VS. WISCONSIN, DEC. 1
Losing some key players, the 2008 Big Ten champion Wisconsin Badgers comes to Cassell this year in the biggest out-of-conference game of the season. While left out of the top 25 in the pre-season rankings, the Badgers are looking to their younger players such as sophomore Jon Leuer to step it up on the court and fill the role of low post. Forwards Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft are the leaders of this 17-man roster that consists of 11 underclassmen.
There are five freshmen on the team this year who are going to have a major impact on the game, most notably guard Jordan Taylor who has already shined in early exhibition games.
AT DUKE, JAN. 4
Not only will this be the first ACC test of the season, but it will also be the first trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium for many members of the team. It will be important to have an impressive showing here to try to steal one on the road and get the conference schedule rolling.
As usual, the Blue Devils have lofty expectations going into the season (picked No. 8 in the AP and No. 5 in the coaches' poll, as well as second in the ACC).
With a home-and-home series with Duke, the Hokies can use this game to gain some leverage on their rivals from Durham, as well as on the rest of the conference.
AT WAKE FOREST, JAN. 21
Returning all five of its starters, this year's Demon Deacon squad is rejuvenated from a painful finish to last season where it crumbled in the ACC tournament. Ranked eighth in the ACC with 72.2 points per game, Tech will need to rely on defensive skills in the backcourt to keep that number down.
Wake guard Ish Smith is one of the quickest in the conference and was the reason for Tech's loss in Winston-Salem last year with a last second buzzer beater that won the game.
With the addition of three freshmen, Wake will have more depth and more versatility, switching up plays and making them less predictable.
AT MIAMI, JAN. 25
The Hurricanes begin the season ranked in the top-25 in both polls and are picked to finish fourth in the ACC. This will be the only game scheduled with the 'Canes this year and will be a key match-up in terms of positioning later on. Controlling point guard Jack McClinton will be crucial in this game. McClinton, perhaps one of the best point guards in the country, averaged 17.7 points per game last season.
In addition, controlling the paint is also going to be imperative, as Miami has a very good inside presence with Dwayne Collins and Adrian Thomas.
VS. CLEMSON, JAN. 29
The Hokies follow up the trip to Miami with a home game against the Tigers, who are picked to finish fifth -- just ahead of the Hokies -- in the conference. In the last two seasons, the Tigers have beaten Tech by one point in the final games of each regular season -- including last year's heartbreaker which more than likely cost Tech a chance at the NCAA Tournament.
As these two always seem to play a tight game, the Hokies are going to need a well-rounded performance. Close contests are often decided by mistakes.
AT MARYLAND, FEB. 14
The Hokies have a date with the Terps in this Valentine's Day match-up in hostile College Park. Losing two key players in center Gus Gilchrist and forward Shane Walker, the Maryland Terrapins will most likely be facing a year of rebuilding. That's not to count them out entirely, however.
Both shooting guard Sean Mosley and forward Jin Soo Kim had their eligibility approved for this season, along with a more refined version of Greivis Vasquez -- who is in the process of transforming his demeanor on and off the court.
That said, the Terps only have 10 scholarship players on their squad as of right now and their current frontcourt averaged a dismal 4.4 points and four rebounds last season. This season will be a true test of the durability Gary Williams' team has in the ACC.
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