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Men's Basketball Hosts High Point Sunday Afternoon
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Nov. 29, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia stands at 2-0 in the 2003-2004 season after defeating in-state rival Virginia Tech 80-65 Friday (Nov. 28) at University Hall. UVa finished the 2002-2003 season with a 16-16 overall record and a 6-10 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Pete Gillen’s fifth year as Virginia’s head coach. High Point stands at 1-2 on the season. The Panthers are coming off an 84-49 loss at Michigan (Nov. 26). High Point finished the 2002-2003 season with a 7-20 overall record and a 3-11 mark in the Big South.
The Series vs. High Point
Today’s game is the first meeting between Virginia and High Point in men’s basketball.
Virginia vs. the Big South Conference
Against the nine current members of the Big South Conference, the Cavaliers are 112-16 all-time. Virginia is 99-15 vs. VMI, 4-0 vs. Radford, 5-1 vs. Liberty, 2-0 vs. Winthrop, and 1-0 vs. Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern. Of the Big South’s current membership, Virginia has never faced Birmingham-Southern, High Point or North Carolina-Asheville. VMI and Birmingham-Southern are first-year members of the Big South. The Cavaliers play at VMI on December 5.
UVa defeated Liberty 77-58 (Dec. 30) in Charlottesville in its only contest against a Big South opponent last season.
There have been eight other schools that have been members of the Big South Conference at one time or another since 1986. Virginia is 18-1 against schools in the Big South at game time.
Head Coach Pete Gillen
Pete Gillen is in his 19th season as a collegiate head coach and sports a 362-193 record for a .652 winning percentage. Gillen is in his sixth season at Virginia and has posted an 88-65 record (.575 winning percentage).
Gillen won his 350th career game on December 21, 2002 when his Cavaliers posted a 61-57 victory over Rutgers. His 300th career victory came when Virginia defeated then 21st-ranked North Carolina 87-85 on January 18, 2000 at University Hall.
Gillen has led his teams to postseason play 15 times in 18 seasons (nine NCAA, six NIT), including the last four seasons at Virginia. He has been selected as the conference Coach of the Year five times – all while coaching Xavier (Midwestern Collegiate Conference).
Non-Conference Wins at University Hall
Virginia is 203-29 for an impressive .875 winning percentage all-time in University Hall against non-conference opponents. The Cavaliers’ 87-65 victory (Jan. 2, 2003) over Wofford marked their 200th victory over a non-conference opponent at University Hall since the building opened for the 1965-66 season.
The Cavaliers have won 85 of their last 95 home games (.895 winning percentage) against non-conference opponents dating back to the 1989-90 season. UVa had its 15-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents snapped with a 74-67 loss to South Carolina in the first round of the 2002 National Invitation Tournament (Mar. 13). Virginia’s previous home non-conference loss was also in the NIT as the Cavaliers fell to Georgetown 115-111 in triple overtime in the first round of the 2000 NIT (Mar. 15).
The last time UVa lost a regular season home game to a non-conference opponent was December 12, 1998 when the Cavaliers fell to 12th-ranked St. John’s 95-68. Virginia has won 29 consecutive regular season home games against non-conference foes.
Smith Returns to Lineup
After missing the Cavaliers’ season-opener against Mount St. Mary’s (Nov. 23) and the second exhibition game Against Coaches vs. Cancer All-Stars (Nov. 18), junior Devin Smith returned to the lineup against Virginia Tech (Nov. 28). In 16 minutes of action off the bench, Smith tallied five points and seven rebounds. He was out with an injured back.
Mapp Making an Impact
Guard Majestic Mapp has made an impact in the first two games of the season. He is averaging six points, four assists and two rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.
He opened the season with six points and three assists with only one turnover in 23 minutes against Mount St. Mary’s (Nov. 23). Against Virginia Tech (Nov. 28), Mapp totaled six points, five assists, and four rebounds with only one turnover in 24 minutes of playing time.
Last season Mapp averaged 2.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 15.6 minutes of action per game. He played in 18 of 32 games last season, including the final 17 games.