Television
Regional Sports Networks - Wes Durham & Mike Gminski
Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network - Bill Roth & Mike Burnop
Also available on:
Satellite: Sirius 119, SM 193
(Florida State broadcast)
Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn
As Alex's thread points out here , we are finding out just how Buzz Williams plans to address the suspension of Van Zegeren on the court. This is another game that the Hokies will face significant size disadvantage against Florida State, we will likely get to see quite a few combinations of players out their for Virginia Tech.
Florida State boasts a trio of seven footers that rotate in at the Center position, and combine for 14.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and 2.3 bpg. The bad part about this combination is that they aren't even the shooters we have to worry about. A combination of three larger guards come in as this teams highest scorers.
Aaron Thomas (#25), comes in averaging 14.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
He is joined by Montay Brandon (#32), a 6' 7 guard, who knocks down 13.7 ppg along with 5.4 rpg. He is shooting an astonishing 59% from the field so far this season.
The last of the leading scorers is Xavier Rathan-Mayes (#22) who puts up 11.7 ppg and 3.3 rpg while playing the point guard role with about 5 apg. There are three more FSU players that rotate the other guard/forward spots that contribute about 23 ppg and 12 rpg.
This team is methodical on offense, working the ball around to get inside. They are shooting an astonishing 47.5% from the field as a team, so count on them to find the right shot and hit almost every other trip down the floor. This could prove especially damning if we are unable to prevent them from getting offensive rebounds as that will increase their scores per possession dramatically. Tech will likely be outsized at every position on the court which is something they aren't necessarily used to. Buzz may employ the new five guard set in hopes to speed up the game, get FSU bigs in foul trouble and take advantage of our speed vs their size. We certainly do not want to get into a war with their bigs in a slow lane dominated game because it will work against us.
These teams come in with identical records but don't be confused, Florida State played a much tougher OOC slate than did Tech with seven games against top conference teams. Tech is in for a battle tonight and this is one of the few schools that Tech might be able to knock off if they play an entire game, not just a half or two thirds of one. Tech will have to limit turnovers and their shot will have to be on to stay in this game. Big games will be needed from Bibbs and Smith from the outside as opponents average taking 19 three ball attempts per game. Florida State on the other end is dreadful from outside, shooting just 26% so if the Hokies can keep FSU out of the paint, it will be difficult for FSU to score.
If Tech hopes to get a win in its next five games than this is the one to get, as their next four opponents are all currently ranked in the AP Top 25.
I think Tech loses focus in this game sometime in the second half and allows FSU to get just enough of a lead to win this one against the Hokies. If Bibbs and Smith come out shooting than that could change the result quickly.
FSU - 63 Virginia Tech - 58
Comments
So what you're saying is we may not win another game until February?
We probably have the toughest January schedule in the country. It should be a learning experience for the youngsters.
I think Rob is spot on in his point that this is a winnable game for the Hokies (and the most winnable of the next few weeks). However, I feel a bit differently about FSUs squad than Rob. FSUs offense is sloppy at best and more often resembles a street ball game than a sophisticated college offense. This begins with Xavier Rathan-Mayes at the point and trickles all the way
downup to their bigs.So far this season, FSU has primarily run a combination of motion and flex offenses that cycle their three guards around the perimeter, aided by off-the-ball screens by post players at the elbow-extended. This approach produces a lot of perimeter passing and dribbling (as well as a lot of resets) and not a lot of aggressive driving. Their three guards — Rathan-Mayes, Bookert and Brandon — tend to stay out of the lane until the passing produces a breakdown in the defensive set. Sometimes Brandon will run the baseline and flash when they overload one side of the floor. From there, things get a bit erratic.
None of the Noles perimeter players are particularly strong in the pull-up game (Bookert is the best of the three), but all of them can be explosive and make plays off the drive.
In short, this offense will not out-execute the Hokies, but rather capitalize on breakdowns in the Hokie defense. The interesting thing is FSU has an offensive framework, but some of their ballhandlers just sort of do what they want at times. So if they feel like trying to breakdown their defender 1-on-1 to make something happen, they will while the other players hit the pause button on the offense. This equals a lot of standing around and passes to no one. Because FSU doesnt have anyone that can truly create their own shot with consistency, the approach is limiting. Bookert can shoot off the dribble, but struggles with a hand in his face. With that being said, he and Rathan-Mayes have proven they can bang home wide open shots with consistency, so it is important that the Hokies limit those looks.
Of FSUs three bigs, Boris Bojanovski is easily their most athletic player. He is a bit soft on defense (though he takes the occasional charge), but has a quick first step when he faces up and could pose a problem for a slower footed big like Big Satch or (Christian Beyer). Michael Ojo, typically their starting center, can be a complete non-factor with the ball in his hands. In the four games I watched, he did not show a single post-move when receiving the ball with his back to the basket. He can take quick shots and hit put-backs and alley-oops, but I think that is about it. More than anything, he looks very heavy legged
Defensively they look completely undisciplined, failing to maintain proper spacing and/or positioning and failing to consistently box out aggressively. The guards are better defenders than their post players, and most of them apply good pressure along the perimeter. They use varying sets depending on the flow of the game and the matchups; for instance, they employed man-to-man, 2-3, 3-2 and Box-and-1 sets against Mississippi State in their most recent game.
Can't argue with much of this after seeing the news that Thomas is out for the season. Thats essentially like taking Malcolm Delaney away from Tech a few years ago. I knew that Mayes was playing a more prominent role then I expected but didnt realize Thomas was out. In this game I see FSU trying to work the ball into their bigs though which will be a big problem for Tech.
Looks like Aaron Thomas was ruled ineligible for the rest of the season last month.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12021162/aaron-tho...
