Hoops Preview: Notre Dame At Virginia Tech
NOTRE DAME (15-2, 4-0) at VIRGINIA TECH (13-3, 2-2 ACC)
Where: Cassell Coliseum (9,847)
Rankings: Notre Dame is No. 20 in the Associated Press poll, and Virginia Tech is unrated.
Time/TV: 2 p.m./ACC Network
Matchup History: Today is the eighth all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. The Irish lead the series 6-1, including an 83-81 victory last season in South Bend.
Notre Dame Notes
Off to the best league start in program history, Notre Dame is now tested with the second leg of a tough three-game road stretch, playing at Virginia Tech with just one day of rest after beating Miami on Thursday in Coral Gables, Fla.
According to David Teel of The Daily Press, Notre Dame is one of four teams this season playing consecutive ACC road games with only a day of rest: Duke travels to Wake Forest and Notre Dame Jan. 28 and Jan. 30; Louisville faces Boston College and Virginia Feb. 4 and Feb. 6; and North Carolina heads to Pittsburgh and Virginia Feb. 25 and Feb. 27.
Notre Dame’s flight out of Miami was delayed Friday, and the team spent Friday morning working out at a Florida hotel pool.
Senior guard Steve Vasturia made another clutch shot late to propel the Irish, who have won each of their four ACC games by narrow margins.
“It’s amazing, our fanbase is all on heart medication because this is the fourth game where we looked dead in the water and we go right to the end,” head coach Mike Brey said.
The No. 20 Irish are ranked ninth nationally in offensive efficiency (119.4) and are the first team in ACC history to open league play with four wins by seven points or less. The ACC’s other unbeaten conference team — No. 9 Florida State — has won its four league games by 49 total points, while Notre Dame has won its four by 18.
It all comes down to game situations, Brey said.
“That’s four games in a row where we’ve made plays in game situations and had big defensive plays made to win a game,” Brey said. “We kind of believe that when we’re in those situations we’re going to figure it out, and it certainly is a little bit of a psychological advantage for us now.”
Matt Farrell — Overcame a slow start and finished with a team-high 15 points in Thursday’s win over Miami.
Steve Vasturia — Went without a made three-point field goal for just the second time this season against Miami.
V.J. Beachem — Had 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting against Miami, but went just 1 of 5 from three-point range.
Bonzie Colson — Scored just six points but grabbed 11 rebounds against the Hurricanes.
Martinas Geben — Made 3 of 4 field goal attempts against Miami.
Virginia Tech Overview
In the third season under Buzz Williams, the Hokies have one of the better offenses in the country, averaging 83.3 points per game, which ranks 26th nationally.
This effort is led by a group of five players who average double-digits in scoring: 6-7 forward Zach LeDay (16.6 points per game), 6-5 guard Ahmed Hill (15.1), 6-6 guard Chris Clarke (12.3), 6-1 guard Justin Robinson (10.8) and 6-1 guard Seth Allen (10.7), who combine for nearly 80 percent of the Hokies’ scoring.
The Hokies are coming off an 83-73 home win over Syracuse on Tuesday. Prior to that, Virginia Tech dropped consecutive games in blowout fashion to North Carolina State and Florida State.
“It’s hard to win if you give up 93 points or 104,” Williams told reporters after the game. “We’re going to have to improve defensively.”
Tech has the ability to outscore opponents, and it does it from behind the arc.
Tech leads the ACC in three-point shooting at 39.9 percent, with Hill’s 45.1 percent mark second only to Pittsburgh’s Jamel Artis (46.7 percent).
Outlook
This won’t be an easy one for the Irish, who have showed a tendency to play close games in league play this season. With a quick turnaround, a slow start offensively wouldn’t be surprising, and a rested Virginia Tech team could hand Notre Dame its first ACC loss.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 72, Notre Dame 65
Vegas Spread: Virginia Tech -1.5
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