2. The dynamic duo must step up in the big moments
The Virginia Tech Hokies have always fared well when the odds have been stacked against them. They managed to go 8-4 without Justin Robinson in the rotation to close out the regular season. His return will certainly give them a boost and he’ll need to be prepared to step up in big moments.
When it’s time to get a basket or make a play, look for Justin Robinson to be involved in some way. His return has been key in Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s recent boost in production. Alexander-Walker is averaging 13.0 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting from the floor, a boost from his recent slump. Without Robinson in the rotation, Alexander-Walker took over some of the duties as a primary distributor but he wasn’t been quite as effective as Robinson.
Now, with the season on the line, look for Alexander-Walker and Robinson to play key roles in a victory. Ahmed Hill and Kerry Blackshear Jr. have been models of consistency even without Robinson but Alexander-Walker has seemed a bit out of rhythm. With Robinson back, look for Alexander-Walker to have a big game. He scored 13 points on 3-of-10 shooting against Duke in the last meeting. He’ll have to be a lot more efficient than that if he hopes to propel Virginia Tech to victory.