HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (14-10) AT #7 UNC (19-6) 2PM ACCN
SATURDAY SHOWDOWN IN THE TAR HEEL STATE🆚 UNC🕑 2PM📺 ACCN#STONEBYSTONE X #HOKIES PIC.TWITTER.COM/6Z6VWOTG93— VIRGINIA TECH MEN'S BASKETBALL (@HOKIESMBB) FEBRUARY 17, 2024
Kind of a snarky shot here putting Nickel as the featured player for the game against his former team. I like it.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Sunday, Feb 17 | 2 p.m. ET
Dean Smith Center
Series: North Carolina leads 72-17
TV Broadcast
ACC Network
Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
Analyst: Dan Bonner
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Current Spread: UNC -10.5
Over/Under: -154.5
Mountain Climbing....
The Hokies look to go on the road for a rare Quad 1 win by beating the Tar Heels. The Hokies are 17-72 against UNC. The Hokies come off their most steady performance in a win over the Seminoles where they broke a three-game skid. They survived a game with FORTY SEVEN fouls and the teams combining to shoot SIXTY ONE free throws.
The Tar Heels are coached by Hubert Davis, an alum that played for the Tar Heels from 1998-2002. He began his college coaching career at UNC as an assistant coach in 2012 after a 12-year career in the NBA. UNC is his only college head coaching job. He took over the UNC position in 2021 and has a 68-29 overall record and guided the Tar Heels to the National Title game in his inaugural season.
The Tar Heels come into this contest having lost three of their last five games. The Tar Heels have lost to Clemson at home and Georgia Tech and Syracuse on the road.
The Tar Heels have several new faces with five transfers and two high caliber freshmen. The big additions are Cormac Ryan from Notre Dame and Harrison Ingram from Stanford.
Coach Davis defensively uses an aggressive man-to-man defense, especially on the perimeter. They are holding opponents to 30% shooting from outside. In recent losses though they struggled against faster guards getting into the lane which disrupted their defensive sets. Mintz and Starling from Syracuse combined for 48 points with 11 free throws and 14 baskets in the paint.
Offensively, Coach Davis uses a heavy dose of ball screens and dribble hand offs to create dribble penetration opportunities while keying in on finding Bacot open underneath. Offense which tries to create mismatches of personnel utilizing speed to separate either to create dribble penetration openings or open looks on cuts to the basket. The biggest difference here is that the bigs are not limited to operating inside and play a big role in perimeter movement and shooting. The primary intent of this offense though is to get paint points. They shoot nearly 50% inside and it accounts for half their offense initially. It is actually closer to 70% of their offense when you take into account the 18 ppg from the free throw line.
The Tar Heels Backcourt
RJ Davis
4 SR G 6-0 160
21.4 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 3.5 Ast
Cormac Ryan
3 SR G 6-5 195
10.6 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Elliot Cadeau
2 FR G 6-1 180
7.8 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 4.0 Ast
Seth Trimble
7 SO G 6-3 192
5.4 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.7 Ast
The Tar Heels Frontcourt
Armando Bacot
5 SR F 6-10 240
14.2 Pts, 10.2 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Harrison Ingram
55 SO F 6-8 230
12.6 Pts, 8.8 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Jalen Washington
13 SO F 6-10 225
4.3 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.2 Ast
Jae'lyn Withers
24 SR F 6-8 230
4.0 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 0.6 Ast
What to expect from UNC?
1) RJ Davis
2) RJ Davis
3) RJ Davis are how UNC prefers to score.
Davis does everything. He is shooting 41% from outside making 3.3 baskets per game. He gets to the line for four free throws per game and also gets to the rim 4 to 5 times per contest.
As a team the Tar Heels focus on getting the ball inside to score or go to the line. They average nearly 40 points a game in the paint. Bacot and Ingram are a devastating duo in the paint. They are able to keep teams off balance with high low plays and grab almost six offensive rebounds per game.
The Tar Heels struggle with fouls against guards like Pedulla and Cattoor. Reaching fouls have been an issue after getting beat off the dribble. That said they rarely foul shooters, with opponents averaging only ten free throws per game. Four of the five starters are averaging at least 2.3 fouls per game.
The Hokies
The Hokies need to find fast transition buckets in this game. The Tar Heels are pretty stout defensively in a half court set, holding opponents to 44% shooting overall. In recent losses, the Tar Heels allowed nearly 20 points in transition.
