What: No. 25 Virginia Cavaliers (21-6, 8-5 ACC) vs. No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (24-4, 11-2 ACC)
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Date: February 25, 2012
Place: John Paul Jones Arena
TV: ESPN, ESPN3.com
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network
Spread: North Carolina -3.5; Pomeroy: Virginia 63, North Carolina 64 (47%)
Last Meeting: Virginia 52, North Carolina 70
Last Time Out: North Carolina 86, NC State 74
Series: North Carolina leads 126-49
Prior to the last time these two teams met, Virginia had not lost a game this season by a margin greater than a bucket. Then came an 18-point thwomping at Chapel Hill, which opened Virginia up for a 12 point loss the following game to Clemson. Meanwhile, that sparked a four-game win streak for the Heels.
Virginia is going for win number 50 in the basketball rendition of the South's Oldest Rivalry (it is not actually the south's oldest rivalry in basketball...bonus points if you know what game is). It would also be Virginia's first time defeating North Carolina at John Paul Jones Arena.
Last time, Tyler Zeller put up 25 points and nine rebounds, while Harrison Barnes and John Henson each notched double-doubles. Carolina also grabbed -- ready? -- 52 rebounds to Virginia's 32, and 23 offensive boards to Virginia's eight. I mean, from a sheer numbers standpoint, just standing still and holding your arms outstretched should give you at least eight shouldn't it? (To be fair, Virginia does not generally go for too many offensive rebounds.)
A win today would give me enough confidence to place UVA squarely in the "lock" category. But, in the words of Tony Bennett, we're going to need an "uncommon effort" to get the job done.
Leave your pre-, in- and post-game thoughts here and Go HOOS!