BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech faces its highest-ranked opponent of the season Wednesday night when the Hokies face No. 2 Duke in Durham, N.C. at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
Tech is coming off its most dominant performance of the season, as it downed St. Bonaventure, 86-49, last Friday. Hunter Cattoor, Storm Murphy and Keve Aluma led the charge for the Hokies, accounting for 51 of Tech's points. Cattoor tied his career high in 3-point field goals made with five, although Friday's contest was the first time he shot 100 percent (5-5) from three while doing so.
The Hokies are in search of their second win ever against Duke inside Cameron Indoor Stadium and their first since Jan. 6, 2007. That night, Tech defeated No. 5 Duke, 69-67 in overtime, as Zabian Dowdell contributed 20 points. The following week, Virginia Tech downed No. 1 North Carolina for the first of two instances that season.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Wednesday, December 22 | 9:00 p.m. ET
Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, N.C.)
vs. No. 2 Duke
Series: Duke leads 50-11
Game Notes: Virginia Tech (PDF) | Duke (PDF)
TV Broadcast
ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Dave O'Brien
Analyst: Jay Bilas
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Jon Laaser
Analyst: Mike Burnop
THE SERIES
- Duke holds a 50-11 advantage in the all-time series, including a 17-7 lead since Tech joined the ACC.
- The Hokies won the lone meeting last season, 74-67, in Blacksburg. The win snapped a three-game winning streak in the series by the Blue Devils.
- Wednesday's game will be the sixth time the Hokies will face a Duke squad ranked in the top-2 of the AP Poll. Tech is 1-4 in those matchups with the lone win coming on Feb. 26, 2011 - a 64-60 upset of No. 1 Duke in Blacksburg.
A WIN WOULD...
- Give the Hokies their second straight win over Duke, marking just the third time ever they will have won back-to-back games in the series.
- Level Mike Young's record to 2-2 against the Blue Devils as Tech's head coach.
- Snap Duke's eight-game win streak at home.
- Secure the Hokies' best NET win of the season. Duke checks in at No. 7 entering Wednesday's game.
HOKIE HEADLINES...
- Hunter Cattoor, who has scored in double figures in five of the last six games, dialed up a career-high 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting to earn MVP honors at the Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout vs. St. Bonaventure. He did not miss a shot from three (5-5).
- Tech is coming off a season-high 13 3-pointers made vs. the Bonnies. The Hokies top the ACC with their nine threes made per game.
- Keve Aluma has reached double-figure scoring in seven straight games. He's at least tied for leading scorer honors in four of the last five games.
PUT THE STARTING LINEUP IN SHARPIE
- Wednesday's game will feature two teams who have yet to change their starting lineup.
- Tech features a starting five with three fifth-year players and two juniors, while Duke starts a junior, two sophomores and two freshmen.