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Virginia Travels To NC State For Wednesday Evening Contest
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Jan. 31, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia enters tonight’s Atlantic Coast Conference game with a 10-7 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the ACC. The Cavaliers had their three-game winning streak snapped with an 82-63 loss to second-ranked Duke (Jan. 28) at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
NC State stands at 16-4 overall and 5-2 in the ACC and is ranked 18th The Associated Press Top 25 Poll and 17th ESPN/USAToday Top 25 Poll. The Wolfpack is coming off a 94-85 double overtime win at Clemson (Jan. 29) in Clemson, S.C.
The Series vs. NC State
NC State leads the overall series with Virginia 77-51 (dating back to 1912-13). The two teams split a pair of meetings last season with the home team losing both times. The Wolfpack gained the split with an 82-72 win (Mar. 2) at University Hall. In the first meeting, the Cavaliers stopped a two-game slide to NC State with a 64-62 win (Feb. 5) in Raleigh. It also halted a seven-game losing streak at NC State.
In 2003-04, the Wolfpack took an 86-69 decision (Dec. 28) in Raleigh and also posted a 79-63 win (Feb. 7) over UVa in Charlottesville.
The Wolfpack won the first meeting of the 2002-03 season 75-63 (Jan. 5) in Raleigh. The Cavaliers snapped a five-game losing streak to NC State with a 61-58 victory (Feb. 9) in Charlottesville. In the 2001-02 season, NC State earned three wins over UVa – 81-74 (Jan. 5) in Charlottesville, 85-68 (Feb. 6) in Raleigh, and 92-72 (Mar. 8) in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte.
Despite winning only twice in the last 10 meetings, the Cavaliers have won 17 of 30 contests against NCSU in the last 14 seasons. Since 1980, the Cavaliers are 34-23 in all games against the Wolfpack.
The two teams have split the regular season series six times in the last eight seasons (NCSU, however, has won all three ACC Tournament matchups during the same span – 2000, 2001 and 2002). When NC State swept the 2001-02 regular season series, it marked the Wolfpack’s first sweep over UVa since winning both matchups (by a combined seven points) in 1988. Virginia has swept the season series six times since then, but the last time UVa swept the season series was in the 1996-97 season.
Despite last season’s victory, the Cavaliers have not found their trips to NC State very hospitable over the years, as they have won only 17 of 56 games all-time against the Wolfpack in Raleigh. UVa lost its first five games at the RBC Center (formerly the Entertainment and Sports Arena) – 65-62 – Jan. 12, 2000, 90-80 – Feb. 7, 2001, 85-68 – Feb. 6, 2002, 75-63 – Jan. 5, 2003, and 86-69 – Dec. 28, 2003) – before the 64-62 win (Feb. 5) last season. The victory also snapped a seven game road losing streak to NC State. Prior to last season, UVa’s last win in Raleigh was a 55-46 triumph on Feb. 19, 1997. Virginia was only 15-30 all-time in Reynolds Coliseum (including games in the ACC Tournament) against the Wolfpack. In games in Raleigh since 1979-80, UVa is 12-13.
Cavaliers and Wolfpack Battle to the Wire
The history of the series between these two schools since the late 1970s is one marked by many closely contested games. Since 1978, 40 of the 62 games have been decided by less than 10 points. UVa is 28-12 (.700) in those games.
Virginia’s last 10 wins (going back 10 seasons) over the Wolfpack have been by a combined 45 points (4.5/g).
Since 1978, four games have been decided by one point, six by two points, seven by three points, three by four points and three by five points.
It’s curious to note in the long history of the series going back to the first meeting 93 years ago that only three games have gone to overtime. Virginia has been victorious in all three overtime contests. UVa won the first overtime game 81-73 in 1977-78 and won 84-82 in double overtime in 1995-96. In the most recent overtime affair, the Cavaliers won 82-79 in 1998-99. During one stretch (1985-1988) nine consecutive games were decided by nine points or less.
In a bit of an aberration, 11 of the last 13 NC State wins in the series have been by double digits–67-54 in 1994, 74-55 in 1998, 82-72 in 1999, 76-65 in 2000, 90-80 in 2001, 85-68 and 92-72 in 2002, 75-63 in 2003, 86-69 and 79-63 in 2004, and 82-72 last season. The exceptions were a 65-62 Wolfpack win on Jan. 12, 2000, and an 81-74 win on Jan. 5, 2002.
U-Hall is Kind to Cavaliers
UVa is 7-2 at home this season, including 3-1 in the ACC, but only 2-5 in away games (1-2 in the ACC).
Three-Point Field Goal Leaders
J.R. Reynolds has made 127 three-point field goals in his career and ranks 11th on UVa’s all-time three-point field goals list. Chris Williams (1999-02) is 10th with 130 career threes.