Buzzketball Central: Virginia Tech Hokies (12-6, 4-1) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-5, 3-2) 7PM RSN/ESPN3

Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
Also available on:
Satellite: Sirius: 108 XM: 194
Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn

Television/Internet
Regional Sports Networks
Wes Durham & Mike Gminski
Also available on ESPN3

All right Hokie fans, things are getting serious for this young team. They have taken several steps forward that no one saw coming a month ago. Sure, some of us have been able to call the changes game to game but I don't even think Buzz thought we would be where we are right now.
4-1 going into a place not kind to visiting teams against an experienced starting five. Notre Dame leads the all time series with Tech 5-1, with our only win being the 1973 NIT Championship Game at MSG. They come into this game with all five starters averaging in double figures, with a big win over Duke at Cameron that saw them put up 95 points in regulation. This is a team with a high offensive motor. One the Hokies will have to find a way to stop.


Leading this team in scoring is Demetrius Jackson, (#11) 6'1, 198 lbs, Junior Guard, averaging 17.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 5.4 APG. He scores the most and is their leading facilitator to boot. He also is considered their primary on ball defender. Definitely a Player of the Year nominee for the ACC at this point. He shoots 40% from outside and an even deadlier 55% overall from the field. He is much like Seth Allen in how he takes the ball to the rim, except he makes his shots without the turnovers or finds an open teammate for an easy basket. His only slight weakness might be that he only shoots 75% from the free throw line. Only!!


Big man Zach Auguste (#30) 6'10, 242 Lbs Senior Forward, is next in scoring for the Irish at 13.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 1.6 APG. Essentially a double double machine with a soft touch inside. Think Kerry Blackshear after four years of college ball. Shoots better than 55% inside, never even hints at shooting from outside, and is fairly benign at the free throw line at 61%, which is good for the Hokies because Auguste draws the most fouls of any Irish player.


Next up on the scoring list is Steve Vasturia, (#32) 6'5, 211 Lbs, Junior Guard who contributes 12.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 3.1 APG. He is their version of Justin Bibbs with more of a knack for battling inside. He shoots 40% from outside, 53% from inside and 76% from the line. Has a nose for the basketball, and with his wide wingspan, deflects a lot of passes being attempted into the lane, leading to turnovers.


Bonzie Colson, (#35) 6'5, 225 Lbs Sophomore Forward is a mini wrecking ball underneath, averaging 12.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 1.1 APG. He also leads this team in blocked shots with almost 2 per game. Colson will probably be the X Factor in this game, being a big challenge to guard for the Hokies. Expect he and Leday to bang around quite a bit. He shoots almost 60% from inside and is a bit sneaky beyond the arc, with 36% made so far this season.


Their last starter is VJ Beachem (#3), 6'8, 200 Lbs Junior Forward, averaging 11 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 1.1 APG. Late in the game he is the one Hokies want to force the ball to if in a fouling situation as he shoots a miserable 50% from the line. His game is very similar to Pierce but more consistent only for the minutes he is allowed on the floor.

After the starting five though, the contributions fall far, to Matt Ryan, (#4) 6'8, 217 Lbs Freshmen Forward who contributes 6 PPG and 2 RPG. After Ryan, the most anyone else on the roster puts up is less than three points per game. This is a crucial aspect that I expect to see Buzz push. If Tech continues to draw fouls against the Irish like they have all season, at least one or more of the starters for the Irish will have to sit for significant parts of this game. Tech will need to remain aggressive all evening if they want to keep pace with the Irish prolific offense.

The other area of concern for the Hokies will be that size wise, Notre Dame, will have bigger bodies on the floor than Tech normally would play so clogging up passes into the lane should be a big focus for the Hokies on defense. If we can keep the ball out of the hands of the Irish interior guys it will force their team into jump shots they are not accustomed to.

Last but not least, if Tech gets to the line, it needs to continue its trend of improved free throw shooting in the ACC. Coming into conference play, the Hokies managed to hit only 65% from the charity stripe but since entering ACC play they have improved to 73% from the line. This has been critical in keeping them in and pushing them ahead in several conference games so far.

Notre Dame may be ripe for an upset if that's what you call Tech beating them, considering we are ahead of them in conference but it is an Irish home game. After beating Duke on the road, they might sit back on their laurels coming out of the gate, so I am hoping to see a high energy lineup from Buzz to kick this one off. Allen and TYRONE need to come out with full clearance to drive the basketball early and often. The sooner the Irish are in foul trouble the better. Another appearance of tough and tumble Bibbs would also be appreciated considering Leday is going to have his hands full with big bodies all night.


I am going to go out on a limb here and hopefully the Hokies don't cut it out from under me with an underwhelming performance on the road. These young Hokies find a way to do the things I outlined above and Tech wins this one 81-76.

DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Comments

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Here lies It's a Stroman Jersey I Swear, surpassed in life by no one because he intercepted it.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

We wont win the race until a trophy is in the case!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"look at this...this is beautiful, these people are losing their minds" -Mike Patrick

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"look at this...this is beautiful, these people are losing their minds" -Mike Patrick

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"For those who have passed, for those to come, reach for excellence."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.