No. 14 VCU Next for No. 25 Virginia

Story Links

Nov. 11, 2013

CHARLOTTESVILLE – No. 25 Virginia (1-0) hosts in-state rival No. 14 VCU (1-0) in men’s college basketball action Tuesday (Nov. 12). Tipoff at sold-out John Paul Jones Arena is set for 7 p.m.

The Cavaliers meet the Rams for the first time since Nov. 13, 1998, when Virginia topped VCU, 86-70. The game marks the first time a ranked Virginia team plays an in-state ranked team since Dec. 28, 1995, when No. 22 Virginia met No. 21 Virginia Tech.

Broadcast Information
The game will be televised live on ESPN2, online at WatchESPN.com and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network and VirginiaSports.com. Live statistics (GameTracker) will be located on VirginiaSports.com, as well as the new Virginia Sports app, which is available free of charge through iTunes.

Ticket Information
The Virginia-VCU game is sold out, but single-game tickets for Virginia’s remaining home games can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com/tickets. Fans may also purchase tickets through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office by telephone and in person. The ticket office is located in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets may also be purchased on game day at the JPJ box office starting at 5:30 p.m.

Virginia-VCU Series
Virginia owns a 10-1 all-time mark, including a 5-0 mark in Charlottesville, against VCU in the series that dates back to 1976-77. Virginia owns a four-game winning streak against VCU and hasn’t lost to the Rams since a 75-66 setback on Dec. 19, 1987. The Cavaliers host VCU for the first time at JPJ.

The Head Coaches
Virginia: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992), 77-53 in four seasons at UVa and 146-86 in eight seasons overall. VCU: Shaka Smart (Kenyon College, 1999), 112-37 in five seasons at VCU.

Against the Commonwealth
Virginia has a 46-12 record since 1999-2000 against teams from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Cavaliers are 12-3 in their last 15 games against in-state opponents. Virginia is 1-0 against in-state teams this season after going 3-2 last season.

Gold-Medal Connection
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett and VCU head coach Shaka Smart served as assistant coaches for the gold-medal winning Team USA U19 World Championship team this past summer. UVa’s Mike Tobeywas also a member of the team.

Virginia Ranked No. 25 in Latest National Polls
Virginia is ranked No. 25 in the latest Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. The Cavaliers were ranked No. 24 in the AP preseason poll, marking its first preseason AP top 25 ranking since being ranked No. 11 to start the 2001-02 season.

About the Cavaliers
Virginia is 1-0 after its 61-41 win over James Madison on Nov. 8. Sophomore transfer Anthony Gill led Virginia with 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting, while Malcolm Brogdon tallied nine points and tied his career best with three 3-pointers in his first game since Feb. 25, 2012. Junior Darion Atkins matched a career high with 11 rebounds as Virginia outrebounded JMU, 45-27. Seniors Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell, who led Virginia at 16.3 and 13.1 points per game last season, were limited to five and seven points, respectively. Sophomore Mike Tobey added 10 points and three rebounds off the bench and sophomore Justin Anderson tallied five points and three rebounds. Freshman London Perrantes tallied two points and two steals in his collegiate debut.

Hall to Redshirt
Coach Bennett announced after the JMU game that freshman guard Devon Hall will redshirt the 2013-14 season.

Up Next
Virginia plays Davidson in nonconference action on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Tipoff is set for Noon.