Mens Basketball: #8 Notre Dame(17-2, 5-1) vs Virginia Tech(8-9, 0-3) 7PM ESPN3/RSN

Television
RSN - Tim Brant & Debbie Antonelli

Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network - Bill Roth & Mike Burnop
Also available on:
Satellite: Sirius: 91 XM: 91
Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn

Looks like you may have to scroll through your channels tonight to find this game as its a toss up between ESPN3 and Regional Sports Networks.

This is the third of four straight games where Tech faces a ranked opponent, as Notre Dame comes to visit Cassell Coliseum for the first time as an ACC opponent. The good news is that we have beaten Notre Dame before, 92-91 in overtime in 1972 in the NIT tournament. The bad news is that those wont be the teams taking the court tonight.

Jerian Grant(#22), a tall point guard at 6'5, leads Notre Dame in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg(5th in ACC) while also dishing out 6.4 apg(Top assist man in the ACC). This game will be largely impacted by what the Hokies guards can do against Grant.

There are three other Fighting Irish shooters averaging over 13 ppg, of which the biggest concern for us will be Zach Auguste(#30), putting up 13.7 ppg, while shooting at 64.7%, at 6'10, 242 lbs, this guy will be a match up nightmare down low for Tech if JVZ has not been greenlighted to return.

Another surprising player to watch is Pat Connaughton(#24), who at 6'5 is pulling in a surprising 8.3 rpg to go along with his 13.8 ppg. His rebounding prowess makes him the only guard in the Top 25 in the ACC at number 8 in the conference. He has that inate ability to position himself on the back side of the basket away from the big men that leads to quite a few rebounds with easy put backs.

The last of the double digit scorers is shooting guard Demetrius Jackson(#11), who chips in 13.6 ppg and also is tied for second in the ACC in steals per game at 2.1 so Hokies will need to be careful on controlling the ball around Jackson.

One other thing to note about Notre Dame is that they utilize their entire roster. This isnt going to be a team that we can wear out there starters and be up against scrubs on the bench.

Tech is going to have a tough time tonight with Auguste down low and with how Grant and Connaughton drive the basketball. If that wasnt difficult enough, Connaughton and Jackson are both +40% three point shooters to go along with one of their key bench players, Steve Vasturia(#32), who shoots the three at 51.7% on the season, hitting about three of them per game so far this season.

The one bright spot is that so far in conference, Notre Dame has not been able to separate from most of the conference slate so far. This is a home game, with the students back, so hopefully the crowd can help these young Hokies stay in this game. Notre Dame is not all that spectacular on defense either, allowing opponents to shoot better than 40% on the season. The only problem there is that the Fighting Irish shoot at 52.8% on the season themselves, #2 in the country so far this season. Tech will get open looks, they just have to capitalize on them.

I have given up on trying to anticipate who we will see start for Tech as Buzz continues to tinker with the matchups. Beyer will likely have to have a big game tonight for Tech as his energy and effort will be important down low.

I am just not sure that the Hokies have it in them to pull off this upset. Vegas has the line at 9, which I think is going to be fairly accurate. I see this game being within a basket late, but Notre Dame will hit its free throws to close out and come out with a win. Notre Dame is shooting 73% from the line for those wondering.

Notre Dame - 78- Virginia Tech 70