Seattle, WA – Seeking their first eight-game win streak since 10 campaign, the Virginia Cavaliers will take on the Seattle Redhawks conference action at KeyArena.
Tony Bennett's Cavaliers are an impressive 9-1 on the season and as a result of their current seven-game win streak, the team has jumped into the top-25, debuting at number 24 this week. Virginia opened up play in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, with a 67-54 win over Oregon.
The Redhawks are at the opposite end of the spectrum with just two wins in the first nine games this season. Seattle brings a five-game losing streak into this contest, including a humbling 78=53 setback at Utah State last weekend.
This is just the second meeting between these two teams. Seattle won the only previous matchup, a 59-53 victory in Charlottesville last season.
The Cavaliers are once again a defensive-driven squad. The team is averaging a modest 66.7 ppg this year, but still boasts of a +18.2 scoring margin, thanks to stellar defensive play. Virginia is allowing just 48.5 ppg this season to rank second in the nation. UVa relies heavily on the play of ACC Player of the Year candidate Mike Scott. The talented forward is averaging a near double- double with team-highs of 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. While Scott is the centerpiece of the Virginia attack, support is found in the form of Joe Harris (12.7 ppg) and Sammy Zeglinski (9.0 ppg). In the win over the Ducks, Scott was once again dominant in the post, recording a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Harris poured in 15 points, while Jontel Evans chipped in with 12 points.
The Redhawks have been hampered by a lack of offensive production this season and enter this game with a -6.0 scoring margin. Seattle is shooting a meager .404 from the field overall, a number weighed down by a miserable .271 clip from behind the arc. Aaron Broussard leads the charge with 14.4 ppg. He is joined in double figures by Clarence Tate's 11.7 ppg. Eric Wallace is just under double digits at 9.8 ppg, but has made more of an impact on the glass, grabbing a team-best 8.6 rpg. It was once again Seattle's shoddy performance at the offensive end that did in the team against Utah State. The Redhawks managed to convert just 19-of-65 field goal attempts, including a horrific 3- of-23 effort from behind the arc in a lopsided loss to Utah State. Prince Obasi and Sterling Carter led the team with just eight points each. Broussard really had a tough time, hitting just 1-of-8 from the floor en route to a mere four-point performance.
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