After ending their seven-game losing streak with a thrilling 78-75 victory over Duke on Monday, Virginia Tech now looks to go on a run and get a winning streak going as they take on a Syracuse team looking for the season sweep. Of course, a lot has changed for the Hokies since that game with the return of Hunter Cattoor, the loss of Rodney Rice with a different injury, and Tech finding their stride over the past few games.
So with all that in mind, here are my three things to watch for the Hokies against the Orange.
1. Build On Their Recent Three-Point Shooting Improvement
Virginia Tech has started to find their rhythm from three-point range since the return of Hunter Cattoor with a solid night at UVA in Cattoor's return and then a great night against Duke going 10-19 from 3 in that game. What may be more impressive about Monday's performance is the fact that all four Hokies who attempted threes shot at least 50% from behind the arc.
That three-point shooting was lacking at Syracuse earlier this season when the Hokies were 3-19 from behind the arc. While Tech's post game stepped up with Grant Basile and Justyn Mutts combining for 47 points against the Orange earlier this season, Tech is going to need their three-point shooting to be much better.
Of course, it helps having a healthy Hunter Cattoor who has been shooting like you'd expect from Cattoor. Having someone who can catch and shoot like he can and can work off dribble hand-off screens to fire quickly should fit well against the zone especially at the top of the key.
Additionally, MJ Collins may be known as a slasher but he has found his form of late from three-point range going 5-7 from deep in his past 3 games. That improvement has been another huge boost for Tech's shooting that needed some life breathed into it.
Tech will need their three-point shooting to be much better tonight than it was in the first matchup, but there's plenty of reason to believe that will be the case.
2. Attack the Paint
While Virginia Tech has to do better from three-point range, there's no reason why they attack the paint especially after the Hokies had 20+ point performances from both Basile and Mutts in this matchup earlier this season.
Now they are going to have to be smart to try to avoid matchups with Jesse Edwards where they can as Edwards has proven to be a prolific shot blocker averaging 2.9 blocks per game. He did have 2 blocks in the first game, but the advanced ratings show he's their best defender.
Part of that will come down to good motion offensively to find ways to get good rotations within Syracuse's zone and give Basile, Mutts, and Lynn Kidd some good looks off of Edwards. Having their three-point shooting in form should help give the Hokies a little bit more space in the paint which would be even more beneficial for Basile, Mutts, and Kidd.
If the Hokies can dominate the paint like they did at Syracuse 46-36 and combine that with improved three-point shooting, Tech should be in great shape to get the job done this evening.
3. Make Someone Not Named Joe Girard Beat You
Joe Girard has been great for Syracuse this year averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 41.4% from the field including 38.6% from three-point range plus 83.9% from the free-throw line. While Syracuse had five in double figures in the first matchup, Girard was the star going 10-20 from the field on his way to a team-high 24 points.
There's no doubt that Girard is the engine of this offense even with the emergence of Judah Mintz as a freshman plus the interior threat of Jesse Edwards. However, Mintz hasn't been the most efficient player at all and if you're the Hokies, your defensive startegy has to start by containing Girard and forcing everyone else including Mintz to beat you.
In all four of Syracuse's non-conference losses, Girard shot under 30% from the field and was held in single digits in three of those games while in their four conference losses, he's been held under 20 points three out of four games. This compares to scoring 20+ in all but one of their conference victories this season.
Having a healthy Hunter Cattoor for this game is definitely a boost for the Hokies as you would expect Cattoor to likely draw the matchup on Girard for most of this game as Tech's best backcourt defender. This likely will be his toughest challenge since his return from injury and will be an important to watch.
If Cattoor and the Hokies can contain Girard and keep him under 20, Tech should have a good chance at winning this one.
