Read more for our full Virginia vs Virginia Tech prediction and preview.
Virginia basketball returns to Charlottesville for a rivalry game against Virginia Tech. Both teams picked up victories Wednesday; the Cavaliers defeated Miami while the Hokies beat Florida State.
General Information:
Teams: Virginia (10-11, 3-7) and Virginia Tech (9-12, 4-6)
Tip time: 4 p.m. EST
Watch: ACC Network
Listen: Virginia Sports Radio Network and SiriusXM 119/193
Latest on Virginia Tech basketball:
Virginia Tech is coming off a 76-66 victory over Florida State on Wednesday. The Hokies held the Seminoles to just 15 points in the first half and led by as much as 22 early in the second half.
It’s been a down season in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech lost eight of its top nine scorers from last season and was picked to finish 14th in the ACC. Barring a late-season surge, the Hokies are likely to miss the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season after making five straight tournaments.
Virginia Tech struggles to take care of the ball. The Hokies commit turnovers on 19.7% of their possessions, 322nd in the country and dead last in the ACC. At the same time, they don’t create steals or block shots; Virginia Tech ranks last in the conference in blocks per game (1.6) and third-to-last in steals per game (5.1).
But the one thing Virginia Tech does do well is knock down 3-pointers. The Hokies shoot 36.3% from behind the arc, sixth in the ACC and 68th in the country. Virginia’s packline defense allows for 3-pointers to be shot, so the Cavaliers could be in for a long game if the Hokies get into a groove from behind the arc.
The Hokies are led by junior forward Tobi Lawal, their leading scorer (12.8) and rebounder (6.8). He’s not a great jump shooter but will knock down the open three. The main thing the Cavaliers will need to watch out with him is the offensive glass. Lawal grabs 2.6 offensive rebounds per game, and that’s a big concern for a Virginia team that struggles to secure defensive rebounds.
Latest on Virginia basketball:
Virginia is coming off a 82-71 victory over Miami, its first true road win of the season. The 82 points were a season-high, and the Cavaliers countered everything the Hurricanes threw at them. In the final minutes, Virginia made seven of its last eight free throws to seal the deal.
It was the best offensive game of the season for multiple Cavs. Junior guard Isaac McKneely tied a career-high with six threes and took a career-high 12. His 26 points were the second most of his career. Senior guard Taine Murray set career bests with 20 points and seven assists. Sophomore forward Blake Buchanan, making his first start since the Bethune-Cookman game on Dec. 12, scored a season-high 16 and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
The win keeps the Cavaliers in the mix for the ACC Tournament. The Cavs would be the 13 seed in Charlotte right now. If they keep playing semi-well down the stretch of the regular season, they should make the 15-team tournament in March.
The status of junior guard Andrew Rohde and junior forward Elijah Saunders are worth monitoring. They were sidelined against Miami with injuries. The Cavs can’t expect Murray and Buchanan to play as well as they did Wednesday night, so Virginia might struggle unless Saunders and Rohde will be back soon.
This is a pivotal game for the Cavaliers, as five of their next seven games after today are against teams with a winning conference record. Like most games against the Hokies, this will a tough, gritty fight. Expect Buchanan and freshman forward Jacob Cofie to play well in the paint offensively. Virginia will emerge victorious in the end.