No. 4 Virginia (18-6) vs. No. 13 Ohio (16-7), Saturday in Bloomington, Ind., 7:15 p.m., truTV
It’s official. Virginia is in the NCAA tournament — for now. Despite having to drop out of the ACC tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test, the defending national champion Cavaliers have not indicated they won’t be able to play in March Madness, though it’ll be a maddening few days in quarantine for the entire team.
Tony Bennett revealed Sunday night there is one COVID-positive player on the team, and thus far, the other players are testing negative. Virginia needs at least five players to test negative for seven consecutive days to play.
During the first CBS Selection Sunday show in two years, it was revealed that the committee slotted the Wahoos as a No. 4 seed in the “West” region, which doesn’t mean much this season since every game will take place in or near Indianapolis. UVa (18-6) will battle No. 13-seeded Ohio in the first round Saturday, March 20. The game will tip off around 7:15 p.m. and college hoops fans’ once-a-year pal, truvTV, will carry the contest.
Notably, the committee put No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga in Virginia’s bracket, drawing the ire of some fans. But before that potential Sweet 16 matchup, UVa needs to beat Ohio and then No. 5 seed Creighton or No. 12 seed UC-Santa Barbara.
Before we get all worked up about what could be down the road, let’s take a glance at Ohio. Virginia is 1-2 all time against the Bobcats, with the last meeting coming during the 2002-03 season.
Record: 16-7, 9-5 MAC, fifth place regular season.
MAC tournament: Bobcats defeated No. 2 seed Buffalo 84-69 for MAC tournament title.
Win streak: three straight and nine of 10.
NCAA tournament appearances: This will be Ohio’s 14th NCAA tournament, first since 2012.
Best tournament finish: Sweet 16 three times (1960, 1964, 2012).
Coach: Jeff Boals; second season, 33-22; fifth season overall, 88-64.
Scorers in double figures: Junior 6-foot-4 guard Jason Preston (16.6), senior 6-8 forward Dwight Wilson III (14.9), junior 6-8 forward Ben Vander Plas (12.8), sophomore 6-5 forward Ben Roderick (12.4), sophomore 6-3 guard Lunden McDay (10.3).
Leading rebounders: Wilson (7.5), Preston (6.8), Vander Plas (5.7).
Assist leaders: Preston (7.2), Vander Plas (3.8), freshman 6-1 guard Mark Sears (3.5).
3-point shooting: We know this aspect of a team can fuel a tourney upset. The Bobcats shoot 36.1% on 3s (64th nationally). Their best 3-point shooters are Preston (40.8% on 76 attempts) Roderick (40.7% on 123 attempts), Vander Plas (35.6% on 132 attempts), McDay (35.2% on 71 attempts), and sophomore 6-1 guard Miles Brown (34.7% on 49 attempts).
Notable: Ohio averages 80.9 points (17th). The Bobcats shoot 48.9% from the field (17th) and 70% from the free throw line (200th). They allow 73.3 ppg (253rd). Prior to Ohio, Boals coached Stony Brook for three seasons, leading the Seawolves to a 24-9 record in 2018-19. Vander Plas’ dad, Dean, played with Tony Bennett at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Seven players average double-figure minutes. Preston (1.6), Vander Plas (1.5), and Sears (1.0) lead the ‘Cats in steals per game. Ohio does not block many shots. Vander Plas averages 0.6 swats.
Best win: Toledo, 87-80, in the MAC tourney semifinals. The Rockets finished first in the regular season with a record of 21-8, 15-4.
Worst win: At home vs. Northern Illinois, 76-73. The Huskies finished last in the MAC at 3-16, 2-12.
Other wins: Chicago State, North Carolina A&T, Cleveland State, Purdue Northwest Pride, Ball State (twice), Miami (Ohio), Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Buffalo (away and MAC tourney final), Akron (home), Eastern Michigan, Kent State (MAC tourney).
Best loss: At No. 8 Illinois, 77-75, in November. Preston put up 31 points.
Worst loss: Bowling Green at home, 83-75. The Falcons finished 14-11, 10-8. Ohio has no losses to teams with losing records.
Other losses: Marshall, Akron (away), Toledo (away), Kent State (home), Buffalo (home).
That’s it for now. For the first time in two years, have a good time filling out your bracket!
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