Note: Tell me what you think of Virginia playing Oregon in the poll on the right.
VIRGINIA FOOTBALL
By now, most of you probably know that the Cavaliers will be hosting the high-flying Ducks in Charlottesville on Sept. 7 of this upcoming season. UVa will return the visit to Eugene, Ore., in 2016. The hole was opened up because Penn State dropped UVa in favor of playing Central Florida. Presumably this was to play an easier school because the Nittany Lions can't make a bowl game because of NCAA sanctions, so they might as well get as many wins as possible (though UCF is no slouch by any means).
The Wahoos will play eight home games for the first time in the program's history during the 2013 season. The Cavs host BYU, Oregon, VMI, Ball State, Duke, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. Virginia's road games are North Carolina, Miami, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, UVa's newest ACC Coastal Division foe.
There are a couple ways to look at Virginia's scheduling of Oregon. One, it will certainly bring in lots of money and fans. Virginia has averaged around 45-46,000 per home game the past three seasons and that number is sure to be higher in 2013. Openers tend to bring in a good amount of fans no matter the opponent and BYU is pretty well-known and Virginia opened Scott Stadium by playing the Cougars in 2000 and that was terrific game that BYU won, 38-35 (the two played at BYU in 1999 and Virginia won 45-40, so the two have a recent history of strong games). They should draw 55,000 and maybe as many as 60,000. The Oregon game will probably sell out and could maybe rival the 65,000+ that attended the USC game in 2008. I don't know how well Oregon fans will travel across the country, but that game should bring in lots of Wahoo fans curious to see Oregon and its high-octane offense. Forget winning the game. Just the idea of seeing Oregon is pretty cool and that should attract football fans to Scott Stadium. Not just Virginia fans, but also Virginia Tech fans certainly (the Hokies do play at home that day, but the opponent is Western Carolina) and also local fans of other ACC teams and just football fans in general. When was the last time Oregon played in the East Coast? Have they? I can't remember a game in the East during the time the Ducks have built their national profile. Clemson is expected to be good and that game will probably bring in 55-60,000 and of course, the Virginia Tech game will bring in 60-64,000 depending on how good each team is. Certainly in the department of an exciting slate of games and bringing in money, the athletic department gets an A.
But does Virginia stand a chance against Oregon? Probably not, but you never know. Perhaps with the new coaching staff in place, the Cavaliers are able to take advantage of what is a quietly talented roster based on UVa's recent recruiting pickups. But Virginia has to play BYU the week before, a strong team in its own right, and Oregon faces Nicholls State, so the Ducks can essentially game plan for the 'Hoos for a few weeks if they want.
Virginia does have a couple advantages, though. Any team from the West that travels to the East must deal with jet lag so maybe we will catch Oregon a little tired, and certainly its style of offense is predicated on the Ducks wearing opponents out. But maybe they will already be a little worn out. The weather could favor the 'Hoos, too. Those early September games at Scott Stadium are usually sweltering. The Ducks might not be used to that. I'm not a meteorologist but I think Eugene, Ore., is typically cooler than Charlottesville in early September. Also, Oregon has a new coach, Mark Helfrich, so perhaps the Ducks will still be getting used to him. Unfortunately, he is the Ducks' offensive coordinator of the past few seasons so there probably won't be a huge period where Oregon is smoothing out the rough edges. It should be able to hit the ground running, especially the offense. Oregon will have the same defensive coordinator as in 2012, too, so no hiccups there.
So that is the second way to look at the scheduling of Oregon, that Virginia will surely lose and has a chance to start the season 0-2. Critics will say that 2013 is a crucial year for the program and that it must attain six wins and go to a bowl game. Playing Oregon instead of an easier team hampers that goal. A sub-.500 season could mean the end for Mike London and his staff.
