HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: Vermont (8-3) at Virginia Tech (7-3) 4PM ACC Network

HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: Vermont (8-3) at Virginia Tech (7-3) 4PM ACC Network

Need you tomorrow #HokieNation‼️🆚 Vermont🕓 4PM ET🎟️ https://t.co/zecnh2uqbz#StoneByStone x #Hokies pic.twitter.com/8exRalCZyd— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 15, 2023

Vermont (8-3)
At Virginia Tech (7-3)
December 16th, 2023
Cassell Coliseum
4 p.m. ET
ACC Network
Virginia Tech Sports Network

ACC Network
Play-by-Play: Connor Onion
Analyst: Dan Bonner

Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop

Current Spread: Hokies -9.5
Over/Under: -138.5

Here Kitty Kitty
The Hokies continue their homestand with Vermont coming to Cassell Coliseum. The Vermont Catamounts squad comes in 8-3 and leading the America East Conference. This will be the first meeting between the Hokies and Vermont since New Years Eve 1974, a 107-87 Hokies win.

The Catamounts are coached by John Becker, who is in his thirteenth season at Vermont. Vermont is his second head coaching job with assistant stops at Gallaudet, Catholic and Vermont. He spent three seasons as the head coach of Gallaudet. The Catamounts opened their season with four straight wins over Merrimack, SUNY-Plattsburgh, College of Charleston and Saint Louis. They lost to Liberty before beating Johnson State. They lost to Bradley then followed with three wins over Dartmouth, Yale and Northeastern. Their latest game against Colgate came down to the final minute in a close loss. Both teams have had a week off from games during exams.

Vermont has eight newcomers this season with four transfers and four freshman. Transferring in were guards Shamir Bogues, TJ Long, Brenton Mills and Jace Roquemore. Long and Bogues are the Catamounts two leading scorers but the other two are only playing minor roles. Vermont also recently got Nick Fiorillo back from an MCL tear late last season. The senior has quickly returned to the starting lineup.

The Catamounts have six players averaging more than 21 mpg and three more that regularly average at least 10 mpg. Vermont has played the rest of the roster in at least half their games. The starting five are Long, Boques, Veretto, Ayo-Faleye and Fiorillo. With Fiorillo returning to the starting lineup, that has bumped Deloney to first off the bench. Becker seems willing to go deep into his bench but starters still account for 65 percent of minutes.

Vermont under Becker is using a scramble defense which is a man-to-man defense with trapping principles. They use it to take opponents out of their offensive rhythm or to surprise the offense and force key turnovers. They vary between a half-court or three-quarters-court trapping defense.

Offensively, the Catamounts rely on a pass heavy motion basketball. Becker wants his team focused on finding the open shooter. Vermont is regularly near the top of Division One in assist to turnover ratio. This season Vermont is shooting 58% from inside and 39% from outside.

Catamounts Backcourt
TJ Long
20 SO G 6-4 190
13.8 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.7 Ast

Shamir Bogues
12 JR G 6-4 190
12.5 Pts, 5.4 Reb, 2.9 Ast

Aaron Deloney
1 SR G 6-0 165
10.1 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 2.8 Ast

TJ Hurley
3 SO G 6-5 190
8.4 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Sam Alamutu
2 JR G 6-5 215
4.5 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Brenton Mills
5 SR G 6-3 185
4.1 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Michel Ndayishimiye
25 JR G 5-10 180
8.0 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 1.5 Ast

Catamounts Frontcourt
Matt Veretto
24 SR F 6-8 220
12.0 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 2.0 Ast

Ileri Ayo-Faleye
0 JR F 6-7 185
5.3 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 0.5 Ast

Nick Fiorillo
32 SR F 6-7 210
7.6 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 2.4 Ast

Seth Joba
21 FR F 6-9
3.2 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 0.5 Ast

What to expect from Vermont?
The Catamounts play an inside out passing game between Veretto and Long while Bogues directs the offense from the point.

Expect a larger squad overall on the floor for Vermont, as both guards are 6'4 while they fluctuate between a three guard versus three forward set. It tough to gauge the impact of Fiorillo who had fourteen points in his first start but was slowed against Colgate. One thing to look for is his step back to the perimeter. He is shooting 50% from outside.

The forwards are consistent in getting position inside and are able to minimize the second chance opportunities. One area of weakness in their losses has been the forwards and foul trouble. Ayo-Faleye only saw the floor about half his typical minutes in two of the three losses. Kidd will be the most athletic big they have matched up with.

This team takes the most jump shots of any team the Hokies have faced this season. Vermont shooters look for any available open space to get up shots but they are surprisingly successful in the mid-range.

"No matter how it appears, His plan is always bigger than our own."For the first time, read @CattoorHunter's story from his perspective 🙏#StoneByStone x #Hokies— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 14, 2023

The Hokies
The win over Valpo was Coach Young's 80th as a Hokie. Here's to many more.

80 wins and counting as our leader 🦃📈#StoneByStone x #Hokies pic.twitter.com/BJeg2wiaHa— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 11, 2023

Kidd needs to be the Hokies focus early in the game to force the Catamounts to adjust to a formidable presence inside. Vermont has struggled containing athletic bigs down low. By forcing Vermont to collapse on Kidd it should free Cattoor and the other shooters to have a bit more room.

The Hokies biggest challenge in this game will be remaining in front of shooters on defense. The more often the Hokies are able to contest shots the higher a chance of winning. In their three losses Vermont struggled significantly from the perimeter.

We had ourselves a day with @CarilionClinic 👟🎨Grateful to the kids and their families for letting us be a part of pediatric cancer awareness!MORE: https://t.co/2oDaJyiGsdDONATE: https://t.co/1BqmZmzPym pic.twitter.com/EE8nY1DOuL— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 13, 2023

In Closing
The Hokies need Collins on the floor guarding Long despite his offensive struggles. Hold Vermont from getting in rhythm on the perimeter and force them to find shots inside.

This game will likely be much closer than most expect. Every avenue to points needs to be exploited. The Hokies should expect to go to the line anywhere from fourteen to eighteen times and need to take full advantage of these opportunities. This game likely comes down to a couple possession swing.

𝗚𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝘁 👟🎨Our guy Chase has a special surprise for CMY when he wears his shoes 😄Mark your calendars‼️🗓️ Jan. 13👟 Shoes 4 Hope Game🆚 Miami🎟️ https://t.co/zecnh2uqbz🙏 https://t.co/1BqmZmzPym pic.twitter.com/H4UOoradAI— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 14, 2023