Game Preview: Virginia Tech (12-5) vs Longwood (7-14)

         Virginia Tech returns to Cassell for the final non-conference game of the season tonight at 7pm versus the Longwood Lancers (Farmville, VA).  The Hokies will try to make tonight's game as painless as possible, although win or lose, this game will hurt Tech’s RPI (currently 68).  Tech leads the series with Longwood 2-0, with an average margin of victory of 28.5 points.

Starting Lineups
Virginia Tech						Longwood
Pos.	Player	Ht.	Cl.	PPG	RPG	Player	Ht.	Cl.	PPG	RPG
G	Green	6’4”	So.	10.4	2.1	Bowman	6’2”	Jr.	12.2	3.5
G	Delaney	6’3”	Sr.	18.6	3.2	Washington	6’0”	Jr.	10.5	2.0
G/F	Bell	6’7”	Sr.	6.2	5.9	Neil	6’2”	Jr.	9.4	1.6
F	Allen	6’7”	Sr.	12.2	9.3	Mitchell	6’2”	Sr.	12.7	5.5
F	Davila	6’8”	Jr.	7.5	5.1	Carter	6’6”	Jr.	16.9	9.0

Game notes:

• Longwood ranks 327th in the RPI, the lowest of Tech’s opponents this season.

  Team	VT	LU
  Last 5	4-1	2-3
  PPG	71.8	76.4
  Opp. PPG	60.1	85.7
  Reb. Margin	+1.2	-6.4
  Turn. Margin	+2.8	-1.0
  FG%	47.5%	45.3%
  Def. FG%	39.5%	50.1%
  3PT%	34.1%	37.1%

• Defensively, Longwood ranks in the bottom 1% in all of Division I in 4 defensive categories, including dead last in defensive efficiency.
• The Lancers have given up 85 or more points nine times this season, including 100+ three times.
• Longwood is 10-94 in true road games since moving up to Division I.
• Tech is 57-8 against non-conference opponents at home under Seth Greenberg.

    Longwood is lead by their center (and lone starter taller than 6-2) Antwan Carter.  Carter averages 31.9 minutes per contest and is nearly averaging a double-double. The lefty is shooting 57% from the field and had a game-high 22 points against Kansas.  Being a guard oriented team, the Lancers do like to shoot the 3-point shot, and Washington, Neil, and reserve Jan van der Kooij have all taken 80+ attempts on the season.  Washington is the most dangerous man from deep, connecting on 41% of his shots.

     By all means, Virginia Tech should win this game, and by a lot.  Two possible scenarios could get the Hokies in trouble: Longwood absolutely lighting it up from the 3-point line, or the Hokies running out of players due to injury.  The Lancers still shoot the ball respectably well from deep on the road so Tech will have to guard them close to help keep the visitors out of reach on the scoreboard.  Keep your fingers crossed that the Hokies will jump on Longwood early so that the Paul Debnam show can start as soon as possible.  Rest for the starters and avoiding the injury bug are the two biggest positives Tech can take away from this game.

Prediction: Hokies 96 Longwood 64

Also see:

• The Key Play: Longwood Preview