Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse
Date: Saturday, January 18 Time: Noon Place: Cassell Coliseum TV: RSN (affiliate list) Tickets (game is sold out):
For the second time in 11 days, Virginia Tech (13-4, 4-2) and Syracuse (10-7, 3-3) will meet on the hardwood. After defeating the Orange 67-63 in the Carrier Dome, the Hokies will look to complete the season sweep in Cassell Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
The Hokies trailed the Orange by 10 points in the first half and by nine points in the second half on January 7, but rallied to pick up a huge road win. That was the first of three consecutive victories for Mike Young’s team, which now sits at 13-4 overall and 4-2 in ACC play.
After Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse team lost to the Hokies at home, they sat at 8-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play. However, they followed that up with a surprising road victory at UVA in overtime, despite the fact that they lost at home to the Hoos by 14 points back in November. They followed that up with a 76-50 smashing of Boston College on Wednesday night.
Virginia Tech hasn’t lost since they were defeated in Charlottesville by UVA, and Syracuse hasn’t lost since that home defeat to the Hokies. Both of these teams come into Saturday’s game in good form. Tech will be looking to add to their NCAA Tournament resume (and who would have though we’d be saying that in mid-January?). Meanwhile, Syracuse will be looking to get back into the mix in terms of the NCAA Tournament.
Here’s where Syracuse ranks in the Ken Pomeroy ratings…
Off. Efficiency: No. 31
Def. Efficiency: No. 100
Tempo: No. 246
Effective FG% Offense: No. 52
Effective FG% Defense: No. 52
3-Pt.%: No. 41
Opp. 3-Pt. %: No. 48
Here’s where Tech ranks in the same categories…
Off. Efficiency: No. 50
Def. Efficiency: No. 65
Tempo: No. 305
Effective FG% Offense: No. 48
Effective FG% Defense: No. 76
3-Pt.%: No. 36
Opp. 3-Pt. %: No. 72
The Hokies also rank No. 3 in turnover percentage, and they must continue to hang onto the basketball if they want to keep their run of success going.
In the first meeting between Syracuse and Virginia Tech, the Orange only played six players thanks to depth problems and injures. In their win over UVA, they played eight players in their rotation, and that number jumped up to nine against Boston College. Expect to see Boeheim have more players at his disposal on Saturday.
For a closer look at the Syracuse personnel, check out our preview from the earlier meeting between the two schools.