HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (2-2) AT VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (5-1) 8PM ACCN
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Gameday at the crib 🏰‼️ℹ️: https://t.co/WKZL4pM5gQ pic.twitter.com/ysPIuPfKRK— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 25, 2022
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Friday, Nov. 25 | 8 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.)
vs. Charleston Southern
Series: VT leads 6-0
Game Notes: Virginia Tech (PDF)
TV Broadcast
ACC NETWORK
Play-by-Play: Jon Meterparel
Analyst: Malcolm Huckaby
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Current Spread: Hokies -25
Over/Under: -110
Repelling Boarders....
The Hokies (37th in AP Poll/33rd in Coaches Poll) return to the court after a disappointing loss in the Championship of the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic with a matchup against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. The Hokies are 6-0 against Charleston Southern with a 87-59 Tech victory on Dec. 20, 2016 in the last match up.
The Buccaneers are coached by Barclay Radebaugh, who began his college coaching career at East Tennessee State as an assistant coach in 1986. Charleston Southern is his second college head coaching job. He coached Queens from 2003-2004. He took over the Charleston Southern position in 2005 and has a 216-299 overall record guiding the Buccaneers. Last season the Buccaneers were 6-25.
The Buccaneers are 2-2 to start the season after wins over Toccoa Falls and Bethune Cookman. Their losses are to Ohio State and Tulane. The Buccaneers come in averaging 74 points per game which is skewed by the 56 points against Ohio State. Regardless, this team can score so the Hokies will need to have fixed the defensive efforts we have seen the previous two contests.
The Buccaneers come into this season with a very young roster consisting of 12 Freshmen and Sophomores. Claudell Harris is their only real threat at this point. Tahlik Chavez and Taje' Kelly also average double digit scoring but both are buffeted by scoring from a single game.
Defensively, Coach Radebaugh utilizes a combination of man-to-man and a 2-3 zone defense. They have struggled with defensive switches, especially with bigs getting open underneath or perimeter shooters with wide open looks. Ohio State's center torched them inside for 17 points and 13 rebounds, almost all coming in the first half.
Offensively, Coach Radebaugh 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. So far this season the Buccaneers have not been very successful with dribble penetration so have relied on a mid-range jumper game, taking many shots along the free throw line from elbow to elbow.
The Buccaneers Backcourt
Claudell Harris Jr. (#12, SO, G, 6-3, 190lbs) 19.8 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 3.3 Ast
Tahlik Chavez (#13, JR, G, 6-2, 160lbs) 11.0 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast
R.J. Johnson (#22, FR, G, 6-1, 175lbs) 5.8 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 4.0 Ast
Tyeree Bryan (#4, SO, G, 6-6, 202lbs) 5.3 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Tres Berry (#55, SO ,G, 6-4, 190lbs) 5.7 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast
The Buccaneers Frontcourt
Taje' Kelly (#14, SO, F, 6-8, 250lbs) 11.8 Pts, 8.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Cheikh Faye (#34, SR, F, 6-7, 210lbs) 7.3 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 1.5 Ast
Reginald Duhart (#24, JR, F, 6-9, 205lbs) 5.8 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 0.5 Ast
What to expect from Charleston Southern?
As a team the Buccaneers have struggled shooting the ball. They come into this game averaging 39% shooting from the floor. The one area that has helped them though is getting to the line. The Buccaneers have averaged 10 points per game from the line.
Claudell Harris is their key to everything. Putting a defensive focus on him to force others to contribute is a major key to success. He has scored 19 or more in three of their contests but the Buckeyes held him to 12 points by keeping him off the free throw line and unable to get to the rim. Force him into jumpers and his overall impact is diminished.
Coach Radebaugh likes his offense to run, run, run and they struggle when they get bogged down into a half court offensive type game. They come in averaging 13 points a game off turnovers, most in fast break transition on steals at the top of the key.