Or could it? Attendance at home games will rise this coming year. The money coming in will be greater if for no other reason than there are more home games than ever, not to mention the games are attractive. And the Oregon matchup is kind of like Virginia is playing in a bowl game anyway. Outside the Tech game, which UVa always plays, this is the biggest game on the schedule and it is a non-ACC game, like a bowl game would be. The question being posed by fans is this: Would you rather Virginia end up 5-7, one victory short of 6-6 and a lower-tier bowl but having played Oregon, or would you rather Virginia end up 6-6, go to a bowl, but having not played Oregon but someone like say, Eastern Michigan instead? I think the faction saying playing Oregon is a boost even if we finish 5-7 is on to something, though certainly getting to 6-6 while playing Oregon would be a bonus. With a such a daunting schedule, if there is obvious improvement over 2012, I don't think 5-7 necessarily gets London booted or really hurts the program.
Recruits are already buzzing about this game. This contest could have ramifications down the line. Hopefully, UVa can at least put up a good showing and not embarrass itself and have this be positive exposure.
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VIRGINIA BASKETBALL
N.C. State at Virginia, 7 p.m. ESPN2
Virginia faces perhaps its toughest test thus far this season when the it hosts N.C. State tonight at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavs are 14-5, 4-2 ACC and have won three straight games and are coming off a 65-51 win over Boston College at home, a game where they outscored the Eagles 41-25 in the second half.
N.C. State is 16-4 and 5-2 in the conference and won Saturday night at home against North Carolina, 91-83 in a game where the Wolfpack led by 20-30 points at times. N.C. State was picked to finish first in the ACC this season and it is certainly a good team that is capable of making a run into the NCAA tournament, but I don't think the Wolfpack have been tested that much and they have definitely been inconsistent. Their best non-conference win was at home, 69-65, over UConn, but this is not Jim Calhoun's Huskies squad. Oklahoma State, a team that lost to Virginia Tech by 10, defeated State by 20. N.C. State put up a good fight at Michigan, which is now No. 1, but lost 79-72. The Pack has only played four true road games and are 1-3 in them with the loss at Michigan and also losses at Maryland and at a mediocre Wake Forest team. N.C. State's only road victory was 78-73 at Boston College. I would be kind of surprised and disappointed if State beats UVa by more than nine points.
Virginia and N.C. State met twice last year. The Cavs pulled out a nailbiter in Raleigh during the regular season, 61-60, then lost in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, 67-64.
N.C. State boasts five players who average in double figures so it can beat you in a variety of ways. Wahoo fans are most concerned about Richard Howell, State's 6-foot-8, 257-pound senior forward. He scores 12.8 points per game and pulls down 11.1 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the ACC only 0.1 rebounds behind Duke's Mason Plumlee. State's leading scorer is forward C.J. Leslie (15.1) and he also gets seven rebounds per game. Guards Lorenzo Brown (13.2), T.J. Warren (12.6), and Scott Wood (11.8) are the Wolfpack's other players in double figures. Warren, a freshman, comes off the bench to really give the Wolfpack a spark. Rodney Purvis, a freshman guard, starts and scores just a hair below 10 ppg (9.8).Wood can stroke it from deep. He is hitting 42.5 percent of his 3s and State is second in the ACC, hitting 40 percent of its 3s. Virginia is third at 39.1 percent. Joe Harris is first in the ACC individually at 46.7 percent. As a team, N.C. State shoots very well overall, 50.9 percent, which ranks fourth nationally. As expected, it also rebounds well, 89th in the nation, and tops the league in scoring at 79.8 points per game (sixth nationally).
N.C. State is not great in the defense department, ranking next-to-last in the ACC in scoring defense, giving up 70.2 ppg. Only Virginia Tech is worse. And the Wolfpack are eighth in terms of field goal percentage defense.
