What: Virginia Cavaliers (9-5, 1-0 ACC) vs. Howard Bison (2-10, 0-1 MEAC)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Place: John Paul Jones Arena
TV: Not televised
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network
Spread: Pomeroy: Virginia -23
Last Meeting: 2007-08, Virginia 92, LSU 53
Last Time Out: Howard 50, George Washington 85
Series: Virginia 3-0
In the final non-conference game of the season, Virginia will host the Howard Bison tonight at John Paul Jones. Seeking its 10th win of the season, Virginia will most likely be without leading scorer and rebounder Mike Scott again tonight, who is still figuring out what is going on with his ankle.
Coming off a solid victory against LSU on Sunday, the Cavaliers are looking to establish some positive level of offensive consistency. Senior guard Mustapha Farrakhan and freshman guard KT Harrell both average in double figure scoring, at 10.9 ppg and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
It's hard to put much of a preview on this game. Each of Howard's 10 losses were by double-digits, while their two wins - against Bowling Green and Loyola-Maryland - were by a combined six points.
Howard's Probable Starters | |||||
| G | Anton Dickerson | So. | 11.1 ppg | 3.0 rpg | 1.3 apg |
| F | Mike Phillips | So. | 12.3 ppg | 7.1 rpg | 0.8 apg |
| G | Kyle Riley | Sr. | 6.3 ppg | 1.2 rpg | 1.8 apg |
| F | Dadrian Collins | So. | 10.5 ppg | 4.8 rpg | 1.4 apg |
| C | Alphonso Leary | Fr. | 6.3 ppg | 4.6 rpg | 0.6 bpg |
Out of 346 Division I basketball schools, Howard ranks 342nd in scoring (55.0 points per game), 344th in assists (8.7) and 345th in field goal percentage (35.1).
But don't get cocky. Over Virginia's last four games, the Cavaliers have only shot 34.4% from the field (76-221). It's no secret the ‘Hoos have been playing down to their opponents level.
Virginia will play host to North Carolina on Saturday as we head into the thick of the ACC. This is the final tune-up game for Virginia, and the Cavs need to make the most of it, even though the starting rotation is still far from being settled.