Television/Internet
ESPN3 - Andrew Allegretta & Mack McCarthy
Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network - Bill Roth & Mike Burnop
Also available on: Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn
This is apparently the final game of the Cancun Challenge. The Hokies face Morgan State coming off a 78-63 over Miami(OH) on Wednesday night. Morgan State comes in after beating Liberty 51-50 by hitting a shot with 3 seconds remaining. That was the Bears first win on the season. Hopefully the coaching staff uses their win over Liberty to keep these young Hokies on edge for this opponent as it could be a quiet day in Cassell if the crowd is still dealing with a double dose of Thanksgiving/LoLUVA beating hangover.
Morgan State is lead by Senior Guard Blake Bozeman (#22), who comes in averaging 12.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 2.3 APG on the season in the early going. Two other Bears play over 30 mpg so far, Junior Forward Cedric Blossom (#34) and Junior Guard Donte Pretlow (#1). These two combine for 17 PPG, 10 RPG, and 5 APG. Pretlow plays the point guard position in their offense primarily. Expect a steady rotation of about 7 other players as they range from 23 MPG to 6 MPG. The Bears have three games decided by one possession so far this season but also were blown out by 15 or more in two of their losses so its difficult to know what to expect. They prefer to play a very up-tempo style of basketball on both ends of the floor so dont be surprised if this game is an extremely high scoring affair.
The Hokies have three players averaging in double digits thus far, with Bibbs, Smith and JVZ. Bibbs and Smith both had their averages buoyed by their high scoring affair against Miami(OH). I hope that we see much of the same offensive performance today, especially early on driving the lane to create fouls and free throws, getting our dominance in the paint established to open up the outside shots in the second half.
If this game goes as I expect, the Hokies should be able to pull away early, establish a double digit lead by the end of the first half and maintain that lead in the second half. The only change to this would be if Morgan State came in and changed their style of play to really slow the pace of the game. This could cause Tech problems in getting their shooters established on the outside. In the games that Morgan State has been really blown out, they were awful on the defensive boards, giving up more than 20 offensive rebounds in those two games, so the Tech big men could be the key to winning this game going away. Tech this season has a significant advantage when it comes to Points per Possession, with Tech at 1.03 so far and Morgan State at 0.86 PPP. Hopefully this remains the case.
Tech 77 - Morgan State 65
Comments
Anybody have a link? Some reason I can't get on ESPN3
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2100528/
Thanks, I still couldn't get on.
I couldn't see it on my tablet but could on my laptop. Bit wonky.
Oof, Getting outrebounded more than we should be at this point.
Adam Smith is en fuego!
No Satchel Pierce today?
Not sure why we aren't seeing Pierce. Couldn't get the volume to work on WatchESPN for the most of the half. Other than that its a really balanced game so far from the team, nice double digit lead after the half. This is what I had hoped to see this game. Tech is shooting almost 60% from the field while holding Morgan State to under 30%. Really impressed by Devin's distribution of the ball, he is already in double digit assists on the game. He is also leading the team in rebounding with six. Its possible he could double double without 10 points.
Even after fact checking Burnop they still got it wrong. Tic Price has been a head coach in two NCAA tournament games. Am I missing something?
Watching on watchESPN app on the i phone - signal keeps going out, even though on a great wi-fi signal from TWC. Hope Bibbs is okay. At least the team can be fun to watch, but lots of young player lapses in effort - boards and D.
Adam Smith up in this motherfucker!
We have gotten sloppy on defense again in the last ten minutes. Really wanted to see this team lock down the defensive end but we have somewhat let them back into the game.
Pierce here in the second half has been a monster in the lane, now we just need him to hit his shots down there.
Oh and is it coincidence that ESPN is running Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving ads during our games??
Good win, I agree with the announcers it would have been nice if the freshman could have finished that game out.
Good closeout in the last four minutes. Great 20 point win. Pretty balanced contributions all around today. Still less than 70% at the free throw line. Four Hokies in double digit scoring and Devin got the double double along with seven rebounds. Big shout out to Will Johnston getting 8 points tonight.
We lost one we shouldn't have against App St, time to win one we shouldn't against Penn St.
I'll gladly take that trade! Buzz knows how tough Penn State will be, even if many casual Hokie basketball fans don't.