HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: #19 DUKE BLUE DEVILS (5-2, 3-0) AT #20 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (9-2, 3-1) 7PM ACCN
Got a big one tomorrow night ✊#StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 12, 2021
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Jan 10 2021 7 PM
Opponent: Duke
Site: Cassell Coliseum
ACCN, Dave O'Brien (play-by-play) and Cory Alexander (analyst)
Virginia Tech Sports Network. Jon Laaser (play-by-play) and Mike Burnop (analyst)
Clickin' on all cylinders last night 👊#StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/gJQirNv6dg— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 11, 2021
Bring down the Dukies....
Let me be one of many to say this game being on the ACC Network is a sports crime
The Hokies are coming off a superb second half defensive performance to beat Notre Dame 77-63 and now take on the Duke Blue Devils. The Hokies are 11-49 against Duke going into their 61st meeting. The Hokies are now 9-2 and ranked #20 in the AP Poll. The Hokies may not be able to have fans in most of Cassell right now but against Duke the Hokies will have fans featured on the video board which you can register for the Zoom call here
Coach K checking in with THIS BIG
The Blue Devils are coached by Mike Krzyzewski. He has coached Duke to a 1,089–293 record, an almost 79% winning percentage. Prior to Duke, Krzyzewski coached Army to a 73-59 record, giving him an overall record of 1,162–352. In the 40 years that Coach K has been at the helm, Duke has only managed to not make the NCAA tournament four times, and barring the year he had surgery, and relinquished the helm in 1995, it was only his first three years as head coach that they didn't make it outside of COVID cancelling last season, though they were 25-6 at the time.
Coach Krzyzewski's Blue Devils really haven't proven much at this point. They come in 5-2 with wins over Coppin State and Bellarmine out of conference and Notre Dame, Boston College and Wake Forest who are a combined 0-12 in ACC play. Their two losses are against the only ranked teams they have faced, Michigan State and Illinois. The Hokies will look to give them their third loss to a ranked team this season. Coach K made his return to the sideline from Covid quarantine against Wake Forest. Jon Scheyer coached the team in his absence.
One thing to keep in mind when facing Duke is a Coach K mantra, "A winning basketball team makes the opponent react to them, whether they are on offense or defense"
Coach Krzyzewski is still trying to replace several key players including Tre Jones, Vernon Carey, and Cassius Stanley but Duke being Duke replacing NBA level talent isn't the challenge it is in most other places.
The Blue Devils "One and Done" Academy come into this season with six new Freshman and one transfer. Patrick Tape transferred from Columbia. Tape hasn't found a significant role thus far, dealing with an injury most of the season. The freshman class however is composed of four five-stars and two four-stars according to 247Sports. Duke's highest-ranked recruit is Jalen Johnson who is the third-ranked Small Forward, and 11th ranked player nationally who is also returning from an injury. Four of the six freshman are playing significant roles this season accounting for 40.7 points of Duke's 75.9 per game
This team is full of stars, with the potential to have three players taken in the next draft. At first glance, Matthew Hurt, DJ Steward and Jalen Johnson all seem to be on track to get drafted.
Coach K had this to say regarding Jalen Johnson "Johnson did some individual workout Sunday" and "felt good this morning. He will go on the trip and he will suit up against Virginia Tech. I'm not sure we'll play him yet. We have a little bit of time after this game to get him into condition." Johnson not being a full go could be huge in this game.
Defensively, the Blue Devils employ a high-pressure attacking defense that varies its form and style based on opponents. This season had been almost exclusively 3-2 zone with Hurt and Johnson responsible for the paint and the other three guards locking down perimeter shooters.
Duke will also rotate into a 1-3-1 formation depending on the opponent. Duke will focus on a two three zone with normal stretch assignments to guard the perimeter ball handler by shifting into passing lanes and making it difficult to get a clean shot or pass the ball.
A couple other tenets of a Coach K defense are that his defenses involve getting all five players to play together: talking on defense, seeing the ball, and moving as the ball moves. He expects all five guys to play for the charge as a standard. He also coaches his team that defense continues until the ball is in Duke hands.
