s exactly what the seventh-ranked Cavaliers (5-0) will look to do whenthey play host to Charleston Southern on Monday.

Virginia has not lost a non-conference regular-season game since an 85-63setback to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 4, 1999. TheCavaliers haven’t lost a home non-conference game since 1989-90.

Sampson, the greatest player in Cavaliers’ history and NCAA Player of theYear from 1981-83, helped Virginia to a school-record 22 straight winsagainst non-conference foes from Nov. 21, 1981 to Dec. 19, 1982.

That streak ended with one of the more infamous losses in Virginia history -the Cavs’ stunning 77-72 setback at Chaminade on Dec. 23, 1982.

Virginia coach Pete Gillen has already warned the Cavs to be wary of anupset loss to the Buccaneers (3-4) on Monday.

“People are excited to play Virginia now, and we have to understand that,”Gillen said after the Cavs’ 77-72 victory over Auburn on Dec. 8.

“We’re the hunted now.”

Chris Williams, a Birmingham, Ala. native, had 14 points against in front ofhis hometown fans at Auburn as Virginia held on in its first true test ofthe young season. The Cavs had won their previous four games by an averageof nearly 28 points per contest.

Virginia will be meeting Charleston Southern for the first time, but doesboast a 16-1 all-time record against teams from the Big South.

The Bucs are coming off Saturday’s 64-55 triumph over North Greenville.

James Seegars scored a season-high 18 points and Mirko Mandic added 13 forCharleston Southern, which is beginning a stretch of three straight gamesagainst Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

After playing the Cavs, the Bucs will travel to North Carolina State onWednesday before Saturday’s matchup with Clemson.