Opinion
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Hokies Set to Challenge Blue Devils in Durham Showdown

As the Virginia Tech Hokies prepare to face off against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Hokies, coming off a string of notable performances, are poised to take on one of their most formidable opponents yet.


Mar 4, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies center Elizabeth Kitley (33) battles for an inbounds pass against Duke Blue Devils forward Mia Heide (42) during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on January 14th against the Florida State Seminoles, the Hokies scored an impressive 81 points but fell short as they allowed 89. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways; notably a solid field goal percentage of 47 and an excellent free throw completion rate at 80 percent. The team also demonstrated strong playmaking abilities with a total of 23 assists.


The Hokies' resilience was further tested in their game on January 12th against Miami (FL) Hurricanes where they emerged victorious with a scoreline of 76-52. Their defensive prowess shone through as they held the Hurricanes to just a 36 percent shooting from the field and forced them into committing a high number of turnovers (17). Offensively, VT showcased balanced scoring and an ability to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 18 points off Miami's mistakes.


Mar 4, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Georgia Amoore (5) drives down court against Duke Blue Devils guard Shayeann Day-Wilson (30) during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

Another close encounter for VT was against North Carolina State Wolfpack on January 7th where they edged out with a narrow win by one point (63-62). This game highlighted VT's tenacity and clutch performance under pressure. With both teams displaying similar shooting percentages around the low forties, it was VT's slightly better execution in critical moments that made all the difference.


Looking ahead at their upcoming clash with Duke, it is clear that Virginia Tech must maintain its defensive intensity while improving its efficiency from beyond the arc. In recent games, three-point shooting has been less than stellar for VT; hitting only seven out of eighteen attempts against Florida State is something that needs addressing if they hope to overcome Duke's defense.


The Blue Devils will undoubtedly be tough competitors on their home court. However, if Virginia Tech can leverage its strong assist-to-turnover ratio and replicate its free throw accuracy seen in past games while tightening up perimeter defense – there is every reason for fans to believe in an upset victory.


Supporters eager to witness this thrilling matchup can tune into ACC Network or head over to channel number 612 nationally at precisely eight o'clock PM Eastern Time come January 18th. As these two titans clash in Durham city within North Carolina state lines – expect nothing short of an electrifying basketball spectacle!

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