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Jan. 18, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia enters tonight’s game with a 9-5 overall record and an 0-4 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers have lost their last three games and are coming off an 80-66 loss to fifth-ranked Duke (Jan. 16) in Durham, N.C.
Maryland stands at 10-4 overall and 1-2 in the ACC. The Terrapins are coming off an 80-69 win over Temple (Jan. 15) in College Park, Md.
The Series vs. Maryland
Maryland leads the series with Virginia 97-64 in a rivalry that dates back to the 1912-13 season. The Cavaliers lost both games in the 2003-04 season to Maryland. The Terrapins won 71-67 (Feb. 4) in Charlottesville, snapping UVa’s two-game winning streak in the series. Maryland earned a sweep in the season series with a 70-61 win (Mar. 7) in College Park.
UVa snapped a three-game losing streak (and a nine-game slide at Maryland) with an 86-78 victory (Feb. 6) at Comcast Center in the 2002-03 season. Virginia completed the 2002-03 season series sweep with an 80-78 overtime victory (Mar. 9) in Charlottesville. It marked the Cavaliers’ first season sweep of Maryland since the 1992-93 campaign.
Despite winning four of the last nine meetings, Virginia has lost 15 of the last 22 contests in the series with Maryland since winning five consecutive games between 1992-1994.
In the 2001-02 season, the Terrapins won 91-87 (Jan. 31) in Charlottesville in the first meeting and 112-92 (Mar. 3) in the final game at Cole Field House. In 2000-01, 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 2000-01 in Charlottesville. Maryland gained a split in the season series with a 102-67 victory (Mar. 3) in College Park.
This is the 58th 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 123 games in that span. (Virginia’s oldest opponent in terms of consecutive seasons played is Virginia Tech–69 straight seasons).
The Terrapins lead 55-20 in games played in College Park during the series. UVa won only 13 of 47 meetings at Cole Field House. In its first appearance at the Comcast Center, UVa registered an 86-78 victory over then eighth-ranked Maryland (Feb. 6, 2003). The victory snapped the Cavaliers’ nine-game losing streak at Maryland. The Cavaliers’ previous victory in College Park was a 70-68 win on February 4, 1993.
Five of the Cavaliers’ last six wins over the Terrapins (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2003) have occurred at University Hall in Charlottesville.
A Nailbiter Could be in the Offing
The recent series with Maryland has featured quite a few close games. Since 1987, 24 of 37 games have been decided by nine points or less, with Virginia winning 12 of the close games. In the last 18 years there have also been four overtime games, with Virginia winning three of the four games.
Singletary Breaks Out
After scoring just 27 points and shooting only 21.2 percent (7-33) over his previous four games, Sean Singletary broke out of his slump against Duke (Jan. 16). He scored a team-high 19 points and made 7-12 attempts from the field (and was also 5-5 from the free throw line). It marked the most points Singletary has scored since tallying 25 against Auburn (Dec. 3).
Double-Double for Forbes
Gary Forbes made the most of his start against Duke (Jan. 16) as he recorded his first career double-double. In his second start of the season, Forbes tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, in 31 minutes. He was 7-18 from the field and 2-3 from the free throw line.
Forbes’ performance was in stark contrast to his first start of the 2004-05 season. In his first start of the season against Loyola Marymount (Dec. 23), Forbes scored just one point and had three rebounds in 29 minutes of action. He was 0-4 from the field and 1-2 from the free throw line.
Nearly Perfect
The Cavaliers made 20-21 free throws for 95.2 percent accuracy against Duke (Jan. 16). It tied for the third-best “non-perfect” free throw shooting effort by Virginia in school history. It also tied for the best non-perfect free throw shooting performance on the road.
On January 9, 1993, UVa also made 20-21 free throws at NC State. The Cavaliers’ best non-perfect game from the charity stripe was a 24-25 (96.0 percent) effort at home against Marquette on November 26, 1988. UVa was 21-22 (95.5 percent) from the free throw line at home vs. North Carolina on January 15, 1983.
Over the years, UVa has had 12 contests when it did not miss a free throw in a game. The most free throws UVa made in a game without missing was 16 against South Carolina on January 8, 1965. Most recently, UVa was 12-12 against NC State on December 28, 2003.