Team Name: Virginia Tech Hokies
Conference: ACC
Head Coach: Buzz Williams, 1st year (153-86 overall record, most recently 139-69, .668, in six seasons at Marquette)
SB Nation Community: Gobbler Country
Last Year Record: 9-22 (2-16), 15th in ACC
Final Kenpom Ranking: 192
Key Losses: Jarell Eddie (13.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.2 apg), Ben Emelogu (10.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg), CJ Barksdale (8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.6 apg)
Key Returnees: Devin Wilson (9.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.8 apg), Joey van Zegeren (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.3 apg)
Additions (Transfers, Recruits): Seth Allen (Woodbridge, VA/Maryland), Justin Bibbs (Dayton, OH), Shane Henry (Decatur, GA/Georgia Perimeter College), Jalen Hudson (Richmond, VA), Zach LeDay (Dallas, TX/South Florida), Satchel Pierce (Barberton, OH), Adam Smith (Jonesboro, GA/UNC-Wilmington)
Game vs. BC: March 2, 9:00 PM, ESPNU
Projected Starting Lineup:
G Devin Wilson
G Seth Allen
F Joey van Zegeren
F Christian Beyer
F Zach LeDay
He's a Dude: Sophomore guard Devin Wilson. Wilson played in all 31 games last year, starting each one of them. As the point guard, he'll be instrumental in running Buzz Williams' hybrid offense. Williams installed a dual-threat style at Marquette, a team that was able to both run a half-court offense while running off the floor in transition. That puts added pressure on Wilson, who will be the one deciding on whether or not to push or slow down. As a freshman, he was named All-ACC Freshman. Against BC, he scored nine points but added four assists and six rebounds last season, and against Notre Dame, he scored 18 in the second half alone (while notching seven more assists). A little inconsistent last year, he should thrive in Williams' offense.
All-Time Series vs. Boston College: 16-8 BC
Last Meeting: W - Boston College 76, Virginia Tech 52 (January 29, 2014)
How they match up with Boston College: Buzz Williams is one of those guys that BC fans should've wanted to lead the Eagles, so it'll be interesting to see how Jim Christian matches up against the Hokies. As two teams starting over from the bottom of the ACC, this is an equal footing game. But BC simply has more at this point with Olivier Hanlon and Dennis Clifford. That should be enough to lead the Eagles past a hapless team that's really blowing itself up and starting over. Seeing as this game is at the end of the year, it'll be interesting to see what direction the two squads took to get to this game. Expect BC to be slightly better than advertised, but expect a rough year of rebuilding in Blacksburg.
GIF if Boston College wins
GIF if Boston College loses
Way Too Early Prediction: Boston College 72, Virginia Tech 58
Depending on how the season goes, this could be a game that absolutely nobody cares about or notices. But this is a game that Jim Christian needs to win since Virginia Tech has a slightly steeper hill to rebuild upon. This seems like one of those games where two bad teams play tight and close, but then foul defense in the last minute allows the Eagles to ice the game with some free throws. Consider this the annoying game where BC never quite puts the team away, but Virginia Tech never quite comes back into it.
Attendance for this game is going to be so sparse that Williams and Christian will be able to hear what the other is talking about in their timeout huddle.