Virginia Cavaliers vs American University Eagles Picks and Predictions December 22nd 2024

Virginia Looks to Rebound Against American

The Virginia Cavaliers aim to return to the win column as they host the American Eagles in Charlottesville, Va., on Sunday.

Virginia Seeking Stability

The Virginia Cavaliers (6-5) are coming off a narrow 64-62 home loss to No. 21 Memphis, their first defeat at John Paul Jones Arena this season. Despite the setback, the Cavaliers saw a standout performance from their lone senior, Taine Murray.

Murray matched his career high with 14 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field in 26 minutes off the bench. His effort provided a much-needed spark for Virginia, which has been searching for consistency throughout the nonconference schedule.

“He was damn good,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said of Murray. “We didn’t talk a lot about him, and he came in and affected the game in a major way.”

Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez praised Murray’s energy and contributions.

“His effort was fantastic,” Sanchez said. “He played with an unbelievable amount of passion on both ends.”

As the Cavaliers wrap up their nonconference slate, they’ll look to lean on leading scorers Isaac McKneely (12.2 points per game) and Elijah Saunders (10.5) to complement Murray’s veteran presence.

American’s Road Struggles

The American Eagles (6-5) arrive in Charlottesville after an 84-57 loss to Saint Joseph’s on Wednesday, a game that snapped their five-game winning streak. American has struggled on the road, remaining winless (0-5) away from Bender Arena.

In the loss to Saint Joseph’s, Greg Jones and Matt Rogers led the Eagles with 19 points each. However, the team fell behind 30-11 within the first 10 minutes and was unable to recover.

“Saint Joe’s came out and punched us in the mouth,” American coach Duane Simpkins said. “They did to us what we’ve been doing the past few games. We never really could get our footing.”

Despite the setback, Rogers has been a consistent force for the Eagles, leading the team with 14.6 points per game. Colin Smalls (12.5) and Elijah Stephens (11.6) provide additional scoring threats for American.

Key Matchup

Virginia’s stifling defense and ball control will be tested against an American team that relies heavily on its top scorers. The Cavaliers, who held Memphis to 64 points, will aim to contain Rogers and limit second-chance opportunities.

On the offensive end, Virginia will need McKneely and Saunders to set the tone while Murray continues to provide a steady presence. For American, avoiding a slow start and finding consistent scoring contributions beyond Rogers will be critical.

Check out the latest John Wooden Award Odds & Predictions for detailed analysis and updates.

Historical Context

Virginia leads the all-time series against American 5-1, with their most recent meeting resulting in a 91-70 Cavaliers victory on Dec. 28, 2006. Both teams will look to build momentum as they approach their respective conference schedules.