If Virginia is clicking on all cylinders, it can win this game. It will need to make some 3s, maybe around six or more I predict to pull this off. Shooting from beyond the arc like the Cavs did against BC probably won't get it done (they made just two). Virginia will have to be careful not to get into foul trouble. N.C. State likes to bang down low, and the Cavaliers are slim on big bodies. It is unclear if Darion Atkins will play, but even if he isn't 100 percent, it would be good to have him come off the bench to at least be a guy that can give up five fouls. Hopefully, Akil Mitchell will be able to avoid foul trouble as he is going to be defending Howell the most. N.C. State would be smart to pound the ball into Howell early and often. N.C. State is vulnerable. It has only played four true road games and had one win against a mediocre BC team by five points. The Wolfpack lost to an average to below average Wake Forest and gave up 86 points doing it. They also lost at Maryland, which is 3-4 in the ACC and definitely not as good as its gaudy one-loss pre-conference recorded indicated.
This is also a good time to catch the Pack. They had a pretty easy time beating UNC, but it was just Saturday night and that was an emotional game for a team that always savors beating the Tar Heels. This coming Saturday, N.C. State hosts ACC-leading Miami, a game the Wolfpack know they have to win to try to draw even with the Hurricanes and try to win the ACC's regular season. Virginia acts as a trap game for State, and coming to JPJ, even moreso. The Wahoos are definitely capable of winning this game, but they will need to have a pretty good game offensively and they need to keep the Wolfpack off the boards and limit them to one shot each time down the floor.
VIRGINIA FOOTBALL
The Wahoos will play eight home games for the first time in the program's history during the 2013 season. The Cavs host BYU, Oregon, VMI, Ball State, Duke, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. Virginia's road games are North Carolina, Miami, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, UVa's newest ACC Coastal Division foe.
There are a couple ways to look at Virginia's scheduling of Oregon. One, it will certainly bring in lots of money and fans. Virginia has averaged around 45-46,000 per home game the past three seasons and that number is sure to be higher in 2013. Openers tend to bring in a good amount of fans no matter the opponent and BYU is pretty well-known and Virginia opened Scott Stadium by playing the Cougars in 2000 and that was terrific game that BYU won, 38-35 (the two played at BYU in 1999 and Virginia won 45-40, so the two have a recent history of strong games). They should draw 55,000 and maybe as many as 60,000. The Oregon game will probably sell out and could maybe rival the 65,000+ that attended the USC game in 2008. I don't know how well Oregon fans will travel across the country, but that game should bring in lots of Wahoo fans curious to see Oregon and its high-octane offense. Forget winning the game. Just the idea of seeing Oregon is pretty cool and that should attract football fans to Scott Stadium. Not just Virginia fans, but also Virginia Tech fans certainly (the Hokies do play at home that day, but the opponent is Western Carolina) and also local fans of other ACC teams and just football fans in general. When was the last time Oregon played in the East Coast? Have they? I can't remember a game in the East during the time the Ducks have built their national profile. Clemson is expected to be good and that game will probably bring in 55-60,000 and of course, the Virginia Tech game will bring in 60-64,000 depending on how good each team is. Certainly in the department of an exciting slate of games and bringing in money, the athletic department gets an A.
But does Virginia stand a chance against Oregon? Probably not, but you never know. Perhaps with the new coaching staff in place, the Cavaliers are able to take advantage of what is a quietly talented roster based on UVa's recent recruiting pickups. But Virginia has to play BYU the week before, a strong team in its own right, and Oregon faces Nicholls State, so the Ducks can essentially game plan for the 'Hoos for a few weeks if they want.
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| New Oregon coach Mark Helfrich |
So that is the second way to look at the scheduling of Oregon, that Virginia will surely lose and has a chance to start the season 0-2. Critics will say that 2013 is a crucial year for the program and that it must attain six wins and go to a bowl game. Playing Oregon instead of an easier team hampers that goal. A sub-.500 season could mean the end for Mike London and his staff.