Offensively, Duke usually runs a three out, two in Motion offense, which involves the perimeter players looking for bigs at the free throw line to create space, open driving lanes, or allowing for kickout shots from the corner and did involve a ton of lob it up and let Hurt work in close. The Blue Devils excel at moving without the ball, so they are in the right spot to take advantage of a defensive miscue. Duke is not exactly the fastest paced offense so the Hokies should look to speed them up if they can.
Duke comes in averaging only 8 three-pointers per contest made. Most ACC teams are in or close to double digits. Duke is the first Hokies opponent to be more focused on Forwards scoring rather then the guards, roughly 60/40 post player scoring.
Coach K asked about the Hokies had this to say. "You have to defend them," Krzyzewski says. "They're an outstanding team on both ends of the court. There's not one guy you have to stop. They can score the ball and they don't just score it from one position. And they can rebound it from that end. We have to play good defense. We have been playing really good defense but this is more of a challenge because they have more guys who can score the ball. Mike's [Mike Young] teams have always been outstanding on the offensive end. He's very creative and he puts his guys in high-percentage situations to take advantage of the talents of his players."
Blue Devils Backcourt
DJ Steward (#2, FR, G, 6-2, 163 lbs)
Chicago, IL Whitney Young HS #24 recruit (2020)
14.0 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 2.4 Ast
Jeremy Roach (#3, FR, G, 6-1, 175 lbs)
Leesburg, VA Paul VI HS #20 recruit (2020)
9.6 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 3.4 Ast
Jordan Goldwire (#14, SR, G, 6-2, 184 lbs)
Norcross, GA Norcross High School
8.4 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 4.0 Ast
Blue Devils Frontcourt
Matthew Hurt (#21, SO, F, 6-9, 235 lbs)
Rochester, MN native #12 recruit (2019)
19.6 Pts, 7.9 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Jalen Johnson (#1, FR, F, 6-9, 220 lbs)
Milwaukee, WI Nicolet HS #11 recruit (2020)
11.5 Pts, 8.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Wendell Moore (#0, SO, F, 6-5, 216 lbs)
Charlotte, NC #25 recruit (2019)
6.9 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Jaemyn Brakefield (#5 , FR, F, 6-8, 216 lbs)
Jackson, MS Huntington Prep School #33 recruit (2020)
5.6 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 0.6 Ast
What to expect from Duke?
| PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | J. Roach | J. Goldwire | D. Steward | M. Hurt | M. Williams |
| Rotation | J. Johnson | ||||
| Rotation | W. Moore | ||||
| Rotation | J. Brakefield | ||||
| Rotation | J. Baker | ||||
| Lim PT | M. Buckmire | H. Coleman III | P. Tape |
The Blue Devils come in with five players averaging 8.4 or more points per game, but the Blue Devils only go two-deep on the bench for significant minutes or contributions. Hurt, Steward and Johnson take 34.6 of the 62.7 Blue Devils shots and account for 45 points per game. Johnson may not be a full go, forcing Duke to go deeper into its bench. Wendell Moore would be the sleeper to up his game if Johnson is absent.
Opponents are averaging a surprising 71.7 points per game. Opponents in ACC play are shooting 50% from the floor against the Blue Devils and 42% from the perimeter which is dead last in the ACC.
Duke is successful primarily because they average about 5 more shot attempts per game then their opponents. Thy force 16 turnovers per game and average nearly 15 points per game in transition and 12 points on second chance opportunities.
The Blue Devils commit 17.6 fouls per game. Opponents have shot 18 free throw attempts per game so far this season. This accounts for 18% of opponent scoring. This will be a major factor in this contest as most of the Duke opponents so far are not nearly as likely to get to the line as the Hokies have been this season.
As a team the Blue Devils are shooting 35% from the perimeter on 23 attempts per game but slightly better 39% in ACC play. Hurt is shooting 43% from the perimeter this year while Brakefield is shooting 50% on limited attempts. No one else shoots better than 35%.
Duke rebounding is an advantage but not as significant as you might expect but the are allowing the fewest rebounds allowed in ACC play thus far. One factor in this though is a reduced number of rebounds with both teams on the floor shooting 49%. They have only three players averaging more than four rebounds per game.
Roach and Goldwire are the primary distributors, averaging 7.4 assists between them. The Blue Devils average 13 assists on 30 made baskets per game, roughly 40% of all shots are assisted. This shows you how much Duke relies on creating their own shot.
