Virginia Tech @ Syracuse preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 10, 2017 ) Syracuse 73, Virginia Tech 83

Only three ACC teams have yet to begin league play, but two of those will square off Sunday when Syracuse hosts Virginia Tech in a New Year's Eve clash. The Orange and Virginia Tech each went 11-2 during the non-conference season, and Syracuse's 2-3 zone will be tested by the Hokies' offensive standouts.

Virginia Tech averages 91.3 points per game - sixth in the nation - but have averaged only 69.5 points over the last two games, albeit both of those were victories. The team shot well from the field (49.2 percent) and the foul line (12-of-15) in a 17-point win over North Carolina A&T last time out and outrebounded the Aggies 39-30. The usually sharp-shooting Hokies only shot 6-of-23 from behind the 3-point line and likely will need to be better to defeat the Orange, who are a poor 3-point shooting team (29.8 percent) and average only 72 points per game as a team. Syracuse defeated Eastern Michigan 62-47 in its last contest with Tyus Battle (22 points) leading the way.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (11-2, 0-0 ACC): Six players on the Hokies average between 8.9 and 16.3 points, and virtually everyone on the roster is capable of taking (and making) 3-pointers. Ahmed Hill is the team's leading scorer and top 3-point marksman (41-of-78; 52.6 percent) and has shot at least 50 percent from the field in 11 of 13 games. Justin Bibbs averages 15 points but has failed to reach that number in four straight contests with the last two games (13 total points) being particularly quiet.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (11-2, 0-0): The Orange had four players score 59 of their 62 points against Eastern Michigan with Paschal Chukwu (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Oshae Brissett (11 points, 12 rebounds) posting double-doubles. Brissett shot 3-of-11 from the field and is down to 34.1 percent shooting on the season, although he is now averaging a double-double on the year (15.2 points, 10.0 rebounds). Chukwu's 15 points were a career high after the 7-2 junior had scored more than seven points only once all season entering the Eastern Michigan contest.

TIP-INS

1. Virginia Tech won last season's meeting 83-73, finishing that game with 20 assists and only six turnovers.

2. Bibbs, who shot 40.9 percent from the field last season, is at a blistering 57.5 percent clip in 2017-18.

3. Battle has played every minute in seven straight games, including a pair of overtime contests.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 88, Syracuse 78