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Jan. 9, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –

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The Game
Virginia stands at 9-3 overall and 0-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2002-2003. UVa had its six-game winning streak snapped with a 75-63 loss to N.C. State (Jan. 5) in Raleigh, N.C. North Carolina is 9-4 overall and 1-0 in the ACC this season. In their last game, the Tar Heels defeated Davidson 79-64 (Jan. 8) in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Series vs. North Carolina
North Carolina leads the all-time series with the Cavaliers 114-45 in a rivalry that dates back to the 1910-11 season. Virginia swept the 2001-2002 season series, winning 71-67 (Jan. 12) in Chapel Hill and 73-63 (Feb. 12) in Charlottesville. It marked the second time in three seasons UVa has swept the season series from the Tar Heels. Virginia also swept the regular season series in 1999-2000 for the first time since the 1980-81 season. (UNC, however, won the meeting in the 1981 NCAA Tournament’s Final Four).

The Cavaliers have won three consecutive games in the series and five of the last six contests. The last time Virginia won three consecutive games against North Carolina was back in the early 1940s – 44-25 in 1939-40, 50-45 in 1942-43, and 39-36 in 1943-44. UVa has not won four consecutive games against the Tar Heels in more than 80 years. The Cavaliers won five straight games from the 1917-18 through 1919-20 seasons.

UVa split the 2000-2001 season series with the Tar Heels with both teams winning at home. North Carolina won the first meeting of 2001-2002 88-81 in Chapel Hill (Jan. 24), while Virginia posted an 86-66 victory in Charlottesville (Feb. 25) to begin its current three-game winning streak.

Virginia has won the previous three games and nine of the last 14 games in Charlottesville (1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002). Since University Hall opened for the 1965-66 season, North Carolina has won 22 of the 37 games between the two teams in the building. North Carolina leads the all-time series in games played in Charlottesville 40-27. Virginia has not won more than three consecutive home games over North Carolina since winning the first five games of the series played in Charlottesville from the 1910-11 through the 1919-20 seasons.

North Carolina has won nine of the last 15 games and 19 of the last 28 games between the two teams.

Shooting Lots of Three-Pointers Against the Tar Heels
Since the 1989-90 season, the Cavaliers attempted an average of 21.1 three-point field goals (655 in 31 games) per game against North Carolina. Virginia made 215 of those 655 attempts (32.8 percent) for 6.9 made threes per game. Since the 1988-89 season, the Cavaliers have attempted 20 or more threes in a game against the Tar Heels 20 times.

Three of Virginia’s top four and five of the Cavaliers’ top nine games in terms of three-point field goals attempted have come against North Carolina (the other four are against Clemson). Prior to attempting a school-record 38 three-pointers against Clemson (Jan. 15, 2000), Virginia’s 32 attempts against UNC on February 14, 1990 and March 7, 1997 marked the Cavaliers’ all-time high for three-pointers attempted in a game.

Virginia also set its school record for most three-point field goals made in the February 14, 1990 game against UNC with 15. (Virginia equaled the mark of 15 threes made in a game against Hampton on November 25, 1998.)

More Success in Second ACC Games
Virginia has lost its last eight ACC openers, including a 75-63 setback to N.C. State (Jan. 5) this season. However, UVa has fared much better in its second ACC contest of the season over the same span. Over the last seven years, the Cavaliers have won four times in their second ACC game. Three of the wins have come at home at University Hall and the fourth win came in Richmond (against Wake Forest in the 1997-98 season).

Last season was the first time in three years UVa didn’t win its second ACC game (a 68-52 loss at Clemson – Jan. 8).

Reunion Day
The Cavaliers are welcoming back more than 70 former players for today’s Reunion Day. Among some of the former players returning are: Chris Alexander (1993-96) – second all-time at UVa in blocked shots (148); Matt Blundin (1988-91) – also a three-year letter winning quarterback; Yuri Barnes (1992-95) – 127 career games played; Mel Kennedy (1985-88) – 18th in scoring (1,415 points); Tony Laquintano (1960-62) – 21st in scoring (1,263), two-time second-team All-ACC; Scott McCandlish (1970-72) – ninth in rebounding (761) and 36th in scoring (1,026 points); Jim Miller (1982-85) – 28th in scoring (1,218 points), tied for second in games played (132); Barry Parkhill (1971-73) – ACC 50th Anniversary Team selection, three-time All-ACC, 15th in scoring (1,437 points) at UVa. Roy Peabody, class of 1936, is also scheduled to be in attendance. He is the oldest living basketball alum that will be in attendance today.

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