The UVA men's basketball team dropped in both major college polls this week.
The Cavaliers are down three spots to #19 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after Saturday's 58-55 loss at Florida State.
Virginia (18-4 overall, 5-3 ACC) also falls two spots to #20 in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
UVA head coach Tony Bennett said, "The team has handled setbacks well, whether it's transfer, whether it's injuries, a tough loss, and that will keep being challenged, to keep coming back tough. I remember my high school coach used to always tell me that. 'Come back tough. Come back tough.' Whether it's after a victory or defeat or something that you find out, and I think that will continually be before us. Will we come back tough?"
In their sixth straight loss to the Seminoles, the Wahoos turned the ball over a season-high 20 times, leading to 22 FSU points.
For the first time this season, UVA shot over 40 percent from the field in a game and lost.
Virginia trailed by 13 points with 7:45 left, but a 14-0 Cavalier run gave the 'Hoos the lead three minutes later.
Bennett said, "They were imposing their will on us. We talk about that all the time. Whether it was transition buckets, owning us on the glass, being more physical, bumping our guys, where we really struggled. There was a stretch where we looked very poor with our turnovers, standing, just got a little worn down, but again, they fought to get back to have a chance to win."
UVA couldn't hold on though, as Florida State handed the Wahoos their 15th straight loss in the state of Florida.
With only eight healthy scholarship players, including just three post players and three freshmen, Virginia has to take a different approach to winning games.
Bennett said, "We're a little limited in our depth, so when you're playing against teams with depth, with size, you have to be as efficient as possible. Of course, it's obvious that we miss Assane (Sene) and certainly don't have the depth, but that's why I've been proud of our guys. We're kind of finding ways to still be in there, and we just have to do a little more unconventional, or just have other guys step up, and that's really the challenge every time we step on the floor."
The Cavaliers, which are tied for fourth in the ACC, next play Wake Forest Wednesday night at 7:30 at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Demon Deacons (11-12 overall, 2-7 ACC) are tied for last place in the conference.
Regional sports networks will televise the game.
UVA senior Mike Scott is one of 20 players named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List Monday.
The award, given to the national player of the year in college basketball, will be presented March 30th at the USBWA's College Basketball Award Breakfast.
Scott leads the Cavaliers in scoring with 17 points per game, rebounding with 8.5 boards a game, field goal percentage (58.8% from the field), and free throw percentage (81.5%).
Scott ranks first in the ACC in field goal percentage, fourth in scoring, sixth in rebounding, and eighth in free throw percentage.
The preseason All-ACC selection is also on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 List and has earned ACC Player of the Week three times this season.
