AFP Podcasts

Virginia faces Duke, Crazies in Cameron

For the first time in a decade, AFP editor Chris Graham will be attending a Virginia game without a credential hanging around his neck.

Chris will be in Cameron Indoor Stadium for Saturday’s ACC clash between Duke and Virginia.

It’s not a must-win for the ‘Hoos, but a W would be a nice add to the NCAA Tournament resume.

On the eve of the contest, Chris breaks down the matchup with an eye on how Virginia will try to game plan for what Duke will bring.

Story referenced in this podcast

• Virginia heads to Duke, where a Cavalier Court Storm could help NCAA resume

NASCAR basking in the glow of exciting finish in Atlanta

Daniel Suarez was just thismuch faster than the field in his photo-finish win in Atlanta on Sunday, at the end of one of the more thrilling NASCAR Cup Series races in recent memory.

AFP’s resident NASCAR beat writer, Rod Mullins, joins the podcast to break down the action – 48 lead changes, crashes involving 32 race teams, the three-wide finish.

We also look ahead to this Sunday’s race in Las Vegas.

Virginia set to face Boston College with its postseason fate on the line

Virginia (20-8, 11-6 ACC) needs a win at Boston College (15-12, 6-10 ACC) on Wednesday to keep on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

But are there bigger issues for this Virginia team, which has lost three of its last four, and hasn’t scored out of the 40s in two weeks?

AFP editor Chris Graham addresses the issues for the ‘Hoos, and the strategic tweaks that coach Tony Bennett could be putting in place to get things moving in the right direction.

Stories referenced in this podcast

• Preview: Virginia faces do-or-die game with Boston College on Wednesday
• Bennett has the blueprint for how to fix his offense: He just doesn’t want to use it
• Mailbag: Should Virginia try to speed the game up to try to get more offense?

‘Soft’ Virginia has bigger, tough North Carolina next up on Saturday

We’ve been writing all week about how Virginia coach Tony Bennett and his team have recognized that there’s a softness about this year’s team.

Can the Cavaliers toughen up in time to make a stretch run heading into March Madness?

AFP editor Chris Graham previews the next game up for UVA – with ACC leader North Carolina coming to JPJ.

Stories referenced in this podcast

• Just being honest: North Carolina is a tough, tough matchup for this Virginia team
• Virginia is ‘soft’: Where do we see it the most? The worst place: in the post
• ‘Soft’: When this 20-win Virginia team gets down, oddly, it stays down

Byron’s win at Daytona; NASCAR, teams fighting over money

There was enough of a break in the torrential rain to allow for the running of the 2024 Daytona 500 on Monday, with William Byron taking the #24 Chevrolet to the checkered flag in the NASCAR season opener.

Rod Mullins joins AFP editor Chris Graham to break down how it happened.

We also discuss the ongoing review of fuel strategies by NASCAR, and the dispute between the team owners and the France family over how the billions that the business generates should be divided up.

Trying to figure out what happened down in Blacksburg

No shame in losing, but Virginia’s 75-41 loss at Virginia Tech on Big Monday was more than an instance of losing a game.

There was a lot wrong with everything that happened down in Blacksburg.

AFP editor Chris Graham tries to get to the bottom of what happened in the loss, which in a couple of ways seems to have undone the good of the recent eight-game winning streak.

Stories referenced in this podcast

• Listless Virginia pantsed by Virginia Tech in front of national TV audience
• It only counts as one L, and other observations from UVA’s 75-41 loss at Virginia Tech
• Metrics: Blowout loss at Virginia Tech did serious damage to Virginia in the computers

Virginia set to face Virginia Tech on Big Monday

Virginia (20-6, 11-4 ACC) faces a tough road test on Monday night with a game at in-state ACC rival Virginia Tech (14-11, 6-8 ACC).

AFP editor Chris Graham breaks down the matchup, the second of the home-and-home between the two this season.

We also look back at Virginia’s 49-47 win over Wake Forest on Saturday, and how the weekend action impacted the six ACC teams in contention for NCAA Tournament at-large bids.

Stories referenced in this podcast

• Preview: Virginia has tough road test at Virginia Tech on Big Monday
• First one to 49 wins: Five observations from Virginia’s ugly W over Wake Forest
• Metrics: How Virginia, rest of the ACC, sit with the computers after Saturday action
• The ACC’s dumb mistake with March Madness: Scheduling harder than the Big 12
• Jay Woolfolk knocked out early, but #14 Virginia completes series sweep

Virginia faces Wake Forest, looking to get back on track

Virginia pretty much beat itself earlier in the week in that 74-63 loss to Pitt. The ‘Hoos (19-6, 10-4 ACC) have to get back on track with a game against a tough Wake Forest (16-8, 8-5 ACC) on Saturday (noon ET, ESPN2).

Wake dominated UVA in a 66-47 win in Winston-Salem last month.

AFP editor Chris Graham, after recapping what happened on Tuesday in the loss to Pitt, looks ahead to the weekend.

Stories referenced in this podcast

• Virginia, licking wounds from Pitt loss, entertains Wake Forest on Saturday
• Metrics: How did the home loss to Pitt impact Virginia with the computers?
• Pitt’s threes were falling: The offensive rebounds, though, they’re on Tony Bennett
• Tony Bennett, in Pitt postgame presser slip, suggests his team might have ‘quit’
• Pitt made a ton of threes: That, and four other observations from Virginia’s 74-63 loss
• Pitt, draining threes all night long, notches 74-63 upset at #21 Virginia

Breaking down the matchup between streaking Virginia, Pitt

#21 Virginia (19-5, 10-3 ACC) is the hottest team in the ACC. Pitt (15-8, 6-6 ACC) is the second-hottest, winning five of its last six.

AFP editor Chris Graham breaks down the UVA-Pitt matchup, which is set for Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET, ACCN).

But first in this podcast, we look back at Virginia’s 80-76 win at Florida State on Saturday, the eighth win in a row for the ‘Hoos.

Also, good news, such as it is – Virginia is back in the national rankings.

Stories mentioned in this podcast

• Torrid Virginia faces streaking Pitt, which has quietly won five of its last six
• Notebook: Virginia coach Tony Bennett on Pitt, being back home on the weekend
• Virginia Basketball back in AP, coaches’ Top 25 for the first time in eight weeks

Virginia-Florida State preview, UVA Hoops Notebook

Virginia (18-5, 9-3 ACC) takes its seven-game winning streak to Tallahassee this weekend as the ‘Hoos prepare for Florida State (13-9, 7-4 ACC).

How does UVA match up? AFP editor Chris Graham breaks down the FSU rotation and offers thoughts on how Tony Bennett will approach the ‘Noles.

We also open up the Notebook to discuss Jake Groves, the third guard spot, and the growth of freshman center Blake Buchanan.

Stories discussed in this podcast

• Virginia set to face Florida State, looking to extend seven-game winning streak
• UVA Basketball Notebook: Groves off the bench; Buchanan growing up; Bennett on D
• Mailbag: An alternative perspective on playing time for Andrew Rohde