Virginia @ Georgia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 27, 2019 ) Georgia Tech 51, Virginia 81

Virginia coach Tony Bennett is preaching for his team to stay upbeat during the defending national champions’ three-game losing streak entering Saturday’s road contest at Georgia Tech, but there is no denying the Cavaliers are struggling. Virginia fell 54-50 on Wednesday at Florida State, committing 18 turnovers, making just three 3-point shots and shooting 62.5 percent from the free-throw line to lose its third straight game for the first time in nearly three seasons.

“Our inexperience shows at times,” Bennett told reporters postgame. “It takes courage to not get discouraged. You can’t be soft.” The Yellow Jackets have dropped their past four home games, including a 78-74 setback on Wednesday against Notre Dame despite shooting 67.9 percent from the field in the second half and sophomore guard Michael Devoe’s 22 points and nine rebounds. Georgia Tech led by one point with 3:57 to play before being outscored 19-14 the rest of the way to drop below .500 in ACC play. “The difference was the offensive rebounding,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner told reporters afterward. “They had five more offensive rebounds and five less turnovers.”

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ACC Network

ABOUT VIRGINIA (11-5, 3-3 ACC): The Cavaliers continue to play their typical elite defense, entering the weekend leading the nation in points against per game (49.0) and field-goal percentage defense (34.7). But Virginia continues to scuffle offensively, scoring 55.3 points per game - led by senior forward Mamadi Diakite’s 13.1 points and senior guard Braxton Key (10.4). Those offensive struggles hit the Cavaliers hard down the stretch Wednesday, as Virginia made just one shot from the field after building a 47-44 lead with 3:11 to play.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (8-9, 3-4): Junior forward Moses Wright continues his breakout season, ranking sixth in the ACC in field goal percentage (55.1 percent) and averaging 13.8 points along with eight rebounds. Wright finished with 16 points and five rebounds Wednesday, while Devoe (team-high 16.5 points) shot 9-for-15 from the field. Georgia Tech shot 51.7 percent from the field against Notre Dame, the fourth time in the past six games it has hit at least half of its shot attempts.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Georgia Tech junior G Jose Alvarado leads the ACC in assists (7.0) during conference games after finishing with nine against Notre Dame.

2. Diakite has scored 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting from the field across his past two games, after recording 15 across his previous two contests.

3. Virginia has won the past five matchups against Georgia Tech, holding the Yellow Jackets to 54 points or fewer during that streak.

PREDICTION: Virginia 57, Georgia Tech 52