NBA Draft Watch: College Basketball Game of the Day, February 4th (#16 Louisville at #11 Virginia Tech) Preview/Prospects of Note

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech
(Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics)

A Monday matchup set to tip-off at 7 PM EST, brings two quality teams battling for position in what has been the best conference in college basketball this season in the ACC. Both recognized as top-20 teams in the country, Louisville, ranked 16th, will go on the road to take on Virginia Tech, ranked 11th, in what will be a game of magnitude in impacting next week's poll of where both programs will land. 

Having had won six straight games, Louisville lost at home to North Carolina on Saturday, 79-69, to bring their record to 16-6 on the season. Their six game win-streak had began by beating the same Tar Heel team at North Carolina last month by a score of 83-62. 

Now looking to resume another successful streak, the Cardinals will hope to that Jordan Nwora can continue what has been a solid season for the sophomore, after having a tough time getting going against North Carolina. The 6'7, 225 pound forward scored 11 points, shooting 3-9 from the field, with all three makes coming from beyond the three-point line where he attempted six shots. Nwora added seven rebounds and two assists, but was met with some tough defense in driving to the basket where he picked up a couple of turnovers, including a charge. 

During the season Nwora has improved his conditioning and increased his numbers across the board nearly tripling the amount of minutes (31.1), points (17.9), rebounds (7.7), assists (1.6), and steals (1.0) he averaged from a freshman to now in his second season of play for Cardinals. He has shown off a sound shot from beyond the arc, sinking 40.2 percent of his 3-point attempts, while averaging 2.4 made 3's per game.

Moreover, the sophomore has shown an increased ability as a slasher, which is seemingly a testament to his improved conditioning and overall athleticism. 

At the point guard position for Cardinals is Christen Cunningham, who is in his only season of play for Louisville as a graduate transfer. Though he looks closer to 6-feet, the listed 6'2, 190 pound prospect played 110 games at Samford to begin his college career, starting in each contest, where he tallied 1283 points and 514 assists. 

Cunningham has brought his aggressive, penetration of the defense with a running back-type ability to Louisville where he is apt to drive to the basket and find different ways to finish or can ably pull-up in the face of the defense on a mid-range look. For the season he is putting up 10.4 points per game, shooting 49.7 percent from the field and is averaging 4.6 assists agains just 1.7 turnovers. 

Bringing balance between the perimeter and post presences for Louisville, Steven Enoch stands as the most intimidating presence for them in the middle. At 6'10, 260 pounds Enoch has shown an improvement in his overall game since having appeared as a still raw though tantalizing talent at UCONN during the 2016-2017 season. 

Though he was held scoreless in 16 minutes in the loss against North Carolina where he attempted just one shot and grabbed four rebounds, the redshirt junior big man has scored at least nine points in all but two of his games since coming off the bench, beginning eight contests ago. He is averaging a respectable 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds on 19.2 minutes per game, and has shown his increased ability to score the ball becoming more comfortable in extending his range past the paint and out near the three point line.

Louisville will be up against a tough opponent in Virginia Tech who has won four of its last five game, with its most recent loss also at the hands of North Carolina, on January 21st, 103-82.

One of the best defensive teams in the country, the Hokies are allowing the sixth lowest points per game in college basketball (60.2). They displayed just how difficult it could be to score against their defense, holding then 23rd ranked North Carolina State to 24 points on 9-54 shooting, including 2-28 on 3-point attempts, in the 47-24 win on Saturday.

Entering tonight's game against Louisville at 18-3 on the season, Virginia Tech are led in scoring by potential lottery pick Nickel Alexander-Walker (17.6 points, 53.5 FG%). 

A 6'5, 205 pound combo guard, Alexander-Walker is extremely effective in using his length ( and subtle quickness as a ball-handler to slip his way into the lane and can be counted on to make the defense pay when left open beyond the arc (41.5 3P%, 2.0 made 3's per game)

Often finding himself in penetrating the defense, the current ACC Player of the Week could create his own look and lift up for a release from mid-range (25-47, 53% on 2-point jump shots, with just four assisted) or utilize his size and length to stride to the basket to finish with finesse (55-87, 64.7% on shots at the rims, with just seven assisted).

Alexander-Walker also puts his prosperous physical attributes to use on the other end, where he is a primary player in the defensive efforts for the Hokies, as he can disrupt the opposing offense with effective on and off-ball defense (2.3 steals, team-leading 89.1 defensive rating).

The sophomore sensation is joined in the backcourt by two steady seniors who can get hot from deep in Justin Robinson and Ahmed Hill.

Hill is a high effort, hard nosed 6'5, 215 pound wing who knocks down 2.4 three pointers per game, shooting 42 percent from out past the three point line. He averages 13.4 points per game.

Robinson plays the point for the Hokies and has a sure three-point shot as well, shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc, with nearly two makes a night (1.9 made 3-pointers per game). The 6'2, 195 pound senior is a prolific player in Virginia Tech history, having set the school-record for most made 3's in a game (9) earlier this season against Syracuse, and in the same game he became the all-time assists leader in program history.

He is averaging 14.4 points and 5.5 assists per game in his senior season. 

At 6'10, 250 pound Kerry Blackshear, Jr. is the primary presence in the paint for Virginia Tech, but is capable of clipping a shot from out on the perimeter as well (18-45, 40% on 2-point jump shots, 10-30, 33% on 3-point shots). The redshirt junior can play from the post as well, where he is effective in spinning off a defender in either direction to either enable a dunk or a layup at the rim. 

On the season Blackshear is shooting 50.5 percent on all field goal attempts, averaging 12.7 points in 26.9 minutes per game, and also adding 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and about one block (0.9).