No. 7 Virginia Takes Aim at No. 21 Maryland in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Story Links

Dec. 2, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 7 Virginia (7-0) battles No. 21 Maryland (7-0) in the 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday (Dec. 3) in College Park, Md. Tipoff at the Xfinity Center is set for 9:15 p.m.

For Openers

• The Cavaliers meet former ACC member Maryland for the first time in non-league play since Jan. 5, 1953, in the 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• Virginia is 8-6 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, while Maryland is 10-5.
• Virginia meets its first ranked opponent of the season and is 10-17 against ranked foes in the Tony Bennett era.
• The Cavaliers rank first in the nation in scoring defense (43.6 ppg) and third in field goal percentage defense (30.1%).
• Virginia seeks its first 8-0 start since 2003-04.
• Virginia has won six games by 17 or more points.
• Justin Anderson has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in six of seven games and is averaging a career-high 15 points.
• Virginia limited Rutgers to 26 points, the fewest allowed by UVa and tied for second among ACC teams in the shot clock era (since 1986).

Broadcast Information
• The Virginia-Maryland game will be televised on ESPN2 and streamed online at WatchESPN.com.
• The game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network, VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Athletics mobile app on iTunes or Android.
• Live statistics will be located on VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.

Virginia-Maryland Series
• Virginia is 74-107 all-time vs. Maryland, including a 24-61 road record, in the series that dates back to 1912-13.
• Maryland snapped Virginia’s six-game winning streak in the series and school-record 13-game ACC winning streak with a 75-69 overtime win in College Park on March 9, 2014.
• The Cavaliers are 6-6 vs. the Terrapins at Comcast Center, including a 3-1 mark in the last four contests.
• Head coach Tony Bennett is 6-4 all-time vs. Maryland.

The Head Coaches
Virginia: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992), 113-60 in six seasons at UVa and 182-93 in nine seasons overall.
Maryland: Mark Turgeon (Kansas, 1987), 66-43 in four seasons at Maryland and 316-202 in 17 seasons overall.

Cavaliers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge
• The Cavaliers have an 8-6 record, including a 3-4 road mark, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• Virginia suffered a 48-38 loss to Wisconsin last season, ending a three-game winning streak in the Challenge.
• The Cavaliers have won their last two road games in the event, winning at Minnesota (2010) and Wisconsin (2012).

Virginia Moves Up to No. 7 in Latest Associated Press Poll
• UVa is ranked No. 7/6 in the latest Associated Press and USA Today coaches’ polls.
• The Cavaliers were ranked No. 9 in the AP poll for the first three week of the season and No. 8 last week.
• The No. 9 AP preseason ranking was UVa’s best since a No. 1 ranking to start the 1982-83 season.
• UVa’s No. 3 final AP ranking last season marked its highest final ranking since 1982.

Last Time Out
• Tournament MVP Anthony Gill and Justin Anderson scored 13 points each and Virginia’s defense shined in a 45-26 win over Rutgers in the Barclays Center Classic championship game on Nov. 29.
• Virginia trailed Rutgers 18-17 at the half, but outscored the Scarlet Knights 28-8 in the second half to claim the tournament title.
• The Cavaliers held Rutgers scoreless for 9:24 in the second half and limited the Scarlet Knights to 25 percent shooting, including a 0-13 effort from 3-point land.
• Virginia shot 32.7 percent, including a 2-16 effort from distance. • Anderson joined Gill on the all-tournament team.

On The Horizon
• Virginia plays at VCU on Saturday, Dec. 6. Tipoff at the Siegel Center in Richmond is set for 2 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.