HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: Georgia Tech (9-10) At Virginia Tech (12-7) 5PM ACCN
Georgia Tech's on our mind 🔒❤️ #LOVE game🕔 5PM ET📺 ACCN🤝 @carter_bank #StoneByStone x #Hokies pic.twitter.com/ZbW0GWaQ3h— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 27, 2024
Georgia Tech (9-10)
At Virginia Tech (12-7)
January 27th, 2024
Cassell Coliseum
5 p.m. ET
ACCN
Virginia Tech Sports Network
ACCN
Play-by-Play: Jay Alter
Analyst: Malcolm Huckaby
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Current Spread: Hokies -9.5
Over/Under: -144.5
Techmo Bowl
The Hokies continue the home stand with Georgia Tech after beating Boston College for the first time under Coach Young. Virginia Tech can get back to a winning conference record with a victory defending the Cassell.
The Yellow Jackets are coached by Damon Stoudamire. He began his college coaching career at Rice as an assistant coach in 2008 after a ten-year career in the NBA. Georgia Tech is his second college head coaching job, taking over the job this season. He was head coach at Pacific for five seasons and then spent two years as an NBA assistant coach prior to coming to the Yellow Jackets. He has a 9-10 overall record guiding the Yellow Jackets and an 80-87 overall record.
Georgia Tech is off to a 2-6 start in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets upset Duke in their ACC opener and took Clemson to double overtime for their second victory. Their conference losses are to FSU, BC, ND, Duke, Pitt and UVA. This will be the 32nd meeting between the Hokies and Georgia Tech. The Hokies are 22-9 overall against the Yellow Jackets.
The starting five are Miles Kelly, Kowacie Reeves, Naithan George, Baye Ndongo and the fifth spot has rotated across four different players. The regular four starters are on the court at least 28 minutes per game. Kyle Sturdivant and Dallan Coleman combine to play 40 mpg. They only have two other players averaging more than 15 mpg.
Georgia Tech returned 56.5% of minutes played and 59.4% of scoring return from 2022-23 roster but Stoudamire brought in almost an entirely new team with six incoming transfers and four freshmen. The contributing transfers are Reeves, Tyzhaun Claude, Tafara Gapare and Amaree Abram. The biggest freshman commit was starting forward Baye Ndongo. Ebenezer Dowuona, a transfer forward playing about ten minutes per game missed the last game for an unknown injury so is questionable against the Hokies.
Coach Grant defensively uses man-to-man with his smaller lineup trying to prevent interior passes by playing in front of post players. They surrender significant points from penetrating dribbles from the top of the key. Opponents are also shooting 38% from three in conference play. They are susceptible to screening actions and over-playing the ballhandler leaving either shooters open or offside forwards free paths to backside layups.
Offensively, Coach Grant uses a motion offense with heavy perimeter screening actions. The Yellow Jackets take the most three pointers of any team in the ACC. They are averaging almost 27 attempts per game and shooting 36%. Six players are averaging at least 7.2 points per game but the focus is Kelly and Reeves on the perimeter who shoot over 11 per game. Turnovers and fouls are not much of an issue.
Yellow Jackets Backcourt
Miles Kelly
13 JR G 6-4 171
14.3 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Kowacie Reeves
14 JR G 6-6 182
12.1 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Kyle Sturdivant
1 SR G 6-2 198
8.2 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.9 Ast
Naithan George
2 FR G 6-3 180
9.4 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 4.9 Ast
Dallan Coleman
3 JR G 6-6 215
7.2 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Amaree Abram
24 SO G 6-4 190
4.0 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Yellow Jackets Frontcourt
Baye Ndongo
11 FR F 6-9 214
13.1 Pts, 8.6 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Tyzhaun Claude
12 SR F 6-8 240
4.9 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Tafara Gapare
5 SO F 6-9 205
4.4 Pts, 2.1 Reb, 0.4 Ast
What to expect from Georgia Tech?
The Yellow Jackets will run primarily a four guard, single forward that primarily moves the ball around the perimeter to find the best outside shot. The outside shot represents 47% of their total shots. Nathan George is the primary facilitator for the Jackets offense, averaging 4.2 apg.
The outside threat shooting wise is Reeves, who hits 41% from outside but Kelly is taking 6.6 shots per game although shooting only 28%. The Jackets as a team are averaging 24 points per game from the perimeter which is low considering the take 27 attempts.
Inside the paint, Ndongo does the majority of Georgia Tech's scoring, averaging 11 points in the paint per game. As a team they shoot 55% inside the perimeter in ACC play which is second in the conference and a major concern for the Hokies as that has been a significant weakness in losses this season. They are not consistent at the free throw line, hitting only 68% from the stripe this season on 16 attempts per game.
