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#BeatUL
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@theACCDN
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#ThisIsHome pic.twitter.com/59WI877e51— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 27, 2016
Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
Also available on:
Satellite: Sirius: 108 XM: 194
Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn
Television/Internet
The ACC Network
Tom Werme & Dan Bonner
Also available on ESPN3
For a better idea on where to find this game on TV, check out this post.
Where can you watch tonight's #Hokies - Louisville game? Check out a new #HokieHuddle https://t.co/nmCTrXi2Ra— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 27, 2016
Hokies fans, let's not lose sight of the fact that had anyone suggested seven games into conference play at the beginning of the year, no one would have thought the Hokies would have a winning record. Sitting at 4-3, coming off a closely contested loss to the now #1 team in the country is nothing to shake our heads at. Last year that loss would have been by 30 going away from us. We have another really tough game ahead of us, against a team with a quasi-dominant big man in Louisville, who comes in riding a three game win streak with its only losses to #3 Michigan State, #12 Kentucky, and Clemson. It's undeniable that the Hokies will have to play hard to have a chance at knocking this team off, but also keep in mind the recent trend of ranked teams pulling out amazing comebacks in the final seconds of their games. UVA shocked Wake Forest by hitting three three's in the last 17 seconds. Georgetown mounted a 12 point comeback with less than two minutes to go. Doing the little things right ALL night will be crucial in this game.
The biggest concern for the Hokies in this game will be the size/skill of Chinanu Onuaku (#32) 6'10, 230 Lbs Sophomore Center. He comes in averaging 10.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 1.1 APG. He has a double-double in every ACC contest so far for the Cardinals. He also is getting better on defense with 2 BPG and multiple altered shots each contest. This could be another night like the Hokies had when they faced Duke and allowed Plumlee to go on a rampage. Our bigs, especially Blackshear cannot take bad fouls 20 feet away from the basket in this game. No moving screens, no ticky tack reaches after an opposing screen, NO, NO, NO. If it happens and they are in foul trouble early this game could get away from Tech quickly. If the bigs manage to keep their head in the game than this should be a closely contested matchup right to the final buzzer.
One thing bound to catch everyone in Cassell's attention tonight is how Onuaku shoots free throws. He is using the old school "granny basket" shot this season and it's greatly improved his shooting at the line. He still shoots an awful 58% but that's much better than the 46% he shot last season. That's two or three points a game sometimes and everyone in the ACC knows how important two or three points are at this juncture. Difference between winning and losing most conference contests.
The Cardinals have three others scoring in double digits this season, starting with ACC POY candidate Damion Lee (#0) 6'6, 200 Lbs Senior Guard, who is averaging 16.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 1.7 APG. Lee is seen as their elder statesmen, definitely a shoot first type guard, with a knack for getting to the line where he hits 86% of his attempts. Lee will be a constant headache driving into the lane creating space for teammates.
After Lee, its Senior Guard Trey Lewis (#3) 6'2, 190 Lbs, who comes in putting up 12.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 2.6 APG. One thing the Hokies will need to careful about tonight is having a hand in the face of Lewis and Lee on the perimeter. They shoot only about a combined 35% from outside but attempt almost 10 shots per game. If either are allowed to get in a rhythm from outside its not good news. This is a critical area the Hokies have struggled with all season.
Last of the double digit contributors is Quentin Spider (#2) 6'2, 180 Lbs Sophomore Guard. Spider is the primary ball handler coming up the court for this team. He also leads them in assists at 3.6 APG, while also contributing 10.1 PPG and 2.3 RPG. Spider while with quite a few less attempts from outside is much like "LeTrey" in that he makes his at a 43% clip so three guards to spread the Hokies out around the perimeter. He also brings an attitude to the court much like Chris Clarke or TYRONE.
Donovan Mitchell (#45) 6'3, 210 Lbs Freshman Guard is the last of the Cardinal starters. He brings 8 PPG, 4 RPG, and 1.8 APG. With a larger frame, he is able to help down low in the event the Cardinals are dealing with wingers like the Hokies employ in Bibbs and Hudson.
Louisville comes into this game playing only about a seven man roster most games, sometimes stretched to nine when foul trouble creeps in. Coming off the bench for the Cardinals primarily will be Jaylen Johnson, (#10) 6'9, 215 Lbs Sophomore Forward and Raymond Spalding (#13) 6'10, 210 Lbs Freshman Forward. Both players average 5.5 PPG and around 4 RPG getting just over 16 minutes each. The Cardinals have a really deep front court for years to come if they can keep Onuaku from going pro. The scary part is that they would be even deeper in the front court for this game if it wasn't for the injury to Mangok Mathiang, a 6'10 Junior Center who broke a bone in his foot and has missed the Cardinals last ten games.
Tech is going to have their hands full. It's not that hard to match up size wise with this team but experience and doing the little things right all lean in the Cardinals favor. It is a home game, and hopefully after the way the UNC game went the Cassell will be buzzing, Tech is going to need the atmosphere to be electric to keep their heads in this game. Leday needs to come out with his hair on fire for this contest. His tweener size might be an advantage for the first time in ACC play as he should be able to create fouls on the Louisville bigs by getting into their bodies in the lane.
Bibbs will need to be ready to shoot in order to force at least one of the Louisville guards out to the perimeter, which should open up space for Allen and Hudson to drive into the lane. . Blackshear staying out of foul trouble to guard Onuaku likely will be the turning point in this game, if he is unable this might be a good time to see Hamilton out on the floor for the first time in a while. The Louisville center doesn't seem to do as well when someone is able to stand in front of him and alter his shooting ability from close range. Will it happen? Who knows with how Buzz manages this roster but Pierce is big enough too to keep Onuaku at least honest in the lane.
Now onto the really bad news. Why have the Cardinals been so successful this season? It's primarily due to the press defense that Pitino teams are notorious for. They run many different variations of full and half court zone press defenses, which if you remember the WVU game, was not something the Hokies fared well against. The Hokies will have to find a way to consistently break the Cardinals pressure defense or we will all be deep in our cups tonight. I would hope that this is something that Buzz and the staff have been working hard on to improve since its not the last of this style we will see this season.
Pitino expects his teams to create a high number of turnovers with their defense and turn that into quick transition buckets. If they pull back, Louisville then works hard at creating open looks from the perimeter. Not many teams will admit to looking for the three but the Cardinals are one of them. As a team they are averaging about 17 attempts from beyond the arc each game.
Tech will need to be perfect in this game. All phases. No exceptions. And that's to give itself a chance to win. Unfortunately I don't think it will be enough tonight. Tech loses but keeping it close which is something to be said considering the Cardinals average point differential is over 20 per game right now. 72-66 but still with a .500 record in ACC play eight games in. Wish I thought we had the answer here but I think the Cardinals defensive style will be the telling factor. Hopefully these young Hokies prove me wrong.
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