Hokies set for rematch with UVA

Time: 9pm
TV: The ACC Network

The rematch with #14 UVA comes tonight in Cassell Coliseum at 9pm on The ACC Network.  The Hokies will try to snap UVA’s nine game winning streak while starting a streak of their own.

UVA: 21-5 overall, 12-1 ACC
VT: 9-15 overall, 2-10 ACC

The Hoos won the first meeting 65-45 in Charlottesville.  They got 18 points from Malcolm Brogdon and limited the Hokies to just 33.3% shooting, including a 16.7% mark from three-point range.  Devin Wilson scored 12 points in that game, and he was the only Tech player to reach double figures.

In UVA’s nine-game winning streak, they are beating teams by an average of 14.67 points per game.  They aren’t just beating opponents…they are blowing them out.  No team has managed to score more than 68 points on the Hoos doing that winning streak.  Three opponents have failed to reach 50 points, and three others have failed to reach 60.

UVA has always played good defense under Tony Bennett, but the difference in this team and previous teams is that they have multiple scoring options.  Every starter for UVA is capable of scoring in double figures on any given night, as are sixth man Justin Anderson and seventh man Anthony Gill.  Here’s a look at the offensive and defensive efficiency numbers for both teams.

Offensive: UVA #131, VT #271
Defensive: UVA #3, VT #154

From a numbers standpoint, this game is a complete mismatch.  The Hoos are #3 nationally in defensive efficiency, while the Hokies rank amongst the nation’s worst in offensive efficiency.  Can Tech score 50 points against the packline defense?  They could only manage 45 in the first meeting in Charlottesville, and they’ve averaged just 57.5 points over their last 14 games (and that includes an 82 point outing against overmatched Maryland-Eastern Shore.

UVA’s starting lineup will look the same as it did in the first meeting…

G London Perrantes (6-2, 189, Fr.): 4.1 points, 3.46 assist/to ratio.  He’s the best London on the UVA campus.

G Malcolm Brogdon (6-5, 217, r-So.): 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds.  Brogdon will be a tough matchup for the Hokies.

G Joe Harris (6-6, 225, Sr.): 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds.  Harris is a terrific three-point shooter who has the ability to beat Tech’s 2-3 zone.

F Akil Mitchell (6-8, 235, Sr.): 6.9 points, 6.8 rebounds.  Mitchell averages 8.2 rebounds in ACC games.

C Mike Tobey (6-11, 253, So.): 7.2 points, 4.2 rebounds.  Despite his size, Tobey is a skilled player.

Those players, plus Justin Anderson (6-6, 227, So.) and Anthony Gill (6-8, 230, r-So.) will present a formidable matchup for the Hokies.  In the first meeting, Tony Bennett was the first ACC coach to make Devin Wilson the focus of his team’s defensive efforts.  Bennett put the bigger, more athletic Anderson on Wilson and that helped shut down the Hokies on the offensive end.  I would look for him to do the same tonight.

3 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. In the picture of the dunk, the dude in the stands at the right with the googles and synchro coat and tie is awesome! If Cassell was filled with guys like him I’d give VT an excellent chance of winning this game. Talk about fear factor!

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