UNC Basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Game preview, info, prediction and more

It’s a quick turnaround for the UNC basketball program this week as they look to snap their two-game losing streak.

UNC is coming off back-to-back losses of 20-plus points on the road to Miami and Wake Forest, dropping them to 12-6 overall and 4-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. For UNC, they have a span of three games in five days which could really set the tone for the rest of the season here in late January.

Anything less than a three-game win streak isn’t ideal with where they are at in the standings right now, and it’s three opponents that UNC should be favored against. Going 3-0 could help spark this team but if the losing streak continues, then things could really go down him for the program.

First up in that stretch is Virginia Tech, a makeup game from earlier in January that was postponed due to COVID-19.

The Hokies enter the game at 10-8 overall and just 2-5 in conference play. After beating Notre Dame and N.C. State, the Hokies are coming off a disappointing loss to Boston College on Saturday, a team UNC will see on Wednesday in the Dean Dome.

Virginia Tech is led by the combination of forwards Keve Aluma and Justyn Mutts who could give UNC some trouble on the wing. Aluma is leading the team with 15.7 points per game while Mutts is averaging 10.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds. Guard Nahiem Alleyne is also averaging just over 10 points per game and might be a tough player to stop for UNC’s guards.

This is a game where UNC not only needs a win but they need it in an impressive way.

Key to Victory

Playing together. This team isn’t in sync and watching them against Miami and Wake Forest, it was clear that there is too much one-on-one stuff going on. I don’t know what has happened but this team just doesn’t mesh well and you can see that on the court.

While Armando Bacot is a candidate for ACC Player of the Year and he’s their best player by far, the other four just haven’t been able to get going or be consistent. And that’s a problem.

It’s time to run the offense how it should be run and if they can do that, they should find success.

Something to Watch

How does this team respond after the past two games? Let’s be real. The effort, toughness and overall play were pathetic last week and it showed. You’re NORTH CAROLINA, you don’t lose by 20 on the road in back-to-back games against Miami and Wake Forest. It shouldn’t happen. But it did.

Now, let’s see how this team responds. We are going to know early and often on Monday night if the team received a message and if they have finally woken up. If they are sluggish and trail in the first half, then it could be another disaster of a game.

Projected Starters

No. 4 R.J. Davis (So., 6-0, 175) – 13.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.5 apg
No. 2 Caleb Love (So., 6-4, 195) – 14.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg
No. 1 Leaky Black (Sr., 6-8 200) – 3.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 apg
No. 45 Brady Manek (So. 6-9, 230) – 12.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 apg
No. 5 Armando Bacot (Jr., 6-10, 240) – 16.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg

What You Need To Know

WHAT?  Virginia Tech Hokies (10-8,  2-5 ACC) AT North Carolina Tar Heels  (12-6, 4-3 ACC)
WHEN? Monday, January 24 – 8:00 p.m. EST
WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ACC NETWORK
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
LINE? UNC -3
LAST MEETING? UNC beat Virginia Tech 81-73 on Thursday, March 11 in ACC Tournament
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads all-time 34-8
PREDICTION? UNC 72, Virginia Tech 67

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