What: No. 22/22 Virginia Cavaliers (19-6, 6-5 ACC) vs. Maryland Terrapins (15-10, 5-6 ACC)
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Date: February 18, 2012
Place: John Paul Jones Arena
TV: ACC Network
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network
Spread: Virginia -10.5; Pomeroy: Virginia 65, Maryland 53 (89%)
Last Meeting: Virginia 74, Maryland 60
Last Time Out: Maryland 81, Boston College 65
Series: Maryland leads 106-69
Even though we play Maryland twice and we're already 11 games into the ACC season, this is the first time the Hoos and the Terps have faced off this season.
Virginia's offensive drought can only last so long, right? I mean, at some point, the reliable, go-to Sammy Zeglinski will return from his winter hibernation, right? And Joe Harris's hand isn't actually broken, he was just tired that day? Excellent.
Seriously though, if there were ever a "must win" game to keep this season from spiraling, it's this afternoon. Virginia has lost three of its last four, which actually isn't as bad as what it sounds like when you consider that one of those was at Chapel Hill and the other was in Tallahassee. The third, against Clemson, felt like it should have been a game that Virginia should have just taken care of, even though Vegas and Ken Pomeroy essentially called it a coin flip.
I'll be pleased with a win today, if we can be so fortunate, but I won't really be happy with it unless I see some offensive power coming from the Hoos -- specifically from Zeglinski. Jontel Evans has certainly done more than his part to carry the team over the past two games, on both sides of the floor, and in a sport that asks the question, "What have you done for me lately," this means that Evans is ranking higher right now than Zeglinski in my book. Maryland is just not a good club this year, with four of their five wins coming from the cellar of the ACC (Wake, GT, VT and BC). They did, however, steal a win over Clemson by two. Virginia should take care of business today, and I'd love to see some offensive reassurance for the rest of the season.
Were the season to end right now, I think the Hoos are easily considered "in" come Tournament time, but a loss today would put that in grave danger. It's simply one that we cannot afford, considering two of our final four games will be against UNC and FSU.
Leave your pre-, in- and post-game thoughts here and Go HOOS!