Louisville basketball takes on a heady Virginia Tech squad on Wednesday. Previewing the Cardinals and the Hokies.
Louisville basketball currently sits atop the ACC standings, tied for first at 2-0. It’s conference co-leader is not Duke. It’s not North Carolina. Nor is it Virginia. Or Florida State. It’s Virginia Tech.
In their second year under head coach Mike Young, the Hokies have gone from a .500 team to a difficult out.
Virginia Tech has is the only team to beat Villanova and Clemson, and only has one loss to Penn State.
Let’s take a look at what makes the Hokies a solid squad, and what Louisville basketball will have to do to come out victorious.
What to know:
Who: Virginia Tech at Louisville
When: Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 | 6:30 PM
Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 840 WHAS AM (Paul Rogers, Bob Valvano)
Spread check: Louisville -4.5 | O/U 131.5
Streaks: Louisville W3, Virginia Tech W4
Uniform Check: Louisville is 5-0 this season in its home white uniforms
Virginia Tech and Louisville are built similarly
If you have enjoyed watching the Louisville basketball four out, one in, guard dominant style, you’ll love Virginia Tech. Like the Cardinals, Tech lacks a true big man presence. However, the Hokies are led by 6’9,” 235-pound Keve Aluma.
The Wofford Transfer played for Young in his days with the Terriers. After starting 34 games his sophomore season but serving as more of a role player, Aluma used a redshirt season to blossom this year for the Hokies.
Aluma will be matched up with Louisville’s mobile bigs, which should be an interesting battle to watch. The duo of JJ Traynor and Jae’Lyn Withers has held its own defensively, but has proven to be foul-prone.
Outside of Aluma, the duo of Naheim Allayne and Tyrese Radford bring a formidable backcourt duo for David Johnson and Carlik Jones to contend with. Radford, like Louisville’s Jones, is second on the team in rebounding at only 6’2″.
Off the bench, sophomore Jalen Cone is a high-volume sharp-shooting guard. To put into perspective how much Cone shoots, last year Ryan McMahon attempted 5 threes per game. Cone is firing up 7.7 per game in 7 less minutes. He heaves up 17.9 threes per 40 minutes played. Cone is a 44 percent career three-point shooter. It’s safe to say that if Louisville doesn’t close out on Cone, its his job to make them pay.
Virginia Tech wins if
The Hokies win this game if they can be the aggressor.
Louisville basketball head coach Chris Mack said in his Tuesday presser that the game plan is no different for the Hokies. Although Tech shoots 24 threes a game, Mack feels that if Louisville does what they normally do, the Cards will win the game.
The Louisville defensive strategy is to keep the ball in front of them and out of the lane. If the Cardinals can do that, the theory is that Virginia Tech will not create chances for open shots.
Conversely, if Virginia Tech is the aggressor, gets into the lane, gets open shots, and gets to the foul line, it will dictate the game.
Louisville basketball wins if
On the other hand, if Louisville is the aggressor and forces the Hokies into difficult shots, the Cards can take advantage.
Louisville basketball has an advantage with size and speed at the guard position. Without a “true” big, it feels like Louisville is a small team. However, the Cards match up well with most teams at the 1-4 spot, and Virginia Tech is no exception.
If Louisville keep the Hokies out of the paint and creates an up-and-down sort of game, the Cards have the advantage.
If Virginia Tech can get to its spots, execute, and get open looks, it could be tough for a Cardinals team that may not be able to play from behind.
Prediction
Louisville 76, Virginia Tech 71
