In most NCAA Tournament projections, Virginia Tech is on the wrong side of the selection bubble — but not by much.
At this point, a Quad 1 win would likely pay huge dividends for the Hokies, who have two chances left in the regular season to accomplish the feat.
The first comes Saturday when Virginia Tech (18-10, 7-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) travels to No. 18 North Carolina (22-6, 10-5) to face a Tar Heels team that has yet to lose this season in Chapel Hill.
That 16-0 record understandably looks intimidating. But what could help the Hokies’ cause is the absence of Caleb Wilson, who is expected to miss his fifth straight game.
The freshman, who is the Tar Heels’ top scorer (19.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.4), has missed the past four games with a fractured bone in his left hand.
With no timetable for his return and the postseason approaching, there was anxiety in Chapel Hill until good news arrived on Monday, as ESPN reported that Wilson is preparing to be in uniform for the Tar Heels’ final regular-season game, March 7 at Duke.
Without Wilson, North Carolina has managed to win three of four, including a 77-74 victory Monday over No. 24 Louisville, as Seth Trimble scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field.
“Seth’s ability to be able to get downhill, to be able to score, draw fouls, it’s just a huge difference-maker for us,” Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis said.
Virginia Tech has lost four of its last six games and, in the process, demonstrated the inconsistency that it has shown throughout the season.
After winning at then-No. 20 Clemson, 76-66, in one of their best efforts this season, the Hokies returned home and laid an egg against Florida State, falling 92-69.
“I’m not sure I have an explanation,” coach Mike Young said afterward.
Bad luck has figured into the equation as well for Virginia Tech, as its first three ACC losses came by a total of five points. One of those defeats came at SMU, 77-76, when the Hokies surrendered a half-court shot to Boopie Miller as time expired.
Virginia Tech is coming off an 82-63 win at home Saturday over Wake Forest, as all five starters plus reserve Christian Gurdak scored in double figures.
The Hokies shot 50.8% from the floor and committed just five turnovers. Leading the offense was 6-foot-9 point guard Neo Avdalas who had 17 points, seven assists and zero turnovers.
With his unique skill set, Avdalas was once considered a potential NBA lottery pick, but his draft stock has tumbled with tentative play and questionable shot selection this season.
Could his play against the Demon Deacons be a long-awaited turning point?
“He had better pop about his game off of ball screens,” Young said. “He just creates so many advantages for your team offensively.”
Tobi Lawal has been an efficient force inside in the last five games for the Hokies, averaging 14.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while hitting 61.9% of his shots.
The last time Virginia Tech won at North Carolina was in 2007. The Tar Heels lead the series 74-17.
