Syracuse Orange (9-4) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (8-5) GameThread

Syracuse (9-4) begins its second season in the ACC when it takes on Virginia Tech (8-5) in Blacksburg. The game tips at Noon and will be televised on the RSN and ESPN3.

Both clubs have won four of five outings heading into the matchup. The Orange owns a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series with Virginia Tech. The Hokies won the first two games of the rivalry, in 1975-76 and 1977-78, while Syracuse has claimed four of the last five. The Orange won a season ago, 72-52.

Virginia Tech features first-year head coach Buzz Williams. The former head coach at Marquette, Williams led his teams to a 3-4 record against Syracuse prior to taking the post with the Hokies. Virginia Tech is already one victory shy of last season’s total. Williams owns a career coaching mark of 147-74.

Redshirt junior guard Adam Smith (12.2 PPG) and freshman guard Justin Bibbs (12.0 PPG) are Virginia Tech’s top two offensive threats. The Hokies are converting .406 of their 3-point attempts and Bibbs (.476) and Smith (.475) lead the squad in percentage. Redshirt junior Joey van Zegeren, a 6-10 forward from the Netherlands, is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Leave your pre-, in- and post-game comments below. G'ORANGE!