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Virginia Tech at Duke: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Matt Melton

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 18: Trevor Keels #1 of the Duke Blue Devils gestures during the second half of their game against the Elon Phoenix at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 18: Trevor Keels #1 of the Duke Blue Devils gestures during the second half of their game against the Elon Phoenix at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Ranked as the No. 2 team in the country, Duke hosts Virginia Tech to open ACC play.

When: Wednesday, December 22 at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN2

Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC

Coming off an impressive non-conference slate, Duke opens up ACC play at home against Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.

Duke is coming off three consecutive dominant wins since suffering their lone loss at Ohio State back on November 30, a stretch which includes an 87-56 win over Elon on Saturday. A game in which Duke never trailed, the Blue Devils forced 23 turnovers from the Phoenix in the contest and had four players score in double-figures led by freshman guard Trevor Keels with a game-high 19 points.

Ranked as the No. 2 team in the country at 10-1, the Blue Devils are a perfect 8-0 inside Cameron Indoor this season, and enter ACC play with a Top 20 team in both offensive and defensive efficiency according to KenPom averaging 86.1 PPG while allowing 64.4 PPG to opponents. While the previously mentioned Keels is also key contributor for the Blue Devils, Duke is led by the duo of guard Wendell Moore Jr (16.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.1 APG) and freshman forward Paolo Banchero (16.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG) with others such as Jeremy Roach playing important roles.

Virginia Tech on the other hand has dropped two of their last five games but posted an impressive win Friday night when the Hokies defeated St. Bonaventure 86-49. An all-around dominant showing, Virginia Tech never trailed in the contest, partly due to an impressive shooting performance as the Hokies shot a combined 54.9% from the field and 46.4% from three.

The Hokies sit at 0-1 in ACC play having dropped their conference opener to Wake Forest but come to Durham at 8-4 on the year led by a strong defensive team that allows only 56.5 PPG to opponents. Averaging 71.6 PPG offensively on an impressive 40% shooting combined from three-point range, the Hokies are led by leading-scorer Keve Aluma (14.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG), while guards Nahiem Alleyne and Hunter Cattoor also average in double-figures.

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Duke as mentioned previously enters conference play as one of the top teams in the country and is arguably the clear favorite this season in the ACC. Facing a Virginia Tech team that has been up-and-down in recent weeks, the Blue Devils should cruise to a conference-opening win Wednesday night in Cameron Indoor.

Prediction: Duke 84, Virginia Tech 68

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