The Hokies
Made some history last night on the defensive end We held Notre Dame to just two made field goals (!) in the second half, which is the fewest we've ever allowed in the ACC era (2004-present) 🔐#StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/gZ7BxcbnMG— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 11, 2021
The top takeaway from the Notre Dame game is that the Hokies can play superior defense when they focus. They held a hot shooting Notre Dame team to just two field goals in the second half after trailing early.
The Hokies will have their hands full with Hurt alone and could find it extremely difficult if Johnson is also on the court most of the game. Duke relies on a combination of four Forwards to accomplish most of its scoring. Aluma and Mutts need to continue to grab critical rebounds on both ends.
The Hokies continue bombarding from the perimeter if only because Duke opponents are shooting 42%. Cone, having hit 11 threes in the last two games should continue to fill it up. Cattoor reemerged against Notre Dame as well, dropping in 15 including three from outside, one from the logo.
Duke plays to create turnovers averaging 16 per contest. The difference in this one though is that Duke is also much more likely to foul. The Hokies forced Notre Dame into only 15 fouls but five of those were on the Irish' most important player. Hurt doesn't have nearly the discipline defensively that Laszewski does, coming in averaging 3.3 fouls per game in ACC play. If Johnson is unable to go and the Hokies get Hurt in foul trouble it would significantly reduce Duke's chances. Jordan Goldwire, Dukes point guard is also averaging 3 fouls per game in ACC play.
YOU HAVE TO HIT YOUR FREE THROWS. Duke allows opponents 18% of their points from the line. This is going to be a continued point of emphasis for the Hokies, although they did shoot 80% against Louisville on 16-20 shooting and 75% against the Irish on 12-16 shooting. ACC games are when every point counts and the Hokies should find an advantage at the line.
This is ACC play against an opponent that allows a ton of threes so hopefully a heavy dose of Cone and Cattoor for the second straight game. They combined to go 7-15 from the perimeter. Hopefully, we will continue to see an expansion of these two players minutes. Otherwise, a normal dose of Bede, Boots, Aluma, Mutts and Alleyne. I would not expect a Big John sighting barring significant foul trouble down low.
For those wondering where Pemsl has been, Coach Young touched on it post-game, stating he was dealing with a back injury and the medical team is working hard to get him back on the floor.
Highlight of the Notre Dame Game
From the logo 🗣Hunter buries it from downtown right before the shot clock went off, giving us our biggest lead of the night (11)2H - 2:31 (🦃 73, 🍀 62) pic.twitter.com/pNVjMIZS3m— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 11, 2021
Mutts on putbacks and Cattoor from the logo.
In Closing
The points of emphasis in this one are much like against Notre Dame. Hokies must find the open shooter, hit free throws and grab offensive rebounds. Defending like they did second half against Notre Dame, but do it for 40 minutes.
Hokies outscore Duke in classic ACC style, overcoming ACC officials, getting to the line and winning ugly, winning 77-71.
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Comments
Let's Go!
Hokies!!
as if that wasn't enough, Cory Alexander is the color guy. Master LOLUVA blatherer
I know Cory loves his alma mater, but he also (usually) gives VT a fair deal because his cousin is Kenny Brooks. At least that was the case the last time I remember watching him, but it's been a while.
Obligatory...
Been watching with a new fan to VT this year, her comment "have they ever had a set of announcers that actually like VT? Every game the announcers have been all about the other team. "
I hope we aren't playing 5 on 8. Theoretically we should get the home field advantage.
Realistically the fact that it's the ACC, Coach K and the Dukies is why my confidence factor wasn't 5 popcorns. There is always that 8 on 5 technique that Coach K is famous for. Still think he must have had a Zoom call with the officials at halftime of the Boston College game as the Eagles were wiping the floor with Duke in the first half without fouling and the entire second half was whistle after whistle. Coach K was in quarantine for that one 😳
I'll be down near Blacksburg for a couple of days (starting today)... Does anyone know if there is any way for two fans to get into a game?
The general public cannot buy tickets to Tech home games this season. Fans have to be put on a pass list by a player, a member of the Tech men's basketball staff, certain members of the Tech athletic department or by the visiting team. There is a limit of 250 fans per game.
