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Virginia Tech has struggled since major upset of Michigan State in Maui

By Kevin Connelly

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 25: Landers Nolley II #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies and Thomas Kithier #15 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for position during a free throw attempt during the first half at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 25: Landers Nolley II #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies and Thomas Kithier #15 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for position during a free throw attempt during the first half at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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After an upset of the Michigan State Spartans in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the Virginia Tech Hokies have struggled, and the Duke Basketball team will be entering Blacksburg Friday night.

Upsets have ruled college basketball in the early portion of the season, and the Virginia Tech Hokies were able to deliver a major blow last week to the then-No. 3 Michigan State Spartans.

In what many were anticipating a Michigan State vs. Kansas Championship Game, the Hokies threw a wrench into those plans in the first round of the tournament, taking out the Spartans.

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Under new head coach Mike Young, Virginia Tech opened the season with an ACC game on the road against the Clemson Tigers and the Hokies prevailed, winning 67-60 en route to six straight wins to start the season.

After its win over Michigan State, Virginia Tech lost its next two games at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational against the Dayton Flyers and BYU Cougars.

The Hokies lost those two games by a combined 40 points and have not played since returning to the mainland after its November 27 loss to BYU.

In its eight games this season, Virginia Tech has been led in scoring by Landers Nolley II in six of those games and by Nahiem Alleyne in the other two.

Nolley II and Alleyne are the only two players that are averaging double-figures on Virginia Tech as Landers Nolley II puts up 20.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

The 6-foot-7 freshman leads the team in points, rebounds, and steals and has been on fire from the floor, shooting 47.9% from the field, 50.9% from 3-point range, and 80.8% from the foul line.

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As for Nahiem Alleyne, the 6-foot-3 freshman is averaging 11.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 44.8% from the floor, 44.4% from 3-point range, and 75.0% from the foul line.

Three players that Duke fans may be familiar with from last season’s Virginia Tech team are P.J. Horne, Wabissa Bede, and Isaiah Wilkins.

Of that trio, Horne leads the way with 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 65.3% from the field and 56.0% from 3-point range as Bede leads the team in assists with 7.3 per game in addition to his 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Predicted scores for every Duke basketball game this season. light. Trending

Isaiah Wilkins only averages 4.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Mike Young has brought his philosophy from Wofford to Virginia Tech and that is to shoot the 3-point ball as the Hokies are shooting 43.1% from 3-point range as a team and Duke is going to have guard the arc and try and run Virginia Tech off the perimeter.

Duke and Virginia Tech will tipoff at 7:00 pm EST from the Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia as fans can see the game on the ACC Network.

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