Virginia Tech @ Mississippi preview
The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss
Last Meeting ( Dec 11, 2016 ) Mississippi 75, Virginia Tech 80
Virginia Tech’s early-season performance is beginning to turn heads, and the team can continue to do so with a road victory over Ole Miss on Saturday. The squads are meeting for the second straight season after the Hokies claimed an 80-75 home win over the Rebels last December.
The Hokies routed Iowa 79-55 last Saturday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to continue their impressive start. All six of Virginia Tech’s triumphs have come by at least 24 points, and its only loss was a 77-71 setback against St. Louis at the 2K Classic in New York. Ole Miss is coming off a 99-97 overtime loss to South Dakota State in which it rallied after trailing by 20 points at halftime. The Rebels have faced only one Power Five opponent thus far, losing 83-74 to Utah in the MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (6-1): The Hokies lead the nation in field-goal percentage (56.1) and rank second in scoring (98.7) with the backcourt duo of Justin Bibbs (19.8 points) and Ahmed Hill (19.6, five rebounds) leading the way. Freshman swingman Nickeil Alexander-Walker (15.1 points) and forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (12, 7.4 rebounds) also have put up big numbers, although they combined for only 12 points against the Hawkeyes. The Hokies average more than 22 attempts from 3-point range and make them count - hitting 46.8 percent, which is fourth-best in the nation.
ABOUT OLE MISS (4-2): The Rebels have used four different starting lineups, but they haven’t gotten much production from the frontcourt regardless of the combination. Guards are accounting for 77.5 percent of the team’s scoring, with Terence Davis (18 points, 5.8 rebounds), Deandre Burnett (16.5 points) and freshman Devontae Shuler (12.3 points) pacing the club. Davis has scored in double figures in 11 straight games and 20 of his last 21.
TIP-INS
1. The Hokies have not played a road game against an SEC opponent since suffering a 67-66 loss at Georgia on Dec. 9, 2008.
2. The Rebels are outscoring opponents by an average of 10.5 points in the second half, but they’ve been outscored by 3.7 before halftime.
3. Virginia Tech ranks second in the nation in assists per game (21.1) and has recorded one on 64.6 percent of its field goals.
PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 86, Ole Miss 79