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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 5 Virginia (9-0) returns to action at South Carolina (4-5) in nonconference men’s basketball action Wednesday (Dec. 19). Tipoff at Colonial Life Arena is set for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.
For Openers
• Virginia meets South Carolina for the 50th time in series history.
• UVA has started 9-0 for the first time since starting 19-0 in 2014-15 and 123-35 (.778) in non-conference action under Tony Bennett.
• Bennett is three wins shy of 300 career wins.
• Virginia freshman guard Kihei Clark had successful surgery to repair a broken left wrist on Dec. 10. Clark injured the wrist against Morgan State and played with a cast in UVA’s win over VCU on Dec. 9.
Broadcast Information
• The Virginia-South Carolina game will be televised on the SEC Network and streamed online on ACC Network Extra (WatchESPN.com) and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network, VirginiaSports.com and Virginia Sports app.
• Live statistics will be located on VirginiaSports.com and the Virginia Sports app.
The Head Coach
• Three-time National and ACC Coach of the Year Tony Bennett has a 228-86 (.726) mark in 10 seasons at Virginia and 297-119 (.714) career mark in 13 seasons overall.
• In 2017-18, Bennett led Virginia to its eighth ACC regular-season title, third ACC Tournament championship, school-record 31 wins, ACC-record 17 league wins and ACC-record 9-0 mark on the road.
• Bennett was named the USBWA Henry Iba National Coach of the Year for the third time to rank second all-time behind legendary John Wooden, who captured the award six times.
UVA Ranked No. 5 in AP Poll
• Virginia is ranked No. 5 in the AP poll, marking its seventh straight week in the top six this season.
• UVA has been ranked in the AP poll for 23 straight weeks and has been ranked in the top 10 in each of the past 18 polls.
• UVA was ranked No. 5 in the preseason polls and has been ranked in the top 10 in the preseason rankings in four of the past five seasons.
• In 2017-18, Virginia became the fourth team in the Top 25 era to earn a No. 1 ranking after being unranked in the preseason.
Last Time Out
• Kyle Guy had 15 points and Ty Jerome added 14 as then-No. 4 Virginia slid past in-state rival VCU 57-49 on Dec. 9.
• The Cavaliers shot a season-low 29.5 percent, but held the Rams to 29.5 percent shooting on 61 attempts.
• Kihei Clark sparked UVA’s defense and scored nine points with a cast on his left wrist.
• The Cavaliers out-rebounded VCU 38-34 as Jerome matched a career high with eight rebounds.
All-Time vs. South Carolina
• Virginia meets South Carolina for the first time since a 74-67 loss in the first round of the NIT in the 2001-02 season.
• UVA is 25-24 all-time vs. the Gamecocks, including a 6-13 mark in Columbia.
• The Cavaliers posted a 14-20 mark from 1953-71 against South Carolina when the Gamecocks were members of the ACC.
• UVA and South Carolina have split four contests since 1990.
Last Time vs. the Gamecocks
• Rolando Howell scored 24 points to lead four players in double figures as South Carolina topped Virginia 74-67 in the first round of the NIT on March 13, 2002.
• Travis Watson had a game-high 26 points and 13 points for the Cavaliers, who finished the 2001-02 campaign 17-12.
• UVA shot 59.3 percent en route to a 33-27 lead after 20 minutes.
• The Gamecocks shot 60.7 percent in the second half, outscoring the Cavaliers 47-34 to post the seven-point win.
Hoo Are These Cavaliers?
• Virginia is led by Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter and Jack Salt.
• Hunter leads UVA in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (5.3).
• Jerome is averaging 13.7 points and team-high 4.0 assists.
• Guy is averaging 13.4 points, while Salt anchors UVA’s stingy defense.
• Transfer Braxton Key has averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds, while Mamadi Diakite has averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds.
• Newcomer Kihei Clark, who has started the past four games, is averaging 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds.
• Clark broke his left wrist against Morgan State, played in the VCU game with a cast and had successful surgery on Dec. 10.
• Marco Anthony, Jay Huff and Kody Stattmann provide depth and Francisco Caffaro is redshirting the 2018-19 season.
• Redshirt freshman Francesco Badocchi returned to the team last week after taking a leave of absence due to medical issues.
• Manager Grant Kersey has appeared in four home games.
All-Time vs. the SEC
• Virginia meets its first SEC opponent since posting a 68-42 win over Vanderbilt in the 2017 NIT Season Tip-Off last season at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• The Cavaliers are 61-62 all-time vs. current SEC opponents (25-24 vs. South Carolina, 8-5 vs. Tennessee, 4-1 vs. Missouri, 4-3 vs. Arkansas, 3-0 vs. LSU, 3-4 vs. Alabama, 3-4 vs. Auburn, 3-4 vs. Georgia, 3-6 vs. Kentucky, 2-5 vs. Vanderbilt, 1-2 vs. Florida, 1-1 vs. Mississippi, 1-2 vs. Mississippi State and 0-1 vs. Texas A&M).
UVA in the National Statistical Rankings
• As of Dec. 18, UVA ranks first nationally in scoring defense (51.2 ppg), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.81), fewest turnovers (75) and winning percentage (100%), second in turnovers per game (8.3), seventh in fewest fouls (135), eighth in turnover margin (6.0) and scoring margin (21.6), 14th in personal fouls per game (15.0) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (27%), 24th in free throw percentage (76.2%), 32nd in 3-point field goal percentage (39.1%) and 33rd in field goal percentage defense (38.6%).
Hunter, Jerome and Guy Among ACC Leaders
• As of Dec. 18, De’Andre Hunter ranks third in the ACC in field goal percentage (57.3%) and 14th in scoring (15.6).
• Ty Jerome ranks second in steals (2.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3), seventh in 3-pointers (2.4) and 3-point percentage (43.1%), 10th in assists (4.0) and 24th in scoring (13.4).
• Kyle Guy ranks seventh in 3-pointers (2.4) and 10th in minutes (33.2).
On the Horizon
• No. 5 Virginia hosts William & Mary on Saturday, Dec. 22. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 2 p.m.