Cavaliers Host Badgers in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

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Dec. 3, 2013

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia (7-1) hosts Wisconsin (8-0) in the 15th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET.

The Cavaliers will play the Badgers for the second straight time in the Challenge. Virginia posted a 60-54 win at Wisconsin last season. Joe Harris (Chelan, Wash.) had 22 points and Akil Mitchell posted 11 points and 10 rebounds. Darion Atkins added 14 points and seven rebounds.

Virginia is 8-5 in the Challenge, while Wisconsin is 6-8. The Cavaliers have won three consecutive games in the Challenge. The ACC won the Commissioner’s Cup the first 10 years of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but the Big Ten has won the cup the last three years.

Virginia has won six straight games overall, including an 83-63 win over Missouri State in the championship game of the Corpus Christi Challenge on Nov. 30. Wisconsin captured the Cancun Challenge with a 70-63 win over West Virginia and its 8-0 start is its best in 20 years.

Broadcast Information
The Virginia-Wisconsin game will be televised on ESPN2, online at WatchESPN.com and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network. Live statistics (GameTracker) will be located on VirginiaSports.com, as well as the Virginia Sports app, which is available free of charge through iTunes. Fans can also follow the game via Twitter at @UVaMensHoops.

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets may 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 1-800-542-8821. Tickets may also be purchased on game day at the JPJ box office starting at 5:30 p.m.

For Openers
• Virginia head coach Tony Bennett (Green Bay) is a Wisconsin native, who starred at Green Bay (1988-92) and coached at Wisconsin from 1999-2003 under his father, Dick Bennett, Brad Soderberg and current Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan.
• The Cavaliers claimed the Corpus Christi Challenge title, their first tournament championship in the Tony Bennett era.
• UVa is 50-19 against non-conference opponents during Bennett’s five seasons. • The Cavaliers rank third in the nation in scoring defense at 53.5 points per game. • Virginia is outscoring opponents 250-138 in bench points, averaging 31.3 per game. • Head coach Bo Ryan has 299 career victories at Wisconsin.

The Head Coaches
Virginia: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992), 83-54 in five seasons at UVa and 152-87 in eight seasons overall. Wisconsin: Bo Ryan (Wilkes University, 1969), 299-113 in 13 seasons at Wisconsin and 682-216 in 30 seasons overall.

Virginia Receiving Votes in Latest National Polls
Virginia is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, while Wisconsin is ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches poll. The Cavaliers were ranked No. 24 in the AP preseason poll, marking their first preseason AP top 25 ranking since being ranked No. 11 to start the 2001-02 season.

About the Cavaliers
Virginia’s six-game winning streak has been highlighted by its third-ranked defense, rebounding and balanced scoring. The Cavaliers are yielding 53.5 points per game and grabbing over 58 percent of the rebounds, ruling the glass in seven of eight games and enjoying a +13 average rebound margin per game. UVa has limited opponents to 37.2 percent shooting from the floor.

The Cavaliers are averaging 69.6 points per game, including 31.3 points per game from their reserves, and have outscored their opponents 246-146 in the paint. UVa sports a balanced scoring attack, led by All-ACC performer Joe Harris at 12.4 points per game. Malcolm Brogdon is second at 10.4 points and a team-leading 1.3 steals per game. Anthony Gill, who has led the team in scoring in four games, has registered 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Mike Tobey has chipped in 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while Akil Mitchell has added 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Freshman London Perrantes leads the Cavaliers with 3.5 assists per game and has just seven turnovers in his first eight collegiate games.

Last Time Out
Virginia captured the Corpus Christi Challenge championship with an 83-63 win over Missouri State on Nov. 30. Justin Anderson tallied a season-high 23 points, including 17 points in the first half. Tournament MVP Joe Harris scored 15 points and Mike Tobey and Malcolm Brogdon reached double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Anthony Gill added eight points and eight rebounds, joining Harris and Anderson on the all-tournament team. UVa shot 56.6 percent (30-of-53) and drilled nine 3-pointers in the win.

Up Next
Virginia plays at Green Bay on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tipoff at the Resch Center is 5 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPNU and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network.