Virginia Tech Men's Basketball: The Matrix 1.1

In addition to a new coaching staff, the 2014-15 Virginia Tech men's basketball team has a bunch of fresh faces on the roster. Through eight games, it's unknown how the pieces fit together. In an effort to better understand the construction and cohesion of this team, it's useful to track its evolution with metrics that transcend statistical analytics. What the tempo is going to be; what offensive and defensive sets fit both Buzz's preference(s) and the players on-hand; and who ultimately emerges in key roles.

How would something like this work?

My analysis will rely on both game-by-game and season-long statistics, as well as some subjectivity (my eye test) to order players 1-11 in five categories that factor into a composite rank. These will change week-to-week and will be charted in a matrix. For instance, JVZ may finish with the most rebounds this season, but that doesn't necessarily make him the "best rebounder." I'm interested to know who is making plays off the ball to find and box out a man, seal off defenders, fight for loose balls, block shots and affect play in and around the basket. Shane Henry could play far less minutes than JVZ and finish with less boards, but could prove to be a more efficient presence near the rim (thus warranting a higher rank).

I saw the word "matrix", does this involve Keanu Reeves or the Wachowskis?

No, and let's hope that our version of The Matrix fares better than Jupiter Ascending.

Okay, I'm confused. Why then "The Matrix"?

We know Buzz hearts metrics to track how his team is performing in certain facets of the game, but we would be kidding ourselves if we assumed the coaching staff operated solely in a metrics-based vacuum. As such — as personal as it can be — subjectivity is an essential element to understanding how this team performs and ultimately develops. Think of this exercise as a synthesis of the two, using five categories that transcend the score sheet to track who excels in certain roles and who is a liability.

Got it. So what are the five categories?

The categories are as follows:

Alpha Male: Who is the guy that should have the ball in his hands down 1 with 10 seconds to go? That guy with the "eff you" attitude (think Kobe), that speaks up in the huddle and demands the final shot. He can't just want the shot — he has to prove that he has ice in his veins (Just typing that made me want to scream out in my best Billy Raftery voice, "ONIONS!").

Floor General: Who is the leader on the floor — the guy you want the offense to run through and dictate pace of play? He keeps his teammates focused during periods of frustration. In my mind, this is a category that transcends ball handling ability. It requires a heady player, someone who recognizes matchups, can lead through example and understands when to push the pace and when to slow things down.

Rim Protector: Who is the best rebounder, gets their hands on shots, does the best job of boxing out the nearest defender and affects play in and around the basket? So far, this team doesn't have any Anthony Davis-types, but it has a number of guys that despite stature, have potential based purely on effort and athletic ability.

Lock-down Defender: Who is this team's Ron Artest or Bruce Bowen?

Energy Guy: Who is that guy that enters the game and immediately changes the dynamic of this team (e.g. Deron Washington)?

The 5 categories are the basis for the composite score, which provides an overview of how Tech's players shake out across the board. It doesn't necessarily yield a best-to-worst rank, because the categories don't fairly reflect that. Some categories skew toward bench players who can give maximum effort over a brief period of time. Others require significant minutes to establish themselves in certain roles.

Ultimately, the benefit of this project is to note change throughout the season. So while Satchel Pierce may be the fourth ranked Rim Protector in the inaugural Matrix, he very well may develop a mean streak and/or improve his fundamentals by season's end to establish himself as a force in the paint.

Tech was picked to finish last in the ACC before the season. This is an enjoyable way for me to follow an inexperienced team and their growing pains without getting too heated about their struggles. Hopefully it provides a way to stay focused on the team's development, not record, as the program grows.

So without further ado, let's review the inaugural iteration of the Matrix.

The Matrix 1.1

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Leading up to the season, the Hokies had two clear leaders in sophomore point guard Devin Wilson and redshirt junior center Joey van Zegeren. Through eight games, little has changed that perception, especially considering the incredible development of JVZ in his third season. With that being said, a number of fresh faces have emerged as solid contributors that should make all Hokies excited about the program's future.

Alpha Male

Until proven otherwise, Wilson and JVZ hold the top spots. After seemingly never leaving the court a season ago, Devin Wilson has continued to lead this team despite the occasional blow thanks to more capable ball handlers on the roster. He shows a knack for recognizing the state of the opposing defense as soon as he turns up court and does a phenomenal job in the pick-and-roll game with JVZ.

JVZ has shown a dramatic improvement in his offensive game this season. Against Penn State, he entered the game early in the first half and was unafraid to take on his defender, both on the block and from the elbow. His athleticism has been outstanding and he continues to show great touch on his jump hook from 8-feet-and-in. Now if only he could stay out of foul trouble...and hit the occasional free-throw.

Keep An Eye On: Justin Bibbs. He's shown the ability to score in bunches, both in the mid-range game and slashing to the basket. My biggest concern is how well he develops as the season wears on knowing that he is one of the team's primary scoring threats. He wasn't "the guy" on his top-ranked Montverde Academy team a year ago — that honor went to Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell — so the big question is whether or not he can be "the man" in Blacksburg.

