Duke Basketball: Virginia Tech Hokies going through its own injury issues
As the Duke Basketball team comes to town, the Virginia Tech Hokies are dealing with injury issues of its own, specifically in regards to star guard Justin Robinson.
The Virginia Tech Hokies were heading into Coral Gables with a 16-3 overall record and 5-2 record in ACC play.
The Hokies went into Miami and picked up a 82-70 win, but it might have been the costliest 12-point victory in Head Coach Buzz Williams‘ career.
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Virginia Tech lost its best player, Justin Robinson, in the middle of that game as Williams says that he is out “indefinitely” with a foot injury.
Since then, the Hokies are 5-3, with two of the three losses coming against teams that were ranked in the AP Top 25 upon the matchup.
The only game the Hokies won against a Top 25 team in this stretch was back on February 2 against then No. 23 North Carolina State, in the infamous 47-24 game.
In his 20 games this season, Justin Robinson is averaging 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 47.5% from the field and 41.1% from the 32-point line.
In the seven games that Robinson has missed, Kerry Blackshear Jr. has led the Hokies in scoring in six of those games. On the season, Blackshear is averaging 14.6 points, 7.2 points, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 53.4% from the floor.
The six-foot-ten-inch junior also has the ability to step behind the 3-point ball and knock down some shots, shooting 40.0% from 3-point range.
However, the player that leads the Hokies in scoring is Nickeil Alexander-Walker at 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. The sophomore from Canada is also very efficient from the field at 49.2% and like many others on this Virginia Tech team, he can shoot the ball well from 3-point range at 39.3%.
Despite big numbers from Alexander-Walker, Blackshear Jr., and senior Ahmed Hill, who is averaging 12.9 points per game, Virginia Tech just hasn’t looked the same without Justin Robinson, even in its victories.
While the Blue Devils will be without Zion Williamson, Duke has shown the ability to adapt and adjust throughout different injuries, unlike Virginia Tech.
The Hokies and the Blue Devils will tip-off at 7:00pm ET from the Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia, and the game can be seen on ESPN.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies.