In the midst of a six-game losing streak, the Cavaliers face ACC-leading No. 5 Duke Sunday at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Blue Devils (23-4, 11-2 ACC), which have won seven straight games - most recently a 70-52 home pounding of Tulsa last night - are led by a dynamic trio of scorers in senior guard Jon Scheyer, junior guard Nolan Smith and senior forward Kyle Singler, who average 18.9, 17.9 and 16.9 points per game, respectively. All three players are shooting better than 39 percent from three-point land, and Singler leads Duke in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
The Blue Devils have not lost since undergoing an 89-77 setback at Georgetown Jan. 30. Within the conference, Duke has lost to Georgia Tech and cellar-dweller N.C. State
Virginia's six straight losses have often come by wide margins. The Cavaliers were competitive at Miami Tuesday night but still lost by 12. Sophomore forward Sylven Landesberg scored 27 points, senior forward Jerome Meyinsse put up 13 and junior guard Jeff Jones added 11, but the rest of the Cavalier squad did little to help the cause. Junior forward Mike Scott, who is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, went 0-for-7 from the field and only grabbed three boards.
Jones has found some consistency as of late, averaging 11 points per game during the last four matchups. But sophomore guard Sammy Zeglinski, at one time averaging double figures in points, has gone dry recently, with only 4.7 points per game during the last six contests.
Virginia likely will need to give a monumental effort to beat Duke, which not only is a tournament team but also is vying for a No. 1 seed. Last season, Virginia lost to the then-No. 1 Blue Devils on the road, 79-54. Virginia last beat Duke during the 2006-07 season when Sean Singletary's fall-away floater with time almost out lifted the Cavaliers to a 68-66 win in overtime in front of a frenzied home crowd.
Following the game Sunday, Virginia has two contests remaining on its schedule before ACC Tournament play kicks off March 11. The team will face Boston College on the road March 3 before closing out its regular season against Maryland March 6 at home.
-compiled by Aaron Perryman
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