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Nov. 18, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia opened the 2006-07 season with a 93-90 come-from-behind victory over then 10th-ranked Arizona (Nov. 12) at John Paul Jones Arena. It marked the ninth consecutive year the Cavaliers have opened the season with a victory. UVa finished the 2005-06 season with a 15-15 record and tied for seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 7-9 mark.
Morgan State is 0-2 on the season. The Bears lost at East Carolina 86-67 in their season opener (Nov. 11) and fell at American 97-84 (Nov. 14). Morgan State was 4-26 overall and 4-14 in the MEAC in 2005-06.
Television
Today’s game will not be televised.
RadioAll UVa games are heard on the Virginia Sports Network originating at the Charlottesville Radio Group and WINA-AM/WWWV-FM in Charlottesville. Mac McDonald calls the play-by-play. Jim Hobgood provides the analysis.
The Game
Virginia opened the 2006-07 season with a 93-90 come-from-behind victory over then 10th-ranked Arizona (Nov. 12) at John Paul Jones Arena. It marked the ninth consecutive year the Cavaliers have opened the season with a victory. UVa finished the 2005-06 season with a 15-15 record and tied for seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 7-9 mark.
Morgan State is 0-2 on the season. The Bears lost at East Carolina 86-67 in their season opener (Nov. 11) and fell at American 97-84 (Nov. 14). Morgan State was 4-26 overall and 4-14 in the MEAC in 2005-06.
A New Era
A new era of Virginia basketball began on Nov. 12 when the Cavaliers christened the John Paul Jones Arena with a 93-90 victory over Arizona. The arena, which officially opened in August of 2006, seats 15,219 for basketball games.
Cavaliers Open Season Strong
Virginia began the 2006-07 season with a 93-90 win over Arizona (Nov. 18) at the John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers have won nine consecutive season openers (10 straight home openers) and 18 of the last 20. Overall, UVa is 82-20 (.804) all-time in season openers.
UVa’s three-point margin of victory over Arizona is its smallest in a season opener since a 90-86 win over Long Island (Nov. 22) to open the 2002-03 season.
Then 10th-ranked Arizona is the second highest ranked team Virginia has ever opened a season against – and the first ranked team it has ever beaten in a season opener. In 1963-64, the Cavaliers opened up against ninth-ranked Kentucky and lost 75-64 on Nov. 30, 1963 in Lexington, Ky.
The Series vs. Morgan State
Today’s game is the first meeting between Virginia and Morgan State in men’s basketball. The Bears are the first of three opponents UVa will play for the first time. The Cavaliers will also play UNC Ashville on Nov. 22 and Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on Nov. 26. UVa could also meet the University of Central Florida, Tennessee Tech, or Puerto Rico-Mayaquez for the first time in the San Juan Shootout Dec. 19-21 in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Virginia vs. The MEAC
Morgan State is the first of three MEAC opponents Virginia will face this season. UVa also plays the MEAC’s Maryland Eastern Shore and Hampton.
The Cavaliers are a perfect 7-0 all-time against teams from the MEAC. Six of the previous seven games against MEAC schools were played at University Hall. UVa’s 102-56 win against Hampton on Dec. 10, 1999 at the Hampton Convocation Center is the Cavaliers’ only away game against a MEAC opponent. Virginia’s 115-66 win over Howard on Nov. 21, 2001 was its most recent game against an opponent from the MEAC.
UVa also defeated Hampton 116-66 in the 1998-99 season. Virginia’s other victories over MEAC schools came against North Carolina A&T (94-50) and Bethune-Cookman (109-49) during the 1994-95 season, Coppin State (63-61) in 1993-94, and Howard (100-64) in 1992-93.
Virginia’s average margin of victory over MEAC teams is 41.0 points per game, which includes a two-point win over Coppin State in December of 1993. The Cavaliers are averaging 99.9 points per game while holding their MEAC opponents to 58.9 points per game.