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Does UVA Basketball have a road problem?

UVA has struggled on the road against un-ranked teams, but have excelled at home against high-caliber opponents.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After another impressive win at home, the Virginia Cavaliers seemed to have rebounded after consecutive road losses. In fact, UVA is only 1-3 in true road games this year, compared to a perfect 8-0 in front of the home crowd. The sample size is obviously small with only four true road games so far, but all three losses are to teams outside the KenPom top 50. While it is no surprise that teams struggle on the road, the stark differences are alarming as the stats below indicate.

Home Away Difference
Offensive Rating 121.2 103.5 -15%
Points For 75 66 -12%
FG% 49.1% 43.2% -12%
3FG% 37.4% 35.1% -6%
FT% 74.7% 73.8% -1%
O Rebounds 10.1 8.0 -21%
Total Rebounds 30.9 29.0 -6%
Assists 14.4 12.0 -17%
Steals 6.1 4.3 -30%
Blocks 3.3 2.8 -15%
Turnovers 7.6 9.5 25%
Fouls 14.5 19.5 34%
Defensive Rating 96.2 105.5 10%
Points Against 59 67 14%
FG% 42.1% 46.2% 10%
3FG% 32.9% 42.6% 29%
FT% 68.9% 70.0% 2%
O Rebounds 7.4 6.0 -19%
Total Rebounds 25.0 29.3 17%
Assists 9.5 12.0 26%
Steals 4.9 4.5 -8%
Blocks 1.5 3.8 153%
Turnovers 12.6 10.0 -21%
Fouls 18.3 16.5 -10%

Virginia's offense this season is statistically worse in all 12 categories on the road. It is not just one stat like poor shooting, but the Cavaliers are committing more turnovers and fouls as well. The defense has also struggled in 10 of the 12 statistics, including a large difference in 3 point defense %. These results may seem typical, until you compare them to previous seasons below.

Offensive Rating Defensive Rating
Year Home Away Difference Home Away Difference
2016 121.2 103.5 -15% 96.2 105.5 10%
2015 111.6 111.7 0% 81.6 90.9 11%
2014 105.7 104.1 -2% 81.4 97.9 20%
2013 104.7 100.0 -4% 80.6 102.1 27%

In the previous three seasons there was a negligible difference between UVA's offensive rating between home and away games. Meanwhile the difference between the defensive ratings was 11-27%. Apparently offense travels, but defense does not.

Hopefully the Hoos can figure out their road challenges since they still have seven away games left on the ACC schedule, including ranked opponents Pittsburgh, Duke, Louisville, and Miami.