Virginia Tech is set to face off against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons following an impressive performance from Ben Hammond, who netted 30 points in the Hokies’ 95-85 overtime victory against the Virginia Cavaliers. The game will take place on Saturday at 12 p.m. EST in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Hokies, currently holding a record of 12-2 overall and 1-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, are looking to build on their strong start in the conference. Virginia Tech has shown resilience against teams with winning records, boasting a 9-2 record against such opponents this season. In contrast, Wake Forest enters the game with a 9-5 record and is looking for their first conference victory after starting 0-1 in the ACC.
At home, the Demon Deacons have held their ground well, with a 7-2 record. Notably, Wake Forest has proven to be effective when they win the turnover battle, achieving victories in 9 of their 11 attempts when they control the ball better than their opponents. This season, the team is averaging 11.9 turnovers per game, which highlights their efficiency on the court.
In terms of shooting performance, Wake Forest is converting 44.8% of their field goal attempts this year, which is notably higher than Virginia Tech’s defensive average of 42.2%. Additionally, Virginia Tech has demonstrated a strong perimeter game, averaging 8.5 made three-pointers per game—slightly surpassing what the Demon Deacons allow on average.
The upcoming matchup marks the first contest between these two teams this season. On the individual front, Juke Harris leads the scoring for Wake Forest, averaging 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Myles Colvin has made notable contributions as well, averaging 15.4 points and 4.7 rebounds over his last ten games. On the Hokies’ side, Amani Hansberry is averaging 16.3 points with an impressive shooting rate of 49.1%, while Ben Hammond has been a key player as well, averaging 13.0 points in the last ten matchups.
In their most recent games, the Demon Deacons have posted a 6-4 record, averaging 78.6 points, while Virginia Tech comes in 8-2, averaging 79.2 points. The offensive capabilities on both sides promise to make for an exciting game.
As both teams enter this pivotal match, fans can look forward to a closely contested game that could significantly impact their ACC standings.