Or could it? Attendance at home games will rise this coming year. The money coming in will be greater if for no other reason than there are more home games than ever, not to mention the games are attractive. And the Oregon matchup is kind of like Virginia is playing in a bowl game anyway. Outside the Tech game, which UVa always plays, this is the biggest game on the schedule and it is a non-ACC game, like a bowl game would be. The question being posed by fans is this: Would you rather Virginia end up 5-7, one victory short of 6-6 and a lower-tier bowl but having played Oregon, or would you rather Virginia end up 6-6, go to a bowl, but having not played Oregon but someone like say, Eastern Michigan instead? I think the faction saying playing Oregon is a boost even if we finish 5-7 is on to something, though certainly getting to 6-6 while playing Oregon would be a bonus. With a such a daunting schedule, if there is obvious improvement over 2012, I don't think 5-7 necessarily gets London booted or really hurts the program.
Recruits are already buzzing about this game. This contest could have ramifications down the line. Hopefully, UVa can at least put up a good showing and not embarrass itself and have this be positive exposure.
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VIRGINIA BASKETBALL
N.C. State at Virginia, 7 p.m. ESPN2
Virginia faces perhaps its toughest test thus far this season when the it hosts N.C. State tonight at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavs are 14-5, 4-2 ACC and have won three straight games and are coming off a 65-51 win over Boston College at home, a game where they outscored the Eagles 41-25 in the second half.
N.C. State is 16-4 and 5-2 in the conference and won Saturday night at home against North Carolina, 91-83 in a game where the Wolfpack led by 20-30 points at times. N.C. State was picked to finish first in the ACC this season and it is certainly a good team that is capable of making a run into the NCAA tournament, but I don't think the Wolfpack have been tested that much and they have definitely been inconsistent. Their best non-conference win was at home, 69-65, over UConn, but this is not Jim Calhoun's Huskies squad. Oklahoma State, a team that lost to Virginia Tech by 10, defeated State by 20. N.C. State put up a good fight at Michigan, which is now No. 1, but lost 79-72. The Pack has only played four true road games and are 1-3 in them with the loss at Michigan and also losses at Maryland and at a mediocre Wake Forest team. N.C. State's only road victory was 78-73 at Boston College. I would be kind of surprised and disappointed if State beats UVa by more than nine points.
Virginia and N.C. State met twice last year. The Cavs pulled out a nailbiter in Raleigh during the regular season, 61-60, then lost in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, 67-64.
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| N.C. State senior forward Richard Howell |
N.C. State is not great in the defense department, ranking next-to-last in the ACC in scoring defense, giving up 70.2 ppg. Only Virginia Tech is worse. And the Wolfpack are eighth in terms of field goal percentage defense.
If Virginia is clicking on all cylinders, it can win this game. It will need to make some 3s, maybe around six or more I predict to pull this off. Shooting from beyond the arc like the Cavs did against BC probably won't get it done (they made just two). Virginia will have to be careful not to get into foul trouble. N.C. State likes to bang down low, and the Cavaliers are slim on big bodies. It is unclear if Darion Atkins will play, but even if he isn't 100 percent, it would be good to have him come off the bench to at least be a guy that can give up five fouls. Hopefully, Akil Mitchell will be able to avoid foul trouble as he is going to be defending Howell the most. N.C. State would be smart to pound the ball into Howell early and often. N.C. State is vulnerable. It has only played four true road games and had one win against a mediocre BC team by five points. The Wolfpack lost to an average to below average Wake Forest and gave up 86 points doing it. They also lost at Maryland, which is 3-4 in the ACC and definitely not as good as its gaudy one-loss pre-conference recorded indicated.
This is also a good time to catch the Pack. They had a pretty easy time beating UNC, but it was just Saturday night and that was an emotional game for a team that always savors beating the Tar Heels. This coming Saturday, N.C. State hosts ACC-leading Miami, a game the Wolfpack know they have to win to try to draw even with the Hurricanes and try to win the ACC's regular season. Virginia acts as a trap game for State, and coming to JPJ, even moreso. The Wahoos are definitely capable of winning this game, but they will need to have a pretty good game offensively and they need to keep the Wolfpack off the boards and limit them to one shot each time down the floor.
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