Virginia Tech at No. 7 Virginia, 8 p.m. ACC Network
After a third straight double-digit win (and sixth consecutive overall), this one coming at Pittsburgh in a dominating second-half performance by UVa, the Cavaliers now set their sights on their rival once again. On Jan. 4, the Hokies topped the Wahoos 70-68 in Blacksburg. It started a bit of a a slide for UVa, which proceeded to lose three of four games. Because of that loss, though, Virginia seems to have gotten better, and has lately played its best basketball of the season. No team has scored over 50 points against the Wahoos since Wake Forest put up 71 back on Jan. 26.
Virginia Tech used that upset victory, along with a win over N.C. State a couple days prior to the UVa game, as a springboard. Previously in the pre-ACC schedule, Tech had struggled to an 8-5 record, including a loss to Alabama State. However, on the strength of the UVa victory, Tech ran out to a 4-1 conference record with its only loss coming at Duke. Since then, however, the Hokies have come back to Earth, losing five of six games. They stopped the bleeding a bit by beating Clemson, 60-57, on Saturday at home.
Here's a refresher on Tech's overall resume:
Record: 13-11, 5-6
Scorers in double figures: Junior forward Zach LeDay (16), junior guard Seth Allen (14.4), sophomore guard Justin Bibbs (12.2)
Leading rebounders: LeDay (8.3) freshman forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (4.7), Allen (3.3), Bibbs (3)
Assist leaders: Freshman guard Justin Robinson (2.8), Allen (2.7), junior guard Devin Wilson (2.4)
Notable: Wilson has worked himself back into playing time after an injury earlier this season. Allen has taken over as the main point guard, and Wilson's scoring is down, but he can still contribute. He played 28
minutes in the win vs. Clemson and had four assists and only one turnover. LeDay hit what some would call three lucky 3-pointers in the win over UVa. He came into the game having shot just 10 all year, making a pair. Since then, though, he has shot more and is now 15 of 36 on the season (41.7 percent). I have to imagine he will attempt a couple early in the game and see if the magic is there from the last time the two teams played.
What Tech has done since first meeting: at Duke (L), vs. Wake (W), at GT (W), at ND (L), vs. UNC (L), vs. Louisville (L), at Pitt (L), at Syracuse (L), vs. Clemson (W)
It's easy to say that Tech is on the downslide and this will be an easy revenge win for the 'Hoos. Certainly, Tech has found the ACC schedule tough since starting 4-1. But a lot of these losses have been close. Tech's main offensive strategy is driving the lane, and it has been effective at it. With the emphasis on freedom of movement calls this year, the Hokies and coach Buzz Williams have smartly centered their offense on getting to the free throw line. They only shoot 68.9 percent once there, but they stay in a lot of games by going to the line frequently. I don't think any ACC team has played more single-digit games than Tech. The Wake win was by two, the GT win by one (and that after a big Hokies comeback), the loss to the Irish by two (and Allen had a clean look from 3 to win it at the end), the UNC loss by five, the Louisville loss by eight, and the Syracuse loss by eight in OT after Tech had led for much of regulation.
Tech is fighting in all of these games and it is certainly possible this one could come down to the end, too. In the first meeting, LeDay scored 22, Bibbs had 16, and Allen 13. LeDay made the three 3s I mentioned, Bibbs made 4 of 5, and Allen made two. Virginia also had perhaps its sloppiest game of the season, turning it over 16 times. Virginia needs to do one of two things to win the second contest: Guard the 3-point line better, which the Cavaliers have done of late, or reduce the turnovers. One of the two should be enough to win, but two would almost assuredly wrap up the win and maybe even make it a blowout.
With that said, Virginia needs to take these Hokies seriously. They will be scrappy and once again, they have nothing to lose. The Wahoos were No. 4 in the country when the upset occurred and were coming in riding high off a good non-conference slate and sound defeat of Notre Dame. They lacked energy when the game started and they were humbled. No reason for them to come out flat this time. They should know they can't just walk over the competition. As long as Virginia takes care of the 3-point defense and turnovers, they should come out on top. But, I think it will be a tight game most of the way.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 5-10 points.
After a third straight double-digit win (and sixth consecutive overall), this one coming at Pittsburgh in a dominating second-half performance by UVa, the Cavaliers now set their sights on their rival once again. On Jan. 4, the Hokies topped the Wahoos 70-68 in Blacksburg. It started a bit of a a slide for UVa, which proceeded to lose three of four games. Because of that loss, though, Virginia seems to have gotten better, and has lately played its best basketball of the season. No team has scored over 50 points against the Wahoos since Wake Forest put up 71 back on Jan. 26.
Virginia Tech used that upset victory, along with a win over N.C. State a couple days prior to the UVa game, as a springboard. Previously in the pre-ACC schedule, Tech had struggled to an 8-5 record, including a loss to Alabama State. However, on the strength of the UVa victory, Tech ran out to a 4-1 conference record with its only loss coming at Duke. Since then, however, the Hokies have come back to Earth, losing five of six games. They stopped the bleeding a bit by beating Clemson, 60-57, on Saturday at home.
Here's a refresher on Tech's overall resume:
Record: 13-11, 5-6
Scorers in double figures: Junior forward Zach LeDay (16), junior guard Seth Allen (14.4), sophomore guard Justin Bibbs (12.2)
Leading rebounders: LeDay (8.3) freshman forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (4.7), Allen (3.3), Bibbs (3)
Notable: Wilson has worked himself back into playing time after an injury earlier this season. Allen has taken over as the main point guard, and Wilson's scoring is down, but he can still contribute. He played 28
What Tech has done since first meeting: at Duke (L), vs. Wake (W), at GT (W), at ND (L), vs. UNC (L), vs. Louisville (L), at Pitt (L), at Syracuse (L), vs. Clemson (W)
It's easy to say that Tech is on the downslide and this will be an easy revenge win for the 'Hoos. Certainly, Tech has found the ACC schedule tough since starting 4-1. But a lot of these losses have been close. Tech's main offensive strategy is driving the lane, and it has been effective at it. With the emphasis on freedom of movement calls this year, the Hokies and coach Buzz Williams have smartly centered their offense on getting to the free throw line. They only shoot 68.9 percent once there, but they stay in a lot of games by going to the line frequently. I don't think any ACC team has played more single-digit games than Tech. The Wake win was by two, the GT win by one (and that after a big Hokies comeback), the loss to the Irish by two (and Allen had a clean look from 3 to win it at the end), the UNC loss by five, the Louisville loss by eight, and the Syracuse loss by eight in OT after Tech had led for much of regulation.
Tech is fighting in all of these games and it is certainly possible this one could come down to the end, too. In the first meeting, LeDay scored 22, Bibbs had 16, and Allen 13. LeDay made the three 3s I mentioned, Bibbs made 4 of 5, and Allen made two. Virginia also had perhaps its sloppiest game of the season, turning it over 16 times. Virginia needs to do one of two things to win the second contest: Guard the 3-point line better, which the Cavaliers have done of late, or reduce the turnovers. One of the two should be enough to win, but two would almost assuredly wrap up the win and maybe even make it a blowout.
With that said, Virginia needs to take these Hokies seriously. They will be scrappy and once again, they have nothing to lose. The Wahoos were No. 4 in the country when the upset occurred and were coming in riding high off a good non-conference slate and sound defeat of Notre Dame. They lacked energy when the game started and they were humbled. No reason for them to come out flat this time. They should know they can't just walk over the competition. As long as Virginia takes care of the 3-point defense and turnovers, they should come out on top. But, I think it will be a tight game most of the way.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 5-10 points.
Comments
Post a Comment