Hokies return to Cassell for last home ACC clashHokies return to Cassell for last home ACC clash
Men's Basketball

Hokies return to Cassell for last home ACC clash

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BLACKSBURG – Having won eight of its last nine games, including a gutsy effort against Miami last Saturday, Virginia Tech takes the floor against Louisville on Tuesday for its last regular season home contest of the season. 

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Tuesday, March 1  | 9:00 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum
vs. Louisville
Series: Louisville leads 36-8
Game Notes: Virginia Tech (PDF) | Louisville (PDF)

TV Broadcast
ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Mike Couzens
Analyst: Debbie Antonelli
Sideline: Brooke Weisbrod

Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Tim Bickford
Analyst: Mike Burnop

THE SERIES

  • Louisville has won 17 in a row in the series and has a 36-8 overall lead, dating back to Jan. 28, 1979.
  • Tech's last win in the series came on Feb. 13, 1991 - a 72- 56 victory in Blacksburg.
  • The Hokies are 0-8 against the Cards as ACC foes.
  • Tech has a 3-16 record against UofL in Blacksburg and have dropped seven straight in the series at home.
  • The last four meetings in Blacksburg have all been decided by single digits.
  • Tuesday marks the only regular-season meeting between the Hokies and the Cards. 

A WIN WOULD...

  • Mark the Hokies' ninth win in their last 10 outings.
  • Be Coach Young's first win over Louisville as head coach of the Hokies (0-2).
  • Guarantee Tech at least the No. 7 seed for the ACC tournament.
  • Be the Hokies' first win over the Cards in 31 years.
  • Move Tech to 11-4 inside Cassell Coliseum this season. 

HOKIE HEADLINES

  • The Hokies finished off February with a 7-1 mark, which was their best record for the month since 1972 (6-1).
  • Tech captured its first Quad 1 win of the season at Miami, moving to 1-5.
  • Per KenPom, the Hokies rank 26th in the country on offense in adjusted efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions).
  • Keve Aluma ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring at 17.3 points per game in conference-only action.
  • Aluma collected his sixth double-double of the season at Miami on Saturday night. It was his second consecutive double-double. 

ALUMA MOVES IN SILENCE

  • Keve Aluma quietly recorded his sixth double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds) of the season, tying his tally from last season.
  • After missing his first shot of the game, Aluma made his last eight – including 5-5 in the second half. One of those buckets was a dunk with 40 seconds remaining, joining Sean Pedulla and Darius Maddox in the late run.
  • As Tech's offensive focus has shifted to inside the arc as of late, so has Aluma's. The big man has only attempted five 3-pointers in the last five games.
  • Aluma's efficient shooting inside the arc was followed by the whole team, which shot 22- 27 from non-3s (81.5%) at Miami. 

IT TAKES ALL 40

  • Virginia Tech has trailed after the first 20 minutes in each of its last three wins.
  • However, the Hokies have ramped up the intensity on both ends of the ball in the second half. In its last three victories, Virginia Tech has shot 51.4% from the field in the second half, while limiting its opponents (Virginia, Georgia Tech and Miami) to 39.8%.

UP NEXT

  • Tech closes out the regular season at Clemson on Saturday. Tipoff from Littlejohn Coliseum is set for 2 p.m.