Virginia Tech suffered a pair of tough losses in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, but is bouncing back at home against mid-major challengers. The Hokies will aim for a third straight victory when they host Winthrop on Tuesday. Virginia Tech found another scorer to go along with Jarell Eddie in sophomore transfer Adam Smith, who went off for 28 points in an 81-56 triumph over Radford on Friday.
Smith broke out for 27 points in a loss to No. 1 Michigan State on Nov. 22 and is shooting 44.4 percent from 3-point range while helping to run the offense. â??(Smith) was counted on just as a scorer (at North Carolina-Wilmington),â? coach James Johnson told the schoolâ??s website. â??Now heâ??s having to make decisions coming off ball screens – when to drive, when to kick, when to take his 3, when to use his middle game.â? The Eagles will put pressure on Smith with their own guard play and strong 3-point shooting.
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ABOUT WINTHROP (5-1): The Eagles are winners of three straight and have three players – Andre Smith, Keon Johnson and Joab Jerome – averaging at least 12.7 points. All three of those players are also shooting at least 46.7 percent from 3-point range and Winthrop is going off at 41 percent from beyond the arc as a team. Smith scored 13 points on Wednesday against James Madison but the Eagles did not get much else on offense and had to win on the other side, holding the Dukes to 33 percent shooting in a 69-57 triumph.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (5-3): The Hokies get one more tune-up before an early ACC test at Miami on Sunday and the long break for finals. Smithâ??s emergence is allowing Eddie to play off the ball and crash the boards more, and the swingman is riding a streak of three straight double-doubles while leading the team in rebounding. Eddie was joined in the double-double club by C.J. Barksdale against Radford, and Barksdale is one of four players along with Eddie, Smith and Ben Emelogu scoring in double figures.
TIP-INS
1. The Hokies are shooting 45.6 percent from 3-point range.
2. Winthrop is off to its best start since the 1980-81 squad began 8-1.
3. Eddie is 17-for-48 from the field in his last three games.
PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 75, Winthrop 62
