The #12 Hokies travel to #16 Duke to play a big game at 8 PM tonight. The game will be on the ACC Network. Duke is favored by 5.5; the over/under for the game is 121.
Duke has #30 Kennedy Brown, 6'6" Jr to match up against Kitley and #21 Shayeann Day-Wilson 5'6" Sophomore to match up against Amoore. Brown averages 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game; Day-Wilson averages 8.8 points and 2.7 assists in 23.3 minutes per game. Kitley averages 18.7 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes; Amoore averages 14.5 points and 5.5 assists in 36.5 minutes. #4 Elizabeth Balogun 6'1" senior leads Duke in rebounding with 5.7 in 22.5 minutes per game; she also adds 10.7 ppg. Duke's leading scorer is #0 Celeste Taylor 5'11" senior who averages 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.9 minutes. The Hokies counter with Kayana Traylor 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 30.1 minutes and Taylor Soule with 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 27.7 minutes. Duke's other regular starter is #24 Regan Richardson 5'11" sophomore averages 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18.3 minutes. The Hokies have Cayla King averaging 8.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 30.3 minutes.
Duke is 17-2 on the season and 7-1 in the ACC. Their 2 losses are to #5 Connecticut and #15 UNC. They beat #20 NC State. Duke beat Clemson and we lost to Clemson.
Duke scores 68.7 ppg game while allowing 51. The Hokies score 74.9 while allowing 57.1. Duke has two scorers averaging double digits per game; the Hokies have four. Duke shoots 33.3% from three and allows 26.5%; the Hokies shoot 33.3% and allow 27.2%.
This is going to be one heck of a game. Playing at Cameron Indoor gives Duke a big advantage. Duke has a longer bench regularly playing 10 players 12+ minutes per game. There are 11 players who average that many minutes but Lee Volker, who started 6 games, is no longer on the team. The Hokies regularly play 7 players; but Taylor Geiman has been playing more lately. The team that plays the best defense will probably win this game. If Duke can stop(silly me, nobody can stop) Kitley, the perimeter shooters will have to step up. Two sides of the same coin; the Hokies will need to hit threes to make room for Kitley and she will need to score inside to open up the three point line for the shooters.
Brown averages 2.4 fouls per game. Foul trouble for her could be a big factor in this game. But I would not want to count on the refs calling a tight game against Duke in Cameron Indoor.
Crazy prediction: King gets hot from three and Duke can't deal with all the threats the Hokies throw at them. Scary concern: Duke has five players that shoot well from beyond the arc; we give up too many easy threes and lose the game.
LET'S GO HOKIES!
Comments
We will hopefully want it more. Let's Go
HOKIES!
Don't have a good feeling about this game. Hope coach and the women step up and prove me wrong.
down 17 - 23 after 1st qtr.
dookies shooting 64%. hope that doesn't continue. need to pick up the defense.
Good run to finish the half. Only down 34-32
Maybe if kitley can get anything going in the second, we can put this one away.
dook is doing a good job defending Kitley. they're fronting her to deny the pass and when we pass over the top the back side defense is already there. right near the end of the half they started getting Taylor Soule the ball inside where she is usually one on one. if they keep doing this and dook gives help defense on Soule that should open up Kitley or other flashers to the paint. Soule will need to be a great passer!
Need Amoore to find her shot. A couple of more threes and Kitley and Soule will get more room under the basket.
Quick fouls on Balogun and Brown would really be good.
The over was really 121??
We haven't scored since 4 min left in the third. Just missed shots and turnovers 🤦♂️
Kitley needs to learn how to play physical and with an attitude.
33% from the floor seems to high watching this game
Just turned it on, well shit
That's a perfect summary for having missed it
Welp...hard to win when Kitley and Amoore combine for 3 of 21 shooting.
was surprised to see only 4 points for Kitley
Yep, not going to win many unless the opponent is bad. At least King made a few 3s. But only 3 shot attempts. Needed more with the others unable to hit anything.
plus way to many turnovers
Think last 15 minutes of game once VT took lead, VT had 7 turnovers to their 1.
17 leading to 17 points by Duke or about a quarter of their total points.
Also not sure I remember the last time I saw 40 total fouls called in a game. Duke 23 - Hokies 17 although Duke went to the line more than Tech.
They should have called a bunch more on Duke. They were flopping and hacking away.
It's Duke, that's all you need to know.
Coach is frustrated with level of physical play against Kitley.
https://richmond.com/sports/college/virginia-tech-coach-incensed-after-d...
Partly that physical play against Kitley is because she is too nice. She needs to play with a more physical attitude to get them to back off more. Unfortunately the refs allow her to be bullied and when she responds they instantly call fouls on her.
Two of Brooks three technical fouls in his entire career have been regarding this issue.
Kenny Brooks speaking up about how physical teams play her and suggesting that if it continues that he'll recommend her to go pro is a bad look I feel like.
She will get eaten alive in the pros if she doesn't get more physical.
That and she has to learn how to shoot a three.
Yeah but it is a great telling point against the ACC refs. All non-conference they call the games one way, once we get into conference play she is getting hacked constantly for no calls. The refs need to be consistent both ways and throughout the season.