For several weeks this fall, it looked as if the Virginia football team might meet Auburn in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. But due to Virginia's failure to win a game when it mattered most, the Cavaliers are being shipped off to the potato fields of Idaho, and the only Virginia-Auburn contest to take place will be on the basketball court tonight at the Siegel Center in Richmond.
The No. 24 Cavaliers (5-0) have captured the attention of the Virginia hoops faithful by starting the season with five straight victories, including an upset win over Arizona, an utter domination of a solid Richmond squad and a tough road victory over the Wildcats of Northwestern.
Virginia's success can be attributed to several factors. The arrival of freshman phenom Sean Singletary gives Virginia coach Pete Gillen his first real point guard since the departure of Donald Hand in 2001. Senior Elton Brown looks like a transformed player, ready to dominate and play at a consistent stellar level. However, the main reason for the Cavaliers' early season success has been Virginia's stifling defensive play.
"We just have to take it one day at a time and go out there and play defense, and we think if we come to play then we can win," Brown said.
The Cavaliers have kept all five opponents to 60 points or less this season. This high level of defense is unprecedented in the Pete Gillen era of Virginia basketball. One possible explanation is Gillen's newfound willingness to use zone defenses. Quality opponents have looked stymied against Virginia's 2-3 and 3-2 match-up zones. The Cavaliers used a 3-2 match-up zone to effectively defend against the methodical Princeton-style offense run by Northwestern.
"A win is a win," Singletary said. "We just have to keep consistent, and we have to bring it every day."
Virginia faces an Auburn team tonight that is also undefeated. However, Auburn's early season success is deceiving, as four of those victories were at home against teams that could easily be described as "cupcakes." The Tigers won their only road game of the season over Temple (80-78), a program that is no longer the Atlantic 10 powerhouse it used to be. Auburn is 80th in the RPI rankings while Virginia is 11th.
Auburn's 2003-04 season was an extreme disappointment. The squad had a 14-14 record and recorded only five conference victories. Head coach Cliff Ellis was fired after the season and replaced by Jeff Lebo. In a premier conference such as the SEC, it could take a while before Auburn's basketball program rises to prominence again.
For the Cavaliers, this game is another opportunity to continue building a resume for a possible NCAA bid at the end of the season. It also gives Virginia a chance to play a game away from the confines of University Hall, yet in front of a friendly crowd.
"We've got to keep it going now," Brown said. "We have to go play hard. We can't really worry about the rankings."
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