2023-24 Hokie Hoops Statistical Notes: Volume 2

The Men's Team

Virginia Tech began their 2023-24 campaign with wins over Coppin State, Campbell, and Wofford and a close loss to South Carolina. We've seen freshmen come in and be productive and a mixed bag of production from our transfers.

Scoring

Perhaps the biggest (pun intended) surprise has been the impressive development of Lynn Kidd in the scoring column. Coming into the season, Kidd had scored a total of 317 points. He now leads the team with 70 (17.5 ppg). Joining Kidd in double figures are Sean Pedulla (16.25) and Hunter Cattoor (13.75). Tyler Nickiel (9.33 ppg) and Mylyjael Poteat (7.5 ppg) are the only other players averaging more than a bucket per half. Mekhi Long (4.75), Beran, Collins, and Rechsteiner (4.5 each) average a bucket a half. Camden (3.0) and Young (2.75) add a basket per game.

That's 335 points scored on the year, for 83.75 per game, good for 65th nationally and 5th in the ACC. Per category, the Hokies are 11th in the ACC in FGM which would indicate a heavy reliance on range. That is not the case, as the Hokies are 5th in the ACC in 3PM, and 10th in 3PA, which would indicate that we are less reliant on 3s than our ACC brethren.

So where is the difference in scoring numbers coming from? I have a hard time believing this...the Hokies are tied for 1st in FTM in the ACC, despite being 7th in FGA. Only Miami has a better FT% than the Hokies at this point. The Hokies convert when they get to the line.

Rebounding

As with scoring, Kidd leads the team in rebounding, missing out on averaging a double double by 1 more rebound (9.75 rpg), good for 5th in the ACC. Production drops precipitously after him, though, as Pedulla (5 rpg), Cattoor, Collins, Poteat (3 rpg), Nickel (2.67), Beran and Long (2.5) average more than a rebound a half. Camden (1.5), Young (1), and Rechsteiner (0.75) round out the rebounding totals.

For those keeping track at home, that is 34 rebounds per game, which is dead last in the ACC. The dead horse will continue to receive a beating until rebounding improves.

Assists

The Hokies have been doing a stunning job with ball control. Most assists goes to Pedulla (22), while best ATO goes to Collins (11:1).

As a team, the Hokies have 76 assists through 4 games (19 per, which leads the ACC and is 21st in the country) to just 31 turnovers (14th in the country, 3rd in the ACC). Factoring in the 29 steals through the first 4 games, the Hokies have an AATO of 76:2.

Yes, you are reading that right. When you factor in the steals, for every turnover the Hokies committed, they dished out 38 assists.

Experience/Depth

As expected, the Hokies utilized nearly everybody they could over the first four games, with eight players appearing in all games, two more appearing in 3 games, and one player appearing in two games.

The rotation appears to be ten-man, with Cattoor (32.5), Pedulla (28.25), Collins (24.75), Kidd (23.75), Nickel (21.33) and Beran (21.00) averaging at least ten minutes per half, while Long (18.75), Poteat (14.25), Rechsteiner (10.75), and Young (10.00) averaged at least 5 minutes per half. Camden has accounted for the remaining 9 minutes of player minutes. Connor Venable, Michael Ward, and Patrick Wessler have not contributed any minutes so far this season.

Next Window

Up next the Hokies will travel to the state of Florida to take on Boise State, out of the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos are 2-1 on the young season, having badly defeated NAIA school Vanguard University and held off San Francisco, while being run out of the gym by Clemson. They appear to play a balanced ten or eleven-man rotation. The Broncos have four players (almost 5) in double figures in scoring led by 6-7 Sr G Chibuzo Agbo. The challenge for the Hokies will come from the post as the next three top scorers are all 6-8 or taller. As is common for a team with taller players, they do not protect the ball well, so turnovers may be aplenty for the Hokies in this one.

I forgot to add the remaining games of the ESPN Events Invitational, so disregard some of the below

Then the Hokies travel to Auburn for the inaugural ACC-SEC challenge. Auburn is 3-1 with two scorers in double figures, led by 6-10 Sr F Johni Broome. Like the Broncos and the Hokies, the Eagles will feature a ten man rotation. This is a much better passing team than we are used to playing, so turnovers will be scarce.

Returning home in December, the Hokies start off ACC play with the Louisville Cardinals. Currently 2-3 with a shared win over Coppin State, Louisville is still very much in flux. Also fielding a ten man rotation, the Cardinals have three quality scoring guards who have between 53 and 58 points scored on the year. The Cardinals, as a whole, rebound well but are very careless with the ball. They also don't shoot from range particularly well.

