Game Preview: Virginia Tech (7-4) vs USC Upstate (2-9)

Note: All students, staff, and faculty with a valid Hokie Passport will be admitted to the game free!

     The Hokies return home to Cassell Coliseum after a two game road swing to face USC Upstate (Spartanburg, SC) in a Thursday afternoon matinée.  The Spartans (very original) hail from the Atlantic Sun conference and bring a 2-9 overall record into Blacksburg.  This will be the first meeting between Virginia Tech and USC Upstate, but the Spartans are no stranger to ACC schools, having already played UVA and NC State this season.  USC Upstate has needed two overtimes to win two games by a total of 4 points, so do they pose any serious threat to the Hokies?

Starting Lineups
Virginia Tech						USC Upstate
Pos.	Player	Ht.	Cl.	PPG	RPG	Player	Ht.	Cl.	PPG	RPG
G	Green	6’4”	So.	7.9	1.6	Chavis	5’9”	Sr.	5.9	1.3
G	Delaney	6’3”	Sr.	19.9	3.5	Hash	6’1”	Fr.	4.0	0.7
G/F	Bell	6’7”	Sr.	6.7	6.6	Craig	6’5”	Fr.	11.6	6.7
F	Allen	6’7”	Sr.	12.1	9.0	Uzochukwu	6’5”	Sr.	5.0	3.0
F	Davila	6’8”	Jr.	7.0	5.3	Glenn	6’7”	Fr.	4.6	5.3

Game notes:

• USC Upstate is led by senior guard Josh Chavis, who averages a team-high 29 minutes per game and a 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• 81% of Chavis’ shots have been 3-pointers.  He’s only made four 2-point field goals all season.
• Upstate’s bench averages 22 points per game, almost 40% of their total scoring.
• Since entering the starting lineup, Erick Green has averaged 13.7 points, 2.7 steals, 3.3 assists, and 0 turnovers.
• The Spartans have failed to score more than 60 points in 8 of their 11 games.
• Freshman reserve Babatunde Olumuyiwa averages 3.2 blocks per game, including 9 against South Carolina. Just 11 games into his career he is already 13th on the school’s career blocks list and needs 2 more to move into the top 10.

     After escaping with an overtime win last week at St. Bonaventure, the Hokies will continue to try to find a rhythm in their new lineup without Dorenzo Hudson and Cadarian Raines.  Upstate is a team that uses their bench a lot, so Tech will likely need to get significant minutes out of Tyrone Garland, Manny Atkins, and Jarrel Eddie.  USC Upstate likes to shoot threes (25 per game), but they haven’t had much success this season, shooting only 29.5%.  Upstate can certainly be a dangerous team for Tech if they get hot from behind the arc.  I expect the Hokies’ length to force the Spartans into difficult shots, however, lessening the likelihood that will happen.

Prediction: Hokies 68 USC Upstate 51

Also see:

• Gobbler Country: Getting to Know USC Upstate
• The Key Play: USC Upstate Preview