By Don Phillips
West Virginia at Virginia
DATE: Tuesday, December 8, 2015
LOCATION: Madison Square Garden (19,812) in New York, N.Y.
TIPOFF: 7:00 p.m. ET
SERIES: Series tied 8-8
TV: ESPN (Rece Davis, Jay Bilas and Andy Katz)
RADIO: Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG (Tony Caridi, Jay Jacobs & Dan Wolfgang)
West Virginia has posted a winning non-conference mark for 23 consecutive seasons. West Virginia is 117-29 against non-conference teams in regular season games in the last 12 seasons. The last time WVU did not post a winning non-league record was 1990-91, when WVU went 4-4 outside of conference play. WVU is 86-23 in non-conference games under Bob Huggins.
The Mountaineers have won 17 of their last 26 games at Madison Square Garden. WVU is 32-44 all-time at MSG. West Virginia has won 11 of its last 18 games played in the state of New York. WVU has won 13 of its last 16 games against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Mountaineers have won 61 of their last 74 games in the month of December.
Devin Williams started the season with five consecutive double-doubles. The last WVU player to start the season with five straight double-doubles was Rod Thorn in 1960-61. Williams ranks sixth nationally in double-doubles.
WVU is 7-0 for the second year in a row. The Mountaineers started 7-0 last year before a one-point loss to LSU. WVU won Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational with wins over Richmond and San Diego State. Devin Williams was named tournament MVP, and Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles were named to the all-tournament team.
WVU leads the country in steals, 3-point field goal percentage defense and forced turnovers per game. WVU is forcing its opponents to turn it over on 30.3 percent of their possessions. WVU is averaging 31.1 points per game off turnovers.
WVU has only trailed for 13:42 out of a possible 280 minutes this season. Five of WVU’s seven opponents have not held a single lead against the Mountaineer.
West Virginia has allowed its opponent to shoot 50 percent or better only 47 times under Bob Huggins (283 games). WVU is 148-29 under Bob Huggins when holding opponents to 69 points or less. WVU has won 37 of its last 38 and 93 of its last 103 games when holding opponents under 69 points.
West Virginia is 50-3 under Bob Huggins when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
No. 10 Virginia is 7-1 on the season following a 67-52 home win over William & Mary on Saturday. The Cavaliers have won six in a row since a 73-68 loss at George Washington on Nov. 16.
UVA meets its first ranked opponent of the season. UVA went 4-4 vs. ranked foes in 2014-15, defeating Maryland, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Louisville. Virginia is 14-21 against ranked opponents, including a 2-6 mark vs. top-5 foes, in the Tony Bennett era. Virginia is 129-316 vs. ranked opponents, including a 25-119 mark against top-5 foes, since 1953-54. The Cavaliers are 1-26 vs. No. 1-ranked opponents (86-73 vs. No. 1 North Carolina on Jan. 30, 1986).
UVA is 126-36 (.777) in 10 seasons, including a 3-0 mark in 2015-16, at John Paul Jones Arena. UVA has won 11 or more home games for six straight seasons. UVA’s 21-game home winning streak from Dec. 21, 2013-Jan. 22, 2015 set a JPJ record.
UVA is 88-20 (.815), including a 53-5 (.914) mark the past four seasons, at home under head coach Tony Bennett. Virginia is 26-1 in ACC home games over the past three seasons.
West Virginia’s deep rotation will be the difference.
Injuries
West Virginia:
No significant injuries.
Virginia:
[G] 12/07/2015 – London Perrantes “?” Tuesday vs. West Virginia ( Appendix )
[G] 12/07/2015 – Marial Shayok probable Tuesday vs. West Virginia ( Wrist )
Selection: West Virginia – Over
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