Cavaliers Play at Florida State on Saturday
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CHARLOTTESVILLE-The Virginia men’s basketball team is back on the road Saturday (Feb. 4) when the Cavaliers play at Florida State in an Atlantic Coast Conference game that is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Virginia has won its last three games and enters the Florida State game with an overall record of 18-3 and a 5-2 record in the ACC. The Cavaliers are coming off a 65-61 win over Clemson on Tuesday (Jan. 31) at John Paul Jones Arena. It was the third ACC victory in six days for UVa.
Florida State enters Saturday’s game with an overall record of 15-6 and a 6-1 record in the ACC. The Seminoles have won their last six games and are coming off a 68-54 victory over Georgia Tech at home on Wednesday (Feb. 1).
In this week’s national rankings, UVa is ranked 16th in The Associated Press poll and 18th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. Florida State is ranked 21st in The Associated Press poll and 24th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. It’s the first time both teams have been nationally ranked when meeting since the 1992-93 season.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network. It will also be televised by the ACC Network and carried on ESPN3 except in states where there is an ACC school.
Virginia shot 55.8 percent (24-43) from the field and out-rebounded Clemson 34-19 in its victory on Tuesday. Senior forward Mike Scott scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers. It was his sixth double-double of the season and the 30th of his career. Scott ranks third on UVa’s career list for double-doubles.
Sophomore guard Joe Harris scored a season-high 19 points for the Cavaliers in the victory over Clemson. He was 5-6 from three-point range in the game. His five three-pointers were the most by a UVa player in a game this season and tied his ACC career high. Harris’ 19 points also tied his ACC career high.
Scott leads Virginia in scoring and rebounding. He is averaging 17.0 points and 8.3 rebounds a game, while shooting 58.2 percent (128-220) from the field and 80.8 percent (97-120) from the free-throw line. Scott ranks first among ACC players in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring, sixth in rebounding and eighth in free throw percentage.
Harris is also averaging in double figures in scoring for UVa with an average of 12.6 points a game and senior guard Sammy Zeglinski is averaging 8.9 points a game.
Junior guard Jontel Evans leads the Cavaliers in assists (76) and steals (37). He ranks fourth among ACC players in steals (1.8 spg.) and fifth in assists (3.6 apg.).
As a team, Virginia ranks first in the ACC in scoring defense (51.1), rebounding defense (27.6) and defensive rebounding percentage (76.3 percent).
Nationally the Cavaliers rank first in fewest assists allowed per game (7.5), second in scoring defense, third in points allowed per possession (0.85) and defensive rebounding percentage, fifth in opponents’ assist-to-turnover ratio (0.59) and 18th in field goal percentage defense (38.9 percent). Virginia has allowed points on just 43.2 percent of its opponents’ possessions this season and ranks third nationally in that department.
Florida State leads the series with Virginia 19-17, including a 12-6 advantage in Tallahassee. The Seminoles have won the last five meetings and eight of the last nine. Florida State has won the last eight meetings played on the Seminoles’ home court at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
Junior guard Michael Snaer leads Florida State in scoring with an average of 14.1 points a game. Also averaging in double figures in scoring for the Seminoles are senior forward Bernard James (10.5 ppg.) and sophomore guard Ian Miller (10.1 ppg.). James leads Florida State in rebounding with an average of 8.8 rebounds a game.
Leonard Hamilton is in his 10th season as the head coach at Florida State. His Florida State teams have participated in seven post-season tournaments, including the last three NCAA Tournaments. Hamilton has also been the head coach at Oklahoma State (four seasons) and Miami (10 seasons) on the collegiate level. He was also the head coach of the Washington Wizards in 2000-01.
After the game at Florida State, the Cavaliers return home to play Wake Forest on Wednesday (Feb. 8). That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised by the regional sports networks.