North Carolina Visits Charlottesville To Take On Virginia
After visiting Tallahassee and getting knocked off by twenty fourth ranked Florida State Wednesday North Carolina will continue their road trip as they head to Charlottesville to visit Virginia .
Carolina (12-3, 1-1 ACC) plays its second consecutive ACC road game at Virginia (13-1, 2-0) on Saturday, Jan. 6th, at 1 p.m.
• The Tar Heels are 6-2 away from the Smith Center this year, including 3-1 on the road with wins at Stanford, Davidson and Tennessee and an 81-80 loss at Florida State on Jan. 3rd.
• Carolina has won the next game after its last 11 losses. The Tar Heels have not lost consecutive games since February 2016 at Louisville and Notre Dame.
• Luke Maye (18.1 ppg) and Joel Berry II (17.9) lead Carolina in scoring. The last time two Tar Heels averaged 17 points or more in the same season was 1983-84 when Michael Jordan (19.6) and Sam Perkins (17.6) were UNC's top scoring duo.
• Roy Williams has led Carolina to a winning record in ACC road games in each of the last seven seasons and in 11 of 14 seasons as UNC's head coach.
• No other school has a streak of winning records in ACC away games for more than one season. Notre Dame and Virginia were the only other schools with winning records in ACC road games last year, but neither accomplished that in 2015-16.
• Williams has a 75-43 record in ACC road games, the second-highest winning percentage (.636) in ACC history.
• Williams has won 828 games, two shy of tying Mt. St. Mary's Jim Phelan for seventh place in wins by a Division I head coach.
• Three of Carolina's next four games – Virginia (9), Notre Dame (64) and Clemson (10) are against teams in the top 75 in the RPI and two are against top-10 teams.
• Joel Berry II has scored 104 points (26.0 per game) in Carolina's four road games this season – 28 at Stanford, 27 at Davidson, 21 at Tennessee and 28 at Florida State.
• Berry is one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award (Tyler Hansbrough won the award in 2009). "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/5/mens-basketball-tar-heels-visit-virginia-saturday.aspx
SIXTH IN THE RPI
• Carolina is No. 6 in the nation in the NCAA's RPI behind Duke, Xavier, Oklahoma, TCU and Arizona State.
• Carolina's strength of schedule is the 12th-strongest in the country.
• Carolina's first 15 opponents have an average RPI of 102, which is the fourth-best in the country. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/5/mens-basketball-tar-heels-visit-virginia-saturday.aspx
UNC-VIRGINIA SERIES
•Carolina leads, 131-54, including 16-8 under head coach Roy Williams.
• Neither team has scored in the 80s in the last seven games. UNC is 3-4 in those games.
• The Tar Heels are 7-6 against Tony Bennett's Virginia teams and 1-0 against Bennett at Washington State (2008 NCAA Tournament).
• UNC has scored more than 75 points once in 13 games against Bennett's UVA teams and under 65 points eight times (3-5 in those eight).
• The Tar Heels are averaging 63.8 points against Virginia in the last 13 games. That includes a high of 93 on 2/16/13 and a low of 43 on 2/27/17.
• Carolina is 44-34 against Virginia in Charlottesville, including 4-4 in John Paul Jones Arena.
• Carolina won its first four games in John Paul Jones Arena, but the Cavaliers have won the last four games there. UNC last won in Charlottesville in 2012. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/5/mens-basketball-tar-heels-visit-virginia-saturday.aspx
LAST TIME IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, 2/27/17
VIRGINIA 53, UNC 43
• Carolina scored 43 points, its fewest under Roy Williams, its fewest against Virginia since 1945 and its fewest in any game since a 47-40 loss at Duke on 2/24/1979.
• Carolina turned the ball over 12 times in the first half (only twice in the second half).
• Joel Berry II scored 12 points and was UNC's only player in double figures. It was the first time only one Tar Heel scored in double figures since a loss to Miami on 1/8/14.
• Carolina's five starters combined for only 27 points.
• Carolina made a season-low 17 field goals and attempted just 48 shots from the floor, which was 18 fewer than its season average entering the game.
• Carolina scored 22 points in the paint, which matched its fewest in 21 games, both of which were losses (at Miami and at Virginia).
• Carolina had won 17 straight games when the opponents shot under 40 percent from the floor – Virginia shot 32.2 percent.
• Carolina had won 13 games in a row when it out-rebounded the opponent – UNC out-rebounded the Cavaliers, 38-35.