Perimeter shooting accounts for nearly 40% of the Buccaneers total attempts. They come in averaging 39 attempts per game from outside although they are only shooting 34%. This is more from their inability to create opportunities in the lane. Their guards just don't seem to have the burst to win one-on-one to the basket.
The Buccaneers play fairly clean basketball. No one on the roster averages more than 2 fouls per game, although against Ohio State their bigs did have to sit significant minutes in the second half due to foul trouble.
A terrific Thanksgiving meal prepared by @bullnbones!!Fueled up for tomorrow 💪🦃🏀 pic.twitter.com/Lay88eSIff— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 24, 2022
The Hokies
The Hokies need to focus on finding the open man underneath. The Buccaneers attempts to double team down low has been a problem for the all season, either leaving a perimeter shooter wide open or another big on the alternate side of the lane for an easy dunk or layup.
The Hokies should be able to dominate the rebounding game on both ends but we have seen them struggle with smaller teams before. Ohio State controlled the game with a +19 rebounding margin and the other teams Charleston Southern have faced have been much smaller rosters.
This game should see the Hokies get back on track from the perimeter to end the struggles of the last two games. They shouldn't need a huge contribution from the perimeter but also cant afford to continue like their previous two contests where they shot 9-46 for 19% shooting.
Basile, Mutts, and Kidd should enjoy tremendous success scoring inside in this contest. The Buccaneers opponents bigs have contributed nearly 60% of the total scoring so far this season. The more they score early the more the perimeter opens up for the guards to get back on track.
This game should get the Hokies back to basketball, rather than the MMA style sport of their previous two contests.
Lowlight of the CoC game
Zebras pretending to be Blind Mice.
#Hokies getting thrown all over the floor but hey nothing to see here. Officials.... pic.twitter.com/9mvtuVQZgH— Robert Peterson (Hokies IceintheVeins) (@REPETEinDC) November 18, 2022
In Closing
The Hokies are at home in front of a sold out Cassell and should be able to close this one out by halftime. Hopefully this game gets the Championship loss out of their head and gets them focused for a difficult two-week schedule that lies ahead. The Hokies will face Minnesota on Monday night and then have a week to prepare for the #1 Tar Heels coming to Blacksburg. A game against Dayton on Dec 7th buffers the schedule before the Hokies head to NYC to take on Oklahoma State as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational on Dec 11th.
Charleston Southern's only path to success lies in keeping the Hokies out of the paint while avoiding significant foul trouble. This is not a likely scenario but this is Hokies Basketball.
Hokies return to form on the perimeter and get a boost from the home crowd. 91-63 win for W #6.
#HappyThanksgiving from our family to yours 🦃🧡Reply in the comments what you're most thankful for __________⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SsgbAyYJv2— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 24, 2022
Comments
I'll be at the game!
LET'S GO.........
HOKIES!
We're in town. What's the best time enter the Cassell?
Gates will open at 630pm. 90 minutes before game time
FAMILY FRIDAY
Family-Friendly Fun Join us for Family Friday and take part in hands-on activities around the concourse throughout the game!
Live DJ Families and fans can enjoy music provided by a live DJ all game long.
[Disregard - the lady was mistaken]
Next question...was looking for my seat and the lady told me sit anywhere (I think we're close to the student section). Is this typical?Do scalpers actually exist now that most tickets are digital?
I know CMY mentioned that Rodney Rice could be back this week. Has anyone heard if he is or not?
TTL last night made it sound like closer to January
Thanks!
Already been on the Popcorn Cam 🍿 thanks to my kid!
Great short on Frank Beamer airing before the game. Never knew how he got the scars before.
ACCN announcers not even in the building... why not give me Evan Hughes and Coach instead?
Are....are the ACCN commentators calling this game remotely from their homes???
CSU makingsome high degree of difficulty shots.
Yeah the D seems solid they just been hitting some crazy shots.
Man, Mutts and Catoor so in tune with each other on that last 3.
These guys are gonna keep hitting these 3's from Christiansburg on us, aren't they?
