Virginia No. 2 nationally in turnovers, Top 10 in three other categories

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s basketball team ranks in the nation’s top 10 in four statistical categories heading into Tuesday night’s NCAA play.

The Cavaliers highest ranking in any national stat is not surprising. UVA ranks No. 2 in the country in turnovers per game, chiefly attributed to veteran point guard Kihei Clark. Virginia is turning over the ball only 8.2 times per game, trailing only Villanova, which is No. 1 with 7.9 turnovers per outing.

These rankings are all NCAA statistics.

UVA ranks No. 6 in the country in assist to turnover ratio (1.71) based on 154 assists and 90 turnovers. The Cavaliers are No. 8 in free throw percentage at 80.15 and No. 9 in scoring defense (59.4 per game).

The only other ranking where the Wahoos are ranked in the top 20 is in field goal percentage, which is a huge turnaround from last season, coming in at No. 15 with a 50.75 percentage (305 of 601). UVA is also No. 33 nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (94-244) 38.5.

Here are the other NCAA statistical rankings for the Cavaliers out of 340 Division I teams:

• Scoring offense: No. 148 (73.5)
• 3-Point field goal attempts: Tied-No. 177 (94-244)
• Assists per game: T-140 (154/14.0 per game)
• Blocked shots per game: 107 (41/3.7)
• Defensive rebounds per game: 192 (282/25.64)
• Fewest fouls: T-47 (146)
• Fewest turnovers: T-28 (90)
• Field goal percentage defense: 74 (234-576, 50.75)
• Free Throw attempts: T-297 (105-131)
• Free Throws made: 280
• Offensive rebounds per game: 327 (74, 6.73)
• Rebound margin: 98 (3.0)
• Scoring margin: 27 (14.0)
• Steals per game: 276 (5.3)
• 3-Point FG defense: 184 (80-242, 33.1)
• 3-Point FG per game: T-79 (8.5)
• 3-Point FG made: T-116 (94)
• Total assists: T-168 (154)
• Total blocks: T-119 (41)
• Total rebounds: T-239 (356)
• Turnover margin: T-94 (opponents 111, UVA 90, 1.9)
• Turnovers forced: 334 (111, 10.09 per game)