HOOPS Preview: Notre Dame Vs. Virginia Tech

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NOTRE DAME (13-7, 3-4 ACC) VS. VIRGINIA TECH (14-6, 3-4 ACC)

Where: Purcell Pavilion (Notre Dame, Ind.)

Rankings: Both teams are unranked.

Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET/ESPN2

Last Meeting: Notre Dame 76, Virginia Tech 71. Jan. 14, 2017.

Series Info: Notre Dame leads the all-time series 7-1.

Notre Dame enters tonight looking to stop a four-game losing streak while Virginia Tech is fresh off a win over North Carolina.

Both teams are under .500 in the ACC and need a win in order to increase the likelihood of earning a bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Here is a preview of both programs heading into the matchup.

The hits just keep coming for Notre Dame. On top of the four-game losing streak, senior point guard Matt Farrell will be sidelined indefinitely after a bone bruise in the ankle he sprained at NC State earlier this month, which cause him to miss over three-and-a-half games.

With Farrell, forward Bonzie Colson and wing DJ Harvey out, Notre Dame will have eight scholarship players available on Saturday. That number includes former walk-on forward Matt Gregory.

The starting lineup today will likely consist of senior big man Martinas Geben (10.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG), sophomore forward John Mooney (4.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG), junior guard Rex Pflueger (8.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.9 APG), sophomore guard TJ Gibbs (14.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.2 APG) and sophomore guard Nik Djogo (2.4 PPG), who would be making his first career-start.

Junior big man Elijah Burns (2.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG) and senior big man Austin Torres (1.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG) will come off the bench with Gregory and walk-on guard Liam Nelligan being additional options if necessary.

Mike Brey said on Thursday that defending and offensive rebounding will be keys for the team moving forward without Farrell. The Irish face one of the top offensive teams in the country this evening.

Notre Dame enters this matchup ranking No. 36 nationally in defensive efficiency and No. 44 in defensive effective field goal percentage (47.4), per KenPom.com. The team’s offensive rebounding percentage (32.6) has steadily climbed the rankings and now sits at No. 73.

If the Irish struggle on defense, it could be a long night for Notre Dame given the team is averaging 66.3 points in ACC play.

The Hokies boast one of the best offensive teams in the country averaging 85.3 points per game to day which ranks the team No. 15 nationally.

Buzz Williams’ group shoots 51.8 percent (No. 3) from the field and 39.7 percent (No. 25) on three-point attempts. Per KenPom.com, Virginia Tech is No. 27 in offensive efficiency and No. 5 in effective field goal percentage (59.7 percent).

Though Virginia Tech is up over 80 points for the season, the team is averaging 74.3 points during league play.

Junior guard Ahmed Hill leads the way for the Hokies averaging 14.9 points and 3.5 rebounds. Hill is joined by two other upperclassmen on the perimeter: senior guard Justin Bibbs (13.3 PPG) and junior guard Justin Robinson (12.5 PPG, 5.5 APG).

Freshman guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also made an impact in the starting lineup averaging 11.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest.

Forward Kerry Blackshear gives the team a nice complement in the frontcourt to go with a talented backcourt. The junior is second on the team in points (13.5) and rebounds (6.5).

Off the bench, junior forward Chris Clarke is the top option with 8.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. Freshman forward P.J. Horne is next in line at 4.8 points per contest.

The team’s bench backcourt consists of sophomore guard Tyrie Jackson (3.2 PPG), senior guard Devin Wilson (2.9 PPG) and freshman guard Wabissa Bede (2.9 PPG).

In ACC play, Virginia Tech is allowing 77.4 points per game which has helped lead to the team’s 3-4 record in the league. The team sits at No. 106 in defensive efficiency and No. 114 in defensive effective field goal percentage (49.3 percent).

Overall, Virginia Tech is strong on the offensive end, but has been a little more suspect on the defensive end which could bode well for the Irish.

Notre Dame doesn’t want to get into a shootout with the Hokies. The Irish may not have the firepower at that end with Farrell out to keep up in that scenario.

Defense has been a strong point for Notre Dame allowing just 63.4 points in seven games. Against a Virginia Tech team that can score and does so efficiently, Notre Dame will need to bring an A-plus performance on the defensive end. Especially if the team’s offense continues to lack.

With a limited bench on the perimeter, Notre Dame will have its hands full facing a Hokies team that is strong in the area.

Prediction

Virginia Tech 72, Notre Dame 68

An energetic home crowd should provide some energy for the Irish which will be much needed for the team.

A big game from Djogo and/or Pflueger will go a long way in helping the Irish in this one. Will Djogo be nervous in his first start? Or will a confident and aggressive Djogo that hit big shots against North Carolina and Louisville make an appearance? Brey of course hopes for the later.

I think Notre Dame will be able to slow down Virginia Tech to a degree on the offensive end, but I’m not sure if the offense will be there enough in the long run.

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