Wake Forest is making a move at an ideal time and looks to keep it going against a team it has already defeated this season.
The Demon Deacons take on slumping Virginia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference action on Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.
Wake Forest (14-12, 5-8 ACC) has put together a three-game winning streak, rising in the standings and looking to climb past Virginia Tech (17-10, 6-8) this weekend.
The message from Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes has been simple.
“Just keep the streak alive and keep it going,” he told the team. “They’re doing it by working their tail off every day in practice.”
Virginia Tech has dropped two straight and four of its last five and is in danger of falling out of NCAA Tournament projections.
During the past two weeks, the Demon Deacons and Hokies have something in common — they both defeated Clemson. That’s the only victory for Virginia Tech so far this month.
The Hokies’ 67-66 loss at Miami on Tuesday came despite shooting 50% from the field in each half. It was the third one-point loss for Virginia Tech in its last 12 games.
“We’re one stop away,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said.
Wake Forest topped visiting Clemson 85-77 on Wednesday night.
“We scored 85 on a really good, outstanding defensive team,” Forbes said.
Demon Deacons guard Juke Harris is averaging 21.3 points per game. He has reached the 20-point mark in five consecutive games.
“We’ve kind gotten to the point of that’s what he does,” Forbes said.
Virginia Tech will hold Senior Day on Saturday. Senior Tobi Lawal has scored in double figures in eight of 12 games since returning from an injury. He didn’t play in the first matchup with Wake Forest on Jan. 3.
The Demon Deacons won that meeting 81-78 on Nate Calmese’s late 3-pointer and two free throws. But Calmese has been out with an injury for a few weeks.
Jailen Bedford scored a season-high 25 points for the Hokies, who held Harris to 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
