What you need to know about Virginia Tech

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Syracuse won its second straight on Saturday, defeating Notre Dame, where the Orange has a 13-2 record, 88-85 at the JMA Wireless Dome.

SU jumped out to a 29-point lead, but a 9-0 run by the Fighting Irish, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Julian Roper II at the first half buzzer, was enough for Notre Dame to get back into the game. It was a harbinger of the onslaught of 3 points used. .

Led by Marcus Burton's game-high 28 points and Braden Shrewsberry's six 3-pointers in the second half, ND rallied to cut the deficit to three points. Syracuse missed one more chance to tie the game, sealing the victory.

The Orange will host Virginia Tech in SU's final home game of the regular season. Here's what you need to know about VT (15-12, 7-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) before taking on Syracuse (18-10, 9-8 ACC).

all time series

Syracuse led 12-7.

The last time they played…

On January 28, 2023, Virginia Tech defeated Syracuse, 85-70, by 52 points in the first half against the Orange. The Hokies made 11 3-pointers in the opening half, marking the second-most 3-pointers Syracuse made in a first half. -23. This was also the most points the team scored against SU in the first half.

The onslaught in the first half created a hole too big for Syracuse to climb out of, but they managed to limit deep shots with a full-court press in the second half. Judah Mintz led the Orange with 21 points, but the Hokies held Joe Girard III to just seven points on the night.

“Our defense couldn't do anything to contain them in the first half,” former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. “Basically, at halftime we were too far behind.”

Kenpom odds

Syracuse has a 51% win rate with a projected score of 77-76.

Hokies report

Virginia Tech sits in the middle of the ACC, having won only two of its last four games, including a 34-point loss to Virginia at home. But the Hokies have won just one game on the road, an 84-78 win at North Carolina State more than a month ago.

According to KenPom, the Hokies are a top-100 team at both the 3-point line and inside arc. Virginia Tech's go-to player is Sean Pedulla, who is the only player used in more than 28% of possessions and the team's top scorer at about 16 points per game, according to KenPom. be.

Pedula has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games, including 26 points in a 15-point loss to Pittsburgh. The Hokies also complement Pedulla with players like Hunter Kattore and Tyler Nickell, who have made nearly 50 3-pointers this season.

Bridget Overby Presentation Director

How Syracuse can beat Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech isn't the most offensive team, ranking in the bottom three of the ACC in both steals and blocks per game. Syracuse was able to win this game by driving into the lane, which is how they were able to get important buckets as Notre Dame started fighting back.

On the perimeter, Virginia Tech limits opponents to less than 34% from the field. While Syracuse has been better on its home floor, it has been hit and miss from beyond the arc. The continued contributions of Chris Bell and Justin Taylor could help reduce the weight of Mintz and JJ Sterling's play.

The Orange will temporarily move Peter Carey back into the lineup, which will help keep Malik Brown out of foul trouble. Virginia Tech attempted a middling 508 free throws, meaning Brown and Quadir Copeland will need to play physical defense without getting into foul trouble.

Statistics you know: 25.3%

The key for Syracuse all season has been winning the rebound battle. They kept the game close against North Carolina, but struggled in the next game against Georgia Tech. According to KenPom, Virginia Tech has struggled offensively with an offensive rebound rate of just 25.3%.

Syracuse isn't the most rebounding team, and neither are the Hokies. However, Virginia Tech limits opponents to 32 rebounds, the second-fewest rebounds per game in the ACC. SU can win this game defensively by limiting VT to one-and-done possessions.

Player to watch: Lynn Kidd (center, No. 15)

Kidd is the Hokies' most effective scoring option, making nearly 65% ​​of his shots. He started all 27 games for Virginia Tech and has scored in double figures in seven of the last 10 games. He will match up with Brown and Carey down low and try to force them into foul trouble. Kidd is an 88% free throw shooter and is also the team's best rebounder with over 6 rebounds per game.