If you know someone or appeal to the coaches and players on social media sounds like your only options. This being Duke, I imagine most of the people that know someone have already asked.
Match up with two ranked teams, one of them Duke, and still can't get on a main ESPN channel. Come on!
Yeah we are one of only two ranked matchups tonight. #9 Wisconsin at #7 Michigan is the other.
On main channels you can watch
Alabama at Kentucky
Providence at Marquette
Butler at St John's
Not even sure what other filler they will have on
Hockey starts tomorrow and NBA isn't on ESPN
Is Jalen Johnson healthy? He hasn't played since the Illinois game, back in December?
Coach K said Johnson would travel but might not play or might be minimally used.
Having only 3 guards, I'm wondering if Duke is going to try to go big on us. We can match them in height and length advantage on the perimeter, when they have 3 guards on the court.
Goldwire is 6-2, we can counter with 6-4 Alleyne
Steward is 6-2, we can counter with 6-2 Radford
Roach is 6-1, we can counter with 6-1 Bede
If they go with Moore (6-5), we can counter with Mutts (6-7)
If they go with Brakefield (6-8), we can counter with Pemsl (6-9)
Hurt is 6-9 and can be countered with Aluma (6-9)
If Johnson isn't able to go, the next guy off the bench is Baker (6-6), while we have Cattoor (6-3)
Finally, they only have William (7-0), while we have Cone (5-10), Bamisile (6-4), Maddox (6-5), and Ojiako (6-10)
I think Pemsl is out with a bad back.
Yes, Pemsl is extremely doubtful for tonight.
I guess Big John's gonna play some extra time tonight to give Alums and Mutts a break.
I would expect N'Guessan more than Big John
I don't know how I forgot N'Guessan. In any event, he gives us even more size down low.
From the ESPN game preview:
Huh? None of those guys are seniors, and Radford is a Sophomore. If you click on the player names it takes you to the player page with their correct class designation. I'd like to try what they are smoking...
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/preview?gameId=401265066
Comedy of errors and that's before the ACC Network gets involved
Duke is relying on 4 freshman for big contributions though so that parts right
Wait, ESPN got the part about Duke right, but messed up or didn't care about the other school, tell me more. /s
(Go Hokies and I love your write ups. I look forward to them, almost, as much as the games.)
Thanks 👍
the article was written by AI ("Automated Insights") and the data into the AI was wrong... Obviously no after-the-fact check either.
Also, cute name for their AI generator...
Give ESPN a break, they were up late last night talking about Alabama. Don't worry they will fix it to read properly: Wassabi Bede, PJ Horne, and Isaiah Wilkins.
Note that at the top of the 'article' it credits the source as Automated Insights.... Methinks they need to scrap their AI software. *Edit.. cracking a beer now*
15 minutes to Tipoff Get Poppin'!!
LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOO HOKIES.
FUCK DOOK. LET'S DO THIS THING. WHOOOOOOOO
Good start in the first 4 minutes.
Our dudes came out swinging hard tonight. I can dig it
*WAVES MY ARMS IN A WACKY WAVEY WAY LIKE THE FANS IN CASSEL
Cone cooking like popcorn🍿
Fun having my whole family up on the Video board tonight
Are you at the game?
No, Tech is doing a Zoom call
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/81645168212
Code is Hokies
Cool.
Zoom call is being broadcast to the Video Board
Get ready for Duke to come charging back. They are better than they have been playing.
Firing on all cylinders so far, love it.
Can't ease up
We're shooting 75% overall and 75% from three. I hope we don't wake up until after the game is over.
TBH it is mostly terrible defense by Duke that has us shooting so well.
Need to be wary of these last 4 minutes of the half.
Man, I just love Tyrece Radford.
Radford may be my favorite guy on the team
Of course that 3 went in😤
My God that first half was beautiful.
I really have nothing bad to say about that first half, except that if Cone's foot was a smidge forward, we'd be up 15.
Boots had a great first half. Duke's D is suspect and we've taken advantage. Need more of the same in the second half.
Really good first half! Would've been nice to be up 15, but 12 is still a decent margin.
Hopefully the defense can clamp down this next half, because I doubt they'll shoot 66% in the second half.
