Virginia Tech @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2019 ) Duke 77, Virginia Tech 63

Coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters sixth-ranked Duke was “not competitive” in a lopsided loss last time out, so expect the Blue Devils to come out flying when they host struggling Virginia Tech for an ACC battle Saturday night. Duke had won seven straight contests before giving up 10 of the first 11 points en route to getting thumped by unranked North Carolina State 88-66 on the road Wednesday.

Krzyzewski said his team, which is a half-game out of first place in the ACC, was not hungry enough as the Blue Devils shot 37.7 percent from the field (47.9 on the season) - including 4-of-17 from 3-point range - while getting outrebounded 51-43. “We’ve played in a lot of games now, so we’ve got to come out ready,” Duke sophomore Tre Jones told reporters when asked about the team’s youth. “(We can have) no more excuses deep into the season. We’ve got to put this behind us, but learn from it and not do it anymore.” The Hokies, who feature freshmen as their top four scorers and lost to Duke 77-63 on Dec. 6, have dropped six of their last seven after an exhausting 102-95 setback against Miami in triple overtime Wednesday. “We fought our tails back into the game, and we kept fighting for three extra quarters and didn’t come out with a win, so that’s a tough one to swallow,” Virginia Tech freshman guard Jalen Cone told the Roanoke Times.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (15-11, 6-9 ACC): Freshman Landers Nolley II is averaging team highs of 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds (11.3 over the last three) while draining 62 shots from 3-point range - fifth-most in the league. Freshman backcourt mate Tyrece Radford recorded his third double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday and is now second on the team in scoring overall (10.2). “He’s turning into a terrific player - just so aggressive,” coach Mike Young told reporters after the latest loss. “His game is going to continue to expand as he moves along here. He’s becoming a great, great player.”

ABOUT DUKE (22-4, 12-3): Freshman center Vernon Carey Jr., who finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the loss at NC State, leads the team in scoring (18.0), off the glass (8.8 boards) and is connecting on 58.4 percent from the floor. Jones is averaging 19 points the last five games to boost his season mark to 15.8 - second on the team - and the 6-3 point guard leads the ACC in assists (6.5) while sitting fifth in steals (1.88). Freshman guard Cassius Stanley, who missed the previous game after being poked in the eye during warmups, scored four against NC State and averages 12 points overall.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Virginia Tech junior G Wabissa Bede is fourth in the ACC in assists (5.9) and scored 12 in the first meeting with Duke this season.

2. Duke freshman F Matthew Hurt is averaging 10.3 points overall, but scored three or fewer in three of the last five games.

3. Cone has drained 8-of-14 shots from 3-point range the last two games after going 1-for-7 behind the arc in the previous four.

PREDICTION: Duke 88, Virginia Tech 68