The Hokies go up against the one of the tallest line-ups they have seen so far. That is especially concerning because UNC has out-rebounded every ACC opponent this season. Rebounding and defensive lane positioning has been the Hokies Achilles heel so far so this area will likely determine who wins this game
Hunt went off again 🫡🔥📈 20p (season high)🏹 50% (33-66) from 3 in league play (leads ACC) pic.twitter.com/kB3ywrrQFG— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 14, 2024
The Hokies will need huge games from Cattoor and Nickel to keep UNC honest in terms of guarding the paint. Keeping UNC defenders spaced out allows opponents to get inside. That said, the most likely path to success is modeling their effort using the strategies Clemson used where their bigs Hall and Scheiffelin had inside success which freed Girard up for a 5 for 10 perimeter game.
Gonna keep it 💯, he's a 🪣 pic.twitter.com/87LQ1O55Q7— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 16, 2024
In Closing
The Hokies are at a crossroads and this game goes a long way in determining if the Hokies even have a remote opportunity to get back on the tournament bubble. This is one of only two or three remaining Quad 1 opportunities.
UNC will be looking to make this a slow methodical game where the Hokies are forced to take contested shots while offensively getting the ball inside to score sure baskets. The Hokies must increase the tempo and take advantage of transition opportunities.
As much as I would like to see the Hokies get this win over a ranked opponent, going on the road in Tobacco Road is typically not a recipe for success.
If you are going to the game against the Wahoos... BRING FOOD
Help out a great cause ahead of our Big Monday game vs. UVA!🤝 @SmithfieldBrand MORE: https://t.co/mLMmjrQyjt pic.twitter.com/Uzc0tScMnC— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 15, 2024
Comments
Let's Go!
Hokies!!
Poor Beran man, gets the most ticky tac foul calls in every game
Meanwhile Cattor grabbed by the hips when he blew by his guy clear as day
I haven't complained about the officials this season because we simply aren't a good basketball team. Period.
However, these early whistles today are ridiculous.
It's not getting any better yet 🤷
Poteat having to sit the rest of the half is no bueno
Wow Cattor jobbed
6-1 on the foul calls already. Surprise surprise.
That foul was ridiculous on Cattoor. That was not a cylinder foul since Davis swung his elbow out.
Really see Kidd getting stuck way too far out too late on that hedge the second half of the season. Didn't seem to have this issue early if I am remembering correctly, wonder what changed
One official called a shooting foul while the other called a travel. Comedy
Doesn't hunter get into foul trouble every time we play in chapel hill?
Embarrassing
We're not beating 8, this game was done from the first whistle
Total horseshit call on Kidd there.
Worst call I've ever seen around 19:00 on Kidd. With this type of officiating you can't play any post defense its ruining the game.
"The pressure on the ball has limited what the Hokies have wanted to do offensively."
We hear this from the announcers almost every game. It tells you all you need to know about this team.
Kidd does the same thing bacot literally just did to Wessler and gets a foul
How is Davis on the line when they called an offensive foul on Kidd?
No way was that over the back.
Pedulla still can't make free throws 🤦♀️
Pedulla needs to hit these FTs
Holy smokes! They've actually called 2 on bacon! If we don't run right at him when he's back in we are idiots
Clean block by beran....foul
At least the fouls have evened out some.....after a 6-1 start its now 9-6. I figured it would be like 12-4 instead.
Got to give the boys credit that they are still fighting. Hokies have FOUR guys with two fouls each already.
Just ridiculous
Hokies shooting 50% and 55% from three or they would be getting blown out. The eight offensive rebounds given up is killer.
No matter how bad any particular game is the boys always seem to have some fight in them.
That was dumb by Wessler on that foul.
Pedulla doing Pedulla things....
Yet again, a letdown to end the half. How have we not corrected this. But Pedulla forcing these two shots in the last minute has contributed.
I would love to see some advanced stats for the year for the last 5 minutes of the 1st half and the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half to see if the numbers back up the way it feels/seems watching them.
What is this last two minutes line up? Absolutely pissing away the work we put in down the stretch. Very poor coaching
Protecting all our guys with 2 fouls.
This just in......wessler is not good. Fucking just dunk that shit! It looks like he can't jump more than 6 inches off the floor...
Yes pedulla forced because he was on the court with wessler, reichsteiner, and young. Just a joke.
Pedulla and Wessler pretty much gave away that momentum in the last two minutes....damb
Shooting well from 3....need more of that. Free throws and offensive rebounds stand out in the box score as being the biggest difference in the score.
Need to keep poteat on the floor and out of foul trouble in the second half. He's been efficient. Ingram has 12! Rebounds for un-cheat. Gotta get him off the ball.
