Cavaliers To Host Florida State Wednesday Night
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Jan. 28, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia stands at 11-6 overall and 2-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2002-2003. The Cavaliers snapped a three-game losing streak with an 85-75 victory over 17th-ranked Wake Forest (Jan. 23) at University Hall. Florida State stands at 10-7 overall and 1-5 in the ACC this season. In their last game, the Seminoles lost to Wake Forest 71-60 (Jan. 26) in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Series vs. Florida State
Virginia holds a 13-9 lead in the series with Florida State. The Cavaliers had their three-game winning streak in the series snapped with a 66-59 loss (Feb. 20) to the Seminoles in Tallahassee last season. UVa won the first game of the 2001-2002 season series 91-74 (Jan. 20) in Charlottesville. Virginia swept the 2000-2001 season series from Florida State for the first time since 1996-97. UVa won the first meeting in the 2000-2001 season, 89-71 (Jan. 16) in Charlottesville. Virginia earned the sweep with a 69-66 victory (Feb. 17) in Tallahassee on a three-pointer by Roger Mason, Jr. with one second remaining.
The Cavaliers have won five of the last seven meetings after FSU won three consecutive contests (71-63 and 88-63 in the 1997-98 season and 72-69 in the 1998-99 campaign).
Virginia is 7-4 versus Florida State at University Hall and has won its last three home contests against the Seminoles after losing the previous two. The Seminoles’ last win over Virginia at University Hall was a 72-69 triumph (Dec. 1) in the 1998-99 season.
Overall in the series, eight of Virginia’s 13 wins over the Seminoles have been by nine points or less, while three of its losses have been by 15 or more points. In addition, five of FSU’s last six wins have been by fewer than nine points. Six of the last eight meetings (dating back to the 1998-99 season) have been decided by seven points or less. The only two games that were decided by more than seven points were the first meeting in 2000-2001 which UVa won by 18 points (89-71) and the first meeting last season which the Cavaliers won by 17 points (91-74). The Cavaliers have won three of those six close games.
He’s Back
After missing 70 consecutive games spanning 1,032 days, junior guard Majestic Mapp made his long anticipated return to the Cavalier lineup against North Carolina (Jan. 11). Mapp entered the game to a standing ovation with 7:23 remaining in the first half and played just over two minutes.
Mapp had been sidelined after tearing the ACL in his right knee on August 2, 2000. He missed the entire 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. The last time Mapp had played for UVa was March 15, 2000 against Georgetown in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
After not seeing any action in the Cavaliers’ games at Duke (Jan. 15) and at Clemson (Jan. 18), Mapp played six minutes against Virginia Tech (Jan. 21). He scored three points (on a three-point field goal), grabbed one rebound and handed out one assist.
Mapp saw his most significant playing time of the season in the Cavaliers’ 85-75 victory over Wake Forest (Jan. 23). In 17 minutes of action, Mapp had three points, four assists and one steal with only one turnover.
‘Hoos Starting
The Cavaliers have played 17 games this season and have used nine different starting lineups. UVa’s latest starting lineup (vs. Wake Forest – Jan. 23) featured sophomore forward Jason Clark, senior forward/center Travis Watson, junior center Nick Vander Laan, sophomore guard/forward Devin Smith and junior guard Todd Billet. Those five comprised UVa’s ninth different starting lineup this season.
Billet and Watson lead the team with 15 starts apiece, while sophomore guard Keith Jenifer has drawn 14 starting assignments. Smith has started 13 games, while sophomore forward Elton Brown has started nine times and freshman forward Derrick Byars has eight starts. Eight different players have started games this season for Virginia and all eight have at least three starts this season.
Billet Heating Up
In his last five games, junior guard Todd Billet has averaged 19.2 points per game (and 22.5 points per game in his last four ACC games). He has made 30 of 61 attempts from the field for 49.2 percent and 20 of 42 three-point attempts for 47.6 percent. Billet made an ACC season-high seven three-pointers against Clemson (Jan. 18) which ties for the sixth highest single game total in school history.
Billet is averaging 14.1 points per game overall (12th in the ACC) and 20.0 points per ACC contest. On the season, Billet has made 47 three-point field goals (2.76 per game – 3rd in the ACC) and is shooting 38.2 percent from behind the arc (7th in the ACC). In ACC play, he has made 19 of 41 three-point attempts (46.3 percent).