Virginia vs. Northeastern Game Preview, Score Prediction

The Cavaliers come off exam break looking to keep things rolling as they welcome the Huskies to JPJ on Saturday evening

After a 10-day break for final exams, Virginia looks to keep things rolling as Northeastern comes to John Paul Jones Arena on Saturday to begin the final stretch of non-conference play. 

Read on for a full preview of Virginia vs. Northeastern, including game details and notes, an opponent scouting report, what to watch for, and a prediction for Saturday's matchup. 

Game Details

Who: Virginia Cavaliers (8-1) vs. Northeastern Huskies (4-6)

When: Saturday, December 16th at 6pm ET

Where: John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia

How to watch: ACC Network

How to stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

How to listen: SiriusXM 392, SXM App 982 | Virginia Sports Radio Network - click here for affiliates

All-time series: Virginia leads 1-0

Last meeting: Virginia defeated Northeastern 82-60 on November 24th, 1989 at University Hall.

Game Notes

• Virginia meets Northeastern for the second time ever and first time since the opener of the 1989-1990 season. 
• This is the second Coastal Athletic Association UVA is facing this year. The Cavaliers defeated North Carolina A&T 80-51 on November 14th. 
• Virginia is 101-30 all-time vs. the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association). 
• UVA is 17-1 against the CAA under Tony Bennett. 
• Virginia is 96-10 at home against non-conference opponents under Tony Bennett, including a 6-0 mark in such games this season. 

Opponent Scouting Report: Northeastern

2022-2023: 10-20, 6-12 CAA
2023-2024: 4-6

Northeastern is in its 18th season under Bill Coen, who has led the Huskies to four CAA regular season titles, the most recent of which came in 2021. But Northeastern hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and has been well below .500 over the last two seasons. 

The 2023-2024 campaign hasn't been kind to the Huskies, who come in with a 4-6 overall record. But they have been playing slightly better basketball as of late, even in their losses, fighting hard in an 88-75 defeat at Seton Hall, beating Old Dominion 81-68, and then falling to Vermont 73-71. Like Virginia, Northeastern comes into this game having had the last 10 days off. 

Northeastern has four players averaging in double figures, but could be missing one of those players for this game. Senior forward Joe Pridgen started the first eight games and is averaging 10.3 points per contest, but missed the last two games with an injury. In his stead, 6'6" sophomore guard Rashad King has made his first career starts. In other injury news, the Huskies have been without senior guard Glen McClintock for the last nine games with an upper body injury. 

Northeastern is led by 6'7" senior forward Chris Doherty, who comes in averaging 11.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and shoots 56.0% from the floor. 6'6" senior guard Luke Sakota is right behind him at 11.7 points per game and shoots 34.9% from beyond the arc. Masai Troutman, a 6'6" sophomore, is the final Husky scoring in double figures at 10.3 points per game. 6'8" sophomore Jared Turner rounds out the starting five at 9.8 points per game and he is the team's best volume three-point shooter at 40.0% on six attempts per game. 

Harold Woods, a 6'5" sophomore guard, gives Northeastern a scoring lift off the bench at 9.3 points per game and freshman Alexander Nwagha gives the Huskies front court depth as a 6'8" forward. Northeastern doesn't play anyone taller than 6'8" for significant minutes so Virginia's limited size in the front court shouldn't be an issue in this one. 

What to Watch For

Getting healthy

Having had 10 days off, Virginia is hoping to return to the floor in better position from a health standpoint. Georgetown transfer guard Dante Harris has missed the last three games with an ankle sprain and a few other Cavaliers - namely Reece Beekman with a nagging knee issue - are hopefully feeling healthy and rested after the exam break. 

McKneely staying hot?

The one downside to the 10-day break is that Isaac McKneely has had plenty of time to get out of rhythm, which is something the Cavaliers desperately do not want to see. McKneely has made 12 of his last 16 three-point attempts and is shooting a blistering 58.1% from beyond the arc this season. UVA is certainly hopeful that he'll pick up where he left off. 

Take care of business

With a significant non-conference challenge awaiting on the horizon, traveling to play at Memphis in a true road game on Tuesday night, it's imperative that the Cavaliers take care of business against the Huskies on Saturday. Don't want to get caught looking ahead and find themselves struggling to put Northeastern away. 

Prediction

Northeastern comes into the game ranked No. 210 in the country on KenPom. Assuming it doesn't take too long for the Cavaliers to shake off the rust from the exam break, they should have no problem walking away with the W on Saturday. 

Score prediction: Virginia 78, Northeastern 52

Subscribe to the Cavaliers Now Newsletter to receive UVA sports news in your inbox first thing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

To stay up to date on all Virginia Cavaliers sports news, follow CavaliersNow on social media:

Facebook: @CavaliersNow
Twitter: @CavaliersNowFN

See more Virginia men's basketball news and content: Virginia Men's Basketball on Sports Illustrated

See more Virginia sports news and content: Virginia Cavaliers on Sports Illustrated