IT'S GAMEDAY!!🏀 #BeatMiami📍 Cassell🕑 2 PM EST📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/OmQ4LqgWnu— VT Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 3, 2018
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 3, 2018 / 2 p.m.
Opponent: Miami
Site: Blacksburg, Virginia (Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum)
Radio: Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Talent: Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
TV: ESPN
Talent: Jason Benetti & Jason Capel
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Game Notes: Virginia Tech
SIRI 83 (Internet 83)
Is there a Hurricane in the House?
There is a White Out, so if you are going to the game go prepared.
⚪️ Wear White🗣 Be Loud🏀 #BeatMiami pic.twitter.com/wGLhOd4eaq— VT Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 3, 2018
Buzzketball returns to Cassell after a successful 2-0 road trip. That's in the past and now they must focus on a dangerous Miami team. Miami comes in having just dealt Pitt their 10th straight loss while the Hokies return after sorting out some demons with Chestnut Hills and Boston College.
Home game with a strong desire to provide a packed house. Cassell should be loud and ready to rock after the last few games have gone the Hokies way. Miami will be without one of its top players, Bruce Brown, who is out with an injury. Brown was putting up 11.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 4 APG as the primary playmaker at the top of the key. The area that the Hurricanes will likely miss Brown the most though is the defensive end, where he was averaging 1.4 SPG and almost 1 BPG, while grabbing 5 defensive rebounds each game. This will be the thirty fifth meeting between the Hokies and Hurricanes. Miami leads the all-time series 20-14. The Hokies have won their last two home games against the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes are coached by Jim Larranaga, who has been at Miami since 2011. Miami has won at least twenty games in five of his six seasons, and are working towards another this year. Larranaga has taken the Hurricanes to three NCAA tournament berths. He also guided them to an ACC Championship both in the regular season and tournament in 2012-2013.
Defensively, Miami runs three different defensive schemes, primarily playing a high pressure man to man which usually rotates into the Scramble defense which is essentially a man to man defense with some zone trapping techniques utilized and then rounding it out with a curveball they call a 3-2 Disrupting Camouflage Defense which is a high pressure, perimeter zone defense that sags to the middle of the court. The 3-2 Disrupting Camouflage is almost the reverse of the Scramble defense. This defense has players back off their offensive players as if they were going to trap but then they shift into passing lanes rather than close the trap.
Offensively, the Hurricanes switch between a four out, one in and a three out, two in Motion Offense, based on the personnel on the floor. When Miami is in with two bigs, those bigs typically rotate between the top and bottom of the lane to create gaps in the defensive coverage while also opening up opportunities for the guards to drive to the basket. The Hurricanes usually attempt 21 threes per game but this is a game against the Hokies, where everyone seems to add 5-10 attempts.
What does that mean for the Hokies?
The Hokies are getting an opponent with a very similar offensive approach especially in terms of guard focused scoring. Tech needs to be able to keep Miami out of the lane. Playing interior defense is what the Hokies do much better than playing perimeter defense so hopefully they are able to slow the Miami guards down this time. The Hokies should also apply more pressure at the point with Bruce Brown out of this contest to try to force a few extra turnovers.
This game should be a high scoring affair, with the fast paced offense that both these squads run, Miami may try to slow the pace down with their bigs which could take the Hokies out of their rhythm. The Hokies just need to remember what got them to where they are now. Shooting the ball proficiently. Make your shots and stay in the game.
The Hokies need to find that rhythm of turning energetic defense into a quick scoring offense today. They should be able to keep the Hurricanes a step behind if they force early turnovers, get out in transition and take confident shots. Miami once it sets up its defense though is a much harder opponent to face. They rank in the top five in the ACC in almost every defensive category. They are especially good at keeping opponents off the board and out of the paint, allowing the fewest interior shots of any ACC team so far.
Lastly, the Hokies have to find a way to limit the turnovers. Too many times to count during ACC play, the Hokies have committed turnovers on more than 20% of their possessions. You cant win consistently when you give the ball away that many times. The last few contests they have managed to limit turnovers to 10 or fewer and it has paid off with W's.
Hurricanes Backcourt
Lonnie Walker (#4) 6'4, 192 Lbs Freshman Guard is averaging 11 PPG, 3 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1 SPG. He is shooting 36% from behind the arc and 43% overall. Also shoots 77% from the line. Walker is a bigger guard that likes to get into the lane to score. He is forced into the spotlight with Brown out and will need to find a way to add more to his game.
