Busting Brackets
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Virginia Basketball: 5 reasons why the Cavaliers can win the ACC in 2018-19

By Lukas Harkins

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 3: Justice Bartley #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers and the rest of the bench cheers in the second half during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at John Paul Jones Arena on March 3, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Virginia defeated Notre Dame 62-57. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 3: Justice Bartley #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers and the rest of the bench cheers in the second half during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at John Paul Jones Arena on March 3, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Virginia defeated Notre Dame 62-57. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – FEBRUARY 21: Fans of the Virginia Cavaliers cheer. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – FEBRUARY 21: Fans of the Virginia Cavaliers cheer. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

4. They *might* run the table at home

Over the last five seasons, Virginia is 73-8 (.901) at home. While obviously part of this winning percentage is due to the ease of UVA’s non-conference schedule, they are also 40-5 at home during ACC play over this same stretch of time. Obviously, the program has been extremely successful overall and a large part of this is their play in Charlottesville.

As we look ahead to this coming season, here is a look at the teams that Virginia will face in front of their home crowd in conference play (home record over last five years in parenthesis): Duke (0-2), Louisville (4-0), Notre Dame (3-0), Virginia Tech (4-1), Florida State (2-1), Georgia Tech (3-0), Miami (2-1), Pittsburgh (2-0), and Wake Forest (3-0).

While the ACC projects to be extremely competitive this year, only about three of those teams above look to be potential top-25 teams. Duke will obviously be the most difficult of those matchups but they are just bound to beat the Blue Devils at home every once in a while. They have only done so once in the last six meetings between the two teams. While Duke may have more talent on paper, Virginia will have far more experience.

While it might seem like a longshot to say UVA will finish undefeated at home in ACC play, it is not out of the question. Either going 8-1 or 9-0 actually seems quite possible, especially considering the team gets three matchups that should be pushovers in GT, Pitt, and Wake.

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