Syracuse (11-2) opens Atlantic Coast Conference play against Virginia Tech (11-2) in the Carrier Dome on New Year’s Eve. SU is coming off a win over Eastern Michigan while VT has won two in a row. Syracuse entered last year’s conference slate at just 8-5, so the Orange will begin the 18-game league schedule ahead of last year’s mark and look to ring in the New Year with a win.

Here’s all you need to know about the Hokies of Virginia Tech.

All-time series: Syracuse leads, 8-3

Last time they played: Last season, SU traveled to Blacksburg and lost to the Hokies, 83-73. Tyus Battle scored 13 points with three 3-pointers for Syracuse. Three current VT players scored in double figures: Justin Bibbs, Chris Clarke and Ahmed Hill. The Hokies shot 8-for-20 from distance, 40 percent, and only turned the ball over six times, two strengths of this year’s team as well.

The Virginia Tech report: Offensively, Virginia Tech is statistically one of the best teams in the country. The Hokies lead the country in effective field goal percentage at 62.7 percent, which accounts for the added magnitude VT gets from its 43.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Four Hokies have made at least 10 3s at a 40 percent clip, with the most quantity and quality coming from Hill, their leading-scorer. The shooting guard has made 41 shots from deep at a 52.6 percent rate, ranking him third in the nation in effective field goal percentage. Guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Justin Robinson and Bibbs are the Hokies’ other perimeter-shooting weapons.

The efficiency continues inside the arc as well for Virginia Tech. Forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. averages 12.8 points per game on 64 percent shooting from the floor, with all but nine of his shots coming from inside the three-point arc. Clarke, a 6-foot-6 swingman, shoots 66 percent from 2-point range and adds almost nine points per game himself.

The Hokies did take on Washington and Mike Hopkins, the former Syracuse associate head coach who has kept a similar 2-3 zone system to the one utilized by the Orange, earlier this season at Madison Square Garden. Virginia Tech scored 103 points that night.

How Syracuse beats the Hokies: SU needs to control the game’s tempo. Virginia Tech averages the 11th-quickest offensive possessions in the country, and combining that with good shooting can create a ton of points. The Orange will struggle to keep up if the game becomes a shootout. Stretching the top of the zone out to VT’s shooters and forcing the Hokies to use up clock to find good looks could throw off the visiting team’s rhythm. For a team as efficient all over the floor as Virginia Tech, early shots usually mean good shots. The Hokies have also attempted over 100 free throws more than its opponents and made them at an above-average 74.5 percent. With a short rotation available, Jim Boeheim’s players will need to avoid fouling.

Stat to know: 3.23 blocks per game

That’s Paschal Chukwu’s average for the season after five blocks against Eastern Michigan. Against a team with the offensive weapons of Virginia Tech, it’ll be tough for Syracuse to take away everything. But if the Orange decides to extend the zone and limit 3-point attempts, Chukwu will have a lot of space to defend in the middle, especially against the 6-foot-10 Blackshear Jr. His ability to contest those shots and prevent easy baskets inside could force VT to become one-dimensional and make the job for the rest of Syracuse’s defenders easier.

Kenpom odds: Kenpom gives Syracuse a 56 percent chance to win and predicts a final scoreline of 71-69 in the home team’s favor.

Player to watch: Ahmed Hill, guard, No. 13

Hill epitomizes the danger that Virginia Tech’s offense will bring to the Carrier Dome on Sunday. Ultra-efficient from inside — 66 percent from 2 — and outside — 52.6 percent from 3 — and averaging 16.3 points per game, Hill could be the Hokies’ barometer for success. The 6-foot-5 redshirt junior takes about a quarter of VT’s shots while he’s on the court. If his game percentages line up with his season percentages, the New Year celebrations could wind up subdued for Syracuse.

Published on December 30, 2017 at 4:03 pm

Contact Billy: wmheyen@syr.edu | @Wheyen3