HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: OLD DOMINION (2-1) VS VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (3-0) 2PM ESPN2

HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: OLD DOMINION (2-1) VS VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (3-0) 2PM ESPN2

Tourney Time‼️‼️🆚 ODU📍 TD Arena🏆 Shriners Children's Charleston Classic📺 ESPN2#StoneByStone 🦃🏀 pic.twitter.com/tAv5V5jDBP— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 17, 2022

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Thursday, Nov. 17 | 2:00 p.m. ET
TD Arena (Charleston, S.C.)
vs. Old Dominion
Series: VT leads 14-10

TV Broadcast
ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Derek Jones
Analyst: Perry Clark

Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop

Stream option: fuboTV

Current Spread: Hokies -14
Over/Under: 131
ODU: The Monarchs are 0-4 against the spread in the last four neutral-site games
VT: The Hokies are 4-4 against the spread in the last eight neutral-site games

Do it for the Kids....
The Hokies (36th in AP Poll/32nd Coaches Poll) open their trip to the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic with a matchup against Old Dominion. This is the Hokies first time back at the Charleston Classic since 2018, where Nickiel Alexander-Walker led the Hokies to bringing home the trophy. The Hokies are 14-10 against Old Dominion going into their first meeting in 15 years. The Hokies lost the previous meeting with Old Dominion on Dec. 16, 2007 in Norfolk – a 72-69 ODU win. The Hokies are coming off a 94-77 win over William & Mary.

𝙍𝙪𝙣 𝙄𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 🦃🏆The last time we were in Charleston, we collected some hardware!🏆 Team champion🏆 Tournament MVP (NAW) pic.twitter.com/VZoHBseET2— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 16, 2022

The Monarchs are coached by Jeff Jones, who began his college coaching career at UVA as an assistant coach in 1982. Old Dominion is his third college head coaching job. He coached UVA from 1990-1998 and American from 2000-2013. He took over the Old Dominion position in 2013 and has a 181-113 overall record guiding the Monarchs. He is 538-400 overall. He has led teams to the postseason in 13 seasons. Last season the Monarchs were 13-19.

The Monarchs are 2-1 to start the season after wins over MD Eastern and VA Wesleyan and a loss to Drexel. The Monarchs had three players in double figures in the last game with very little contribution outside the starters.

The Monarchs come into this season with three new Freshman. None of the freshmen appear to factor into the Monarchs strategy this season. This is a fairly seasoned roster with four Seniors and four Juniors. The team is led by two transfers, Senior Forward Ben Stanley, (Xavier) and Senior Guard Tyreek Scott-Grayson, (Northeastern). The duo combine for 28 points per game.

Other returning players that will impact this game outside Stanley and Scott-Grayson are Junior Guard Mekhi Long and Sophomore Guard Chaunce Jenkins.

Defensively, they play a situational morphing zone strategy, shifting between a 1-3-1 Zone and a 3-2 Xone. Coach Reed drills into his players the situational approach of his zones. The 1-3-1 will typically have a guard up top at the point to harass the ball handler as they approach the perimeter. The other intent is to prevent direct passing and create transition basket opportunities after turnovers. The Hokies will look for open three point opportunities in the corners as this is a significant weakness to this zone. ODU may be forced into more of their 3-2 zone to counter how well the Hokies shoot from the perimeter. This is a game where Basile' shooting ability from outside is a big plus as it will impact how ODU switches in the zone.

Offensively, Coach Reed uses the Motion Screen Offense which tries to create mismatches of personnel utilizing speed to separate either to create dribble penetration openings or open looks on cuts to the basket. The Hokies should focus on preventing interior scoring as Old Dominion struggles from the perimeter. Currently shooting 27% from outside, now that I typed this, as many Hokie fans can attest, it guarantees someone, probably off the bench will have a career night from outside.

The Monarchs Backcourt
Tyreek Scott-Grayson (#11, SR, G, 6-5, 180lbs) 11.0 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 2.7 Ast
Chaunce Jenkins (#2, SO, G, 6-4, 175lbs) 9.0 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Charles Smith IV (#22, JR, G, 6-5, 185lbs) 5.3 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Imo Essien (#3, SO, G, 5-11, 170lbs) 5.0 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 2.3 Ast

The Monarchs Frontcourt
Ben Stanley (#12, SR, F, 6-6, 230lbs) 17.3 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Mekhi Long (#0, JR, F, 6-7, 195lbs) 10.3 Pts, 9.3 Reb, 3.0 Ast
Dericko Williams (#23, JR, F, 6-8, 220lbs) 8.3 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast

What to expect from Old Dominion?
As a team the Monarchs scoring focus is primarily inside, either by getting the ball down low to Stanley and Long or by guards finding layup opportunities on backdoor cuts. They have struggled from outside on the limited number of attempts, shooting 27% on less than a quarter of their offensive attempts.

Old Dominion roster is designed around speed and defense. They tend to run a three guard two big rotation on the floor and focus on zone defense leading to transition offensive opportunities. The Monarchs forwards are capable rim protectors averaging over 4 blocks a game.

Coach Jones team has not yet faced an opponent of the Hokies caliber so expect there to be some openings for the Hokies to exploit. That said the Monarchs have held opponents to 39% shooting from the floor so this contest will likely be lower scoring than the Hokies first three games.

The Hokies
The Hokies need to focus on finding holes in the zone coverage. The corner three tends to be a major weakness which is an area the Hokies excel in. Creating space at the free throw line by getting the ball in to Mutts or Kidd likely collapses the zone to leave openings on the perimeter.

The Hokies should utilize Basile' shooting ability to disrupt the zone coverage which may create 1 on 1 situations down low for Mutts or Kidd.

Pedulla driving in from the perimeter will also create open opportunities by drawing the zone out of alignment. Cattoor is the primary beneficiary in this situation allowing him open looks from the perimeter elbow.

The Hokies face the strongest defense of any team this season. Not allowing the zone to dictate the offensive sets is crucial to success in this contest

Highlight of the W&M game

Cattoor gets his groove back

Darius is all of us rnWhen you know, you know 👌🔥H🙌nt has a 20-piece (4th of his career) pic.twitter.com/kr3EENCZNe— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 14, 2022

In Closing
The Hokies look to drive on or shift the zone coverage by forcing a big to the perimeter. Mutts finds more 1 on 1 situations down low and transitions from assist monster to scoring machine.

The Hokies will need to score on primary possessions and not count on second chance or free throws to buffer their scoring margin. The Monarchs are a consistent rebounding team and do not commit an abundance of fouls to this point but they also haven't faced an opponent as strong as the Hokies.

I expect Cattoor and Mutts to lead the Hokies in scoring in this one. Pedulla will flirt with a points/assist double-double. Basile stretching the perimeter will be an X-factor in the final result.

Hokies don't fall into the ODU Curse and get Cattoor a birthday present in W #4 in the opener of the Charleston Classic. 75-54 win.

Gameday and a Birthday 🥳‼️Let's get it H🙌nt pic.twitter.com/BnFzbHrdWm— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 17, 2022