Virginia Tech Hokies vs Miami Hurricanes Picks and Predictions January 4th 2025

Reeling Miami Aims to Halt Skid in Clash vs. Virginia Tech

Miami will attempt to secure its first win under interim coach Bill Courtney when the Hurricanes visit Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.

Adjusting to Change

The Hurricanes (4-9, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) are grappling with the sudden departure of long-time coach Jim Larranaga, who stepped down on Dec. 26 after 13 successful seasons, which included six NCAA Tournament appearances.

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Courtney, whose head coaching experience comes from his tenure at Cornell (2010-16), praised his team’s focus amid the transition.

“They’ve done a great job of really locking in,” Courtney told the Miami Herald. “You think sometimes when the assistant takes over, there’ll be a drop off or some slacks or some things that go by the wayside, but not this group. They’ve really been locked in and concentrated.”

Miami’s Struggles

Despite a promising 32-13 start in Courtney’s debut on Wednesday against Boston College, the Hurricanes faded and fell 78-68, marking their ninth loss in 10 games.

Nijel Pack, the team’s leading scorer at 13.9 points per game, has missed the past three contests with a foot injury. His status for Saturday remains uncertain. In Pack’s absence, Matthew Cleveland has stepped up, averaging 21.3 points over the last three games. Former Virginia Tech center Lynn Kidd has also contributed with averages of 11.6 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game.

Virginia Tech’s Challenges

Virginia Tech (5-8, 0-2) is seeking its first conference win after falling to then-No. 18 Pittsburgh and No. 4 Duke in its first two ACC matchups. The Hokies last began ACC play 0-2 in the 2021-22 season but rallied to finish 11-9 and claimed the conference tournament title under coach Mike Young.

“I’ve seen enough of this league now,” Young said. “Continue to fight. Continue to play together. Continued improvement. We’ll win our fair share of games.”

Key Players for the Hokies

Virginia Commonwealth transfer Tobi Lawal has emerged as a standout for Virginia Tech, leading the team with 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Known for his explosive athleticism, including a 49 1/2-inch vertical leap, Lawal is a force on both ends of the court.

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Against Duke, Lawal scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds, hitting a season-high three 3-pointers on four attempts.

Outlook

Both teams are eager to claim their first ACC victory of the season. Miami hopes to find stability under Courtney’s leadership, while Virginia Tech seeks to capitalize on its home-court advantage and build momentum in conference play.