Opinion
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Virginia Cavaliers Set to Dominate Wake Forest Demon Deacons at John Paul Jones Arena

As the Virginia Cavaliers gear up to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, all eyes are on what could be a defining moment for UVA at the John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers have shown a mix of resilience and areas needing improvement in their recent games, which paints an intriguing picture for their upcoming clash.


Jan 21, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA;  Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Cameron Hildreth (2) posts for a shot against Virginia Cavaliers guard Reece Beekman (2) during the first half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

In their last game against the Memphis Tigers on December 20th, UVA struggled with turnovers, committing 18 in total. This was a significant factor in their defeat, as they lost by 23 points. Their field goal percentage stood at 39 percent and from beyond the arc, it was just 21 percent – numbers that would not instill fear into any opponent. However, one must consider that this game was played away from home and against a team ranked just one spot below them.


On December 16th against Northeastern Huskies at home, UVA's performance told a different story. They managed to keep turnovers down to five while posting an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6. Their defense stepped up with four blocks and eight steals contributing to a narrow two-point victory.


Jan 21, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Cameron Hildreth (2) drives the lane against Virginia Cavaliers guard Ryan Dunn (13)  during the first half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

The most dominant display from UVA came earlier in December when they hosted North Carolina Central Eagles. They boasted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.8 and shot an impressive 54 percent from the field including a solid 43 percent from three-point range – showcasing what this team is capable of when they click.


The upcoming game presents an opportunity for UVA to capitalize on these strengths while addressing weaknesses such as free throw shooting where they've been averaging around mid-50s percentage-wise across these games.


Jan 21, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward Andrew Carr (11) shoots over Virginia Cavaliers forward Jayden Gardner (1) during the first half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Forest comes into this matchup with its own set of challenges but cannot be underestimated as any given day can turn the tides in college basketball.


For Cavalier fans looking forward to seeing how their team will fare next; mark your calendars for February 17th at noon EST when Virginia takes on Wake Forest right here in Charlottesville's own John Paul Jones Arena. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN Networks – ensuring you won't miss what promises to be another exciting chapter in college basketball's storied rivalries.

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