Virginia Tech will be looking for a little payback when it visits Miami for an Atlantic Coast Conference game on Saturday afternoon.
On Jan. 26, Charlie Moore banked in a half-court, buzzer-beating shot to lead the visiting Hurricanes to a 78-75 win over the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va.
However, since that loss, the Hokies have won seven of eight games.
Virginia Tech (17-11, 9-8 ACC) figures to have an edge with its bench against the Hurricanes (20-8, 12-5), who are not deep.
In Virginia Tech’s most recent win — a 62-58 victory over Georgia Tech on Wednesday — Hokies backup Darius Maddox went on a personal 10-2 second-half run that snapped a 41-41 tie.
“The guy scores like he breathes,” Hokies coach Mike Young said of Maddox. “When he misses a shot, I’m surprised.”
Virginia Tech, which started this season 2-7 in ACC play — is 0-5 against Quad 1 teams. To snap that skid, the Hokies will need continued production from 6-9 forward Keve Aluma, who leads the team in scoring (15.7) and ranks second in rebounds (6.5).
Justyn Mutts, a 6-7 forward, averages 10.1 points and leads Tech in rebounds (7.3), assists (3.3) and steals (1.3).
Miami counters with perhaps the best three guards in the ACC: Kameron McGusty (17.8 points), Isaiah Wong (15.1 points) and Moore (12.7 points, team-high 4.0 assists).
While those are Miami’s top three scorers, the other starters — Sam Waardenburg and Jordan Miller — are also primary contributors on a team that truly rides its starting lineup.
Moore, McGusty and Miller are all among the ACC leaders in steals, and that’s often how Miami beats teams. The Hurricanes have produced double-figure steals 12 times this season, including 14 thefts against the Hokies.
Tech, though, has Miami’s respect.
“After the last game, we all agreed they were a lot better than their record,” McGusty said of the Hokies. “All their guards can shoot at a high level. We have to run them off the 3-point line and make it difficult for Aluma.”
The Hokies have won three straight games away from home.
The Hurricanes are 10-4 at home, and this will be their Senior Night. They will honor five players: McGusty, Moore, Waardenburg and seldom-used reserves Deng Gak and Rodney Miller.
–Field Level Media