Virginia Tech Vs. UConn 3/22/10

It's a Big East against ACC match up as Virginia Techand UConn face off.

Connecticut Huskies (18-15) at Virginia Tech Hokies (24-8)

NIT Tournament NCAA Basketball: Monday March 22, 2010 7 PM EST (ESPN)

The Line: Virginia Tech - 4

Virginia Tech and Connecticut both had aspirations of playing in the post season but neither hoped it would be in the NIT as both had a chance to be int he NCAA Tournament.

Virginia Tech feels slighted by not getting an invitation to the big dance and they have a solid point as four teams who finished behind them in the conference standings all made it to the NCAA Tournament. Virginia Tech took out some of their frustrations against Quinnipac in their first round NIT game as they pounded the Bobcats in a 20 point win. The Hokies shot 45.3 percent overall and 35 percent from beyond the three point line. Defensively VT held Quinnipiac to just 38.1 percent shooting and just 61 points. Malcolm Delaney scored 25 points and Dorenzo Hudson added 19 besting their season averages of 20.5 and 14.6. As a team the Hokies average 73 points per game as they are 216th in the nation in shooting percentage as 42.5 but make up for it with their 55th ranked offensive rebounding. Defensively it's a tough noght when playing Virginia Tech as teams shoot 39.6 against them which is 21st in the country and manage just 64.8 points a game against VT. The Hokies were 2-3 against the top 25 but they were 16-2 at home this year.

This is an unfamiliar spot for Jim Calhoun and his UConn Huskies as usually they are one of the favorites to go to the final four and a trip to the NCAA Tournament is normally a given. A few bad losses late combined with some up and down play all season long kept the Huskies out of the big dance and instead they find themselves in the NIT. In the first round it was a real dog fight with Northeastern as UConn pulled out a two point win to make it to this round. It isn't like the Huskies don't have talent, they are just a team who lacks the leadership as most of last year's departed team had played together for several years. UConn has four players who average double digits as Jerome Dyson leads the way scoring 17.3 points each time out. As a team the Huskies score 70.2 points per game and shoot 45 percent from the field. Defensively UConn holds teams to 39.4 percent shooting and 66.7 points per game but they have struggled on the defensive boards. UConn hasn't been solid on the road going just 2-8.

Virginia Tech is 11-2 in thei rlast 13 games against Big East teams, 5-0 against the spread in their last five non conference games, and 0-4 against the spread as a favorite of up to six and a half points. Uconn is 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games as an underdog but they are 3-10 gaianst the spread in thei rlast 13 non-conference games and 0-5 agaisnt the spread when playing a team with a winning record.

This was just a down year for Connecticut and it really came down to get it done on the raod and to get it done against the better teams, both of which they face in this game. I think the Hokies continue to prove their point.

Mitch's Pick: Virginia Tech - 4

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