The Yellow Jackets defensively are a mess. They allow opponents to shoot over 50 percent inside, 38 percent from the perimeter and conference opponents are getting to the line for almost 22 attempts per game. They are terrible on switching or getting around screens, especially against opponents looking to free up perimeter shooters for open looks. One surprising area they do excel defensively is blocked shots. For such a small lineup, they have had five or more blocks in ten of their nineteen games.
In seven of their ten losses, Georgia Tech shot under 39% from the floor. A large part of this is due to getting behind early and being forced to look for threes late in games to catch up. They don't win or lose by large margins, with three early wins by double digits and only three losses so expect a close game at the end.
The Hokies
One area that we have faulted this team this season is the ability to get to the rim on dribble penetration but they have been much more confident taking it to the basket rather than getting caught between a pass and a shot. Its an integral part of winning games in the ACC so need to hope they continue improving.
🤌👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/wiTQ6PtZkq— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 26, 2024
The Hokies limited the turnovers against BC to 11 which is a significant improvement over the prior two weeks. Georgia Tech turns opponents over the least amount of any ACC team at 8.5 per game. Avoiding lost possessions should allow the Hokies to build an early lead in this game.
Vegas shows the Hokies by 9.5 point favorites, which seems high even for a home game. The biggest change in recent wins has been getting consistency from all five starters. Against BC, Tech had four starters in double-figures with Beran scoring nine. The injuries/illness limited the bench to only thirteen points.
Rebounding has been a recent concern. Virginia Tech started conference play winning the rebounding battle in five of their first six but in the last two wins its been a drastic difference. Hokies were outrebounded by BC by 11 rebounds. The bigger concern on the boards though are allowing offensive rebounds. They have allowed 10+ in five of their last eight games leading to 10+ second chance points in six of the last eight games.
The biggest weakness that works in the Hokies favor is how often the Jackets leave shooters wide open. If Cattoor and Pedulla get in a groove from outside early, this game could get out of hand. That said, Lynn Kidd has height and weight advantage on Ndongo down low as well so working the inside game can also benefit them by forcing Georgia Tech to provide help underneath.
could not be stopped 😮💨🔥🏹🎯 https://t.co/YIqeB38Z11 pic.twitter.com/osO1AjgiyQ— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 25, 2024
In Closing
Can the Hokies take advantage of a weak perimeter defense to hit outside shots early? I would expect Cattoor and Pedulla to combine for at least seven outside shots in this one.
Georgia Tech is good at protecting possessions but not a great jump shot shooting team which has cost them in most of their losses. The Hokies may be the best defense that Georgia Tech has faced all season. Hold GT to at or below 40% from the floor and get a win that pushes the Hokies back into a winning conference record.
Bring your Pepto though as this game likely comes down to a couple of possession game and Hokies will need to win it at the line late.
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Shout out to Cassell Guard. Lots of opposing players here said Cassell is the toughest place to play.
📈📈📈📈🏰🥇 @CassellGuardVT pic.twitter.com/V7mGxt9P0w— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 24, 2024
Comments
LET'S GO!!!!
HOKIES!!!
Tech will win
Tech will also lose.
For those going to the game. Free throw shirt
Nice!
Well shizzle I missed this!
Poteat getting a couple big buckets
Poteat has grown so much as this year has gone on. He's playing really well right now.
Get a few more of these open looks to fall and game would be out of reach.
Collins playing the point and having a good game.
Hearing announcer say Collins leads all scorers.
Free space on the What you didn't think you would heard said today Bingo
Hokies only issue is early fouls on Kidd and Beran
I've heard a lot of people beating up on MY this season, but I think although he's not perfect, hes got this team really starting to gel in the last couple weeks. But what do I know....
They had hard conversations with Beran and Collins. Pretty clear with improved efforts from both of those guys.
To be fair, a lot of the beating up on him and his staff has been about his rigid system and style of play that he wants out of his players that goes to all hell when the players don't have the talent or will to play that way. It's a thing of beauty when it works well, but the rigidness prevents us from adapting and stealing a W. Instead we hand them over to opponents who have taken advantage.
Thankfully catoors head never hit the floor.
yes, but it doesnt need to in orser to get jumbled
Great defensive possession there. They are definitely bringing it defensively so far. Ball movement has been good too. Haven't taken many bad shots, and they have limited turnovers.
Awfully quiet in here today......upvoting every comment (mostly the lieutenant...) just because.