• The Tar Heels led 7-0 3:19 into the game. Virginia scored the next 12 points. Carolina led just one other time, at 21-20 with just under five minutes to play in the first half.
• Virginia committed four turnovers, the fewest against UNC all season. The previous low was six by the Cavaliers in Chapel Hill. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/5/mens-basketball-tar-heels-visit-virginia-saturday.aspx
2/18/17 IN CHAPEL HILL
UNC 65, VIRGINIA 41
• Carolina scored 65 points, its fewest in a win since beating Virginia 61-57 in the 2016 ACC Tournament championship game.
• Virginia scored 41 points, the second-fewest by an opponent in the Smith Center (460th game). Clemson scored 39 on 2/16/1995.
• The 41 points were the fewest allowed by the Tar Heels in Roy Williams' first 14 seasons as head coach. Previous was 42 by NC Central (11/11/2009) and by Northern Iowa (12/21/2016).
• The 41 points were the fewest Virginia scored on UNC since 1/21/1947 when UNC beat the Cavaliers 63-38. That game was played in Woollen Gym.
• Carolina out-rebounded the Cavaliers, 44-26 (plus 18).
• Virginia shot 27.8 percent from the floor, the lowest percentage by an opponent since Evansville shot 25.8 percent on 12/6/2011.
• It was the lowest percentage against the Tar Heels by an ACC team since Boston College shot 26.9 percent on 2/1/2011.
• Carolina's defense held the Cavaliers to 23.3 percent shooting from the floor in the second half, the lowest in a half by an opponent all year. That was the lowest percentage the Tar Heels held an opponent to in a half since Louisville shot 22.2 percent in the second half in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal in Greensboro in 2015.
• Carolina's 24-point win was its largest margin of victory over Virginia since a 99-54 (+45) win over 3/1/2006. UNC had a combined margin of 23 points in its previous four wins over the Cavaliers dating back to 2012.
• Justin Jackson led Carolina in scoring with 20 points, 18 in the first half, and added six assists. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/5/mens-basketball-tar-heels-visit-virginia-saturday.aspx
As for North Carolina's last time out they were knocked off in Tallahassee by Florida State.
It ended up being a day and evening for Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton and his team to gut things out. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Hamilton had surgery to remove kidney stones Wednesday morning. Less than 12 hours later he was on the sidelines as his 24th-ranked Seminoles held on for an 81-80 victory over No. 12 North Carolina. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
"I feel mission accomplished. That was the most important thing," Hamilton said. "The last 36 hours have been tough for me. I've had tougher things to overcome, maybe not as painful. This makes the pain worth it." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Florida State (12-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) led most of the game, including the final 8:12. But the Seminoles nearly squandered it as they didn't make a field goal in the last 2:57 and missed their last four free throws. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
The Tar Heels (12-3, 1-1) got within 81-80 with 30 seconds left when Joel Berry II made a 3-pointer after Theo Pinson picked off an errant pass by CJ Walker. After Phil Cofer missed both free throws, North Carolina had a chance to win. Berry drove the lane and missed a jumper which was rebounded by Terance Mann. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Mann missed his free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining, but North Carolina couldn't get a shot off, allowing Florida State to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Tar Heels."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
"We just like playing with each other so much. I feel like we're able to call each other out on plays, we can get on each other and not let it affect us," said CJ Walker, who scored 18 points. "I feel like that's a big thing for our team. They made a run, but our team called each other out, said what we had to do and we executed it." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
"They attacked so much more effectively. I liked our kids making a comeback," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "We got ourselves in position. For us we need to play better and smarter." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Braian Angola led Florida State with 20 points and Mann added 17. The Seminoles extended their home winning streak to 28, which is currently the third-longest in Division I. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Berry led the Tar Heels with 28 points, including 20 in the second half after they trailed 51-40 at halftime. Kenny Williams added 18. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
"He was our offense for a long time in the second half," Williams said about Berry. "We have to get some other guys to step up. We need to get more balance and to help him out on defense since he is doing a lot on both ends." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
BIG PICTURE
North Carolina: The defending national champions have been tested in their last five games, which includes two losses. It won't get any easier for the Tar Heels, whose next four games are against teams ranked in the top 75 of the RPI. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
"We need to play better and smarter. We need to do a better job of not allowing teams to attack the basket," Williams said. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Florida State: The Seminoles led 92-89 last Saturday at Duke but missed their final eight shots as the Blue Devils rallied for a 100-93 win. They learned their lesson from that game by getting a couple of key rebounds in the final minute when it counted."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
