Hokies want fast start at Cameron Indoor Stadium

DURHAM, N.C. -- Cameron Indoor Stadium is considered hallowed ground in college basketball, in part because of the atmosphere created by fans and students who crowd the court with seats that seem as if they were actually in bounds.

Part of the difficulty of playing at Duke is coping with the its quick starts as a result of the energy provided by their crowd, so when Virginia Tech tip-off against the Blue Devils on Sunday, the Hokies will try to start well.

"You see it on TV," Virginia Tech swingman Terrell Bell said. "Duke comes out trying got get steals and they're knocking down threes. We have to get stops and be secure in our defense."

Bell said the Hokies would make a concerted effort to secure the ball early in the game to avoid turnovers, particularly because Duke plays about as tight defensively as any team Virginia Tech has faced this season. Virginia Tech will also try to play at its own pace, and to not allow the Blue Devils to dictate the tempo from the outset.

"I feel like we have a lot to prove going into Duke," guard Dorenzo Hudson said. "I feel like we’re going to be real jacked up and going to try to go after it."