The Ladies host Radford Sunday at 2 PM. The game is an ACCNx presentation. Busy day for me Sunday; so I'm putting this up Saturday night. Radford should not be a challenge. The Highlanders are 2-7. They won their first two games against Concord and Western Carolina. They lost the next 7 to Norfolk State, ETSU, UNC Greensboro, Indiana State, Northern Illinois, Penn State, and Niagara.
Their tallest player is 6'1; so most of the Hokies, with the exception of Amoore, will be as tall or taller than their tallest player. Radford is scoring 55.9 ppg and allowing 64.6. They have outrebounded their opponents by 0.7 rebounds per game. I expect them to score fewer points than their average and give up more points than their average and to lose the rebound battle by a significant number. The Highlanders are also averaging 18 TO's to 10 assists per game.
Stats:
This should be another game for Coach Brooks to experiment with line ups and get everyone minutes. The only concern, and it really should not have much effect for this game, is the students are on break. So the stands will probably not be very full.
LET'S GO HOKIES!
Comments
Lets Go!!!
HOKIES!!
Like I said earlier, this is one of a few upcoming games where Amoore is the only one who wouldn't reasonably match up inside.
Let's scout and recruit Traylor-Walker to come play point for us next year please though
Is she even close to being at the level to play at VT? Looks like she's a 13% 3-point shooter this season, and it's not a small sample size.
I don't think she's an elite 3 point shooter like her sister, but she shot 25% last season. Her a/to is bad, but this is a pretty bad Radford team which doesn't help in that regard
If we are going to recruit an opponents point guard then it has to be Jayde Gamble from UNC Greensboro.
She wore the Hokies out but was the only one on her team that could score. She put up 25 points on 12-19 shooting with most of those drives to the rim. Her ability to draw the defense to her could give Strack space to have easy drop ins.
On the season she is averaging 3 steals per game and shoots about 34% from outside although her interior shots outnumber her perimeter shots at about 3-1.
Only challenge to her would be NCAA waiver as it would be her third school.
Two assists on two shots to start the game.
4 baskets, 3 assists.
End of the First, the Hokies have more assists than Radford has points.
Amoore credited with 2 more blocks
Radford's only real offensive threat during this first half goes into halftime with 3 fouls.
Through two quarters, the non-seniors are 6-14 (3-7 from range) with 19 total points.
Still more assists than Radford's baskets
Hopefully Kenny can play the kids for the whole 4th quarter. No need to risk injuries in a game like this.
I still can't understand why Micheaux is even playing much less starting
Double Double for Kitley
5th assist for Kitley....get her the Triple Double
Amoore leads in Blocks and Points
Kitley leads in Assists and Rebounds
Which one is the big?
Damn that giant Hokiebird bobblehead was awesome.
Through 3 quarters, 42.3% of Radford's points have come from the charity stripe by Traylor-Walker.
As a team, Radford is shooting 13.3% for the day. Radford didn't make a basket in the 3rd quarter.
comfortable win. Fun to watch the new players get some minutes
Wenzel struggles with offensive fouls. Kenny also going to get her for that last second turnover. Not a big impact in this one but Kenny will use it as a learning moment.
That one looked completely bogus from the seats. I might have to try and find a replay to see what they called.
By rule it was correct call. The offside defender moved over and was set outside the cylinder when Wenzel made contact. Wenzel didn't help herself as she has a tendency to drive with her upper body extended and lowered which puts her shoulder directly into the defender. She extends too far to be able to adjust her body to avoid defenders. It's the fourth or fifth time it's happened this season. Also being taller than majority of other guards refs won't give her benefit of the doubt as she plows over smaller defenders.
That one I remember clearly she had the arms in front. I thought they called another on her when it didn't look like anybody was within 5 feet of her. It was at the far end of the court from my seats.
Didn't watch, but checked the box score after seeing some of the stats in here and allowing 4 points in the first and 4 in the third is nasty business.
Yeah 3rd was points only at the free throw line. They did wave off a basket after review for shot clock violation. Radford kept trying to go inside but Strack and Kitley were having none of that.
Strack is legit. She is strong and has a very good feel for the game. Saw her recognize the double team twice and make the quick pass out. Good touch around the basket a solid mad range jumper. Brooks reminded everyone postgame that she just turned 18 a week ago and would be playing in high school still if she wasnt so talented.
Baker is also getting comfortable. Future is very bright.
If Silva lives up to the hype, our low post is going to be a no-fly zone
We could start an entire roster over 6ft next year, plus Silva at the 5 and Strack at the 4....pretty sure that's about as big as some of the lineups Buzz ran out at times hahaha
With who Kenny is playing I think you are right. Likely Wenzel, Baker, Ekh, Strack and either Micheaux or Summiel if she has a year left. Lexi Blue and Suffren off the bench for the guards. Silva and Hazelton will have to get some run too if Kenny doesnt bring in some new transfers. Not sure either will start as freshman. Not sure where Nelson fits in.
5s: Strack, Silva, Hazelton
4s: Micheaux, Strack
3s: Ekh, Summiel
2s: Baker, Suffren, Nelson
1s: Wenzel, Blue, Brooks
Technically Amoore has a super senior covid year left. She could be back next year. I have no idea if she will want to stay a year without Kitley. All I know is losing Kitley, Amoore, and King will break Brooks heart.
I seriously doubt Amoore stays. She's projected a top 10 pick, would need to get a new roommate, and would need to get a new co-host for the Queens of the Cassell podcast.
I know, but she would be a great holdover to keep the magic alive. She is probably anxious to get on with the rest of her life.
I also don't want to risk the development of future guards to have her come back if she has completed what she set out for at VT.
While she would be Top 10, I think it really comes down to NIL vs WNBA salary. Top rookies only getting around $75K a year. Her jump may be whatever other league worldwide she might sign with much more than the WNBA.
And realistically, I see her coaching sooner rather than later. Not because of her playing ability, but in all the interviews and interactions I've seen, she's a very strategic thinker and teacher. I hope she joins Coach Brooks on the sidelines in a few years.
I would think she would prefer a league a little closer to Australia, if she has that option. She has frequently commented on the Queens of Cassell podcast about how hard it is to be so far from home.
She doesn't have Kitley step back shot down yet. She was short on those attempts yesterday but is going to be impressive.