Virginia Tech vs. Saint Francis (PA): College basketball game preview, TV schedule

The Virginia Tech Hokies return home to host the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash. Here’s a preview of the game and where to watch it on Saturday afternoon.

TV schedule: Saturday, Nov. 24, 1:00 p.m. ET. ACCN

Arena: Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia

The Virginia Tech Hokies are back in Cassell Coliseum for another non-conference contest against the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash on Saturday afternoon. At 4-0 on the season, the Hokies haven’t shown any negative effects from the indefinite suspension of Chris Clarke prior to the first game.

They won their first nonconference tournament since 2008 this past Sunday at the Charleston Classic. Behind a big second-half surge, the Hokies defeated the 24th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers, 89-83, in the championship game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker took home the tournament MVP award and now, the Hokies look better than ever.

They aren’t the deepest squad, but that should change soon when Landers Nolley is cleared by the NCAA. Experience in their trio of Alexander-Walker, Justin Robinson and Ahmed Hill has Virginia Tech on another level.

Alexander-Walker leads the team in scoring with 21.8 points per game. Robinson is putting up 17.0 points per game. Hill is pouring in 14.5 points per game. In the frontcourt, Kerry Blackshear Jr. is averaging 14.3 points per game.

The Hokies are clicking on all cylinders and up next, they face the Red Flash, who have a 1-3 record. Saint Francis has faced two opponents ranked in the Top 25 so far in 2018-19. They lost the North Carolina Tar Heels, 101-76, on Nov. 19 in their most previous game. In facing another ACC opponent, they face a different dynamic.

Virginia Tech is a suffocating bunch on defense and even more relentless on offense. The Hokies are averaging 10.3 3-point makes per game and shooting 40.2 percent from behind the arc on the season. At home, they’re almost hard to stop, but given their opponent, they’ll need to take them seriously.

Their leading scorer senior guard Jamaal King is averaging 16.3 points per game and shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range this season. He’s made at least two 3-pointers in all four games for the Red Flash and put up 21 points twice.

Behind King, there’s 6-foot-5 junior guard Keith Braxton. He’s putting up 14.8 points per game but hasn’t been as efficient as King from behind the arc, shooting just 27.8 percent from 3-point range. He is averaging 10.5 rebounds per game though, so the Hokies will need to focus on keeping him off the glass. He has 10 offensive rebounds through four games.

Senior guard Andre Wolford is the third double-figure scorer in the Red Flash’ rotation. He’s producing 12.3 points and had 18 points in their game against the Tar Heels.

Saint Francis isn’t a team to be taken lightly, despite their record. The Hokies will need to be ready to play but with plenty of time to rest and prepare, they should do fine.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 88 – Saint Francis 65