"In the huddle, in the last 4 minutes, we just say, 'For us to win the game, we need to rebound. And everybody has to go in there.' When you want to do it, you just do it," Angola said."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida State has been locked in at 24 the past two weeks, but could move up after this win and with a good effort at Miami. The Tar Heels might need a win against Virginia on Saturday to prevent a big drop."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
LETDOWN
Luke Maye came in averaging 12.3 rebounds in his last seven games, including 39 in the past three, but he was held to six boards against Florida State, which was tied for a season low. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
3-POINT BARRAGE
The Seminoles have three straight games where they have made double-digit 3-pointers. They made 11 against North Carolina, including nine in the first half. They came into the game second in the ACC in 3-pointers made with 123. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2018/1/3/mens-basketball-basketball-at-florida-state.aspx?path=mbball
Unlike North Carolina who lost their last game Virginia comes into this game against North Carolina haven won their last game on the road against in state Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
With 7:15 remaining in the second half and eighth-ranked Virginia leading 60-35, the exodus began in earnest at Cassell Coliseum. Hundreds of Virginia Tech fans decided they'd seen enough and began heading toward the exits. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
The early departures spared themselves more agony. The Cavaliers never trailed in this ACC men's basketball game and won 78-52 late Wednesday night. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
In an arena whose capacity is 9,275, the 146th game in this series drew only 5,945 fans. The UVA supporters in the crowd -- and they were visible and audible in most sections -- relished every minute of it. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"It feels great," fifth-year senior Devon Hall said after his final visit to Cassell Coliseum as a Virginia player. "We lost here the past two years, so being able to get a win like that is good." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
On a night when the Hokies (11-4 overall, 0-2 ACC) struggled at both ends, the Wahoos (13-1, 2-0) could do little wrong, especially on defense. Tech came in averaging 88.8 points per game and ranked first nationally in field-goal percentage (53.2) and sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage (42.7). "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"It was a little bit of a perfect storm," UVA head coach Tony Bennett said. "They were a little off, but we played good basketball." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Against Virginia's Pack Line defense, Tech shot 36.2 percent overall and 16.7 percent from beyond the arc. Nine of the Hokies' points came in the final 1:15, long after the outcome had been decided. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"You can tell that they are well-schooled in what they believe and what they want to do relative to any sort of offense that comes their way," Tech head coach Buzz Williams said when asked about the Cavaliers' defensive effort. "I thought they were elite -- if not better than elite -- against us, for sure." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Redshirt junior guard Ahmed Hill, the Hokies' leading scorer this season, had made at least one trey in each of his previous 14 games. He missed his only 3-point attempt Wednesday night and finished with four points. Two of Tech's other top offensive threats, senior guard Justin Bibbs and freshman swingman Nickeil Alexander-Walker, combined for seven points against the Cavaliers, who lead the nation in scoring defense. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"I think these are the games that Coach Bennett looks forward to the most," Virginia point guard Ty Jerome said. "He's such a competitor, and we feed off of that. We take pride in our defense, and we love facing high-powered offenses." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
The Cavaliers all but shut down the Hokies' vaunted fast break. Bennett emphasizes transition defense before every game, but especially against opponents such as Virginia Tech. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"We talked about [how] this is a battle for tempo," Bennett said."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
That battle went to UVA, and it wasn't close. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"I think a lot of it was getting back on defense," Hall said. "They play so fast. If you watch any of their games, they're flying up the court with just one pass. We kind of harped on it in practice and in the locker room, to make sure we get back." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Virginia was coming off a one-point victory over Boston College, which had two chances in the final seconds to pull off an upset at John Paul Jones Arena. In that game, the Cavaliers' top three reserves -- fifth-year senior Nigel Johnson, redshirt sophomore Mamadi Diakite and redshirt freshman De'Andre Hunter -- were a combined 1 for 11 from the floor."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Against Virginia Tech, UVA's bench might have been the difference. Hunter, a 6-7 forward, led the `Hoos with 14 points, and the 6-9 Diakite added nine points. Johnson, a 6-1 guard, contributed six points and two assists in his 15 minutes. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
For the season, seven Cavaliers are averaging at least 6.3 points per game apiece. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"This team so far, it's different guys at different times," Bennett said. "But that bench is important. I was pleased with what I saw, and we're going to need that. Diversified scoring for us is huge." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Hunter said: "When [UVA's reserves] got in against Boston College, we kind of slacked a little bit. The coaches just let us know that, and we tried to come in [Wednesday night] and keep the same energy and try to expand the lead as much as possible. And I feel like we did a good job of doing that today." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
