Virginia Tech (10-12) takes on SMU (17-5) at 9 pm on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 as the Hokies look to extend their two game road winning streak back in the friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum.
Virginia Tech currently ranks 163rd in NET rankings, with a 3-11 combined record in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and two of those three solid wins coming in their last two contests. SMU provides yet another Quad 2 opportunity as they come in as number 40 in NET rankings with a 7-0 record in Quad 3 games, which is also what a matchup at Virginia Tech is for the Mustangs.
SMU boasts the top scoring offense in the ACC, averaging almost 83 points per game behind a balanced offensive attack. The Mustangs have six players that average 10+ points per game including fifth-year Butler transfer Chuck Harris, who is second on the team in scoring (12.3 ppg) while shooting over 45% from long range.
Efficient scoring has been the name of the game for the entire roster, as SMU knocks down nearly 39% of their treys, good for 16th in the country. The Mustangs get out in transition, attack the basket, and knock down triples with relatively low volume yet stunning efficiency.
The Hokies have a tall task ahead of them to pull off this upset, but they are playing their best basketball of the season and always have a chance in Cassell Coliseum. Here are some keys to the game.
Which VT Guard Gets Hot?
Much like SMU, the Hokies have a balanced scoring attack where seemingly a different guard takes on the perimeter scoring burden each game. The last two games, that player has been Jaden Schutt, who had a career-high 18 points on 4/8 from long range against UVA.
Other times, the Hokies have counted on Jaydon Young, who is an inefficient yet dangerous microwave scorer. Whether it is Schutt, Young, Tyler Johnson, Rodney Brown Jr, Brandon Rechsteiner or Ben Hammond getting hot from the perimeter, Virginia Tech is heavily reliant on at least one of their lead guards bringing their A-game on the offensive end.
When one of their scoring guards has a good game, Tech often finds itself in a close game. When two or more get hot all at once, the Hokies are likely going to come out on top. Whatever the case, the x-factor for the Hokies is going to be whatever guard finds his shot to match SMU’s high scoring attack.
Keep Turnovers in Check
Virginia Tech has struggled all year with uncharacteristic turnover problems, partly due to their lack of experience from the point guard position.
However it seems as if the Hokies have turned the corner, coughing it up 10 or fewer times in each of the last three games including a season-low seven turnovers in the win at John Paul Jones Arena against Virginia. Tonight will be a good test for Virginia Tech against a high-powered aggressive SMU team that will look to turn the Hokies over and get out in transition.
Matchup of the Game: Tobi Lawal vs Matt Cross
Tonight's matchup of the game is between two forwards who have really come on as of late.
Lawal, one of the best high-flyers in all of college basketball, has reached double digits in every game over the past month, including a 17 performance against UVA despite battling foul trouble at times.
Cross has also turned it up in the last month, averaging over 15 points per game in his last five outings after averaging just 10 in the first 16 games.
These two forwards will match up often against each other tonight and their respective teams will rely on them to continue their strong play in what is a huge game in terms of the ACC standings, as SMU tries to claim a top four spot in the ACC, and the Hokies hope to break into the top eight of the conference standings.
Prediction: SMU 78, Virginia Tech 71
While the Hokies will keep the game close due to their solid play on their home floor, SMU will hold a lead for much of the game behind more balanced scoring with all five starters entering double digits including a 15+ point performance from Matt Cross. Lawal will lead Virginia Tech in scoring and will be joined in double figures by Jaydon Young but it won’t be enough as the Hokies will fall 78-71, putting an end to their two-game winning streak.
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