Hurricanes and Hokies Renew Rivalry in Blacksburg: Miami at Virginia Tech

Miami Hurricanes at Virginia Tech, Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA
Sunday, January 30, 2011, 5:30 pm Eastern, TV: Fox Sports Net
Opening Line: Virginia Tech -8 1/2
Current Line: Virginia Tech -9
Opening Total: 135
Current Total: 134
Money Line: Virginia Tech -450 / Miami +375

Virginia Tech is led by the dynamic duo of Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen. The Hokies are 9 point favorites at home against Miami-Florida Sunday Night.

The Miami hurricanes are 12-8 overall and are off to a slow start in the ACC with a 1-5 record. The Hurricanes travel to Blacksburg to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies. These two schools are known more for their football teams than being great basketball teams. Virginia Tech is 13-6 overall and 3-3 in the ACC. Miami has losses to Memphis, Rutgers, Central Florida, Duke, Clemson, Florida St, NC State, and North Carolina. The Canes have lost 5 of their first 6 conference games including at home against North Carolina 74-71 on Wednesday night. Miami has wins over Mississippi, West Virginia, Rice and Boston College. Virginia Tech has losses to Kansas St, UNLV, Purdue, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech. The Hokies lost at Georgia Tech Tuesday night 72-57. They had won 3 in row a before then. The Hokies have wins over Oklahoma St, Penn St, Mississippi St, Florida St, Wake Forest, and Maryland. Miami leads the overall series between the two teams 10-9 and has won 2 straight in the series. The last time the teams played was in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament last March in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 70-65. Three of the last four games have gone over the total. Virginia Tech is 14-5 ATS after a conference game the last 2 seasons.

Miami is healthy right now with no significant injuries. Miami is led by guard Malcolm Grant. He is averaging 15.8 points to lead the team, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game to lead the team. Grant is shooting 43.9% from 3-point range. Guard Durand Scott is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals a game to lead the team. Forward Reggie Johnson averages 12.2 points, 10 rebounds to lead the team and 1.4 blocks a game to also lead the team. Miami is outscoring opponents 74-68 on the year. Miami is shooting 44.4% from the field and 38.7% from 3-point range. Miami opponents are shooting 41.4% from the field. Miami is shooting 74.1% from the free throw line. The Hurricanes average 36.8 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +3.1. Miami averages 11.9 assists and 13.1 turnovers a game. Miami forces 12.1 turnovers a game on defense. They average 6.4 steals and 3.8 blocks a game.

Virginia Tech has 5 players that are either out for the season with injuries or left the team. They are mostly role-players except for guard Dorenzo Hudson but it does affect their depth a little. Hudfson was averaging more than than 10 points a game. The Hokies are led by guard Malcolm Delaney and forward Jeff Allen. One of the two leads the Hokies in every statistical category except steals. Delaney is averaging 18.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Allen averages 12.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks a game. Guard Erick Green averages 10.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 steals a game to lead the team. Virginia Tech is outscoring opponents 71-60 on the year. The Hokies are shooting 46.9% from the field and 32.7% from 3-point range. Virginia Tech is holding opponents to 39.7% from the field. The Hokies make 71.4% of their free throws. Tech averages 34.5 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +1.5. The Hokies average 13.7 assists and 13.8 turnovers a game. They force 16.1 turnovers a game on defense. The Hokies average 7.1 steals and 4.3 blocks a game.

Neither of these teams rebound very well. Virginia Tech is better defensively and forces a lot of turnovers. Miami must protect the ball. Miami is slight better on offense, but I see this game being played in the mid 60’s. This is a pretty important game for both teams. Though Miami has lost 5 out of 6 conference games, they have lost each game by no more than 11 points. In fact on their 3 game losing streak they have lost to Florida St, NC State and North Carolina by a combined 7 points. They aren’t as bad as their record indicates, and I think they can cover the number against Virginia Tech and maybe even pull off the upset.