His customary position has been small forward, but with post players Jack Salt, Isaiah Wilkins and Diakite in foul trouble Wednesday night, Hunter was used extensively at power forward, with impressive results. He made 5 of 8 shots from the floor and grabbed four rebounds in 24 minutes. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"What he did was really important for us," Bennett said."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Hunter said: "It feels great. My second ACC game, my first ACC game on the road. To have a solid performance really boosts my confidence, and I'm looking to carry it on to the next game." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
For the `Hoos, this was "a true team effort," as Bennett put it."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Hall, who scored only one point against BC, sank a trey 23 seconds into the game Wednesday night. He finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, with no turnovers. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Sophomore guard Kyle Guy started slowly but ended with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. The 6-7 Wilkins contributed six rebounds, a game-high three steals and two blocked shots, and the 6-10 Salt went 2 for 2 from the floor and 2 for 2 from the line and blocked two shots, both on the same possession."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Salt played so well in the second half that the Tech students who had been jeering him fell silent."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
And then there was Jerome, the reigning ACC player of the week. In 34 minutes, the 6-5 sophomore hit 3 of 5 shots from long range and totaled 13 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. He didn't turn the ball over."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Of Jerome's many highlights Wednesday night, the most memorable might have been the pass he threw from near midcourt to Salt, alone under the basket behind the Hokies' full-court press. Salt's slam made it 37-23 late in the first half."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"He controlled the game," Bennett said of Jerome. "I thought he was good. That pass he made, I had the perfect angle on it. I said, `What's he doing?' and then, `Oh, good pass.' " "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Jerome said: "I've made that pass before and it hasn't worked before, but this time I really took my time. I saw [the Hokies' defenders] come. They took away the pass back, they took away the middle, and [Wilkins] did a good job of flashing up. He took that back guy up from me, and I saw Jack wide open deep and made the right read." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
The Cavaliers had only three turnovers in the first half and took care of the ball well after intermission too. Even so, Williams chose to leave the Hokies' full-court press on. Virginia was unfazed. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"I thought we had the right mix of patience, breaking it with soundness, but looking to score on the back end of it," Bennett said."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Jerome said: "I think our press attack was awesome today, because we didn't just beat it, we got points on the back end. Jack did a great job on the dunk, and whoever was in that middle, whether it was Dev, Kyle, Nigel, myself, Dre, they did a great job just pushing the ball and making the right decision. Those points on the back end were huge. Every time [Tech] made a run, we were kind of able to get a bucket." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
HARD WORK REWARDED: Passers-by heard a sustained roar from inside the visitors' locker room a few minutes after the game ended. The Cavaliers were celebrating not only their victory, but a special moment for junior guard Justice Bartley."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"I got to do something that is one of the greatest joys as a coach after the game," Bennett said."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Virginia had an extra scholarship for this season available, and with about 30 seconds left in the game, Bennett told Wilkins that he was going to award it to Bartley, who joined the program as a walk-on in 2015. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"I said, `So have your water bottle ready,' " Bennett recalled."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Diakite said: "We kind of knew before the end of the game Justice was going to get his scholarship. We didn't tell him anything, but we just went and got some water and waited for the opportune moment, when Coach said he was offering him a scholarship." "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
When that moment came, Bartley's teammates swarmed over him and poured water on him."according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"Let me tell you, my heart stopped," Bartley told reporters later. "I still don't believe it. It's kind of surreal for me. It's been a long journey, but I'm so thankful for it.""according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Like so many walk-ons before him during Bennett's tenure, Bartley, who's from Lilburn, Georgia, embodies the five pillars upon which the Cavaliers' program is built: servanthood, unity, passion, thankfulness and humility. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
"I've done my best to try to embrace that role," said Bartley, who closed the scoring for Virginia on Wednesday night with a 3-poiner that made it 78-48. "I've tried to never fall short of that, and I've always brought it every single day, day in and day out, so it was always something I looked forward to.""according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Bennett said: "You should have seen the joy in his eyes and the excitement in the [other] players' eyes. I'm on a high from that.""according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010418aac.html
Tip-off is set for 1:00pm from John Paul Jones Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/va-m-baskbl-sched.html