After dominating on the road against Radford in a game that the final score didn't reflect how one-sided most of the game was, the Virginia Tech Hokies return home to take on the Lamar Cardinals led by former Hokie small forward Tic Price.
Lamar enters this game on a three-game winning streak ahead of their first and only matchup this season against a team from a major conference. There is no doubt that the Cardinals will bring tons of energy, and be ready for this game as they look to get a signature non-conference victory.
However, the Hokies will also be ready as they look to avoid another surprise loss like they had in their season opener against Alabama State.
This matchup does pit two of the top 25 rebounding teams in the nation against each other. With Johnny Hamilton still suspended, the Hokies will need Zach LeDay and Kerry Blackshear to continue to effectively crash the boards while also getting help from guards like Chris Clarke, Justin Bibbs, and Devin Wilson.
LeDay seems like someone ready to have a big game today after not having his best game in the midweek clash at Radford. LeDay hasn't been shooting the ball well recently for the Hokies, but this matchup seems like the perfect opportunity for a bounce-back game. No one should be surprised if LeDay has one of his best games of the season against Lamar.
Justin Bibbs is still shooting an extremely impressive 64.5% from beyond the arc, and will be someone that Lamar will have to be ready for. Bibbs has started to become more assertive in Virginia Tech's offense over the course of the last few weeks, which will only make Virginia Tech more efficient offensively.
Bibbs seems ready to go off for a 20 to 25-point game soon, and that could happen as soon as today.
Seth Allen has been starting to shoot the ball more effectively the past few weeks and while he may not have a big game, expect the junior guard to be productive whether he is attacking the rim or shooting from the outside.
Lamar is 5-3, and should be ready to give it all they got, but this also feels like a game that should be a pretty big win. If so, no one should be surprised if Buzz Williams gets walk-ons Greg Donlon and Matt Galloway some playing time in this matchup with bigger games close on the horizon.
Virginia Tech should not have an issue of overlooking Lamar, but that can't be completely thrown out after the Hokies' loss to Alabama State earlier in the season. However, that won't be an issue today as Zach LeDay and the Hokies will improve to 7-3 on the season.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 80, Lamar 64
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