Virginia @ Virginia Tech preview
Cassell Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Feb 12, 2017 ) Virginia 78, Virginia Tech 80
One of the nation’s most productive offensive teams clashes with one of the country’s stingiest defenses when Virginia Tech hosts No. 8 Virginia on Wednesday. The Hokies lead the nation in shooting, while the Cavaliers allow the fewest points in the country.
Virginia has won four straight since its lone setback, a 68-61 loss at West Virginia on Dec. 5. The Cavaliers escaped with a 59-58 win over visiting Boston College in Saturday’s ACC opener, as Ty Jerome hit six 3-pointers en route to a career-high 31 points. The Hokies have lost two of their last four games – 93-86 at Kentucky and 68-56 at Syracuse with a pair of wins against overmatched opponents in between. The Cavaliers have won eight of the past 10 meetings, including five of the last seven at Virginia Tech, but the rivals have split a pair of meetings each of the past two seasons with the home team winning all four contests.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ACC Network
ABOUT VIRGINIA (12-1, 1-0 ACC): As usual, the Cavaliers are one of the top defensive teams in the nation, leading the country in scoring defense (52.8 points per game) and ranking third in field-goal defense (36.4 percent). They’ve benefited from outstanding guard play, as backcourt mates Kyle Guy (15.7 points) and Devon Hall (11.5 points) are the team’s top two scorers and take great care of the ball – Virginia’s 9.2 turnovers per game are the second-fewest in the nation. Jerome (9.7 points) has emerged as a third scoring option and is averaging 19.3 points over the past three games.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (11-3, 0-1): The Hokies can put the ball in the basket, as their 53.2 percent clip from the field is the best in the country and they rank sixth from 3-point range (42.7 percent) and ninth in scoring (88.8 points per game). Guards Ahmed Hill (15.6 points) and Justin Bibbs (14.6 points) and swingman Nickeil Alexander-Walker (12.7 points) all love to shoot the 3. If they’re hitting from outside, it opens up the paint for big man Kerry Blackshear Jr. (12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds), who shoots a team-best 63.6 percent from the field.
TIP-INS
1. The Cavaliers have won 17 of their last 19 games against in-state opponents.
2. Hill has made a 3-pointer in 14 straight games, the longest active streak in the ACC.
3. Virginia is 103-6 under coach Tony Bennett when scoring at least 70 points.
PREDICTION: Virginia 71, Virginia Tech 68