Virginia Tech @ Brigham Young preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 18, 2016 ) Virginia Tech 77, Brigham Young 80

Virginia Tech was riding high after upsetting No. 3 Michigan State in the first round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational but came out flat in an 89-62 semifinal loss to Dayton. The Hokies try to put their first setback of the season behind them and salvage third place in the tournament when they meet BYU on Wednesday.

“We tip our cap to a really good Dayton team, exceptionally well-coached Dayton team,” coach Mike Young told reporters. "They took us behind the shed and whipped our hind end. ...They got the better of us (Tuesday). We’ll live to see another day and (we’re) excited about coming back over (Wednesday) and representing Virginia Tech.” Hokies junior guard Wabissa Bede didn't like his club's pre-game vibe before the Flyers shot 63.6 percent from the field and made 11-of-24 from 3-point range. “We just came out with bad energy, I kind of felt it from like the layup line our energy was kind of low, we weren’t as upbeat as (Monday),” Bede told reporters. “We knew how good they were, and we knew they were a great team and they came out with fight from the first media timeout. You could tell the energy was high, the fans were in it, it was like a home game for them and all, congrats to them.” The Cougars trailed Kansas by two at halftime before the No. 5 Jayhawks pulled away for a 71-56 victory in Tuesday's other semifinal, holding BYU to 9-for-33 from 3-point range.

TV: 11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (6-1): Freshman guard Landers Nolley II has burst onto the scene by averaging a team-high 19.7 points after scoring 15 on Tuesday while also contributing six rebounds. Freshman guard Nahiem Alleyne scored nine versus Dayton and is the only other double-figure scorer on the club (11.7). Junior forward P.J. Horne (9.4 points) shoots 62.8 percent from the floor and 52.4 from 3-point range while freshman guard Jalen Cone is 12-for-19 from deep.

ABOUT BYU (4-3): Senior guard Jake Toolson matched a season low with seven points Tuesday, lowering his team-leading average to 15.3. Senior guard TJ Haws scored 16 versus Kansas and has reached double-figure points in 13 consecutive games. Toolson and sophomore guard Connor Harding grabbed seven rebounds apiece Tuesday to help the Cougars finish with three less than the Jayhawks, improving their rebounding margin to minus-4.1.

TIP-INS

1. The Hokies were seventh nationally entering Tuesday in 3-point shooting at 42.9 percent before going 8-for-21 on Tuesday.

2. Bede averages 6.1 points, 7.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds.

3. The Hokies had five players reach double figures in points against Michigan State but two versus Dayton with freshman G Hunter Cattoor scoring a personal-best 12 on four 3-pointers Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 72, BYU 70