Virginia Tech @ Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 18, 2019 ) Virginia 64, Virginia Tech 58

With the non-conference slate finally over, No. 19 Virginia and Virginia Tech can focus all of their attention on the grueling ACC schedule when they meet in the Commonwealth Clash on Saturday. The Cavaliers held Syracuse to 34 points in a 14-point win in the season opener and knocked off North Carolina on Dec. 8, while the Hokies topped Clemson in the season opener but was dumped 77-63 at home by No. 2 Duke on Dec. 6.

Virginia Tech prepared for the ACC grind with a 92-37 demolition of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sunday, winning its 32nd consecutive non-conference home game and posting its largest margin of victory since 2011 against Mount St. Mary's. “This has not been murderer's row, but we have played some good programs," coach Mike Young said about the non-conference slate. "But for this team to get here with our losses against BYU, Dayton and Duke, I feel pretty good. We've got 18 bloodbaths, if you will, in league play and it starts down there on Saturday in Charlottesville.” In its final tune-up, Virginia needed a 12-0 run midway through the second half to pull out a 65-56 victory Sunday against Navy and help wipe away some of the bad taste left after a 70-59 loss to South Carolina on Dec. 22. Braxton Key returned to the starting lineup for the first time since late November and had 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while sophomore Kihei Clark added 10 points and a career-high 13 assists.

TIME: 2 p.m. ET. TV: ACC Network

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (10-3, 1-1): Redshirt freshman Landers Nolley II (17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists) recorded his first-ever double-double with a team-high 18 points and career-high 10 rebounds as the Hokies committed only two turnovers against UMES. Freshmen Hunter Cattoor (17 points), Tyrece Radford (13) and John Ojiako (15) all scored career highs. Nolley's backcourt mate, fellow freshman Nahiem Alleyne (10.2 points), is the only other double-digit scorer, but the Hokies have five players with at least 19 3-pointers and the team ranks eighth in 3-point percentage (39.4).

ABOUT VIRGINIA (10-2, 2-0): Clark (9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists) had a nice bounce-back game after committing seven turnovers in the Cavaliers' loss to South Carolina. “I felt good,” Clark said. “This was a good game for me to get a good assist-to-turnover ratio. I thought I did a better job of taking care of the ball and my teammates were knocking down shots which made it easy to get assists.” The 6-8 Key (9.4 points, 7.0 rebounds) scored just eight points in 36 minutes in his first two games back after missing three games due to wrist surgery.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Virginia swept the two-game series last season and have won 12 of the last 15.

2. The Cavaliers average 59.9 possessions per game - fewest in the nation - and their defensive rating of 83.5 is tops in the nation.

3. Although he is just 6-2, Radford (7.8 points, 2.6 offensive rebounds) ranks second in the ACC and 39th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (14.3).

PREDICTION: Virginia 55, Virginia Tech 49