Clash of the Titans: Virginia Tech Hokies to Battle Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Cassell

As the Virginia Tech Hokies prepare to host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a riveting encounter at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies, coming off a mixed bag of performances, have shown they can light up the scoreboard and will look to leverage their home-court advantage against a formidable ND squad.

In their last outing on February 24 against Pittsburgh Panthers, VT fell short despite a strong first half where they posted 36 points. Ultimately, their defense couldn't contain the Panthers' surge in the second half, leading to a 64-79 defeat. The Hokies' two-point shooting was impressive at 54 percent but was overshadowed by their lackluster three-point performance at just 15 percent. Additionally, turnovers and personal fouls proved costly as VT struggled to maintain possession and discipline.

However, it's worth noting that when playing on home turf earlier on February 20 against the Virginia Cavaliers, VT showcased what they're capable of with an emphatic 75-41 victory. Their shooting efficiency from inside the arc was remarkable at 63 percent and coupled with an impressive free throw percentage of 76; this shows that when in form, VT can dominate both ends of the court.

The upcoming game presents an opportunity for redemption and reassertion for VT. With an assist-to-turnover ratio that has seen highs of 3.4 in victories like against UVA but lows in losses such as against Pittsburgh (1.63), maintaining composure will be key for them.

The Fighting Irish will not make it easy though; ND comes into this game knowing full well how crucial each conference game is as we approach tournament season. They'll look to exploit any signs of weakness shown by VT's defense while being wary of their own vulnerabilities.

For fans looking forward to this matchup on March 9th at Cassell Coliseum starting at 2:30 PM EST – expect your Hokies to come out with intensity and focus on executing plays efficiently while minimizing errors that have plagued them previously. This is more than just another game; it's about setting a tone for success as postseason looms large.

Catch all the action live on ESPNU and witness whether Virginia Tech can harness their potential into a cohesive force capable of overcoming ND’s challenge or if they'll succumb under pressure yet again – only time will tell.