Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Syracuse Orange Pick & Prediction JANUARY 11th 2023
Virginia Tech's hot start to the season is fading toward distant memory territory.
The skidding Hokies aim to snap a four-game losing streak Wednesday when they visit Syracuse in Atlantic Coast Conference action.
Diego Garcia
Virginia Tech (11-5, 1-4 ACC) opened the campaign 11-1, highlighted by wins over North Carolina, Minnesota and Oklahoma State. However, the team since has dropped close games against Boston College, Wake Forest, Clemson and North Carolina State. The four defeats by a total of 14 points have the sagging Hokies hoping for a stronger showing late in games.
There's good news for Virginia Tech.
Freshman Rodney Rice, a former Top 75 recruit, is expected to make his college debut against Syracuse. He has been recovering from ankle surgery.
"We'll throw him to the fire at around the 16-minute mark, 15-minute mark and let him get his feet wet. And how does that go?" coach Mike Young said of Rice. "He's a very good player and one that would be a real shot in the arm for us as we head into our next five in the league."
Five experts, five days of football, over 40 picks, and ALL profit!
(1)(1).jpg?auto=compress,format)
Rice should add offensive firepower alongside Sean Pedulla (17.3 points), Grant Basile (13.2) and Justyn Mutts (13.1).
Syracuse (10-6, 3-2) had won seven of eight before falling to Virginia 73-66 on Saturday.
The backcourt of Joe Girard III and Judah Mintz combined for 37 points, but it wasn't enough as Syracuse received a total of 12 from for its other three starters.
In particular, coach Jim Boeheim wants to see more production out of center Jesse Edwards, whom he referred to as a "mystery." Edwards (13.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 blocks) has not scored more than 12 points in any of the past six games and registered a season-low four points against Virginia.
"He's not playing the way he was earlier in the year," Boeheim said. "He was a different player (then)."
Virginia Tech won last season's meeting with Syracuse, 71-59, as Mutts registered the second triple-double in school history with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in Blacksburg, W.Va.
--Field Level Media
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Syracuse Orange Recap JAN 23TH 2021
Freshman guard Jalen Cone scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to rally Virginia Tech past Syracuse 67-63 in an ACC game Tuesday night in Syracuse, N.Y.
Landers Nolley II scored 13 points and P.J Horne had 12 for Virginia Tech (11-4, 2-2 ACC). The Hokies had 20 assists for their 21 made field goals (10 of them 3-pointers). Wabissa Bede led the Hokies with eight assists.
Syracuse (8-7, 1-3) was paced by Elijah Hughes' 18 points, but he struggled from the field, making only 6 of 16 shots. Quincy Gerrier and Joseph Girard III each had 12 points, and Buddy Boeheim 10.
Cone's 3-pointer with 1:41 left put Virginia Tech ahead 60-54. He finished 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.
A 3-pointer by Hughes with 1:19 remaining cut the lead to 62-59, but Horne answered with a 3-pointer on the following possession.
Gerrier was fouled while making a layup with 23 seconds left to cut the lead to 64-61, but he missed the free throw.
After two free throws by Nolley, Gerrier went in for a dunk to cut the lead to 66-63 with 9.4 seconds left.
Nolley was fouled and made one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game with eight seconds remaining.
Girard was the game's only double-figure scorer in the first half with 12 points as the Orange built a 33-27 halftime lead.
After Syracuse built a 40-31 lead with 12:11 left in regulation on a Hughes layup, Virginia Tech rallied, including a four-point play by Cone, to take a 52-44 lead with 7:46 remaining.
At that point in the second half, Syracuse was shooting 25 percent from the field with five turnovers.
--Field Level Media
- NCAAB
