Virginia Hosts Virginia Tech Saturday Evening In University Hall
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Feb. 10, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia enters tonight’s Atlantic Coast Conference game with an 11-9 overall record and a 5-5 mark in the ACC. The Cavaliers are coming off a 76-65 loss to Maryland (Feb. 7) in College Park, Md.
Virginia Tech stands at 13-10 overall and 3-7 in the ACC. The Hokies are coming off a 75-74 overtime win over Clemson (Feb. 8) in Clemson, S.C.
The Series vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia leads the series with Virginia Tech 75-46. The Cavaliers won the first meeting this season 54-49 (Jan. 15) in Blacksburg.
The two teams split a pair of meetings last season with both schools winning on their home court. The Hokies won the first game last season 79-73 (Jan. 27) in Blacksburg in the first conference meeting between the two teams since 1936-37 (both teams were members of the Southern Conference). UVa earned a split in the season series with a 65-60 victory (Feb. 12) in Charlottesville. It also marked the first time since 1983-84 the two teams met twice in the same season. UVa won the first game of the 1983-84 season 74-64 (Jan. 4) in Roanoke, while the Hokies claimed a 56-54 win (Feb. 15) in Richmond.
In 2003-04, UVa recorded an 80-65 win (Nov. 28) in Charlottesville. Virginia Tech snapped the Cavaliers’ six-game winning streak in the series with a 73-55 victory (Jan. 21) in Blacksburg in the 2002-03 season.
On Dec. 1, 2001, UVa defeated the Hokies 69-61 in Charlottesville for its sixth consecutive victory in the series. In the 2000-01 season, the Cavaliers defeated Virginia Tech 64-48 (Nov. 24) in Blacksburg. Tech’s 48 points are the fewest scored in the series by either team since the second meeting of the 1947-48 season when UVa was held to 43 points (Tech won 57-43 in Blacksburg). It was also the fewest points the Hokies scored in a game in the series since scoring 29 points versus UVa in the 1945-46 season (UVa won 57-29 in Charlottesville). Virginia has won 15 of the last 19 meetings and 26 of the last 33.
This is only the eighth time since the 1975-76 season the game will not be played on a neutral floor. Over the past 31 years (37 games), the series has been held at the Richmond Coliseum (14 times), Roanoke Civic Center (13 times), Cassell Coliseum (four times), The Norfolk Scope (once), the Hampton Coliseum (once), and University Hall (four times – including tonight).
The Cavaliers are 29-9 in games played in Charlottesville and 8-1 in matchups at University Hall. UVa has won seven consecutive meetings at U-Hall vs. Virginia Tech (dating back to 1969-70), including a 65-60 win on Feb. 12, 2005. The Cavaliers’ last loss to Virginia Tech in Charlottesville (and only loss in U-Hall) was an 84-82 setback on January 6, 1968.
This is the 72nd consecutive season the Cavaliers and Hokies have met (every season since 1934-35). They have played 101 games in that span. Virginia’s next oldest opponent in terms of consecutive seasons played is Maryland (60 straight seasons).
The Cavaliers’ 75 wins against Virginia Tech make the Hokies Virginia’s second-most defeated opponent in school history. UVa has defeated VMI a record 100 times.
This is the 122nd meeting in the series, the fifth-most played series in school history. North Carolina is Virginia’s most frequent opponent with the two teams having met 166 times.
Commonwealth Challenge
Tonight’s game marks another installment of the inaugural Commonwealth Challenge, presented by Adelphia, with the winner earning one point in the series. The Commonwealth Challenge is a friendly comprehensive rivalry series between the two school’s athletics programs on an annual basis that continues the growing relationship between the two in-state members of the ACC. With Adelphia’s support, it is designed to increase the exposure and interest level in the various sports, while promoting good sportsmanship among student-athletes, coaches and fans of the schools. A point system determines the annual winner of the competition.
UVa won the first men’s basketball meeting of the season to earn a point in the series. The Cavaliers currently lead the series 9-4. In addition to men’s basketball, UVa earned a point in volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s swimming and diving, women’s swimming and diving, women’s basketball and wrestling. The Hokies earned a point in men’s soccer and women’s basketball, and two points in football.
The next competitions in the series are the Men’s and Women’s ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships Feb. 23-25.
Closing in on 400
Virginia’s win over Wake Forest (Feb. 4) was its 399th win all-time at University Hall. In 41 seasons (including 2005-06), the Cavaliers are 399-142 (.738) all-time at U-Hall.
After calling University Hall home since the 1965-66 season, the Cavaliers will move across the street to their new facility, the John Paul Jones Arena, for the 2006-07 season.
34, 35, 36
Sean Singletary, J.R. Reynolds and Adrian Joseph have combined to make 105 three-point field goals this season. Interestingly, Reynolds has made 36 threes, Singletary follows with 35, and Joseph has 34 threes to his credit.
Joseph only made 14 three-pointers all of last season. Singletary has set a new single season high with his 35 threes (he had 34 last season). Reynolds’ all-time best in terms of three-pointers made is 51 last season.