This team is not ready for ACC play
CSU shooting 20 points above their season average from three. Hopefully that won't last.
Biggest area of improvement for the early part of this season is interior D & the boards. We are "wet paper bag" weak down low. Not interested in playing defense and not remotely interested in fighting for position for a rebound.
Idk about "not interested". our interior defense outside of mutts is just about half a step slow off the bounce and on rotations which is killing us. Feel like Basile is just going to have Ti our score his defensive deficiencies this year
Basile has butter on his hands when rebounding and can't gain position under the rim. Just awful watching him waste away rebounds down there
Pedulla and Mutts put the team in their backs.
Basile is soft, Maddox can only shoot from the nail and doesn't play tough D, Cattoor uncharacteristically quiet. Collins and Poteat have potential, but we're missing the depth of Rice and Camden too. Woof
Did they film that halftime bit before the UNC loss...? All that talk and references to their #1 ranking with no mention of the loss to Iowa State just a bit ago.
The first half shows how glaringly weak we are in terms of rebounding. Allowing a third much smaller roster to outrebound us is just not acceptable. Would rather see Kidd and Poteat inside, Mutts in a 3 spot with Cattoor and Pedulla to start the second half. If it doesn't work you go back to the mess we have seen so far.
JFC the ACC Network is so embarrassing. Can't get commentators to the actual game, and then they have a pre-recorded halftime discussion about UNC, UVa, and Duke that doesn't include discussing the ramifications of UNC having been knocked off by Iowa St earlier today.
#goACC
Have to cut corners since they get so little $$$ from E$PN
Please get BASILLE out JFC
Mutts with two fouls within two minutes to put him at three already. 😬
Edit: it's Cattoor. Which is just as bad.
Having to compensate for the others on the floor
I would start Kidd and get him ACC ready. Bring Basile off the bench for the mismatches he can create on offense. His D and rebounding is nonexistant
This opponent got man handled inside in both losses and we look like a paper bag for the third game in a row.
But but but Mike Young recruits tall guys! How is that possible?!
Just look terrible where did our rebounding go
7 missed shots from 4 feet or less.
This Chavez kid is 4-6 from three against us already. Absolutely have to get a hand in his face the rest of the game or he's going to beat us on his own. Their top scorer just got his first points of the game so he's been carrying them all far. This could get dangerous.
We're playing like we are up by 40 points. They are playing like they are down by 2 points against the #1 team.
You would think we would have come out of the half putting our foot on their throats and keeping it there. But nah, let's be gracious hosts.
I can't tell if we're just being lackadaisical or what...but I honestly wasn't worried about this team before tonight's game. This has been ugly so far, especially in front of a holiday weekend sellout crowd in the Cassell.
This is the first game where there seems to be glaring strategy misses. Not sure what scouting report they came up with but the Hokies counters outside of defending Harris have been all off.
They just like won't miss a shot either; hands in their face, on the run, backwards and blindfolded. We just can't get them to miss lol
At least pick one to defend well. Right now Hokies getting rained on from perimeter while still being out of position underneath.
Basile with 0 rebounds and 0 two pointers attempted and more questionable defense. We've taken a major downgrade from Aluma. I fear he'll get eaten alive in ACC play
BASILE WHAT THE FUCK
Basile again showing why he should be on bench
Mutts shooting 3 but no one underneath to rebound
Jesus christ we are shitting the bed rn
This is ugly
So maybe we aren't a good shooting team this year?
Maddox 4 for 12, Cattoor 2 for 8. We're not shooting we'll tonight.
nah, we're just having a bad game from deep. It doesn't excuse this game being so close though.
Is it a bad game when it's happened in 4 out of 7 games or is it just who we are?
I don't think Maddox and Cattor suddenly forgotten how to shoot and they are the main reason for the dip in 3%. It doesn't seem like their looks from deep have been contested more than last season, but I could be wrong on that. Basile has been hitting 3s at a good rate and no one else has been shooting a high number of 3s.
