Story Links
Jan. 7, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The Game
Virginia enters tonight’s game with a 9-2 overall record and an 0-1 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers are coming off an 80-79 double overtime win over Western Kentucky (Jan. 5) at University Hall.
Georgia Tech stands at 10-2 overall and 1-0 in the ACC and is ranked ninth in The Associated Press Poll and 10th in the ESPN/USAToday Poll. The Yellow Jackets are coming off an 80-69 win over Miami (Jan. 6) in Atlanta.
The Series vs. Georgia Tech
Each team has had a stretch of dominating the series, which Georgia Tech now leads 34-27. The Cavaliers held the lead until the Yellow Jackets passed Virginia by winning 24 of the last 32 meetings, including 13 of the last 16.
Georgia Tech won the initial meeting of the 2003-2004 season 75-57 (Jan. 15) in Atlanta, but the Cavaliers earned a split in the series with an 82-80 win (Feb. 14) in Charlottesville. The victory snapped UVa’s four-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets. In 2002-2003, Georgia Tech swept the season series, registering an 80-60 win (Feb. 1) in Atlanta and a 90-73 victory (Mar. 5) in Charlottesville.
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 22-8 advantage in games played in Atlanta in the series and have won 13 of the last 15 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 8-11 all-time against Associated Press ranked Yellow Jackets teams, but are only 2-6 in games played in Atlanta. UVa is 6-3 in games played in Charlottesville and 0-2 in ACC Tournament games against ranked Georgia Tech teams.
Virginia’s last win over a ranked Yellow Jacket squad occurred last season in Charlottesville – an 82-80 UVa win on Feb. 14, 2004 when Todd Billet made a three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to defeat #15 Georgia Tech.
UVa’s last win against a ranked Georgia Tech team in Atlanta was an 83-60 victory over the #24 Yellow Jackets on Feb. 22, 1995 (GT was only ranked in one other meeting in Atlanta since then). Virginia’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. The highest ranked Georgia Tech team UVa has ever defeated was the #6 Yellow Jackets – 62-55 on February 16, 1985 in Charlottesville.
More Success in Second ACC Games
Virginia has lost its last 10 ACC openers (19-33 all-time), including an 89-70 setback to then fifth-ranked Wake Forest (Jan. 2) in Charlottesville this season. However, UVa has fared much better in its second ACC contest of the season over the same span. Over the last nine years, the Cavaliers have won five times in their second ACC game. Four of the wins have come at home at University Hall and the fifth win came in Richmond (against Wake Forest in the 1997-98 season).
The two times in the last five years UVa didn’t win its second ACC game was in 2001-2002 (a 68-52 loss at Clemson – Jan. 8) and last season (a 93-71 home setback to then second-ranked Duke – Jan. 11).
ACC Rookies of the Week
In the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons, the Cavaliers have had four different players earn ACC Rookie of the Week honors a total of six times. During that time frame the only other ACC school to have more than one player named ACC Rookie of the Week is Maryland with two players earning the honor last season.
Virginia leads all schools in ACC Rookie of the Week selections with 72 over the years. Georgia Tech is second with 67 all-time ACC Rookie of the Week selections.