Records: UNC 16-5, 6-2 ACC; Virginia 16-7, 4-5 ACC

Rankings: UNC is ranked #24/#23 (AP/USA Today); Virginia is not ranked.

Chay Shegog will be a key player for the Tar Heels in tonight's UVa-UNC rematch in Chapel Hill.

The Match-Up: Under first-year head coach Joanne Boyle Virginia is perhaps the toughest defensive team in the ACC -- and that's something they've had to rely on in the absence of game-breaking scorers and depth. The Heels barely escaped the Hoos in their first meeting, winning in two overtimes in Charlottesville. The Heels won that game for four reasons: their +14 rebounding edge, Chay Shegog's dominance in the post (23 points and 11 rebounds), shooting 8-16 from the three point line, and holding UVa to 33% shooting (3-20 from three). How were the Hoos able to stay so close? They did it by forcing 28 UNC turnovers and committing just 9 of their own. They also got to the line 26 times.

It must be said that in that game the Heels didn't have guard She'la White around to help handle the ball, and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt had just returned from surgery. UNC has played pretty well lately, although Wake Forest gave them some nervous moments in Winston-Salem. Virginia is closing in on having a good enough resume' to make it to the NCAA tournament, but getting a road win against a ranked opponent would be a feather in its cap (UNC's 100+ RPI notwithstanding) and allow them to square their league record.

This time around, the Heels will likely try to pressure the Hoos a little more in an effort to turn them over, using their depth to grind the shorthanded Cavaliers down. For Virginia's part, I see them continuing to turn up the pressure, doubling the post and hoping that the Heels miss some long-range shots this time. However, they have to contain Shegog to some extent or they'll have too big a mountain to climb.

We'll be in Chapel Hill tonight to provide coverage of this game including photos.