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Jan. 24, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
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The Game
Virginia enters Wednesday night’s conference game against NC State with an 11-6 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers have won their last two games, including an 88-76 victory over Wake Forest (Jan. 21) at the John Paul Jones Arena.
NC State is 11-7 overall and 1-4 in the ACC. The Wolfpack has won one of its last four games and is coming off a 79-56 loss to Duke (Jan. 20) at home.
Television
Tonight’s game will be televised by Raycom-Lincoln Financial (RLF). Tim Brando will handle the play-by-play. Billy Packer is the analyst.
Radio
All 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 Series vs. NC state
NC State leads the overall series with Virginia 78-52 (dating back to 1912-13). UVa won the first meeting of the 2006-07 season 67-62 on Dec. 3 at the John Paul Jones Arena.
The Wolfpack won the only meeting between the two teams last season 66-64 (Feb. 1) in Raleigh. The two teams split a pair of meetings in 2004-05 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.
Despite winning only three times in the last 12 meetings, the Cavaliers have won 18 of 32 contests against NCSU in the last 16 seasons. Since 1980, the Cavaliers are 35-24 in all games against the Wolfpack.
The two teams have split the regular season series six times in the last nine seasons (NCSU, however, has won both ACC Tournament matchups during the same span – 2000 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.
The Cavaliers have not found their trips to NC State very hospitable over the years, as they have won only 17 of 57 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) in 2004-05. The victory also snapped a seven game road losing streak to NC State. Prior to the 2004-05 season, UVa’s last win in Raleigh was a 55-46 triumph on Feb. 19, 1997. The Cavaliers are 1-6 all-time at the RBC Center. 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 12-14.
Cavaliers and Wolfpack Battle To Wire
The history of the series between these two schools since the late 1970s is one marked by many closely contested games. Since 1978, 42 of the 64 games have been decided by less than 10 points. UVa is 29-13 (.690) in those games.
Virginia’s last 11 wins (going back 12 seasons) over the Wolfpack have been by a combined 50 points (4.5/g).
Since 1978, four games have been decided by one point, seven by two points, seven by three points, three by four points and four by five points.
It’s curious to note in the long history of the series going back to the first meeting 95 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 14 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, an 81-74 win on Jan. 5, 2002, and a 66-64 NCSU win on Feb. 1, 2006.