Virginia and Virginia Tech will each face a traditional nemesis Thursday when conference play commences in the rugged ACC.
The matchups:
Virginia Tech (11-2, RPI 39) at N.C. State (11-2, RPI 27), 2:30 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum
Backdrop – Tech is 1-17 lifetime against N.C. State. The one victory was a big one – a 57-56 decision in the opening round of the 2015 ACC Tournament in Greensboro. But the Hokies are 0-13 against the Wolfpack in ACC play and 0-8 at Cassell.
Virginia (7-6, RPI 97) vs. Pittsburgh (7-5, RPI 135) , 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena
Backdrop – The Cavaliers are 0-4 against the Panthers since Pitt joined the ACC in 2014
The Hokies are coming off a solid non-conference run, a stretch that has showcased the emergence of former junior college player of the year Taylor Emery (a team-leading 16.0 ppg on 52.7 percent shooting) and the continued All-ACC-caliber play of point guard Chanette Hicks (star of the tweet below) and forward Regan Magarity.
For all the h🏀🏀pers out there…
This is why you NEVER give up on a play 😏⏩ @Andsheball_x12 🤙🏾#Hokies🦃🏀 pic.twitter.com/XHRtMPfRoL
— VT Women’s Hoops (@HokiesWBB) December 18, 2017
In fact, we’d argue this team approaches its ACC slate a considerably more dangerous group than the 2016-17 squad that went 12-0 in non-league play and was awarded a Top-25 national ranking.
Last year’s team played just three of the 12 games on the road; this year’s group has played six times – nearly half its schedule – away from Cassell, against a slate that is about 70 spots higher in the NCAA’s strength of schedule rankings.
Particularly eye-opening was the way the Hokies tore through the back half of non-conference play without impact newcomer Alexis Jean (13.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg). The junior underwent knee surgery after suffering an injury on Nov. 24 in Tech’s sixth game against Butler at the Paradise Jam.
After dropping their Paradise Jam finale to No. 11 West Virginia, the Hokies won each of their final six non-league games by at least 20 points. Highlights included a 47-point road rout of Illinois in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, a 20-point pasting of Chattanooga (RPI 52) in the Mocs’ own building and a 50-point decision at Monmouth.
Jean’s absence has created opportunity for 6-1 redshirt sophomore forward Michelle Berry, who has responded with two double-doubles and at least nine rebounds in her last six games.
The initial prognosis was for Jean to be sidelined 5-6 weeks, and clearly this Tech team won’t be all it can be until she’s back in or near top form. But while a lack of depth crippled last year’s Hokies in the ACC, the play of Berry and others suggests that this time, the Hokies may be able to hang with their powerful league rivals.
Virginia, by contrast, is coming off a disappointing non-conference campaign, especially considering the schedule was upgraded specifically for the Cavaliers to accumulate enough quality wins to begin building a case for their first NCAA Tournament invitation since 2010.
The Hoos were unable to capitalize on the beefed-up slate, though, going just 1-6 against teams currently in the RPI Top 100.
A year ago, a lack of quality wins left Virginia as one of the last four teams out of the NCAA Tournament. So far, this year’s Cavaliers are on a similar path to exclusion.
Particularly tough to stomach was the Nov. 29 60-59 loss to No. 15 Maryland, a game in which the Cavaliers came up empty on two cracks at a game-winning hoop in the final seconds. It was exactly the kind of narrow defeat to a heavyweight that left the Cavaliers WNIT-bound in 2016-17.
The good news is the one Top-100 win – over No. 77 Indiana – came in Virginia’s latest attempt. It was also part of the the three-game winning streak the Cavaliers will take into Thursday’s ACC opener.
So Virginia heads into league play with some momentum, and plenty of chances against big-time foes await over the next several weeks.
But the Cavaliers have used up their margin for error.
Bring on the ACC! #UVAWBB returns to action and begins conference play against Pitt on Thursday at 7 pm at JPJ. Make plans to come out and cheer on the Hoos!
Game preview: https://t.co/KM9Ctlm4je pic.twitter.com/6YsekuZVgd— Virginia WBB (@UVaWBBHoops) December 27, 2017