Seems more likely medical related rather than academics. Hope he is OK after more evaluations and tests.
Correct, and that is why Rathan-Mayes has been pressed into the primary ball-handler role so early in his career. Between his experience and leadership abilities, they are really missing Thomas.
Good catch, not sure how I missed that. Last FSU game I caught in person he was still with the team but that was at Thanksgiving because of how difficult it is to find non top ACC games on the actual ESPN channels rather than the net. I have actually caught more Wofford games than Wake Forest because Comcast SportsNet seems to always have their games on.
I should watch this one. I keep seeing scores and missing games. Our guys better be keeping up with their cardio as we will be running a lot more without JVZ
It's probably been mentioned somewhere..but what's the status of Isaiah Ford? Does he still plan on joining the Hokies? Could be fun to watch him get some minutes off the bench in Cassell. Would provide some energy at the least.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2015/january/2/mike-barber-isaiah-ford...
Does anyone know if Jalen Hudson will be back for this game?
I'm going to be watching this but I'm not expecting much. We're massively undersized here. What I'm really hoping for is a hard-fought, low scoring game where we've fought to the last buzzer. Anything else (like actually winning this thing) would be just icing. It's also a reason to drink a few porters and watch a VT game on a Tuesday night. I'll take that by itself.
GAME TIME GRAB YOUR BOURBON
Anyone have a stream? ESPN3 is blacked out in Blacksburg, and I don't have CSN
first row sports
Announcers are terrible....Devin Smith? Really?
I insta-cringed when I heard that. Turrible. Just turrible.
I love how Will Johnston comes out and looks completely lost for minutes at a time and then just drains a three like it's nothing.
Love the way they're competing..third chance points including offensive rebound on free throw when we cut it to 3 there hurts, though. Just like that back to 7
Good take Justin! And oneeeeeee!!
Gotta be careful here.
FSU can't miss.
Ha! Comical..FSU having their best shooting night of the year. FOH
Holy Adam Smith, Batman!
Is that the halftime score or did I suddenly black out and miss the second half?!?
I'm the first to jump all over them when they don't compete/miss free throws, I'll be the first to praise them when they do well. You gotta love the effort of this team so far. Completely outsized, and FSU unconscious from 3, but didn't pack it in when it almost got out of hand. Also 9-11 from the line. "Tough guys make free throws". Well done in the first half by the good guys! Gotta be proud of the fight so far.
If you would have told me we would score 45 at half, I would have thought we would be leading by 10. Did not expect FSU to be lighting it up from beyond the arc. early foul trouble to the bigs pushed the game towards our style and they played it well. I would not be surprised to see FSU try and work their bigs and slow it down as they should not keep relying on the weakest part of their game. Tech will need to keep up the pace to keep prevent their bigs from getting set on defense or we will be trying to win this game from the 3 pt line.
Uh oh please not another game with a bad half...
These second and third chance opportunities FSU are getting are like a kick in the balls.
FSU has shot too well they hopefully won't be able to keep it up the rest of the 2nd half
We need a run!
On YES network in NY if anyone is looking. I like listening to the FSU announcer on the XM radio, same famous guy that does the football games.
Trading baskets now....spoke too soon, travel...spoke too soon again...trading turnovers.
It's probably already been said but why is this game blacked out like everywhere? I live in Richmond man, why the heck can't I watch this game? WatchESPN and ESPN3 both have them unavailable in my area.
It's on a competitors tv station in RIC.... On CSN. Rights.
Green is where it is available... don't understand why ESPN would blackout where majority of FSU and Tech fans are
Because we all know people in Alaska are just dying to see the Hokies' basketball team get after it
This team is more frustrating simply because the potential is so evident. Bibbs is going to be a star for us.
Who is this Bibbs and what has he done with our freshman?
I'm afraid this team is gonna start wilting as the season goes on if they don't start expeeiencing the fruits of their labor in the form of W's. Good effort, but their good just isn't good enough right now. Gotta keep battling. JVZ putting himself above the team is really hurting right now. They arguably win both of these games with him available.
You really think Buzz is going to allow them to wilt? We will probably lose the next 4 games but I'm still expecting for them to give their absolute best effort every game. I'm fully expecting this month to be a learning experience for every player.
Agree, was able to watch steam and what impressed me was that Buzz continued to coach at every opportunity down to the end, I feel good about the future of tech basketball.
No, I don't expect it, but sometimes it's just human nature. That's why I said "I'm afraid..". Buzz is the man and hope the team continues to take after their coach, but sometimes it's tough, and it happens to a lot of teams.
Well said, I hope JVZ can get his act together and come back soon, I feel like if we have him and we are at full strength we can steal a game or two.
Tough to watch FSU find their three point shot out of the blue tonight. It was a solid effort without too many faults other than "We were too short", which isn't really a fault you can do much about. The scary part of this game is we got 25 from Bibbs and 24 from Smith, hats off to them, but it still wasn't enough to keep us in the game. They shot amazing from behind the arc (4-9 and 5-10) and a combined 8-10 from the free throw line. The big problem is the bigs, Henry and Pierce combined for 7 points and a total of 4, I say again 4 freakin rebounds. We were almost doubled up on the glass at a 22-42 pace. It was the Achilles heel I feared going into this game. I almost wish Buzz would get Meyer in the games more because he at least poses a threat on the offensive end because of sheer determination. Positives though was that the team almost shot 70% from the free throw line (JVZ being out schews this number) and we limited the turnovers to 6 on the game. Next four games are going to be tough to watch but even Kentucky got taken to overtime tonight so maybe there is a glimmer of hope somewhere in there.