University of North Carolina Athletics
Know Your Opponent: Virginia Tech
January 18, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Virginia Tech (HokieSports.com)
Rankings: No. 179 KenPom, RV AP
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
2014-15 Record: 8-8, 0-3 ACC
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 64-13 (UNC 60, Virginia Tech 56, March 1, 2014, Cassell Coliseum)
Year one for Virginia Tech under new head coach Buzz Williams has mostly been about picking up the pieces of the last three seasons, when the Hokies combined to go just 10-42 in conference play under Seth Greenberg and James Johnson. Though 16 games in 2014-15, Tech is 8-8, but the Hokies' best win in terms of KenPom rating was the season opener against No. 183 Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Defense has been an issue all season for the Hokies, but things have been especially troublesome against ACC opponents. In consecutive road losses to Florida State and Louisville, Tech has allowed 1.28 and 1.26 points per possession, respectively. For the year, the Hokies rank 334th nationally in steal percentage and 337th in opponents offensive rebounding percentage. That should further encourage Carolina, which is currently No. 2 in the country at grabbing offensive rebounds.
Things have been more positive on the offensive end, especially from deep. Tech ranks 11th nationally in 3-point percentage, making more than 40 percent of outside shots as a team so far. Justin Bibbs and Adam Smith provide a potent 1-2 bunch from behind the arc, with both men hitting at better than 46 percent.
The success of those two is even more vital with 6-10 junior Joey van Zegeren out of the lineup. The Hokies' best inside scoring threat as well as their most effective rebounder, van Zegeren has been suspended since Jan. 2 due to “a lack of discipline and self-control at practice.”
Point guard Devin Wilson tends to be more of a distributor than a scorer, but he has been very effective at getting to the foul line. The 6-4 sophomore ranks ninth nationally in free throw rate, and at 71.6 percent, he is also VT's best shooter from the charity stripe.
The ACC schedule is doing Tech no favors at the moment, as the Hokies are in the midst of a four-game stretch with road games at Louisville and UNC followed by home games against Notre Dame and rival Virginia. For Williams and Virginia Tech, the 2014-15 season figures to be less about wins and losses and more about taking steps back toward respectability. And considering Williams' run of success at Marquette, things are likely to get better sooner than later.
