NC State Wolfpack vs. Virginia Cavaliers: Game Preview, Prediction, TV Schedule
The Virginia Cavaliers, currently unbeaten in the ACC, host NC State on Sunday as the Wolfpack are coming off a big win and sits at 2-2 in the conference.
TV Schedule: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. 6 p.m. ET ESPNU
Arena: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Virginia Cavaliers are one of the nation’s hottest college basketball teams. Their only defeat came Dec. 5 against a great West Virginia team in Morgantown.
Coming off consecutive big-time wins, the North Carolina State Wolfpack is looking to knock off their third ranked team in just over a week.
The Wolfpack haven’t been ranked all season. They were in the right direction when they defeated Arizona in Atlantis. Then they fell in their final two to Northern Iowa and Tennessee. Things weren’t so bad until they lost to North Carolina-Greensboro two weeks before ACC play.
After two losses to start conference play, NC State turned things around with huge victories over Duke and Clemson.
Virginia’s only good win in non-conference play came against Rhode Island. The thing about the Cavaliers though, each team they thought were going to be good, are struggling this season.
From starting unranked, moving into the polls on Nov. 27 at number 18, the Cavaliers are now third. They have looked absolutely dominant in wins over North Carolina and Syracuse. Their defense is better than ever and guys are scoring more efficiently.
NC State is led by the fourth-year guard transfer from Baylor, Allerik Freeman. He averages 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Four other guys are in double-digits including three starters. Torin Dorn, a 6’5 guard averages 13 points and 7.2 boards per game. Omer Yurtseven is a 7-foot center who averages 12.7 points, 6.8 boards and almost two blocks per game.
When the Wolfpack lost to UNCG, it was their first night without their starting point guard Markell Johnson. Since then, Braxton Beverly has moved into that position and averages 5.8 assists per game.
The scoring of NC State is going to have to go against the pack-line defense of Virginia. This is a team that leads the country in the least amount of points allowed at 53. The most points they have allowed all season was 68 in their lone loss to West Virginia. The least amount was to Wisconsin at 37.
For player wise, the Virginia Cavaliers are led in scoring by sophomore guard Kyle Guy at 15.4 points per game. The senior guard Devon Hall scores almost 12 points per game and 3.4 assists. No other starters are in double-digits, but they’re all great contributors. They have a solid rotation where eight guys see regular minutes per game. Seven of them have played in all 16 games this season.
Next: NC State Basketball: Blake Harris transfers to the Wolfpack
NC State is red hot and the starters can really put the ball in the hoop. The Wolfpack though will be seeing the toughest defense they have all season. Virginia is going to be everyone’s toughest defensive matchup.
The Virginia Cavaliers have a nice mix of upper and underclassmen. Tony Bennett may have his most complete teams in order to make a huge run in March. Virginia will not fall victim to this Wolfpack team.
Prediction: Virginia 69 NC State 62