Georgia Tech looks to continue its momentum with a road test against a Virginia team honoring legendary coach Tony Bennett.
Georgia Tech heads to Charlottesville on Saturday evening to take on Virginia in an ACC matchup with plenty of intrigue. Tipoff is set for 5:30 PM ET, with the game airing on the CW Network. Virginia enters the contest as a slight 1.5-point favorite, but the Yellow Jackets come in with momentum after back-to-back Quad 1 victories.
Virginia’s Season in Review
The Cavaliers season has been up and down and has not been up to their standards, sitting at 11-12 overall and 4-8 in ACC play. Their best wins came against Villanova and, most recently, at Pittsburgh. However, they have also suffered some disappointing losses, including a home defeat to Virginia Tech and a road setback at Cal.
The biggest storyline surrounding Virginia this season has been the unexpected departure of legendary head coach Tony Bennett, who shocked the basketball world by retiring just 18 days before the season started. Bennett, who led the program to six ACC regular-season titles, two ACC tournament championships, and a national championship, handed the reins to longtime associate head coach Ron Sanchez.
Players to Watch
Virginia is led by junior guard Isaac McKneely, who averages 13.1 points and 3 assists per game while being a dangerous three-point shooter. Transfer forward Elijah Saunders, formerly of San Diego State, has also been a key contributor, leading the team in rebounding with 5.5 boards per game while adding 11.8 points. Point guard Andrew Rohde orchestrates the offense with 4 assists per game, and four-star freshman Jacob Cofie has provided solid depth, averaging 7.5 points and playing in every game this season. Another player to watch is sophomore transfer Dai Dai Ames, who had a career-high 27 points in Virginia’s most recent outing.
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Key Matchups and X-Factors
Virginia ranks third in the nation in assist rate but struggles offensively overall, sitting at 145th in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom. One major weakness for the Cavaliers has been offensive rebounding, an area where Georgia Tech must capitalize to gain an edge.
Virginia relies on strong perimeter shooting, so Tech will need to run shooters off the line and force them into tough shots inside. If the Yellow Jackets can control the glass and limit Virginia’s three-point opportunities, they’ll have a solid chance to pull off another quality win.
Honoring Tony Bennett
In addition to the game itself, Saturday will be a special night in Charlottesville as Virginia honors Tony Bennett with a halftime ceremony and the raising of a special banner. Tech will certainly be happy to no longer have to face Bennett on the sidelines, as he dominated the Jackets with a 19-2 record during his tenure.
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Final Thoughts
The Yellow Jackets are riding high after back-to-back Quad 1 wins, though they’ll be hoping this game doesn’t require triple overtime like their last contest.
This game presents an intriguing clash, with Virginia’s methodical, assist-heavy approach going up against a Georgia Tech team that has shown resilience in recent weeks. The Yellow Jackets will need to dominate the glass and defend the perimeter well to leave Charlottesville with a win. Expect a competitive battle as both teams look to gain momentum in ACC play.