The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team can ill-afford to hit the panic button amid a three-game losing streak.
Tonight, the Hokies will play host in Cassell Coliseum to North Carolina State, a team coming in hot off of two straight ACC victories over No. 25 Wake Forest and Miami.
“I thought that this past weekend we really played at a very high level,” aid Tech head coach Seth Greenberg. “I thought it was a terrific basketball game (against Maryland). Both teams I thought executed and competed. ... there’s a very fine line between winning and losing. We’ve been on the good side of that line a number of times this year.”
The last meeting between Tech and NC State, on Feb. 10 ended in lopsided fashion. Tech guard Dorenzo Hudson’s 23 points propelled the Hokies to a 72-52 thrashing of the Wolfpack — the Hokies’ first victory in Raleigh, N.C. since 1917.
Tech locked down defensively in that game, limiting NC State to 28.6 percent shooting from the field, including zero for 11 from beyond the arc.
“I think we certainly have to shoot the ball better,” said NC State head coach Sidney Lowe. “One way to eliminate fast break points ... is by making some baskets, and we didn’t shoot the ball well in that ball game.
“I think we’re going to have to certainly be better transition-wise on our defense,” Lowe said. “We’re going to have to get back and not allow them to get easy baskets. I think they do a great job, I think Hudson really thrives off of getting down the floor, of course (Malcolm) Delaney finding him for those open threes or ... to the basket.”
NC State forward Tracy Smith, who leads the team in scoring with 17.1 points per game, was held in check in the Wolfpack’s last contest against the Hokies. Smith was limited to 12 points on four of 12 shooting and turned the ball over a season-high of five times.
“We really defended with a great purpose, we defended the three-point shot really well and we had good ball pressure,” Greenberg said. “You can’t stop Tracy Smith; he’s such a good player. He just uses his body, he’s got great hands.
“We just got to defend. Defending is defending. Defending is riding on a catch. Defending is contesting shots. Defending is defending the post early. Defending is limiting people to one shot then converting those missed shots into scoring opportunities. This is not rocket science, we’re not curing cancer, we’re just trying to get some stops and some rebounds.”
As of late, however, the Hokies’ post-defenders in particular have been plagued by foul trouble, injuries and ineffectiveness.
Forward Jeff Allen managed to stay out of foul trouble in the double overtime loss against Maryland, playing 44 minutes and registering only three fouls. On the other hand, in the three games prior, Allen averaged 17 minutes per game and had at least four fouls in each of those games.
Hokies’ freshman Cadarian Raines, who has provided valuable minutes off the bench, has a sprained shoulder and could have torn ligaments, Tech’s team trainer Chad Hyatt told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Raines’ effectiveness on the defensive end and his ability to substitute in for Allen in case of foul trouble have both been important assets to the Hokies.
Tech starting forward Victor Davila has also had his fair share of struggles down the stretch, scoring as many points as he has personal fouls in three of his last four games.
Davila has scored just 18 points in his last seven games on seven for 28 shooting, and has yet to score in double-figures since his season-high 13 points on Dec. 9 against VMI.
“I think you always worry about the mood, whether you’re on a five-game win streak or you’ve lost three in a row,” Greenberg said. “I think that’s something that you’re always kind of trying to have a handle on and trying to work. The biggest thing is just kind of, letting them know that they’re playing well and that you’re playing in the ACC.
“You can play well and lose a game because of the teams you’re playing against or if you’re on the road. We’ve had the same approach from day one and that’s been the next game,” he said.
NC State, on the other hand, is surging after two important victories over Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. After seemingly looking dead in the water with a 14-13 record overall including a league-worst 2-10 mark in conference-play,
“I think we’re playing smarter basketball,” Lowe said. “We’re being more patient from an offensive standpoint. We’re not forcing shots; we’re not just trying to get a shot because we haven’t had one in three or four trips down.”