Next up on the homestand, the Cassell Guard will welcome the Valparaiso Beacons, who are 2-2 on the young season. Led by 20 ppg Jr Guard Isaiah Stafford, Valpo doesn't score a lot, and are not a threat from beyond the arc, with only Stafford having hit more than 6 on the season. They also don't particularly threaten from the line at only 70.8%. Valpo also appears to be more of a hero-ball style team, as they average less than 10 assists per game.

Prediction

Boise's height concerns me, as does Auburn's passing ability.

I think either 2-2 or 3-1 are most likely. 4-0 if things go amazingly well, 1-3 if things fall apart.

The Women's Team.

Kenny Brooks' squad went 3-1 over the preceding window with a respectable, though, personally, bullshit, loss to Iowa, bringing Brooks even with Bonnie Henrickson at 158 wins (who was also an Iowa assistant coach before taking the helm at VT).

Scoring

Kitley dominated the opposition, netting 24.25 ppg, good for 12th nationally, as of this writing, and top scoring non-guard. Amoore followed with 16 ppg, and Ekh finished this frame with 10.5, rounding out the double figure scoring. King (8.5) finished with a bucket per quarter, while Wenzel (7.0), Micheaux (6.5), Strack (5.75), Baker (4.75), and Suffren (4.0) averaged a bucket per half, and Summiel finished the scoring with 6 points. At 86.75 ppg, the Hokies are 25th in the nation in scoring, and third in conference, at the time of this writing. Starters have been responsible for 3 out of every 4 points for the Hokies to this point.

Rebounding

Kitley averaged a double double over this frame with 10.75 rpg, good for third in the ACC. Pulling down a rebound per quarter are Summiel (6.0), Ekh (5.75), and Micheaux (5.0). One rebound per half were swiped by Strack (3.5), Wenzel (2.75), Amoore (2.5), and Suffren (2.0). King (1.25) is the only other Hokies to pull down a rebound per game, while Baker (0.5) has pulled down the rest.

As a team, the Hokies aren't necessarily rebounding well (5th in the ACC) but they aren't allowing their opponents to get rebounds either (2nd in the ACC)

Assists

Following her Virginia Tech record 16 assist game, Georgia Amoore dominated the Hokies with 36 assists through 4 games, good for 3rd nationally (ahead of Caitlin Clark). Adjusted with steals, she has a 36:6 AATO. Other top performers are King (9:2 ATO) and Ekh (7:0 AATO)

Experience/Depth

It appears that Brooks will be utilizing a 9 player rotation, headlined by Amoore (34.0 mpg), Kitley (30.00), Ekh (27.5), King (25.25), and Wenzel (20.75) averaging five minutes or more per quarter. Summiel (19.0), Micheaux (17.75), Strack (11.0), and Baker (10.75) averaged more than 5 minutes per half. Suffren (8 mpg) is the only other player to have gained experience during this frame. Starters have been responsible for two-thirds of team minutes.

Next Window

It's incredibly ironic that Brooks can pass Henrickson for all-time wins at Tech against the team for which she left Virginia Tech. Kansas is 2-1 on the season, having defeated Northwestern State and Kansas City. and a close loss to Penn State. They play an 8 player rotation, though can go to 10 if needed. Four scorers in double figures, including a 6-6 C which should make for an interesting battle in the low post. Unlike the Hokies, Kansas runs a 4 guard lineup, so it may be needed to put Wenzel in the starting lineup to match like for like. This Kansas team looks a lot like the Hokies, except they can't hit their FT.

Tulane comes to Blacksburg next, they've only scored more than 70 once, in a game against Prairie View. They have a 7-player rotation, with four players averaging double figures. This is a team that plays 4 guards and 3 forwards. Expect Kitley to feast as the tallest player that regularly contributes is 6-1.

Then the Hokies travel to play in the ACC/SEC challenge in a repeat of last year's national semifinal against LSU. LSU is 5-1 on the season, having passed 100 in 4 of their wins. Now, drama aside, this is the most dangerous team the Hokies will probably play this year. They are deep, prolific, and have height in a lot of places. They have six players in double figures, led by Freshman guard Mikaylah Williams, but the Hokies will have memories of Angel Reese, Flau'Jae Johnson, and Hailey Van Lith from last season.

Finally, the Hokies will return home to take on a currently winless Long Island. They only have one player in double figures, and the team as a whole is only scoring 53 a game. They don't shoot well from range (22%), from the line (62%), from the field (34%), rebound (32 rpg) or hold on to the ball (12.5:19 ATO). They do, however, play good defense with 11.5 steals per game, so passes need to be crisp. With no player taller than 6-2, expect a big day from Hokie bigs.

Prediction

Forget objectivity. I want revenge.

3-0