Cavaliers Host Miami In ACC Game On Thursday
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CHARLOTTESVILLEThe Virginia men’s basketball team returns to John Paul Jones Arena on Thursday (Feb. 26) when the Cavaliers host Miami in an Atlantic Coast Conference game. Reserved seat tickets are still available for the game at a cost of $30 each.
Thursday’s game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and will be televised by Raycom. A listing of the Raycom television affiliates carrying the game can be accessed by clicking here.
Virginia enters the game with an overall record of 9-14 and a 3-9 record in the ACC after a 72-67 loss at NC State last Saturday (Feb. 21). Prior to the loss to the Wolfpack, UVa had defeated Clemson and Virginia Tech at JPJA.
For the second consecutive game, freshman guard Sylven Landesberg led the Cavaliers in points, rebounds and assists in the loss at NC State. Landesberg finished the game with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Junior guard Calvin Baker had 13 points, five assists and three steals for Virginia, and senior guard/forward Mamadi Diane added 11 points on 5-6 shooting from the field for the Cavaliers.
Landesberg is averaging 18.0 points a game to lead Virginia in that department and he ranks seventh in the ACC in scoring. He is also averaging 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 34.0 minutes played a game, and is shooting 81.9 percent (127-155) from the free throw line. Landesberg ranks fifth in the conference in minutes played and 10th in free throw percentage. He leads ACC freshmen in scoring and minutes played, and ranks third among conference freshmen in rebounding and assists.
Sophomore forward Mike Scott is the only other Virginia player averaging in double figures in scoring. He is averaging 10.6 points a game and leads the team in rebounding with an average of 7.3 rebounds a game. Scott is shooting 55.3 percent (94-170) from the field. He ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds with an average of 3.4 a game and ranks 10th in overall rebounding in the conference.
Freshman guard Sammy Zeglinski is averaging 9.0 points a game and ranks ninth in the ACC in assists with an average of 3.5 a game. Junior forward Jamil Tucker is averaging 7.9 points and 4.0 rebounds a game, and Baker is averaging 7.8 points and 2.6 assists a game. Freshman center Assane Sene is averaging 5.1 rebounds a game and ranks fourth in the ACC in blocked shots with an average of 1.7 a game.
Sophomore guard Jeff Jones has started the last five games for Virginia and is averaging 11.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 28.7 minutes played a game in the last six games.
Miami enters Thursday’s game with an overall record of 16-10 and a 5-8 record in the ACC. Miami is coming off a 69-58 victory over Boston College in Coral Cables, Fla., last Saturday (Feb. 21). The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Hurricanes.
Senior guard Jack McClinton leads the Hurricanes in scoring with an average of 20.1 points a game. He is shooting 47.5 percent (173-364) from the field, including 47.7 percent (84-176) from three-point range, and 86.0 percent (92-107) from the free throw line. McClinton ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring and also leads Miami in assists with an average of 3.0 a game.
Junior forward Dwayne Collins is the only other Miami player averaging in double figures in scoring. Collins is averaging 11.0 points a game and leads the Hurricanes in rebounding with an average of 7.2 rebounds a game. He is shooting 59.7 percent (92-154) from the field.
Frank Haith is in his fifth season as Miami’s head coach. His Miami teams have compiled an overall record of 85-70 and have participated in three postseason tournaments, including last season’s NCAA Tournament.
Miami leads the series with Virginia 5-3 and the teams have split the four games played in Charlottesville. The two teams played just once last season with Miami defeating Virginia 95-93 in Coral Gables despite a career-high 41 points by the Cavaliers’ Sean Singletary. Thursday’s game is the only game between the two teams during the 2008-09 regular season.
After Thursday’s game with Miami, the Cavaliers host Wake Forest at John Paul Jones Arena on Saturday (Feb. 28). That game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and will be televised by Raycom.