After November’s Paradise Jam romp, Sunday’s tussle with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg offers Andy Kennedy and the Basketbears an opportunity to build their non-conference resume. Win, and gain an ace in the hole come March. Lose, and the early season going means virtually nil.
Virginia Tech, for its part, has looked spunky out of the gate. The Hokies picked up a pair of back-to-back wins over Big Ten opponents last month, a 66-53 drubbing of Nebraska and a 73-70 barn-burner over Michigan in Ann Arbor. Tech’s lone loss on the year came at the hands of Texas A&M, last year’s SEC Tournament champ.