Hokies Hoops Central: Charlotte (2-1) at Virginia Tech (3-0) 2pm Sunday ACCNX

Charlotte (2-1)
at
Virginia Tech (3-0)
2pm Sunday ACCNX
Cassell Colisuem

TV
ACC Network Extra
Bailey Angle, PxP
Mack McCarthy, Analyst
Tamara Brown, Sideline

RADIO
VT Sports Network
Zach Mackey, PxP
Mike Burnop, Analyst

VIDEO STREAM AND LIVE STATS
ESPN.com and ESPN app stats.hokiesports.com

Over/Under: 147.5
Spread: VT -18.5

Return of a Thorn
The Hokies and 49ers have matched up 14
previous times on the hardwood with VT
owning a 8-6 lead in the series. The Hokies are 5-1 at home against the 49ers. The last time that these clubs met was 1999 in Blacksburg, a game I was at and the Hokies won 60-52. Charlotte was a real pain in the 1990s for the Hokies.

Aaron Fearne is in his third season at Charlotte, where he is 32-35 overall. He had a really strong first season but last year was a mess after losing a very heavy Senior roster and the portal didnt pan out very well to fill those holes. This season seems different in terms of portal impact. Fearne is Australian and relies heavily on recruiting internationally. Five of his top eight are international players.

So far this season, the 49ers opened with wins over Indiana State and Tennessee Tech. Last game out, they lost to Davidson 62-55.

They rely heavily on their starters and four average double-digit scoring. Bench scoring only provides about 12 points a game.

They are led by Sophomore Guard Ben Bradford, with 17 points a game as the shooting guard. Senior Point Guard Dezayne Mingo transferred in from Marshall and is putting up 12 points and 4 assists as the 1-2 guard punch. Major Freeman, a transfer Guard from Siena is second in scoring for the 49ers at 13.3 ppg. Anton Bonke transferred in from Providence and is a mountain in the middle at 7'2 and 270 lbs. He is putting up a double-double at 11 points and 11 rebounds. The final starter is Freshman Forward Jarne Elouna Eyenga from Belgium. He adds about 5 points and 5 rebounds.

Mingo and Bradford are on the floor over 30 minutes a contest so if they get into foul trouble it really will hamper the 49ers. Bradford and Bonke do struggle with fouls so going at Bradford early could be a huge tipping point.

Defensively, expect to see a variety of presses that starts by focusing on offensive rebounds and then rather than moving straight back to half court, attempt to slow the opponent from getting the ball across mid-court by "tagging up". They use a high pressure man-to-man defense where they crash the boards for offensive rebounds and tag up on an opponent and assume responsibility for that man all the way up the court.

Offensively, the 49ers use a variety of dribble penetration set plays. They shoot 41% from the perimeter on 21 attempts so that helps to spread the floor by forcing opponents to defend all the way out, creating driving lanes. They get to the line frequently but are only shooting 64% from the stripe. Expect to see alot of elbow pick and roll plays between Bradford and Bonke.

49ers Starters
Ben Bradford
#3 SO G 6-5 180
17.0 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 2.3 Ast

Major Freeman
#5 SR G 6-3 190
13.3 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast

Dezayne Mingo
#2 SR G 6-4 185
12.3 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 4.0 Ast

Anton Bonke
#49 JR C 7-2 270
11.0 Pts, 10.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast

Jarne Elouna Eyenga
#25 FR F 6-10 235
5.0 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast

49ers Bench
Damoni Harrison
#10 SR G 6-5 180
5.7 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Kylan Blackmon
#1 SR G 6-3 200
5.0 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 1.7 Ast

Raúl Villar
#44 FR G 6-3 205
1.7 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Ethan Butler
#15 SR F 6-6 205
1.3 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Hokies Starters
Neoklis Avdalas
#17 FR G 6-9 215
18.3 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 7.3 Ast

Amani Hansberry
#13 JR F 6-8 240
18.3 Pts, 9.3 Reb, 2.3 Ast

Jailen Bedford
#0 SR G 6-4 181
13.0 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 1.3 Ast

Toibu Lawal
#1 SR F 6-8 200
12.7 Pts, 10.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Tyler Johnson
#10 SO G 6-5 215
10.7 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 3.0 Ast

Hokies Bench
Ben Hammond
#3 SO G 5-11 170
9.3 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 3.7 Ast

Jaden Schutt
#2 JR G 6-5 185
9.3 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Christian Gurdak
#32 FR C 6-10 260
4.0 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast

Izaiah Pasha
#4 SO G 6-4 190
2.7 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.0 Ast

Antonio Dorn
#77 FR C 7-0 230
2.0 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast

Hokies can't afford to be lackadaisical on defensive rebounds. Charlotte is averaging 15 offensive boards and 20 second chance points a game.

One concern to watch will be Hansberry and Lawal foul situations having to counter Bonke in the paint.

Hoping we get some Dorn V Bonke action in the paint if for nothing else the entertainment value of two enormous 7 footers going at it. Curious if they have crossed paths before in international play as there is heavy crossover between Belgium and German basketball.

This game isn't expected to be close but may simply come down to fatigue. The Hokies have a much more reliable bench so any Charlotte substitutions really create an offensive talent gap on the floor.

Hokies win 96-72.