Floor General

No surprise, but Devin Wilson holds the top spot after an excellent freshman campaign. Malik Mueller has contributed solid minutes, but more importantly makes those around him better. The Umlaut has done a great job running the offense in Wilson's stead, and the pair form a dangerous one-two up top for the Hokies. Brian Marcolini previously mentioned the two are so simpatico, that they have openly admitted they know where each other is or will be at all times. I've been most pleased with his extremely high basketball IQ, which is an extremely valuable trait on an inexperienced squad about to roll into their conference schedule.

I have two major concerns with The Umlaut's game. First, Mueller's penchant for disappearing on the court for long periods. This team doesn't necessarily need him to put up 15 points or dish out 8-plus assists every night, but he thrives with the ball in his hands. There have been stretches where his court presence is forgettable. Second, he shows so little emotion I wonder if he has the ability to fire up his teammates when the situation calls for it. No doubt he shows phenomenal poise and clearly serves as a calming influence on the floor. However, I would be lying if I wasn't somewhat fearful that his almost robotic German disposition might limit his ceiling as a true leader.

Keep An Eye On: Jalen Hudson. Someone needs to emerge as the true back-up to Devin Wilson, and I would argue Mueller is better when paired with Wilson than flying solo. Enter Hudson. He can be a bit inconsistent as he gets visibly amped up by the pace of play, but his solid two-way play makes him an intriguing candidate moving forward. As the game begins to slow down and he finds his voice on the court and inside the huddle, watch for Hudson to step up as the leader of this team when a guy like Wilson is on the bench.

Rim Protector

Hey, guess what? Our two centers make up half of the Top 4! If that's not next level analysis, I don't know what is!

Manning the No. 2 and 3 spots are two guys that have a ton of potential. Ahmed Hill does a fantastic job of influencing play in the paint, and does a better job than most in locating the nearest man and sealing him off from the impending rebound. As physical as Hill has been playing alongside JVZ, I have been most impressed with JUCO-transfer Shane Henry's performance in limited minutes.

Henry's athleticism is his greatest strength, and he does a great job using that to block shots and get a hand on loose balls. He has an impressive ability to read drivers and anticipate their shots, as well as great instincts to anticipate the path of the ball off the rim. Consider this:

Henry leads the team in rebounds and blocks per 40 minutes despite playing many of those as the tallest guy on the floor for the Hokies. At 6'8", he is out-muscling guys 2-6 inches taller and holding his own around the rim when a guy is taking it to the rack. Why isn't he playing more minutes? Well, let's just say his offensive game needs some work.

Keep An Eye On: Devin Wilson. No, seriously. The former high school football player has already proven he is tough as nails, unafraid to stick his nose into a scrum and fight for a loose ball. He also does a great job chasing down long rebounds or tipped misses. His ceiling is limited by his minimal impact in the paint, but his ability off-the-ball will buoy his position throughout the season.

Lock-down Defender

Let's change it up and highlight a player showing great promise, and one that is proving to be a liability.

On a team with only two true post players, Shane Henry may see his minutes increase incrementally through ACC play. While his offensive game still looks a bit unsettled, the spark he can provide on the defensive end and around the basket could be a huge asset as the season wears on.

As for Adam Smith...we've seen a lot of "ole's" through 8 games.

I really like Smith's jump shot, as streaky as it is, but he is such a burden defensively that I am afraid he is going to be exploited more often as the season progresses. He not only struggles to stay in front of his man, but he has a penchant for losing his man on the back side, making him susceptible to skip passes and back cuts. Some of his issues are coachable, while others are instincts he lacks. Let's hope he either improves defensively, or starts shooting over 60-percent from three.

Keep An Eye On: Justin Bibbs. He hasn't been great or terrible, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Would I like to see him improve his footwork so that he can maintain proper positioning between his man and the basket? Sure. But what I really like about his game is how active his hands are. One of my biggest issues with last year's team was how inactive their hands were on defense; defenders that keep their hands up and out not only look like they're engaged, but they cause a great deal of disruption to passing lanes. Bibbs exemplifies Buzz Williams' aggressive and active defensive mindset, and I really hope he continues to grow as the season rolls on.

Energy Guy

One of the biggest surprises this season has been freshman Jalen Hudson. He averages 16 minutes per game and takes full advantage of them with his energy and fearlessness. However, he exhibits erratic play at times, reflective of his inexperience and inability to mentally slow down the game. These are things that fade with time and minutes. The important element is the incredible spark that he provides while on the court.

Hudson has not displayed a strong touch from outside, nor that he can operate the offense with the consistency of Devin Wilson. However, he's shown an innate ability to carve up a defense with his slashing ability and he does a great job disrupting passing lanes with active hands. He's driven to the hoop from all over the floor, and has proven to be a cool customer finishing at the rim.

Freshman Ahmed Hill has caught my eye plenty. During the Penn State game, he grabbed a quick defensive rebound, turned up court and recognized the lackadaisical pace at which the Nittany Lions defense sauntered up the floor. Hill immediately exploded with an easy stride to create a fast break opportunity. Sure, the play ended up in a questionable charge call as he attempted the layup, but it illustrated his advanced instincts and phenomenal athleticism.

Keep An Eye On: Will Johnston. You laugh, but would you be at all surprised if he entered a tough ACC matchup and started nailing threes from the corner, possession-after-possession? To put it kindly, Adam Smith has been a streaky shooter thus far. Johnston has shown a knack for coming off the bench and hitting some open shots, and he could provide a spark during those mid-game stretches where the Hokies go ice cold from the field.