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Jan. 14, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia stands at 10-3 overall and 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2003-2004 season. The Cavaliers are coming off a 93-71 loss to second-ranked Duke (Jan. 11) in Charlottesville, Va. Georgia Tech is ranked 12th in The Associated Press and 14th in the USAToday/ESPN polls and stands at 12-2 overall and 0-1 in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 103-88 loss to then 12th-ranked North Carolina (Jan. 11) in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Series vs. Georgia Tech
Each team has had a stretch of dominating the series, which Georgia Tech now leads 33-26. The Cavaliers held the lead until the Yellow Jackets passed Virginia by winning 23 of the last 30 meetings, including 12 of the last 14. Last season, Georgia Tech swept the season series, registering an 80-60 win (Feb. 1) in Atlanta and a 90-73 victory (Mar. 5) in Charlottesville. The Jackets’ currently have a three-game winning streak in the series.
In the 2001-2002 season, Virginia snapped a four-game losing streak to Georgia Tech with a 69-65 victory (Jan. 22) over the Jackets in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets earned a split in the season series with an 82-80 victory (Feb. 23) in Charlottesville. It is the first time in the history of the series (which dates back to 1947-48) that both teams won on the other team’s home floor in the same season.
The Jackets hold a 21-8 advantage in games played in Atlanta in the series and have won 12 of the last 14 in the Peachtree city. UVa snapped a seven-game losing streak to Georgia Tech in Atlanta with its 69-65 victory (Jan. 22) in the 2001-2002 season. Prior to the 2001-2002 win, Virginia’s 83-60 win (Feb. 22) in 1995 was its most recent victory over the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. The 23-point margin of victory is Virginia’s largest in the series since a 91-59 win in 1984 in Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers have won three of five overtime contests in the series, but their 74-68 overtime loss to Georgia Tech in the 1998-99 season snapped a three-game extra session winning streak. The Jackets won the first overtime game in the series 72-71 in triple overtime in the 1983-84 season.
The Cavaliers opened the series with Georgia Tech by winning 10 of the first 13 games, including eight straight from 1981-1983.
UVa vs. Ranked Georgia Tech Teams
The Cavaliers are 7-10 all-time against Associated Press Poll ranked Yellow Jackets teams and are 2-5 in games played in Atlanta. UVa’s top win against a ranked Georgia Tech team in Atlanta was on February 22, 1990 – a 73-71 win over the #8 Yellow Jackets. Virginia also beat #6 Georgia Tech at home – 62-55 on February 16, 1985. The last time Virginia played a ranked Georgia Tech (23rd) team was February 21, 1996 in Charlottesville – an 84-75 loss. The last time UVa played a ranked Jackets (#24) team in Atlanta was February 22, 1995 – an 83-60 win.
Spreading Minutes Around
Virginia has nine players who are averaging 10 or more minutes per game. The Cavaliers also have just one player who is averaging more than 30 minutes per game – senior Todd Billet at 31.9 minutes per game.