Preview: UVa returns home tonight to host Bethune-Cookman

Bethune Cookman (2-6, MEAC) at Virginia (5-4, 0-1 ACC)

7 p.m., ACCN

Virginia lost 2-0 last week and now they will try to get off the mat before the exam break. The Hoos host Bethune Cookman at JPJ tonight and then have six days off before a challenging home game against Memphis on the 18th. UVa hasn’t been .500 or worse in December since posting a 4-4 record following a road loss to Auburn on Dec. 7, 2010. If they somehow lose a stunner tonight, they will be 5-5 by mid-December.

Virginia’s opponent, BCU, enters with a record of 2-6. They have wins over South Carolina State and North Dakota and have lost their last two by double digits before today’s game. BCU has already faced a number of power conference opponents, losing to Texas Tech, Nebraska and Minnesota; The Wildcats gave Nebraska a bit of a scare, losing by just five in Lincoln.

The Wildcats are in their fourth year under the leadership of the former New Mexico State and Cal State Northridge coach Reggie Theuswho is still waiting for his first winning season at Daytona.

Bethune Cookman comes into tonight’s competition ranked No. 288 in Kenpom. The Wildcats were woefully inefficient on offense, ranking 329th nationally in efficiency. They struggled in almost every area, posting an effective field goal percentage of 46.2 percent and just 45.2 percent on two-point field goals. They also rank outside the top 200 nationally in turnover rate, free throw rate, steal rate, free throw attempts per possession and offensive rebound rate.

BCU was a little better defensively. The Wildcats rank 190th in efficiency and have done a good job in some key areas. They rank 116th in turnover rate at 48.5 percent and 111th in two-point field goal percentage allowed. They’re also just outside the top 100 in block and steal rate. The bad news is that opponents have made 35 percent of their three-point attempts and BCU ranks 346th in offensive rebound rate allowed , which means there are points for the second chance.

Brayon Freeman, guard

Freeman, a DMV native, leads the Wildcats in scoring this year. Freeman, a 6-foot-2 senior from Oxon Hill, Maryland, is averaging 16.5 points per game and shooting 41.5 percent from the field. After stints in Coastal Carolina, Rhode Island and George Washington, Freeman is now attending his fourth school. His 16.5 points per game is a career high, but he has averaged 10+ points per game in three of his four seasons.

Trey Thomas, guard

Trey Thomas, another DMV product, played two years at Hampton before heading to Florida to play at BCU. Thomas is second on the team with 12.5 points per game and has started four of BCU’s eight games. Thomas, who is shooting 40 percent on three-pointers, scored 18 points on Dec. 1 in Minnesota.

Reggie Ward, forward

Reggie Ward, a 6-foot-2 senior from Chiago, is the third and final BCU player to average more than 10 points per game. Ward scores 11 points per contest and averages 7.8 points, which ranks him fourth. Ward has posted double-doubles in each of his last two games, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 boards in Minnesota, tallying 14 and 11 against Gardner Webb in Cancun.

BCU appears to have a slight edge over the worst non-conference competition the Hoos have ever faced, but Virginia should win this contest, and win it handily. The staff and players have had almost a week to digest their ACC-opening loss at BCU, and with this being their only game in 10 days, there is an opportunity to play 40 minutes of good basketball and potentially keep key players rested and won this game comfortably. Anything other than a double-digit win would be a disappointment.