Getting to the rim repeatedly. If that continues in the second half it will be tough to beat.
https://hokiesports.com/sports/2020/3/26/zoom-backgrounds.aspx?utm_sourc...
Fun links for Zoom backgrounds
Huge bucket by Catoor.
We struggle to string two good halves together. Not an ideal start to the second half we really need aluma to start knocking some inside shots.
Need to pick it up on D.
Well we are excelling at pissing away big leads in ACC play so far this year
Aluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuma
Hurt was really quiet for Duke in the first half. He has clearly awakened. Need to find an answer to him.
We look flat in this half. We did not bring the same intensity on Defense or the tenacity to get rebounds.
Basketball is a game of runs, and seems to really be across college basketball this year more than usual. I'm not surprised it's gotten tight, we just need to time our run right to close it out
The most frustrating part right now is that if we could just consistently execute the fast break this half we would be up 15 right now. We are leaving so many points out there by just not executing
ALUUUUUUUUMA
Completely baffled by the foul on N'Guessan
How that wasnt a foul on Duke on the side there is just ACC
Justyn Mutts (probably): "Matthew, that hurt."
Leaving so, so many points on the board
Bede not having a good game on offense.
How often does this actually happen?
Duke starting to get those ref calls
White dude just leveled Aluma on that rebound attempt
Is it just me or does Aluma have butter on his fingers this game? So many mishandled passes and rebounds..
Edit: He is currently putting the team on his back!
Call damn foul. Good lord
Our players go flying from obvious fouls. "it's getting physical" (says the announcer). Immediately call touch foul on us.
N'Guessan gets knocked to the floor and the guy is laying on top of him. "Play on..."
Got a call and a bucket. Foul on Roach.
Aluma is heating up
Coach K is going to make these last 6 minutes last an hour with timeouts.
Time to get comfy
Steady boys. You got this.
Getting stops but we missed a lot of opportunities to extend the lead.
Aluma looks like something is wrong with him. He doesn't have a step. He's reaching a lot (mostly on those turnovers). Not moving his feet. Not much up in his jumps.
With Pemsl out the last couple of games he might be a little gassed due to extra minutes. Tonight is a Sunday-Tuesday turnaround.
Makes sense.
May also be why we're missing so many FTs. Dead legs
That defensive play certainly shut me up. That was high energy play right there, boyz!
Boys are just fine. Feeling good about this last 3:30
Side note, I would pay actual money just for ESPN+ to never show me Stephen A's World
Man we are playing some stupid ass basketball right now.
Up 7 with under 4 to go and you get an offensive rebound. Push that shit back to the key and milk more clock. Panicked and shot it back up with a no hope look and it immediately goes the other way.
That's fundamental shit right there. Like, come on guys. We are smarter than this. Pull your finger outta yer ass.
Dude took 5 steps from the 3-point line and got the foul call.
Looked like Radford had all ball on theat foul.
Keep feeding Aluma and take it to them. They'll either foul or he'll score.
Big FTs by Aluma.
Haha did Goldwire really not think he committed a foul there?
Aluma with the huge block! And Mutts with the flush to take the lead to 9.
Aluma just won the game with that block and steal. Holy wow
BOOM, Mutts! That was beautiful. The block/steal by Aluma and follow it up with that dunk.
ALUMA WITH A HUGE BLOCK AND THEN BOOTS PUTS HIS DEFENDER ON SKATES FOR A HUGE DUNK BY MUTTS
FAM! Wins over Duke are so sweet!
Aluma's Two handed block sealed the game for VT! Let's go!
"Hokies outscore Duke in classic ACC style, overcoming ACC officials, getting to the line and winning ugly, winning 77-71."
Good call Rob! Can't get much closer than that!
FAM
Blocks tend to be one of the more overrated plays in basketball, because often times they look great but the ball is just knocked out of bounds with the offensive team keeping it.
That two handed block by Aluma was not one of those plays. What a monster play
Aluma just killed a man on that play
My quick thoughts: beating Duke always feels so good
Anyone else catch the commentator say Radford got his nickname, boots, cause he's from Louisiana, and LA is shaped like a boot?...cause that's 100% different from the explanation during the ND game
yeah other game it was Buzz said he was like leather, tough like a mans boots