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Fifth-ranked Virginia Hosts Rutgers Sunday
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Dec. 21, 2001
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia (2000-2001: 20-9/9-7 ACC), ranked fifth in the AP poll and fifth in the USAToday/ESPN poll, stands at 7-0 this season. The Cavaliers are coming off a 61-55 victory over 16th-ranked Georgetown (Dec. 20) at MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Rutgers (2000-2001: 11-16/3-13 Big East) stands at 8-2 in the 2001-2002 season. The Scarlet Knights, who have won eight consecutive games, are coming off a 67-51 victory over UMBC (Dec. 15) at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J.
The Series vs. Rutgers
Tonight’s game is just Virginia’s second meeting against Rutgers. UVa won the initial meeting 74-56 in the consolation game of the ECAC Holiday Festival December 29, 1986 at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
Virginia vs. the Big East
The Cavaliers are 116-87 (.571) against the 14 schools in the Big East Conference. Most of the games occurred prior to a school’s membership in the Big East. Tonight’s game is the third and final contest against Big East teams this season. UVa defeated Virginia Tech 69-61 (Dec. 1) at University Hall and Georgetown 61-55 (Dec. 20) at MCI Center.
In all games against the current membership of the Big East, Virginia is 72-44 vs. Virginia Tech, 10-12 vs. Georgetown, 8-8 vs. West Virginia, 7-3 vs. Pittsburgh, 5-1 vs. Notre Dame, 4-1 vs. Villanova, 3-0 vs. Boston College, 3-1 vs. Providence, 2-6 vs. Connecticut, 1-0 vs. Rutgers, 1-1 vs. Syracuse, 0-2 vs. Miami (Fla.) and Seton Hall, and 0-6 vs. St. John’s.
Virginia was the only ACC school to win all three games in the defunct ACC-Big East Challenge held from 1989-91. Syracuse was the only Big East school to win all three games in the challenge.
Cavaliers Move up to Fifth
Virginia is ranked fifth in The Associated Press (as well as the USAToday/ESPN) Poll, marking the Cavaliers’ highest ranking in the AP poll since the 1982-83 season. UVa was ranked fourth in the final AP poll of the 1982-83 season.
Non-Conference Regular Season Winning Streak
Virginia has won a school record 24 consecutive regular season games against non-conference opponents. The previous record for consecutive non-conference regular season victories was 22. During its current streak, UVa has won all three of its games against ranked non-ACC teams. Virginia beat fourth-ranked Tennessee 107-89 (Dec. 19) and 20th-ranked Missouri 85-72 (Jan. 20) during the 2000-01 season and defeated 16th-ranked Georgetown 61-55 on Thursday (Dec. 20) at MCI Center in Washington, D.C. The streak began with a 98-67 win against Loyola (Md.) at University Hall on December 8, 1999. The last time the Cavaliers lost to a non-conference opponent during the regular season was on December 4, 1999 when they lost 85-63 to St. John’s University at Madison Square Garden. Since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia won 22 consecutive non-conference regular season games from November 21, 1981 to December 19, 1982. UVa began the streak with a 63-61 win over Brigham Young (Dec. 19) to start the 1981-82 season. The streak ended the next season when Virginia lost to Chaminade 77-72 (Dec. 23).
Non-Conference Teams at University Hall
Virginia is 191-28 (.872) all-time in University Hall against non-conference opponents since the building opened for the 1965-66 season. The Cavaliers have won 73 of their last 82 home games, including the last 12, against non-conference opponents dating back to the 1989-90 season.
Back-to-Back 7-0 Starts
With its 7-0 start this season, Virginia has posted back-to-back 7-0 starts for the first time since the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons. The Cavaliers won their first 10 games of the 2000-2001 season.
In 1982-83, UVa won its first eight games to start the season, then Virginia won its first 10 games in the 1983-84 season.
Fewest Points in a Win Under Gillen
The Cavaliers scored just 61 points in their win over Georgetown (Dec. 20), marking the fewest points UVa has scored in a victory during Pete Gillen’s tenure as Virginia’s head coach.
The previous lowest point total in a Virginia win under Gillen was 62 points in a 62-53 victory over Washington State (Nov. 22) in the 1998 Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The last time Virginia scored less than 61 points in a victory was back in the 1997-98 season. The Cavaliers scored 59 points in a 59-56 win over N.C. State at University Hall (Jan. 18) in the 1997-98 season.