Irish looking for first-ever win at UVA tonight

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia is hoping to remain hot from the 3-point arc tonight when the Cavaliers host Notre Dame, another opportunity for UVA to make up some ground in the ACC standings.

Coach Ron Sanchez’ team was a 1.5-point underdog to the Fighting Irish as of late Friday night, but if the Cavaliers can continue to shoot well and combine that with solid defense and protect the ball, they’ll have a chance to climb a few spots in the league. The seven teams directly ahead of Virginia (9-10, 2-6 ACC) have three or fewer conference wins, including Notre Dame (8-0, 2-5).

Tonight’s game is sold out and will be televised at 6:30 by ESPN2.

John Paul Jones Arena, and before that, University Hall, have been houses of horror for Notre Dame basketball, which has never tasted victory in Charlottesville in nine games.

The Irish are struggling under second-year coach Micah Shrewsberry, particularly on the road. Notre Dame has lost 24 of its last 26 ACC road games (including 0-4 this season), having blown a 17-point lead in a 77-69 loss at Syracuse a week ago.

“Once again, we get to test ourselves on the road,” Shrewsberry said. “We get another opportunity to see if we can make a step as a group. Gotta become a better team. Gotta put two halves together.”

Virginia snapped a five-game losing streak earlier this week, beating Boston College, 74-56. The Cavaliers warmed up from Bonusphere early in that game, making 9 of 15 shots from beyond the arc in building a 41-23 halftime bulge, and finished 11 of 20 with sharpshooter Isaac McKneely breaking from his shooting slump by making 6 of 9 bombs for part of his game-high 21 points. McKneely had missed 10 of his previous last 11 shots from the arc before making four straight to open up against BC.

UVA also shot 52 percent from the field overall.

The Irish are led by 6-foot sophomore point guard Markus Burton, who averages 19.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He is shooting 45 percent overall and 37 percent from long range.

Shrewsberry’s son, Braeden, a 6-4 sophomore, averages 15 points per game and can shoot it as well (44 percent and 37 percent). Tae Davis, a 6-9 junior, is scoring 16 points and pulling down 9 rebounds per game.