Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Basketball
Date: January 14
Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Virginia
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network
Watch the game: Link
- Notre Dame leads the series 6-1.
- The only loss to the Hokies occurred in 1973 in the NIT title game.
- Notre Dame is 6-0 against Virginia Tech in conference play.
- Mike Brey holds a 7-5 head-to-head advantage over Buzz Williams.
- ACC Standings
Notre Dame
Matt Farrell: 14.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 5.5 apg
Steve Vasturia: 14.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.2 apg
VJ Beachem: 14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 1.2 apg
Bonzie Colson: 15.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 1.9 apg
Martinas Geben: 4.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 0.9 apg
Virginia Tech
Justin Robinson: 10.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 4.4 apg
Chris Clarke: 12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 3.8 apg
Ahmed Hill: 15.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 1.7 apg
Justin Bibbs: 8.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 1.6 apg
Zach LeDay: 16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 1.4 apg
Scoring Offense: Virginia Tech: 83.3 ppg (25) – Notre Dame: 81.4 ppg (40)
Scoring Defense: Virginia Tech: 72.1 ppg (182) – Notre Dame: 66.4 ppg (68)
Rebound Margin: Virginia Tech: 0.4 (202) – Notre Dame: 1.6 (158)
Field-Goal Percentage: Virginia Tech: 48.8% (22) – Notre Dame: 46.8% (82)
Three-Point Percentage: Virginia Tech: 39.9% (19) – Notre Dame: 39.5% (34)
Three-Pointers Made: Virginia Tech: 8.8 (70) – Notre Dame: 9.8 (17)
Free-Throw Percentage: Virginia Tech: 70.5% (140) – Notre Dame: 84.1% (1)
Saturday could very well turn into a barn burner in Blacksburg, which is the exact opposite of what Notre Dame took part in Thursday night at Miami. Mike Brey’s team played in a physical and limited possession game against the Hurricanes, but it’s very clear Saturday’s game will be about offense.
The Hokies and Irish are almost exact clones of each other on the offensive end in terms of points scored and how they shoot the rock from beyond the arc. Notre Dame can get an edge on the boards with Bonzie Colson and it could very well be the difference in the game.
The two teams also matchup well against each other, as they are smaller teams and prefer to play with four guards. Notre Dame bench play could very well tell the story for the Irish, as Rex Pflueger, Matt Ryan and TJ Gibbs will need to play important and efficient minutes coming off the quick turnaround.
Speaking of the turnaround, Notre Dame is on a day’s rest, while Virginia Tech played at home on Tuesday, so the Hokies should be fresh. The Irish are deeper than past years, but Colson, Beachem, Farrell and Vasturia are all averaging over 30 minutes a night.
This game should be no different than most Notre Dame games this season and will likely be decided in the final minutes. Will Notre Dame have enough in the tank to finish it off, as they have in the previous four ACC games? Can Big Shot Steve show up one more time? A 5-0 start to ACC play would allow for some much-needed wiggle room in the nation’s toughest conference.
Hoops Preview: No. 20 Notre Dame vs Virginia Tech
January 14, 2017
3,485
No. 20 Notre Dame (15-2, 4-0) vs Virginia Tech (13-3, 2-2)
Date: January 14
Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Virginia
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network
Watch the game: Link
Quick Facts
- Saturday will mark the eighth meeting between the two programs.- Notre Dame leads the series 6-1.
- The only loss to the Hokies occurred in 1973 in the NIT title game.
- Notre Dame is 6-0 against Virginia Tech in conference play.
- Mike Brey holds a 7-5 head-to-head advantage over Buzz Williams.
- ACC Standings
The Starters
(Per Game Averages)Notre Dame
Matt Farrell: 14.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 5.5 apg
Steve Vasturia: 14.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.2 apg
VJ Beachem: 14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 1.2 apg
Bonzie Colson: 15.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 1.9 apg
Martinas Geben: 4.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 0.9 apg
Virginia Tech
Justin Robinson: 10.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 4.4 apg
Chris Clarke: 12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 3.8 apg
Ahmed Hill: 15.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 1.7 apg
Justin Bibbs: 8.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 1.6 apg
Zach LeDay: 16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 1.4 apg
How They Matchup
(National Rank)Scoring Offense: Virginia Tech: 83.3 ppg (25) – Notre Dame: 81.4 ppg (40)
Scoring Defense: Virginia Tech: 72.1 ppg (182) – Notre Dame: 66.4 ppg (68)
Rebound Margin: Virginia Tech: 0.4 (202) – Notre Dame: 1.6 (158)
Field-Goal Percentage: Virginia Tech: 48.8% (22) – Notre Dame: 46.8% (82)
Three-Point Percentage: Virginia Tech: 39.9% (19) – Notre Dame: 39.5% (34)
Three-Pointers Made: Virginia Tech: 8.8 (70) – Notre Dame: 9.8 (17)
Free-Throw Percentage: Virginia Tech: 70.5% (140) – Notre Dame: 84.1% (1)
Saturday could very well turn into a barn burner in Blacksburg, which is the exact opposite of what Notre Dame took part in Thursday night at Miami. Mike Brey’s team played in a physical and limited possession game against the Hurricanes, but it’s very clear Saturday’s game will be about offense.
The Hokies and Irish are almost exact clones of each other on the offensive end in terms of points scored and how they shoot the rock from beyond the arc. Notre Dame can get an edge on the boards with Bonzie Colson and it could very well be the difference in the game.
The two teams also matchup well against each other, as they are smaller teams and prefer to play with four guards. Notre Dame bench play could very well tell the story for the Irish, as Rex Pflueger, Matt Ryan and TJ Gibbs will need to play important and efficient minutes coming off the quick turnaround.
Speaking of the turnaround, Notre Dame is on a day’s rest, while Virginia Tech played at home on Tuesday, so the Hokies should be fresh. The Irish are deeper than past years, but Colson, Beachem, Farrell and Vasturia are all averaging over 30 minutes a night.
This game should be no different than most Notre Dame games this season and will likely be decided in the final minutes. Will Notre Dame have enough in the tank to finish it off, as they have in the previous four ACC games? Can Big Shot Steve show up one more time? A 5-0 start to ACC play would allow for some much-needed wiggle room in the nation’s toughest conference.
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