Welcome to relevancy #20 University of Virginia (17-5, 8-1)! After being ranked for a brief period in November, the Cavaliers are back in the top 25 for the first time in a long time (not counting that November stint).

In their last five games (all wins), they've been absolutely dominant, winning by margins of 12, 15, 20, 15, and 3 over ACC opponents, including the weekend upset over #25 Pittsburg (18-4, 6-3). After an inexplicable 35 point loss to Tennessee (14-7, 5-3) on Dec. 30, the Cavaliers have won eight of their last nine, the lone defeat a four pointer to Duke at Cameron Indoor. This team is hot and they're doing it through the nation's second ranked scoring defense, 55.5 ppg (and not through their 293rd ranked offense, producing 66.1 ppg).

Tonight's opponent, Boston College (6-15, 2-6) doesn't get much safer for a team trying to stay ranked for as long as possible, and, who knows, even move up in the polls. The Eagles have at least put up respectable fights in losses this year (and demolished last place Virginia Tech) so the game could be competitive.

Unlike Boston College, which gets most of its offense from leading scorers Olivier Hanlan (17.9 ppg) and Ryan Anderson (15 ppg), Virginia doesn't have a player averaging more than 12 points per game. Their two leading men, Malcom Brogdon and Joe Harris, average just 11.8 and 11.5 points per game, respectively, but I guess that's what happens when your team only accumulates 66 points per outing. On fire as of late, however, is the sophomore Brogdon, pacing himself to 15.2 ppg since the blowout to Tennessee.

"He's strong. He can get into the lane. He's shown his completeness," coach Tony Bennett told ESPN of Bragdon. "He's got an ability to make big shots and he's pretty clutch at the line."

Perhaps typifying the Cavaliers' attack is freshman point guard London Perraintes, second in the team in minutes (to Brogdon) but seventh in scoring (4.4 ppg) on an atrocious 29 percent shooting. To his credit, he's also averaging nearly four assists. He must play incredible defense.

With a relatively easy next seven games (the hardest being a road trip to Clemson) the Cavs have the potential to move into the top ten should they win all of those heading into a late season conference matchup against #1 Syracuse.

They'll be favored by 13 tonight. A tough number, but one I think they get. They'll be excited to play in front of their home crowd as a ranked team. Cavs with the cover.

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Regular season: 11-12 (need a win here to improve my own NCAA tournament chances)

Picking Schedule:

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)

Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)

Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)

Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)

Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)

Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)

Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)