University of North Carolina Athletics
Walker Miller in action against the Hokies last year
Know Your Opponent: Virginia Tech
January 22, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Matt Bowers
Virginia Tech (HokieSports.com)
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Rankings: No. 56 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 13-5, 4-3 ACC
NET/SOS: No. 44 NET, No. 157 SOS
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads, 68-14 (UNC 103, Virginia Tech 82, Jan. 21, 2019, Smith Center)
Head coach Mike Young may be in his first season at Virginia Tech, but he already is at least halfway familiar with playing the Tar Heels after leading his Wofford squad to a 79-75 win two years ago in the Smith Center.
Young's Terriers hit seven three-pointers in their win in Chapel Hill, and his first Hokie squad has been even more deadly from long range so far this season.
Virginia Tech ranks seventh in the nation and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference in three-pointers made per game at 10.4. It's hit at least 10 three-pointers 10 times, including 21 against Delaware State and 15 last week against Syracuse.
Four different Hokie freshmen (Landers Nolley, Jalen Cone, Nahiem Alleyne and Hunter Cattoor) have connected on at least 25 three-pointers this season, making Virginia Tech the only team in the nation with four rookies to do so.
Tech shoots 37.4 percent from behind the arc as a team, ranking 27th in the nation. Acccording to the KenPom statistical rankings, the Hokies get 43.4 percent of their total points from behind the three-point line, 10th-most in the nation.
Nolley has impressed in his freshman season, leading the team with 17.8 points per game and ranking second with 5.7 boards per contest. No other Hokie averages in double figures in points, but seven average at least five points per contest in a balanced attack.
The long-range shooting has the Hokies exceeding expectations. In the 2019-20 Preseason ACC Poll, the media picked Virginia Tech to finish 14th in the 15-team conference. Instead, it's near the top of the standings, bunched in a group that includes Syracuse, Virginia, Pitt, Clemson and Boston College all within a game of each other between fifth and 10th place in the league.
The Hokies have three Quadrant 1 wins this season, and while their non-conference strength of schedule ranks just 333rd, they're a perfect 7-0 in Quadrant 4 games.
Tech started the season on a 6-0 roll, including a win over Michigan State in the Maui Invitational. After a three-game losing streak, the Hokies have won seven of their last nine, including ACC wins at Syracuse and Wake Forest and a home win over North Carolina State.
With ACC road games looming in three of their next four games after hosting the Tar Heels, the Hokies are expecting a sellout crowd on Wednesday in Cassell Coliseum, where Tech beat UNC two years ago.
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