Cavaliers To Take On Eighth-Ranked Maryland Thursday

Story Links

Feb. 5, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The Game
Virginia stands at 12-7 overall and 3-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2002-2003. The Cavaliers are coming off an 80-60 loss to Georgia Tech (Feb. 1) at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Maryland, ranked eighth in The Associated Press and ninth in the USAToday/ESPN polls, stands at 14-4 overall and 6-1 in the ACC this season. In their last game, the Terrapins defeated Loyola College (Md.) 85-58 (Feb. 2) at Comcast Center in College Park, Md.

The Series vs. Maryland
Maryland leads the series with Virginia 95-62 in a rivalry that dates back to the 1912-13 season. After winning five consecutive meetings between 1992-1994, the Cavaliers have lost 13 of the last 18 contests, including both meetings last season. The Terrapins won 91-87 (Jan. 31) in Charlottesville in the first meeting last season and 112-92 (Mar. 3) in the final game at Cole Field House. In 2000-2001, UVa split a pair of games with Maryland with each team winning at home. Virginia earned a 99-78 victory (Jan. 31) in the first meeting of 2000-2001 in Charlottesville. Maryland gained a split in the season series with a 102-67 victory (Mar. 3) in College Park.

The Terrapins lead 54-19 in games played in College Park during the series. UVa won only 13 of 47 meetings at Cole Field House. Maryland is riding a nine-game winning streak at home over Virginia. The Cavaliers’ last victory in College Park was a 70-68 win on February 2, 1993.

The Cavaliers’ last four wins over the Terrapins (1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001) have occurred at University Hall in Charlottesville.

This is the 56th consecutive season the Cavaliers and Terrapins have met (every season since 1947-48), Virginia’s second-oldest opponent in terms of consecutive seasons met. They have played 119 games in that span. (Virginia’s oldest opponent in terms of consecutive seasons played is Virginia Tech-69 straight seasons).

Good Riddance
Virginia is hoping a change of scenery will bring them better luck in College Park as UVa makes its inaugural appearance in Comcast Center. After winning three consecutive games (1991, 1992 and 1993) at Cole Field House, the Cavaliers lost their final nine games at Cole Field House and were 13-34 all-time in the building. Those nine losses were by an average of 14.3 points per game. Only three of those games were decided by fewer than nine points.

The Cavaliers’ last victory in Cole Field House was a 70-68 triumph on February 4, 1993. It was the second of three consecutive two-point decisions at Cole. UVa won the first 76-74 in 1992, while the Terrapins won the third 70-68 in 1994 to begin their current nine-game winning streak in College Park.

UVa Vs. a Top 10 Maryland Team
Tonight’s game is Virginia’s 22nd meeting against an Associated Press top-10 Maryland team. The Cavaliers are 4-17 in those games and 1-8 in College Park. UVa’s lone victory over a top-10 Maryland squad in College Park was a 66-64 triumph on January 14, 1981 when the Terps were ranked 10th. In that meeting, the Cavaliers won on a last second jumper by Jeff Lamp.

The last time the Cavaliers defeated a top-10 Maryland team was in the first meeting of the 2000-2001 season in Charlottesville. UVa posted a 99-78 victory (Jan. 31) over the ninth-ranked Terrapins.

Billet and Watson Among NCAA Leaders
Junior guard Todd Billet and senior forward/center Travis Watson are ranked among the NCAA Division I leaders in free throw percentage and rebounding, respectively, for games played through February 3.

Billet is tied for seventh in the nation in free throw percentage at 92.3 percent (60-65).

Watson is 12th among all Division I players in rebounds with an average of 10.4 per game (187 in 18 games).