Cavaliers To Begin ACC Play Sunday

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Jan. 3, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –

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The Game
Virginia (2001-2002: 17-12/7-9 ACC) stands at 9-2 this season. In its last game, UVa defeated Wofford College 87-65 Thursday (Jan. 2) at University Hall for its sixth consecutive victory. N.C. State (2001-2002: 23-11/9-7 ACC) is 7-2 in 2002-2003. The Wolfpack, ranked 24th in the USAToday/ESPN Poll, is coming off a 68-56 loss to Massachusetts (Jan. 2) in Amherst, Mass.

The Series vs. N.C. State
N.C. State leads the overall series with Virginia 73-49 (dating back to 1912-13), including three wins in the 2001-2002 season. The Wolfpack won 81-74 (Jan. 5) in Charlottesville, 85-68 (Feb. 6) in Raleigh, and 92-72 (Mar. 8) in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C. Despite the three losses last season, the Cavaliers have won 15 of 24 contests against NCSU in the last 11 seasons. Since 1980, the Cavaliers are 32-19 in all games against the Wolfpack.

Including its three wins last season, N.C. State has won four consecutive games in the series with Virginia (and five of the last six). The Wolfpack also won the second meeting of the 2000-2001 season 90-80 (Feb. 7) in Raleigh to begin its current streak. The Cavaliers’ last win in the series was an 88-81 triumph (Jan. 6) in the 2000-2001 season.

The two teams had split the regular season series four consecutive seasons before N.C. State swept the series last year. It marked the Wolfpack’s first sweep over UVa since winning both match-ups (by a combined seven points) in 1988. Virginia has swept the season series six times since then, but the last time UVa swept the season series was in the 1996-97 season.

The Cavaliers have not found their trips to N.C. State very hospitable over the years, as they have won only 16 of 53 games all-time against the Wolfpack in Raleigh. UVa lost its first three games at the RBC Center (formerly the Entertainment and Sports Arena) – 65-62 – Jan. 12, 2000, 90-80 – Feb. 7, 2001 and 85-68 – Feb. 6, 2002) and have lost five consecutive road games to N.C. State. UVa’s last win in Raleigh was a 55-46 triumph on February 19, 1997. Virginia was only 15-30 all-time in Reynolds Coliseum (including games in the ACC Tournament) against the Wolfpack. In games in Raleigh since 1979-80, UVa is 11-11.

200
The Cavaliers’ 87-65 victory (Jan. 2) over Wofford marked their 200th victory over a non-conference opponent at University Hall since the building opened for the 1965-66 season. Virginia is 200-29 for an impressive .873 winning percentage all-time in University Hall against non-conference opponents.

Virginia in ACC Openers
Virginia is 19-30 all-time in ACC season openers. UVa is 13-15 in home ACC openers and 6-15 on the road. The Cavaliers have lost their last seven ACC openers. Virginia’s last win in an ACC opener was an 81-75 victory at Florida State in the 1994-95 season.

Tonight’s game is the third time in 50 years that UVa has opened the ACC season against N.C. State. In its first ACC opener against the Wolfpack, UVa lost to top-ranked N.C. State 101-72 in Raleigh on December 7, 1974. Last season, Virginia fell to the Wolfpack 81-74 in Charlottesville on January 5, 2002.

Virginia is 5-3 vs. Wake Forest, 3-2 vs. Florida State, 1-0 vs. Georgia Tech and South Carolina, 8-13 vs. Duke, 1-7 vs. Maryland, 0-2 vs. North Carolina and N.C. State, and 0-1 vs. Clemson all-time in ACC openers.

20/20
Against Wofford (Jan. 2), senior forward/center Travis Watson accomplished what no UVa player has been able to do in 20 years – register 20 or more points and rebounds in the same game. In the Cavaliers’ 87-65 victory, Watson scored 21 points and pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds.

The last Virginia player to accomplish the feat was Ralph Sampson on Jan. 12, 1983 when he had 33 points and 21 rebounds against N.C. State.