Game Preview: Virginia Tech vs West Virginia

Pence's Quick Thoughts

The Hokies travel to West Virginia with a 7-0 record on the line and coming off a big victory over Oklahoma State in the past week.  The good news for the Hokies is that West Virginia hasn't been able to throw it in the ocean ranking 302nd in eFG% and 339th in 3 point %.  West Virginia has gotten by on offense by not turning it over and grabbing 40% of their own misses. 

West Virginia has been a better team defensively, although much better guarding the 2 than the 3.  I highly doubt that Virginia Tech's offense can sustain its efficiency in its first true challenge on the road.  I'm betting you'll see the Hokies offensive efficiency drop closer to 95 than the 109 it has averaged on the season.  So, the focus will need to be on the Hokies defense and especially defensive rebounding.  The good news is that the Hokies have been really good so far rebounding their opponents misses. 

I'd love to see the Hokies continue their hot start, but I just don't see their offensive efficiency being sustained in this road game.  It will take a big defensive rebounding game and the Hokies doing just enough offensively to win this one.  I like West Virginia in a close one.

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The last time these two teams met on the court both teams were still in the Big East. Now neither one is, with Tech in the ACC and the ‘neers in the Big 12. And while the Hokies haven’t enjoyed much success against wvu (29-46 all time), especially in Morgan-hole (10-25), the Hokies did sweep the ‘neers back in 2004 including a 69-67 win at wvu in Greenberg’s first year.

Erick Green has moved up to second in the nation in scoring at 24.9 ppg. He is just two behind Bimbo Coles’s Tech record streak of nine 20+ point games to start the season. Green will need a big game against wvu to help Tech stay unbeaten.

More from TechHoops.com

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Before every practice begins, Virginia Tech Coach James Johnson gathers his players in a circle near midcourt. It’s not quite a huddle, but close enough for Johnson to look into their eyes and try to get a read on what could be troubling them.

Only seven games into his head coaching career, Johnson has worries that run the gamut, from shooting slumps to missed classes to “they thought they were gonna get a phone number from a girl and didn’t get it. How are they gonna respond to that?” he said this week. “So yeah, I’m curious.”

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