North Carolina @ Virginia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 21, 2019 ) Virginia Tech 82, North Carolina 103

Virginia Tech had its worst defensive effort of the season Saturday at home against Syracuse and it cost the Hokies a chance for a conference four-game win streak for the first time since winning six straight in 2015-16. When North Carolina arrives Wednesday, the Tar Heels would just be happy to snap a five-game conference skid, their longest since 2002-03.

Virginia Tech yielded 48 percent shooting - an ACC worst this season - to the Orange, trailed just about the entire game before a late push came up short in the 71-69 defeat. "It's going to be hard to win when you allow an opponent to shoot 48 percent from the field on you," Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. "When we are 40, 39, 38, we're really hard to beat. We had as many scouting report mistakes as we've had all year." North Carolina lost 66-52 at Pittsburgh on Saturday, dropping its fourth straight overall and falling under .500 as the Tar Heels shot 31.7 percent and couldn't take advantage of 18 offensive rebounds.

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

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (8-9, 1-5 ACC): Garrison Brooks (14.4 points, 9.2 rebounds) scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds - six offensive - against Pitt and Armando Bacot (10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds) added 12 points and 11 boards - four offensive - to become the first freshman since Tyler Hansbrough in 2005-06 to record six double-doubles. Bacot's 7.9 rebounds are the most by a Tar Heel freshman since Sean May averaged 8.1 in 2002-03. In the eight games without injured point guard Cole Anthony (19.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists), Brooks is averaging 17.6 points and 10.4 rebounds and Brandon Robinson (12.1 points) is averaging 14.0 points and 3.3 assists with 26 3-pointers during that stretch.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (13-5, 4-3): Against Syracuse, Wabissa Bede (5.8 points, 6.2 assists) missed a potential game-tying free throw with 40 seconds left and Landers Nolley II (17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds) missed badly on a game-winning 3-point attempt from the top of the key in the closing seconds "I was supposed to make a play for my team. I just didn't do it," said Nolley, who finished with 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting and a season-high seven assists. "I didn't come through." Freshman Nahiem Alleyne (9.6 points) hit 6-of-7 from the floor, including a season high-tying five 3-pointers, to lead the Hokies with 17 points - his second straight double-figure effort after six straight games below 10 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. North Carolina is 68-14 against Virginia Tech, including 15-4 since the Hokies joined the ACC. Carolina has won eight of the last nine games, including 103-82 last season behind 16 3-pointers - tied for second most in UNC history.

2. Virginia Tech ranks last in ACC games in offensive rebound percentage (19.5) and ranks first with 50 percent of its shots being 3-pointers.

3. UNC has never lost six consecutive ACC games. This is only the fourth time in 32 seasons a Roy Williams team has lost four or more games in a row (eight consecutive at Kansas in 1988-89 and four straight twice this season and once in 2009-10).

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 75, North Carolina 65