Also...get the fuck outta our house with those 'tech' jerseys......
POTEAT ON BOTH ENDS!
Back to back Poteat. Get the hell out.
At first I thought that dude on GT was wearing a red skull cap with a white trim. Silly me.
You aren't alone. Just a really odd look.
Now that I saw him up close I think Dennis Rodman entered the game
For all the hate folks leveled at Rodman, he was what he was, the best rebounder on the planet. Whack job, for sure, but man, that dude could rebound.
Absolutely, he was elite on the defensive end most of his career and a world class instigator.
Pretty okay offensive game as a Piston, too.
We were calling him ladybug....
We wanted to call him something, but that hairdo defied us. We never settled on anything, definitely a first for us in decades of nicknaming basketball players. Seems like somebody who cares for him needs to be honest with him or something.
Ladybug works as well as anything, I guess.
My wife asked why GT had a player wearing a Santa hat when she walked in the room.
First half was best of most scenarios for Hokies outside the fouls and not closing out perimeter in the last couple minutes.
Yep. Bummer giving up those late 3's. Feels like they should be up by more than 16. Now to see if they can match the intensity on the defensive end to start the 2nd half and counter whatever adjustments GT is sure to make.
1800 min in sec half: I enjoyed that the announcer commented after GT's last bucket, " And just like that they are down by 14". I hope I hear that comment every game.
PROteat is having himself a game. Great to see him playing like a starting Big on both ends of the floor. Happy for the Hokie Hulk
Pedulla with zero TO's in the 1H. Nice!!!!
Uhhhhhhh flagrant foul.
13 has had 3 or 4 potential flagrants and none even called as fouls
Agree 800%.
13 is shoving cattoor into the screen every single possession... forearms to the chest
Agree 800%.
Beran Flush
I don't have the stats but I think the reduced minutes for Kidd is taking the pressure off him and keeping him fresher....and at the same time Poteat is flourishing with the increased minutes. I'd like to know what the expert lieutenant thinks....
Did everyone's network feed go to black as soon as Poteat was about to slam it?
Been spotty on several plays. Little hiccups.
Weather was moving in. Wet but happy walk to the car!
These announcers seem to be actively rooting for GT to get back in the game they keep saying how GT is only down by 12 they can get back in this.....
Two fouls on that position and no call on either one
Yeah stiff arm to Cattoor and elbow to Poteat....2 points GT
Every time they show Coach Stoudemire at each break, does anyone think that in his mind he thinks, "Let me out there.....I can show you how it's done.
Sad part is he probably could still outplay his whole roster and likely does in practices
rubber band refs
GT beating us in the 2nd half almost as badly as we beat them in the 1st.
It's like the early years of Kenny Brooks and the VT women.
We are really going to let them stay in this
Announcer: dingo with the footwork clinic......
Me: sure looked like a travel and a half.
It's a shame that we've let our 21 point lead continue to evaporate. It's time for a momentum change and get the lead back to double digits.
Like start hitting 3's from our usual suspects
And Pedulla asked, "Like This?"
X2
X3
Camden: Imma let you finish...
Nickel didn't want to be left out.
Catoor is a bad mama jama
13 finally got called for a foul
Is it just me or does Cattoor look like he has been awake for three days straight?
I said a couple years ago it looked like he always looks like he woke up late for an exam.
But he always looks fantastic when he is sitting next to his fiancé at the women's games!
You telling me you didn't do whatever it took to look good for your S/O?
Or put your best foot forward when near your future FIL?
That should have been a flagrant against beran
Announcer keeps saying GT should get a warning evening though that's the 4th time they've gone to the monitor for something GT did.
Great game by Poteat tonight.
That is how you close.
Get these boys some coffee
21 point lead re-established and exceeded!
Was at the game, so couldn't benefit from any replays or announcers. But it sure did seem like every time the refs went to the monitor they looked hard at the video then said "Welp, nothing we can get in trouble for here...call stands for GT!"
yeah that was my assessment on tv...
At 3:30 left in the second half.....I will take that block all day from Beren even though they called it goaltending.
The crowd felt the same—I thought we'd finally get something out of one of those reviews. More pep band!
Some selfish post game notes:
Our first ACC game in Cassell. Awesome!
Packed house but never seemed too crowded (hats off to the staff and the layout).
The band exceeded my expectations—a bright spot on a night of bright spots! I was expecting too much brass and the Hey Song! on repeat but they were contemporary and oooh so smooth. Goose bumps.
(Our last visit for Charleston Southern (?) was on holiday weekend, there was no band, even the Enter Sandman timing was off)
Every ACC win is a good win!