We are gonna struggle every game we don't shoot well since 4/5 starters are shooting predominantly threes and the bench production is very very limited
With the production we gained in losing Murphy for Pedulla , we lost in losing aluma for Basile 🫡
We may not be very good after all guys
What Mutts and Kidd just did is how Ohio State scored 50 points in paint on this team
LETS RIDE THEN MIKE
Expected to see it 3 out of 4 trips down floor tonight
Basille is just a tall guard. No help in the paint. Won't even try to score from inside the arc. Play Kidd and see if he develops.
Mans is 6'9 235 and doesn't do anything but shoot. It's sad really.
Serious question but what is Poteat good at? He does not strike me as an acc basketball player
Being a big body down low to hopefully rebound better than basille is all I'm assuming. I've seen him flash a couple low post moves this year
From what I can see, he is good at being slightly uncoordinated and slow. He won't hold up. It's too bad. He's a beast of a dude.
I felt like Kidd brought some much needed energy to the game. Why take him out? He was playing well.
Yeah Kidd might not shoot the 3 but he'll scrap down low and get second chance opps. Sorely in need of that rn
Consistently mediocre efforts are going to make for a long season.
Nobody wants to rebound.
Unfortunate theme of the year
Maddox and Cattoor have to shoot better or someone else has to bring some offense.
How was that a foul on Maddox? looks like he set a back screen on the side of the lane and then got shoved from behind by his defender... instant whistle from TV Teddy (around 3:30 remaining)
Started watching in the second half. Our lack of rebounding on both ends and missing open shot are the biggest issues. I didn't watch their one loss thus far, but the one stat that would have sealed the game was the lack of 3 pt production.
That's the play, keep doing it
Thank God for Mutts, without him we would be lost.
Kidd isn't a star or anything but if he can do the simple things and complement Mutts, he deserves more minutes
Kidd definitely knows what to do with the ball when he's open in the lane.
Patience to draw the double team is the key. Easy basket
Missed FT....dagger 3 coming up.
We've been hurt too much.
Gotta foul up 3 imo
Mutts singlehandedly saved our asses this game. Against Charleston Southern.
ACC play might be rough, fellas.
Monday going to be a blowout if we play this soft inside against the mountains of Minnesota
Can we hit a FT?
We got a lot of work to do...
we didn't lose to the 309th ranked team in Kenpom FAM!
Not sure why y'all were so worried, we had that the whole time
😐
It's a win but man, that was a bad performance. Wasn't just a holiday hangover and taking a lesser opponent for granted either. They have been shaky the last few games. This team has plenty of rough spots to polish up
Did anyone leave the TV on ACC network and it's some feature about VT and the cadets with Justin Fuente and Jon Laaser among the interviewees? Idk why they're showing 1-2+ old features lol
it's already paid for content. And it's a great story on the history of Skipper
Yeah nothing wrong with it was just not expecting to see Fuente's face
I did and I'm watching it because I've never seen it.... but not a good sign with regards to programming content 😕 also vociferously booing our previous head coach whenever he talks
Good university PR tho
I mean they aren't going to redo the skipper feature every few years. They probably don't have too much programming to run after 10pm anyway.
Would have only required removing 3 or 4 15 second clips. Pretty simple edit.
The Hokies had issues at the beginning of last season and CMY made the adjustments and coached his crew and they responded in kind. From what I see thus far, he has to see these newbies play a bit to see what he's got that practices alone won't fully show. The Classic started to provide this, as well as this game. For starters, thinking Basilly needs to come off the bench. Kidd gets the nod and plays the interior. Two main reasons, he will be open for the dish when Mutts drives or posts up when double teamed. He will also collapse the D and give Catoor, Maddox and Pedulla open looks (that they need to start hitting more of and they will). Though Basilly can hit the 3's, that's not what we need him for primarily. Lastly, he should provide enough interior presence to aid in rebounding.
Jesus christ on a sandwich