Virginia Tech opens the 2018-19 basketball season on Friday night against Gardner-Webb. The preseason got off to a rough start with the indefinite suspension of Chris Clarke, but this team still has a good core of veteran players, and I believe the expectation should still be to make the NCAA Tournament.

Today I want to cover the projected starting lineup and key reserves, what the loss of Chris Clarke means to the team, defensive expectations, and talk a little about Justin Robinson.

Projected Starters and Key Backups

Virginia Tech scrimmaged Liberty on Sunday and beat the Flames 86-70 in the Vines Center in Lynchburg. This was their starting lineup…

1: Justin Robinson (6-2, 195, Sr.)
2: Ahmed Hill (6-5, 210, r-Sr.)
3: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6-5, 205, So.)
4: Ty Outlaw (6-6, 220, r-Sr.)
5: Kerry Blackshear (6-10, 250, r-Jr.)

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