Ja'Quan Newton, (#0) 6'2, 187 Senior Guard comes in averaging 8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.9 APG and 1.1 SPG. He is shooting a miserable 17% from outside and at the free throw line, shooting 61%. He is better known for his quick first step and ability to drive inside. So far on the season he is shooting better than 46% inside the arc. Newton will be the primary ball handler for the Hurricanes with Brown out and is excellent at driving in and distributing to a perimeter shooter so the Hokies need to be prepared to cover down when he attempts to go inside. This injury had brought Newton back into the spotlight as he was forced to the bench this year after being the second leading scorer last season. Poor shooting seems the most likely cause for his reduced minutes this season.
Dejan Vasilkevic, (#1) 6'3, 198 Lbs Sophomore Guard is averaging 8.9 PPG and 2.5 RPG in a backup role across 16 minutes per game. So far this season he is shooting 51% inside, 38% from behind the arc and 85% from the line. Miami is forced to use him for a larger role today with the injury to Brown. His improvement shooting outside should be a concern for the Hokies.
Chris Lykes, (#2), 5'7, 160 lbs Freshman Guard is averaging 7.9 PPG, 1 RPG, 2.1 APG and will likely see more minutes at the top of the key with Brown out. He is the primary backup point guard.
Hurricanes Frontcourt
Dewan Huell, (#20) 6'11, 220 Lbs Sophomore Forward is one of the most improved players in the ACC over last season. He has essentially doubled his production compared to last year, averaging 13.4 PPG and 6.9 RPG. There will be some time that these Huell and Lawrence are both on the court together.
Anthony Lawrence Jr., (#3), 6'7, 185 Lbs Junior Forward is averaging 9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.2 APG and 1.2 SPG. Lawrence is shooting 51% inside and is the Hurricanes biggest threat from outside, hitting 48% from beyond the arc. He is only a 66% free throw shooter.
Ebuka Izundu, (#15) 6'10, 231 Lbs Sophomore Center is averaging 4.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and almost 1 BPG in about 13 minutes per game. He definitely struggles staying out of foul trouble, averaging 2.4 fouls per contest over those 13 MPG. He does shoot 67% from the floor and 42% from the line so keeping him out of the game considering our size disadvantage could be huge.
What to expect from Miami?
The Hurricanes have greatly improved their foul discipline over last season so its unlikely they will be in foul trouble early. Normally Miami would rely mostly on their guards to do their scoring but the Hurricanes may look to take advantage of the Hokies height deficiency. Larranaga still got great scoring from his top two guards but the bigs provide an extra bonus that could decide the game.
The Hokies need to disrupt the offensive rebounding in this contest either by having position to rebound or cleanly blocking the second attempt. They can ill afford to give the Hurricanes second chances.
Three point shooting will be another interesting facet of this game to watch. Do the Hurricanes do like many of Tech's opponents and increase their perimeter shot quantity or do they stick to their normal game plan? Last time out the Hurricanes only shot 33% from outside, but that was sufficient for how poorly Tech did from outside.
Miami is learning to play without Brown. They managed to beat Pitt but it was ugly doing so. Expect to see some roster disruption play a factor in this contest as well.
The Hokies
Tech needs to go fast again in this game. Tech needs to find the pace it had in the first half against Boston College. Get out and up early and don't let the Hurricanes back in the contest.
Having Hill, Bibbs and Nickiel Alexander Walker hit their shots opens the floor so much more for Clarke, Robinson, and Blackshear in terms of getting inside or having the space inside to create their shots.
Pound the ball inside to Blackshear. Blackshear also needs to find a way to pull down some rebounds tonight. He has been a double-double machine so far in conference play, so has to continue that today.
CUT DOWN ON TURNOVERS. Keep them below 10 and expect to win
Highlight of the BC Game
An Almost Statement Win. Tip of the hat though goes to Robinson. He kept the Eagles off balance at every turn.
In Closing
If the Hokies can get Blackshear and Hill or Bibbs going tonight than this game should take care of itself as the others typically deliver enough to get it done. This is a team that is very susceptible to the inside out game, so forcing Miami to react to both the perimeter and the lane is critical.
The Miami bigs have a tendency to get in foul trouble so providing Clarke and Robinson the space to drive inside along with Blackshear being able to draw contact down low could force Larranaga out of his game plan. The less of 6'10 and 6'11 that see the floor against the Hokies the better off we are in this contest.
This is not an absolute must win considering the Hokies current record but every win that can be added from here on in is that much more security of hearing Virginia Tech called to the NCAA Tournament field.
Hokies win 83-75 because of the home cookin, and these guys ability to fill up the basket.
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