After struggling against its two high-major opponents this season, Western Carolina heads to Blacksburg, Va., on Thursday to take on Virginia Tech.
The Catamounts (4-5) played Cincinnati and then-No. 6 Duke in early November, dropping the games by an average of 36 points. Western Carolina has yet to find traction this season and enters its matchup with the Hokies (8-2) coming off a poor offensive showing.
Against South Carolina Upstate on Saturday, the Catamounts scored 67 points — their fourth game scoring less than 70 points this season — and shot only 34.5% from the field. They also made just four of their 17 3-point attempts, a season-long issue that has hindered their offense.
Western Carolina is shooting 29.1% from beyond the arc, 329th out of 361 Division I teams through Monday, on 241 attempts. Only three Catamounts are shooting above 30% from long range this season.
While Western Carolina’s offense may not match Virginia Tech’s, the Catamounts could swing the game on the glass.
The Hokies rank 14th in the ACC in rebounds per game (36.7), while the Catamounts are averaging 41 rebounds a game. Virginia Tech was outrebounded in both its losses this season.
Turnover margin will also likely determine the game.
The Catamounts average 14.1 giveaways per game and have committed double-digit turnovers in six of their nine games this season. Western Carolina limited its turnovers to seven in its most resounding win this season — a 124-62 victory over Virginia-Lynchburg.
It didn’t happen in the following game, but Western Carolina coach Tim Craft is hopeful that game is a performance to build off.
“The important thing going into this game was for us to elevate an identity that leads to winning,” Craft said after the Virginia-Lynchburg win. “Just continue to grow in that area.”
Virginia Tech has been more cautious with the ball. The Hokies turn it over only 8.9 times a game, the fewest in the ACC.
Both of the Hokies’ losses came during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Nassau, Bahamas. Virginia Tech bounced back with a pair of victories last week, winning at South Carolina in overtime and then defeating a previously unbeaten George Mason.
“We’ve got to continue to get better, but that performance certainly propels us,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said when asked how that 2-0 week built confidence within his team. ” … Long way to go.”
The Hokies are 5-0 at home this season, holding opponents to 65 points per game.
