The Virginia men's basketball team looks to turn around its four-game losing streak Sunday against Clemson (11-12, 2-8 ACC). The Cavaliers (14-6, 4-5) now are fifth in the ACC, having lost three of their last four to conference opponents. To compound Virginia's trouble, one of Clemson's two ACC wins came against Virginia on Jan. 8.
Virginia's first two losses came in consecutive games against N.C. State and Clemson in January. The Cavaliers are coming off a dismal showing against N.C. State yet again to take on the Tigers. If the Cavaliers want to prevent history from repeating itself, they will need production from more than one player. Despite Travis Watson's impressive numbers Wednesday - he had 29 points and 12 rebounds - no other player stepped up to contribute. Junior guard Roger Mason Jr. fouled out with only 12 points and more than 11 minutes to play in the second half. Mason was critical of his play Wednesday, but tried to keep things in perspective looking ahead to tonight's game.
"Things are bad now," Mason said. "But they could get a lot worse. We have to come together. I let the team down" Wednesday.
Turnovers are one reason for the Cavaliers' poor showing Wednesday night that coach Pete Gillen is trying to correct. Virginia turned the ball over 20 times Wednesday while only forcing 13 turnovers from N.C. State.
"We are going to have to adjust and be smart with the ball," Gillen said. "We can't keep turning the ball over."
One area where the Cavaliers have excelled even in their losses is in their rebounding, but Clemson will give the Cavaliers a run for their money on the boards as well. Clemson forward Ray Henderson is tied for second in the ACC in rebounding, averaging 9.3 boards per game. Although Watson is first with 10.5 rebounds per game, Clemson is first in team rebounding margin in the ACC.
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Clemson, too, has something to prove. The Tigers are winless since their home victory over Virginia Jan. 8. Their entire seven-game losing streak has come against ACC opponents. While Virginia has dropped from one of the top-ranked teams in the ACC to the middle of the pack, Clemson barely has kept from scraping bottom, as they now are second to last in the ACC.
While Virginia struggles to stay in the middle of the ACC, they must get themselves excited about every game. Despite not winning either the Duke or Maryland game, Virginia started well in each. Against any other team, however, the Cavaliers seemed to lack the energy from the start, digging themselves into an early hole. Every game now has become important for the 14-6 Cavaliers.
"We have come to a crossroads," Gillen said. "Are we going to fold our tents, or come out and start swinging?"
Virginia has lost three of their four games against ranked opponents and have lost more than they have won in ACC play. If Virginia wants to prove that it deserves to be in the top 25 nationally, it needs to be able to beat teams like Clemson. Virginia will once again be put to that task Sunday.
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