Virginia vs NC State: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
Virginia travels to NC State in a key ACC match-up on Tuesday night. Will the Cavaliers keep rolling or can the Wolfpack conquer their stout defense?
TV schedule: Tuesday, January 29, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN2
Arena: PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina
Quite possibly the nation’s highest rated team, Virginia (18-1) has spent the season powering through their schedule. They’ve been flawless outside of a loss at Duke a week and a half ago, and their last five ACC wins have all been by 20 points or more. They’ve already knocked off four Top-25 teams, and a trip to Raleigh won’t overwhelm this seasoned group.
The Cavaliers are led by their stout defense and some stellar play from their guards. Junior Kyle Guy (15.0 ppg) is one of the nation’s prolific 3-point shooters. Sophomore De’Andre Hunter (14.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is a highly efficient shooter from all over the court. Junior Ty Jerome (13.1 ppg, 4.9 apg) is the team’s leader in assists and steals and can also knock down that outside shot. There’s offensive talent all over this team, but that’s just scratching the surface.
This team is #1 in KenPom and has been a highly rated defensive squad for most of the decade under head coach Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers currently sit at 2nd in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Playing at the slowest pace in the nation, they are also #1 in the nation in offensive turnover percentage and 3-point defense. Potent on offense and steady on defense, Virginia continues to be one of this nation’s best current programs.
On the home side, NC State (16-4) has had a solid season in year two under Kevin Keatts. They’ve marched to a respectable 4-3 mark in ACC play, though they blew a winnable game at Wake Forest two weeks ago. Their December win over Auburn remains the highlight of their schedule, but this is a chance to top that performance if they can score a home upset over the Cavaliers.
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The Wolfpack are led by a balanced offensive attack, with senior guard Torin Dorn (14.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg) as their high scorer. Junior guards C. J. Bryce (12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Markell Johnson (11.8 ppg, 4.0 apg) help provide that balance; a different player has led the Wolfpack in scoring in each of the last five games.
While a top 25 team, KenPom has the Wolfpack rated as the 32nd best team in the nation, though they do possess a top 25 offense. Specifically, the team is 9th in offensive rebounding and 18th in effective field goal percentage. The offense has led this team, but it’ll face an incredible test against Virginia.
In a way, these are two very different teams. Virginia, still reeling from their upset loss to UMBC, represents one of the country’s most legitimate title contenders. NC State is a potent team, but Keatts is only just beginning to rebuild this program to its former glory. The Wolfpack have struggled against top ACC clubs, dropping games to North Carolina and Louisville, while the Cavaliers will not shy away from the bright lights of Raleigh.
For the Cavaliers, they already know how to win this game: relying on their defensive intensity. If this game is played at Virginia’s pace and Guy and Jerome and the other shooters get hot, then this will be no contest. For the Wolfpack, this is all about making shots, especially early in the game. The Cavaliers aren’t going to turn the ball over and they aren’t going to allow many second-chance opportunities.
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Virginia is certainly the favorite, but this NC State team has rallied behind their home crowd for big wins before. Unfortunately, they couldn’t stop the Tar Heels three weeks ago, and I don’t expect they can contain the Cavaliers.