THE SETUP

Printable Roster Card: bc at VT Roster Card

First Meeting: VT 81, bc 73 (OT)

The Hokies scored a stunning win in Boston, their first ever win there, without the services of Jeff Allen, who was suspended.  The Hokies had less than 48 hours to get ready for this game having gotten waxed by duke two days earlier.  Tech played one of their best first halves of the season, jumping out to a 41-33 halftime lead.  The eagles quickly got back in the game and sent things to overtime with a late three from freshman Rakim Sanders.  But the resilient Hokies dominated overtime, outscoring the eagles 15-7.  The key was rebounding – VT had 20 offensive rebounds in the game and outrebounded the eagles 51-42.  Tech also took care of the ball, committing just 8 turnovers. 

Hank Thorns had 9 of his 11 points in OT.  A.D. Vassallo and J.T. Thompson each had double-doubles and Deron Washington played his best game of the season offensively with 19 points.  Tyrese Rice led the eagles with 27, but was shutdown by Thorns in the final 15 minutes.

THE NUMBERS

THE GAME

This is a must win game for the Hokies if they want to maintain a pulse in terms of making the NCAA Tournament. Tech has a week off after this game, not playing again until the following Tuesday (Senior Night, March 4th). A win here will give the Hokies confidence and momentum going into their bye and clinch finishing at least .500 in the ACC, which would blow away my expectations. A loss will force the Hokies to have to think about it for a week before they can get back on the court. We saw how devastating the loss to miami was heading into a break, as the Hokies mailed it in at Chapel Hill a week later.

The eagles are REALLY struggling.  They have lost eight of their last nine games, including providing uva with both of their first two ACC wins.  Rice has been the only bright spot for the team of late as every other player has struggled.

The eagles are led by Richmond native Tyrese Rice.  He averages 20.6 ppg, second in the ACC behind hansbrough.  And, as the rumors have it, Rice would have loved to come to VT but Tech took marquie cooke instead.

bc is not deep, going just three or four deep on their bench.  They basically only have one sub at guard, wing, and down low.  So foul trouble could impact them.  Again, if Tech is aggressive and pushes the tempo, they could draw fouls and force bc to go deeper on their bench than they want to. 

The eagles are also young.  Just three of their nine players that play are upperclassmen. 

Amazingly, bc is not near the top in any ACC statistical category except for shot blocks.  There, they are led by 6’11″ Tyrelle Blair who averages 3.6 per game.  But, Deron Washington dunked on him last year at bc, and I mean ON HIM.  Tech must take it at him, but be smart.  He’ll gamble for the block so an extra dish in the paint could pay off if VT’s guys go at the hoop.

Tech needs to do a better job of defending bc’s starting guards.  Rice had 27 in the first meeting and torched the Hokes in the first 30 minutes.  Thorns did a good job in the final 15 of guarding Rice.  Sanders added 17.  VT must do a better job of defending the three in this game, though that’s not really bc’s main weapon.  bc wants to drive to the hoop.  The Hokies must cut off bc’s penetration and force them to chuck it from deep – contested, at least.  In the first meeting Tech did a great job of collapsing and contesting all of bc’s inside shots.

THE LINEUPS

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