Columbia University
Virginia
Columbia Sets Sights on No. 9 Virginia Saturday
11/15/2019 7:57:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Lions will take on the defending national champions for a 12 p.m. contest on the ACC Network
OPENING TIP-OFF
• Columbia and No. 9 Virginia will meet up Saturday as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament campus site games.
• Five Lions scored in double-figures en route to a 75-63 victory over Binghamton in their home opener Wednesday night.
• Mike Smith checks into the contest second in the Ivy League, averaging 21.3 points per contest and is tied for the conference lead in assists (5.7 APG).
NEWS/NOTES
VIRGINIA'S STATUS
The Cavaliers improved to 2-0 after a 65-34 romp of James Madison on Nov. 10. UVA is holding opponents to 34.0 points per game, which is second in the nation on the young season. Mamadi Diakite paces the team, averaging 15.5 points per game to go with 9.5 rebounds per game. Braxton Key is pulling down 10.0 rebounds per game. UVA
INSIDE THE SERIES
Columbia is 0-2 all-time against Virginia. The last meeting came on Nov. 27, 1987, an 83-58 victory for the Cavaliers in Charlottesville.
COLUMBIA VS. THE ACC
The Lions are 10-31 against teams currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Columbia is less than a week removed from its contest against an ACC opponent, Wake Forest. The Lions' most common foe in the ACC is Syracuse, who they are 3-10 against. Columbia's last win over a school in the conference was a 101-78 triumph over the Demon Deacons on Dec. 27, 1969.
ABOUT THE HALL OF FAME TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT
The Basketball Hall of Fame hosts the annual Tip-Off Tournament each November. The Tip-Off Tournament is an NCAA exempt men's basketball tournament sponsored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Each year, top teams and conferences will compete in the Basketball Hall of Fame's event showcasing its talents in New England's only exempt Division I college basketball tournament. The original Tip-Off was held in Springfield for more than 25 years. The format has changed, but the name has remained the same.
AGAINST THE DEFENDING CHAMPS
Saturday's matchup will mark the fourth time Columbia has faced a defending national champion, dating back to 1939. The Lions are 1-2 in those contests.
Year Opponent Result
2014 at Connecticut L, 65-80
2011 at Connecticut L, 57-70
1947 vs. Holy Cross W, 60-53
COLUMBIA AGAINST THE TOP-25
The Lions are 6-43 all-time against teams ranked in the AP Top-25 Poll. Columbia has only faced the No. 9 team in the country once before, falling to St. John's, 91-75, on Dec. 11, 1979. The Lions' last victory against a ranked opponent technically came in 1994 after No. 14 Cal was forced to forfeit a game in which the Golden Bears played an inelgible player. The last victory on the scoreboard came at No. 19 Rutgers on Dec. 2, 1976 when the Lions topped the Scarlet Knights, 85-75. Columbia has not faced a ranked opponent since the 2017 season opener, a 75-60 defeat at No. 6 Villanova.
THE IVY LEAGUE ON ESPN+
All home Columbia games and most Ivy League road contests will air on ESPN+ as part of The Ivy League's new partnership with ESPN. ESPN+ is a new, subscription-based service that offers monthly ($4.99) and yearly ($49.99) plans. Click here to subscribe to ESPN+ and start your free trial! Click here for frequently asked questions about the Ivy League on ESPN.
FOLLOW COLUMBIA ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
