Virginia Tech at Virginia (-10.5) - 5:00pm Pacific

The Cavaliers are coming off back to back disappointing seasons.  They have not reached the NCAA tournament since 2001 despite some good talent and some strong early season starts.  There is pressure on head coach Pete Gillen.  Tonight UVA has a big opportunity to impress fans by beating hated instate rival Virginia Tech.  The Hokies beat Virginia by 18 points last season in Blacksburg in a game that saw fans storm the court and an abundance of showboating near the end of the game. "We want this game," senior guard Todd Billet said.  "I remember the blowout at their place," sophomore forward Derrick Byars said, "so it's something I've been looking forward to for some months now."

 

Virginia returns four starters from last years team plus 5th year senior guard Majestic Mapp who is as healthy as he has been since missing two plus seasons with multiple knee injuries.  Mapp was an inspirational leader last season and should play a bigger role (6 points in 23 minutes in opener) this year.  Former Rutgers transfer Todd Billet is back and is also a 5th year senior.  Billet will play time at both guard spots.  He is a heady player and a fine shooter.  Last year he was inconsistent at times and seemed to need time to adjust to his new teammates.  He played one of his worst games of the season in loss at Virginia Tech so he should be ready to go tonight.  Junior center Elton Brown has the middle all to himself this season.  He lost a good 15 pounds in the offseason and is ready for a good year.  Sophomore forward Derrick Byars (23ppg in two exhibitions, led team) adds versatility on the wing.  The big news from the season opener was the play of three good looking freshman.  G/F Gary Forbes (ACC rookie of the week, 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, all team highs), guard J.R. Reynolds (7 points, team high 4 assists), and F/C Donte Minter (12 points, 7 rebounds) all were instrumental in the teams 9 point win over Mount St Mary's.  Junior forward Devin Smith (second leading returning scorer) did not play in the opener due to back spasms.  Gillen said he did not know if Smith could play tonight.  If he does it makes this an even stronger play.  He is one of their better offensive players.  With this big of a game I am guessing he will at least try to play. 

 

Virginia Tech comes into this game extremely hobbled.  They returned three starters from last season but one, junior Dimari Thompkins left school and the other senior G/F Carlos Dixon has opted to redshirt following foot surgery.  I considered Dixon to be the teams best all around player.  All that is left is G/F Bryant Matthews who did lead the team in scoring and rebounding but only shot 41.6% from the field last year.  He is not good enough to even keep this team competitive on his own.  He only has five other scholarship teammates to help him right now and two of them are freshman.  Top freshman recruit Coleman Collins will miss 3-8 weeks with a foot injury.  This is especially hurtful because Collins had scored 41 points in the teams two exhibition games.  Sophomore forward Fabian Davis (foot, doubtful) and sophomore guard Shawn Harris (foot, out) are also injured.  The Hokies are starting two freshman and two sophomores along with senior Matthews and the bench is almost non-existent.  Sophomores Phillip McCandies and Markus Sailes averaged a combined 5.0ppg last season and now are both being counted on to start and play big (30+) minutes.  The Hokies are coming off a two point win over Western Carolina in which a walk-on tipped in the game winner in the final seconds.  They shot 34.6% and committed 21 turnovers to only 7 assists.   

 

Three reserve players left the Virginia program during the offseason.  There will be less available talent and depth but there is a good chance this years team will have some much needed improved chemistry.  Five players scored in double figures in the season opener.  That only happened once in all of last season.  This game has already been announced as a sellout.  The fact that Virginia Tech will be joining the ACC next season has added fuel to the fire of this already intense rivalry.  One thing I have gathered from watching college games in person this season is the intensity and worth ethic required to play at this level.  With Tech starting two freshman and two inexperienced sophomores it is unlikely they will be able to perform at a high level on the road right now.  Cavs have motive for a big win and should get it on their home floor.  

 

Virginia  1 UNIT