Mens Basketball: VMI (5-6) vs Virginia Tech (6-4) 7PM ESPN3

Television/Internet
ESPN3 - Andrew Allegretta & Mack McCarthy

Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network - Bill Roth & Mike Burnop
Also available on: Satellite: Sirius 134, Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn

Another Southern Conference foe, another game on the internet. The Hokies come in on a two game winning streak, having dispatched the Citadel in a close contest on Saturday, 64-61. They will need to switch gears to get ready for the Keydets, where the Bulldogs played a slow paced game for the most part, VMI will want to run and gun all day. They come into tonights contest averaging the second most points in Division I basketball at 88.9 points per game. They do this by bombarding the basket with three point attempts in almost every game. They average 37 attempts per game right now, making about 35% of them. They prefer a fast paced, shoot first, mentality that calls for a very aggressive defensive nature as well. This to me is the key to stopping the Keydets.

Tech needs to come out in this game and constantly drive the ball to the rim, forcing VMI to commit fouls early and often. They also need to have Adam Smith and Justin Bibbs locked in to counteract some of the three point shooting. JVZ should be able to dominate the paint in this game because VMI lacks size at almost every position on the floor. JVZ will probably be matched up against a trio of players that top out at 6'7", and about 215 lbs so as long as he is not sloppy with his fouls he should have a big game. VMI may decide it makes more sense to foul him and send him to the line unfortunately since they will be using a rotation of players.

Everyone else from VMI on the court will likely be a guard, led by Q.J. Peterson (#22) who is fifteenth in the NCAA in scoring with 21.4 ppg with 4.7 rpg as well as 4.4 apg. Two other Keydets average in double figures so far this season, Tim Marshall (#23) with 11.7 ppg and Brian Brown (#3) with 10.2 ppg. Other key contributors are Julian Eleby(#35), Jordan Weethee(#40), and Craig Hinton(#25) who all put up 7-9 ppg for the Keydets. VMI gets very balanced scoring though, as they have at least ten players averaging more than 4 ppg.

The Hokies will need to protect the ball as VMI turns their opponents over almost 18 times per game. Similar to the Citadel, they get their hands up and cut off passing lanes to the interior but are very susceptible to larger guards driving into the lane. If Tech gets to the line and actually hits its free throws, they should come out of this game with a decent win, considering VMI opponents go to the line 24 times a game so far.

Tech should have the advantage down low, especially if they find a way to have JVZ and Henry on the court together which could also prove a significant advantage in changing VMI's style of play. Tech needs to dictate the pace and control the shot clock to limit VMI's opportunities. They must get out to the perimeter to play strong defense, counting on the big men to be able to redirect shots if a guard is beaten on the perimeter to the lane. Henry could be huge in this regard with his innate ability to get his hand on the basketball.

I expect that Buzz will have the guys ready to prevent perimeter shooting and force VMI to try to create inside, which is definitely not their strong suit. This game could easily come down to free throws again like the Citadel game, so expect to see a much smaller lineup in the game towards the end to close out on the line.

Tech 75, VMI 70