Cavaliers Advance To Championship Game Of Maui Invitational
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Nov. 27, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia (2001-2002: 17-12/7-9 ACC) has advanced to the championship game of the 19th annual Maui Invitational with a pair of victories. UVa defeated host Chaminade 86-72 (Nov. 25) and 15th-ranked Kentucky 75-61 (Nov. 26) at the Lahaina Civic Center. With the two wins the Cavaliers improve to 3-0 on the season. Indiana (2001-2002: 25-12/11-5 Big Ten) is ranked 19th in the AP Poll and 20th in the USAToday/ESPN Poll. The Hoosiers are 2-0 in the 2002-2003 season with Maui Invitational victories over Massachusetts (84-71) and 20th-ranked Gonzaga (76-75).
Playing for the Title
The Cavaliers have reached the championship game of the Maui Invitational for the second time and are seeking their first title. UVa won its first two games in the 1996 Maui Invitational before falling to Kansas 80-63 in the finals.
The Series vs. Indiana
Today’s game is Virginia’s third meeting with Indiana with the series tied at one game apiece. The series began in the 1962-63 season with Indiana recording a 90-59 victory (Dec. 1) in the Cavaliers’ season opener in Bloomington. UVa evened the series with a 50-48 victory (Mar. 24) in the 1984 NCAA East Regional Final in Atlanta, Ga.
Back-to-Back
The Cavaliers are trying to accomplish a feat which no Virginia men’s basketball team has been able to do in nearly 25 years – to win back-to-back games in consecutive days against nationally-ranked teams. The Cavaliers accomplished the first step with a 75-61 win over 15th-ranked Kentucky Tuesday (Nov. 26).
The last time UVa won back-to-back games in consecutive days against ranked teams was in the 1976-77 season when the Cavaliers defeated 16th-ranked Wake Forest 59-57 (Mar. 3) and 18th-ranked Clemson 72-60 (Mar. 4). The games took place in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C.
The last time Virginia defeated ranked teams in back-to-back games was in the 2000-2001 season. UVa posted a 99-78 win over ninth-ranked Maryland (Jan. 31) and an 82-71 victory over 16th-ranked Wake Forest (Feb. 3). Both games were in Charlottesville.
Virginia vs. the Big Ten
Virginia is 13-13 all-time against the 11 current Big Ten schools. UVa is 1-0 vs. Purdue, 5-2 vs. Penn State, 3-1 vs. Minnesota, 1-1 vs. Wisconsin and Indiana, 1-2 vs. Michigan, 1-3 vs. Ohio State, 0-1 vs. Iowa and 0-2 vs. Michigan State. The Cavaliers have never faced Illinois and Northwestern. In their last completed game against a Big Ten school, the Cavaliers defeated Purdue 98-79 (Nov. 29) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in the 2000-2001 season in Charlottesville. UVa was scheduled to play Michigan State last year in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Nov. 28) at the Richmond Coliseum, but the game was halted with UVa leading 31-28 with 15:04 left in the contest due to wet floor conditions.
Jenifer Sets Career High
Sophomore guard Keith Jenifer became the third returning player to establish a new career high in scoring this season. Jenifer tallied 13 points in UVa’s 75-61 victory over Kentucky (Nov. 26). His previous career high was 10 points against Duke (Feb. 28) last season. Jenifer also handed out six assists (with no turnovers) against the Wildcats, just one shy of his career-high set against Long Island (Nov. 22) earlier this season.