NYE clash in Cameron🆚 No. 4 Duke🕟 4:30PM ET📺 ACCN🔗 https://t.co/Ypqs6c7UWE pic.twitter.com/cM7WcRoXcf— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 31, 2024
Virginia Tech (5-7)
at
#4 Duke (10-2)
Cameron Indoor Arena
430pm ACCN
TV | ACCN
Wes Durham, PxP
Dan Bonner, Analyst
RADIO | VT Sports Network
Zach Mackey, PxP
Mike Burnop, Analyst
VIDEO STREAM
@HokiesMBB ESPN.com and ESPN app
LIVE STATS
stats.hokiesports.com
1.8% Chance
The Hokies pick back up ACC play and will be facing the top team right off the bat. There is no sugar coating this one. It's more likely to be a blowout than a semblance of competition.
Duke comes in 10-2 and Jon Scheyer in just his third season already has two-thirds Mike Young's win totals in six seasons. None of that is really surprising.
Their only losses so far are to Kentucky and Kansas. They have three ranked wins this season already.
Cooper Flagg, the #1 recruit started slow but is now leading Duke in scoring and rebounding. He is joined by fellow freshman Kon Kneuppel in scoring. The other double-digit scorer is Tyrese Proctor.
Duke plays a smothering man-to-man defense. That's a cliche with most teams but for the Blue Devils it's a true description. They are forcing 14 turnovers a game and holding opponents to the 7th fewest points in the NCAA. They have held opponents under 65 points in nine games. Duke is averaging 20 points more per game than opponents.
As for offense, expect to see them go to the paint more than any other game the Hokies have played so far. That said, they are making over 10 three pointers per game as well. They have very few flaws on offense and are averaging 16 points a game in transition.
The only real hope here is Duke forgets to get out of bed. The Hokies might need to shoot 70% or better otherwise.
Ben Hammond will get to face off against two of his Paul VI teammates. Darren Harris and Paul Ngongba will both come off the bench for the Blue Devils as freshmen.
Hokies Starting Five
Toibu Lawal
1 JR F 6-8 200
10.7 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Mylyjael Poteat
34 SR F 6-9 260
10.1 Pts, 4.4 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Jaden Schutt
2 SO G 6-5 185
9.3 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Tyler Johnson
10 FR G 6-5 215
5.9 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Ben Hammond
11 FR G 5-11 170
5.3 Pts, 1.1 Reb, 1.7 Ast
Key Bench Players
Jaydon Young
3 SO G 6-4 205
7.1 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.5 Ast
Ben Burnham
13 SR F 6-7 200
6.9 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Brandon Rechsteiner
7 SO G 6-1 185
7.8 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 3.7 Ast
Patrick Wessler
5 SO C 7-0 245
4.5 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Rodney Brown
4 SO G 6-6 180
4.1 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Duke Starting Five
Cooper Flagg
2 FR F 6-9 205
16.3 Pts, 8.6 Reb, 3.5 Ast
Kon Knueppel
7 FR G 6-7 217
12.2 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 3.1 Ast
Tyrese Proctor
5 JR G 6-5 175
11.3 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Khaman Maluach
9 FR C 7-2 250
8.4 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Either/Or
Sion James
14 JR G 6-5 185
7.8 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 2.3 Ast
Caleb Foster
1 SO G 6-5 197
7.4 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Key Bench Players
Isaiah Evans
3 FR G 6-6 175
8.7 Pts, 0.7 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Comments
unleash the fury, mitch
What's the worst loss we've ever had in conference play? Because that will be eclipsed today.
Define worst? you mean points margin? or choking like fucking weak dogs against BC and Clemson with tourney bids on the line?
Live look at the team bus:
Haven't we gone into Cameron as heavy 'dogs in the past and emerged victorious? I highly doubt that happens today tho.
67th overall matchup. We are 13-53.
We have won in Cameron exactly one time. 2007, 69-67 in another students are gone for the Holidays game. That team had Deron Washington, Dorenzo Hudson, Jeff Allen, Terrell Bell, Malcolm Delaney, AD Vassallo and JT Thompson. Honestly might have been the most athletic roster top to bottom Hokies have had.
That last lineup was so bad and so slow and so out of place and young has kept them in for entirely too long lmao
Yeah... it's going to be tough. Poteat and Lawal both with 2 fouls. We're out talented all the way around. I don't really know what's the best way to go.
I have to say they doing much better than I expected. I thought they would be down by 30 in the first half.
LOL... I just didn't want them to be down by 30 at the end of the game (20 - 25 at the worst). Only down by 10 at the half! 15-2 duke on second chance points. We can't rebound worth a toot!
I almost consider it a victory... we only lost by 23!
I was only expecting to be down 25 at half.
Not as bad as I expected. The offensive rebounds by Duke is the biggest difference. That said, Duke has been as bad as Hokies shooting the ball. If that changes this gets really ugly fast.
Definitely a walk on Cooper Flagg. But the O'le defense and the lack of rebounding is what will kill us.
As bad shooting as Duke was in first half was as good as they were in the second.
67% in second half. Shocked the final wasn't larger.
There was a stretch where every time we had the ball I was waiting on a turnover. Everything just seemed so reckless or careless.
Next up... the Ladies on Thursday, the guys on Saturday.