Buzzketball Central: NC State Wolfpack (10-3) at Virginia Tech Hokies (8-5) 2PM RSN/ESPN3

IT'S GAMEDAY!! #BeatNCState pic.twitter.com/viFOhDuyTb— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 2, 2016

Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
Also available on:
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Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn

Television/Internet

Regional Sports Network
Tom Werme & Jason Capel
ESPN3

All right Hokie fans, Happy New Year and its time to fire up ACC play. We start off with the NC State Wolfpack, who come in on a six game winning streak, beating Missouri and USF in that time. Their last loss was to Michigan back in the ACC/BIG10 Challenge. Their only other losses were to Arizona State and a surprising drubbing by William and Mary to start the season. Mark Gottfried seems to have his uber talented Wolfpack back on the right track since that early disappointment. The one thing to watch for though is as good as NC State has been the last four years under Gottfried, they have consistently struggled in conference. They come in having won 22 or more games each of the last four seasons but their best conference mark was 11-7 in those years. 11 wins is nothing to scoff at though in the ACC considering the opponents. Just ask Tech fans, who last saw 11 conference wins back in 1995-96, when we were still in the A10. Not once has it happened in the Big East or ACC days.

The Wolfpack are led by Junior Guard "Cat" Anthony Barber (#12), 6'2, 190 Lbs, who is scoring 23.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 5.2 APG. He shoots 43% from the field and 85% from the free throw line. He is their version of an Ironman, playing over 38 minutes a contest so far. The only way to get him off the floor is to get him in foul trouble. Hopefully we can match up a couple of our larger wing players over him on offense to force him to foul to prevent drives to the basket. Don't be surprised however if we see him squaring off with Bibbs as this game progresses.

Maverick Rowan,(#24) a 6'7, 215 Lbs Freshmen Guard, is next on their team in scoring with 13.2 PPG and while grabbing 4.1 RPG. Rowan is very similar to Blackshear in terms of production. He will have a monster game and then disappear for several games. Expect Leday and Rowan to match up against each other most of the afternoon.

Caleb Martin,(#14) 6'7, 215 Lbs Sophomore Guard is essentially a mirror image of Rowan on the other wing spot. Defensively we will need a big night from TYRONE to keep Martin under wraps. He comes in dropping 12.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG. Speaking of mirror images, Caleb's twin brother, Cody(#15) 6'7, 210 L , also plays for the Wolfpack. His time at State hasn't flourished as much, but he still averages 5.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG. Cody is the motor defensively as he does a bit of everything while on the court for the Wolfpack. The twins are like having two Chris Clarke's on the floor, so lacking ours will make this a challenge matchup wise.

The other three members of this team to note are Abdul Malik Abu, (#0), 6'8, 240 Lbs Sophomore Forward, Lennard Freeman, (#1) 6'9, 250 Lbs Junior Forward and Beejay Anya, (#21) 6'9, 285 Lbs Junior Forward. These three work the boards and adjust opponent's shots as much as they score and are pretty interchangeable for the Wolfpack. They combine for 22 PPG, 20.2 RPG, and 3.7 BPG. The main shot blocker is Anya out of this group, credited with 2.9 BPG by himself. This group shows you just how important big men can be in the ACC and until Pierce, Blackshear, Henry and Hamilton can match up with opponents like this, we will be at a severe disadvantage in the lane against ACC opponents.

Keys to the game will be limiting opponents second chances, making your free throws and keep the Wolfpack off the line. Right now, NC State comes in ranked 32nd in Division I in rebounding, averaging 43 rebounds a game, to include almost 13 offensive boards per night. If we don't limit that number it will lead to another big deficit just like the WVU game. Both teams are shooting in the mid 60s when it comes to free throws so whomever gets to the line and hits their shots in this game could see a significant edge as to the final result in this game. The Wolfpack are averaging almost 27 attempts per game, while Tech is still managing 30 attempts at the charity stripe this year.

These teams are composed of the same mix of players, utilize the same style of play, average almost the same numbers across the board both offensively and defensively so far this season. The final in this one is going to be whichever team manages to effect the other more, as this game will probably come down to a subtraction not an addition. Whoever is cold shooting, or turning the ball over more, or is just downright sloppy is going to lose this game. After the success WVU had running the press against us, don't be surprised if we see the Wolfpack employ some press early in each half to try to create some separation between teams.

This should be a close game since its at home. Hopefully some crowd shows up to cheer on the Hokies this game so we have less of an opponents influence on crowd noise. These early ACC games will be tough without the students back from Winter Break. I think after the towel lashing Buzz gave these guys last game they are going to desperately want to show him they can get things done the way he wants them done. I expect Tech to pull this one out very late with Leday and Allen being critical contributors at the free throw line to put this victory away. Hokies win 78-74 in the waning moments of this one.