Tomorrow the Cavaliers head south for their first in-conference action since a victory against North Carolina three weeks ago. Virginia will face the N.C. State Wolfpack at 2 p.m. and then make the short trip from Raleigh to Durham to take on the Duke Blue Devils at 7 p.m.
Virginia, 7-4 overall, is 6-2 in their last eight matches with a 1-0 conference mark since opening the season 1-2.
The Wolfpack, currently 8-4 overall, are in first place in the ACC with a 3-0 conference record. At 6-6, the Blue Devils' record isn't quite as impressive, but they are 2-0 in the conference.
"It looks like N.C. State is the favorite," Virginia coach Lenny Bernstein said. "Duke is kind of an upstart team -- they beat both Maryland and UNC. We're looking forward to two tough dual meets this week."
Although the latter match is Duke's only of the day, Virginia wrestler Scott Moore said their earlier match shouldn't have a negative effect on the team's performance.
"I don't really see a disadvantage," Moore said. "I think it's an advantage for us because the more matches we wrestle, the better we get."
This weekend's matches begin a five-day stretch in which Virginia will wrap up their regular season ACC schedule. After hosting Maryland on Feb. 18, Virginia will have only a Feb. 21 quad meet at Memorial Gymnasium before hosting the ACC Championships two weeks later.
"Now it's ACC time, and everyone knows how much it means, especially this weekend and obviously next weekend at Maryland," Bernstein said. "Last year, we went 4-0 in dual [ACC] meets but came in third in the [ACC] tournament. But this year we're looking to sweep both. We think we're going to have an opportunity to do that."
The story of Virginia's season continues to be the undefeated Moore. Moore is 38-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation at the 141-pound weight class after knocking off then-No. 1 Teyon Ware of Oklahoma. Of his victories, 27 have been by fall. The Virginia record for career falls is 28, and Moore is about to eclipse that record in about three quarters of a season. Moore has already obliterated the previous single season fall record of 11.
"I've been coasting along, working hard so far, but it's time to pick it up a notch and get ready for the postseason," Moore said. "Not so much ACC's, but Nationals -- just getting ready to take on tough competition there and take it one match at a time and win the national title."
If Moore is able to follow through with his plans, he would be the first national champion in the history of Virginia wrestling.
This season, Virginia is looking to repeat as ACC regular season champs, take the ACC tournament championships and send as many wrestlers as it can to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. However, regardless of what happens on those fronts, 2004 will remain the year of Moore.
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