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Cavaliers Host Hampton After Break For Exams
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CHARLOTTESVILLE–The Virginia men’s basketball team returns to action after a 12-day break for exams when the Cavaliers host Hampton at John Paul Jones Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 19. UVa hasn’t played since defeating Longwood 76-57 at home on Dec. 7.
Wednesday’s game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Select at www.accselect.com. Virginia enters the game with a 7-2 record.
Senior guard Sean Singletary leads the Cavaliers in scoring and assists with averages of 19.3 points and 7.2 assists a game. He is one of three Virginia players averaging in double figures in scoring. Junior forward/guard Mamadi Diane is shooting 52.8 percent (38-72) from the field, including 54.8 percent (23-42) from three-point range, and is averaging 12.4 points a game. Senior forward Adrian Joseph is averaging 12.0 points and a team-leading 8.9 rebounds a game.
Sophomore guard Calvin Baker and freshman forward Mike Scott are making significant contributions for UVa off the bench. Baker is averaging 9.8 points and 2.2 assists a game, while shooting 52.3 percent (34-65) from the field. Scott is averaging 5.8 points a game and is second on the team in rebounding with an average of 6.3 rebounds a game. He is shooting 50 percent (13-26) from the field.
As a team, the Cavaliers are averaging 80.8 points a game and shooting 45.5 percent from the field, including 42.0 percent from three-point range. Four Virginia players have each made at least 16 three-point field goals. UVa is also out-rebounding its opponents by an average of 14.6 rebounds a game.
Virginia leads the series with Hampton 3-0. The most recent encounter between the two teams was last season when the Cavaliers won 91-69 at John Paul Jones Arena.
Hampton enters the game with a 5-4 record after a 55-48 win over St. Bonaventure on Dec. 15. The Pirates have won four of their last five games. Earlier this season Hampton lost 70-64 at Maryland.
“Hampton is very, very aggressive,” Virginia head coach Dave Leitao said. They are very aggressive in their attitude and how they play the game. They bring a lot of different things to the table that you have to prepare for, including multiple defenses and multiple offensive sets.”
The Pirates are led by the play of senior guard Rashad West. West is averaging 17.9 points a game. Also averaging in double figures in scoring for Hampton is sophomore guard Vincent Simpson at 10.2 points a game.
Hampton’s opponents are shooting a combined 38.7 percent from the field, including 31.8 percent from three-point range, and the Pirates are allowing an average of just 55.9 points a game. Hampton is scoring an average of 60.9 points a game.
Kevin Nickelberry is in his second season as head coach of the Pirates. Hampton finished last season with a record of 15-16.