Announcers saying this is first UNC lead at halftime in a month is no bueno.
Lost in all the shuffle, let's not fail to recognize the growth of MJ Collins over the last few games
He's had a good game so far but he's always a net 0 for this team. He has about as many shit plays as he does great plays.
Agree MJ has looked much more confident. My brother told me he was always shooting lights out playing pickup and that if he could get over the mental part of not rushing in real games he thinks he'll be a great shooter
Kidd's arms were straight up...
Worst call I've ever seen. How are you suppose to play defense? I guess we need to walk away and allow the dunk every time it goes inside.
Beran picks up another foul going for a jump ball lmao
Jump ball situation where no one had control and Stines with no view of the play calls Beran for the foul
They may foul our whole team out on invisible fouls here
Poteat with inside position but once again gets the foul
Should been 4 on bacot not 3 on poteat. Total over the back.
Washington just spun that out of bounds
Looked like Kidd traveled on his last two scores, just to play devils advocate
Do I think we'd be winning this game if the officiating was better? No. Do I think it would be much more competitive? Absolutely. UNC lead the conference in fouls drawn. It's showing why today.
Exactly what I just said to my wife. UNC doesn't need the help to win this game.
Jesus. Kidd has absolutely no touch. Misses more 3 footers than anyone I've ever seen.
Worst part is he is forced into 3 footers because he can't get to the rim.
Bacot stepped out of bounds trying to go around Poteat
Man, two wide open 3's missed.
Pedulla keeps forcing, but MJ and nickel have been the better shooters. Not sure why we're not trying to get them more looks
Yep Hokies shot 48% in first half from 3 are now down to 32%
Beran takes a knee to the chest, arms straight up in the air; FOUL. Bro I cannot help but feel bad for Beran a foul calls every game
Unfortunately he was in the circle so none of the rest mattered.
He had the time to get a step outside and set but didnt.
Ah appreciate that. Now, what was the foul on young there?
That was Stines bailing out Cormac Ryan. About Stines 8th questionable call today.
Beran had position but was dumb enough to lean forward into him instead of staying perfectly still and taking the charge.
FEED MJ
Pedulla, time to ruin momentum
MJ at point!
That pass to the post was too easy because we had no pressure on the ball handler. With 3 fouls, Poteat is put in a bad spot there and gets no help from the perimeter defense.
Ryan trapped in the paint. Stines bails him out.
Phantom foul right there
MJ looks so good at point this game. Getting in the paint and making the right decisions.
Hokies just hanging around......
But can't put together a solid run
Sorry to jump off topic a bit, but why is UVA at home not our last home game of the season?!!
I don't recall that being a regular thing.
The only rivalry game I can think of basketball wise that usually does this is UNC-Duke.
Sheesh that three by RJ Davis hurt 😢
Yeah that was a 🗡
Pedulla has been on the bench for probably the last 4 minutes? of game time, and we've hung around with MJ at point.
we have missed so many open shots and cant sniff a rebound
So it's really gonna come down to us winning the second half and that end of first half run by UNC when we subbed in Wessler the difference in the game; isn't it
I heard the slap on cattors arm on that three attempt
Edit: he was showing the ref the handprint on his arm after
Bacot was laying on Kidds back but nope
Hokies did not touch that ball
I really hate when Collins leaves his feet
Seems like MY with a message to Pedulla, or just leaving the hot hand in with Collins.
No real point having him out there trading buckets
At this point, maybe he should start playing Pedulla off the ball like Cattor if MJ can consistently play like that as the primary ball handler. We've seen how Pedulla plays the second half and he's shown no willingness to correct his bad habits yet....coincidentally we keep losing games.
UNC is a top 10 team so you expect to lose, however, we are all witnessing what building a G5 team in the ACC looks like. There is rarely a league game where we aren't completely outclassed from an athletic standpoint.
Bottom of the league in rebounding. Bottom of the league defensively. And if we aren't hitting 3's there's absolutely no other way for the system to produce enough points to win.
Sad and true
Missed a lot of shots within 10 feet.
I'm not sure we have the horses.
But, we kept fighting and making runs. They just answered each time.
Go Hokies.
The guys don't quit, that's for sure. Just wish we had a shot
How are we just a half game back of a first round bye?
How are we just 2 games back of the double bye?
Mainly because of how the conference tournament is structured. Secondly, it shows how mediocre the middle of the conference has been.
Or in SEC/BIG10 lingo "no one is a foot above another team, they're all so good they're just beating up on each other in this meat grinder of a conference"