The 14th seeded Virginia Tech Hokies (10-21, 2-16 ACC) took down the eleven-seed Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Tuesday's first round of the ACC Tournament. Next up in Buzzketball's quest for the ACC crown is 6th seeded Miami (20-11, 10-8 ACC), a team that has embarrassed the Hokies in their two previous meetings. Let's hope Sunday's 21-point loss to the Canes is fresh in this team's mind and they use it as extra motivation to firmly knock The U off the NCAA Tournament bubble.
I had an opportunity to exchange questions and answers with Jerry Steinberg of State of the U ahead of Tuesday's game. Jerry's answers to my questions are below, and you can find my answers at State of the U.
Only two years removed from winning the ACC's Regular Season and Tournament crowns, the Canes have rebounded from a 10th Place finish in 2014 to earn a six-seed this year. Do you feel like this team has underachieved, overachieved, or finished right where they should have?
Miami came into the season with nine players who had never worn a 'Canes uniform before. In terms of game experience, only Manu Lecomte and Tonye Jekiri returned from last year's squad. So expectations were all over the place. I personally picked UM to finish 8th in the conference. So I am pleasantly surprised, overall. I did not see road wins over Florida, Duke, and Syracuse happening. That being said, home losses to Eastern Kentucky, Green Bay, and Georgia Tech were equally shocking. It's been that kind of season in Coral Gables. If they can win this game, maybe one more over Notre Dame and make the Big Dance, they will have had a very successful season, in my opinion. Next year when everyone returns, minus seldom used grad transfer Joe Thomas, the expectations will be much greater.
What is the status of injured point guard Angel Rodriguez heading into Wednesday's game? If Rodriguez can't go, do you feel confident in Manu Lecomte's ability to manage this team? He certainly played well against the Hokies on Sunday in Rodriguez's absence.
The latest and only update we have from the school is that Angel is "questionable." My guess is that he sits this one out. A wrist injury is a tricky proposition for a point guard. The combination of Lecomte and steadily improving freshman PG JaQuan Newton may not have the explosive abilities of Rodriguez, but in a sense they are actually more steady. You know what you will get from them most games, whereas Rodriguez can give you anything from a 25 point, 5 assist, 5 steal All-American type performance (see the Duke game) to a 1-12, 3 turnover stinker (several occasions).
With Sheldon McClellan and Davon Reed constantly threatening from the wing and impressive man-child Tonye Jekiri in the post, the Canes simply feel like a bad matchup for Virginia Tech. Where would you say the Canes are the most vulnerable against this Hokies team?
The Hokies like to spread you out and get open looks on threes. But Miami has a plethora of guards and wings who can contest shots on the perimeter. If Virginia Tech wants to beat Miami, they likely need to forego the "bombs away" approach, and take the ball to the basket over and over. Jalen Hudson looked like a monster in that regard versus Wake. Perhaps taking the ball to the basket gets Jekiri in foul trouble, as well. The Hurricanes have a lot of talented players, but without Jekiri in the game, they are vulnerable in defensive rebounding and rim protection.
Who would you say is the Canes' biggest x-factor heading into Wednesday's game?
I think it has to be Davon Reed. He is very active defensively. After missing the first 8 games of the season with an ACL injury, he took some time to find his offensive game. Yet on the season he shot 52% from the floor, and a white hot 49% from three. He also matched his career high of 19 points on 4 occasions in the final 10 games. Reed has point guard skills in a 6'6" frame. He is by far Miami's most underrated player.
Alright, I'm going to put you on the spot. Who've you got and why?
This is just a bad matchup for the Hokies. UM matches up very well on the outside with them, and they have the game's best big in Jekiri. Add to the fact that the Hokies might be fatigued and the Hurricanes have NCAA Tourney bubble status, and this all adds up to a big Miami win. That is unless of course they come out tight. You never know. Nonetheless, I will go 'Canes, 70-54.
Comments
I actually like this match-up more than others due to the fact that Miami IS a bubble team and will most likely be playing tight. Plus they are without A-Rod. If Tech can hold up their own down low, I feel good about tonight.
I will most likely be entirely wrong about what I just wrote.
Considering we are playing a 6 seed and looking at the other 5 teams ahead of Miami, I think we have a much easier game than we could have gotten. A-Rod being out is big, but Miami did already crush us without him once.
Still wearing my rose colored glasses. I think this one will be a shootout. Hokies 83, Canes 76. Hudson goes wild again and Miami doesn't know how to deal with him.
If Hudson goes wild, I think we lose this one. But if Tyrone is able to play, I think we have a chance.
I like his suggestion to take the ball at Jekiri. If we can get him in foul trouble, the Hokies may have a chance.
Doubly so if we can get him in foul trouble before he gets Pierce gets in foul terrible. That would really swing the game
We haven't gotten to see him play much simply due to the fact he doesn't play much, but in the times he's been in, I've thought Henry has played well. Bit of a liability on the offensive end, but is a beast down low on D. Hope we see a lot more of him and Beyer tonight like we did yesterday. And if Hudson can get to the rim like he did yesterday, I actually think we got a shot. We gotta get something going from either Bibbs or Hill though. They were pretty quiet for the most part.
^This. Henry was a surprise and Beyer played well early last night. Those guys must be in the mix so we don't see the horrible offensive execution we had last Saturday in the Cassell. The UM blogger in this article said it right (unfortunately), UM matches up well against us with perimeter defense. We have to mix it up and threaten them inside (yes get Jekiri to foul) or they will just camp on the 3 point line. If we do this right the 3 point line will open up and we can hit a few more of them.
Also, we need Smith, Bibbs, and Hill to hit threes so UM doesn't know where their gonna come from.
Alright, so we've got about 2 minutes to get him in foul trouble.
I'll take Hudson for 40 tonight please
Anything can happen, VT has to get some breaks. We must take the ball inside to draw Miami into early foul trouble combined with VT hitting constested 3 pointers. All the pressure is on Miami - for them it should be a cake walk they have blown us out.
However, this is college basketball expect the unexpected!
I like that VT played yesterday while MIAMI relaxed I hope that helps us with a fast start.
I am feeling the Buzz of VT Basketball! Go Hokies!
I have seen this play out many times to the advantage of the team that has played already and hoping this is the case tonight. I dont think fatigue will be an issue tonight for us but it will in our 3rd and 4th game if we are fortunate enough to get that far
I seem to remember this happening to a certain team a couple years back *cough* 2010 *cough*.
All I will say is, it's payback time.
Yes. Very good memory (that we want to forget). We did not play till second day and lost to Miami, last place Miami (which probably knocked us out of the NCAAs that year).... *Possible foreshadow
I don't expect us to win, all I ask is that we keep it close. A win is a bonus for this program, but we have already shown what we are capable of yesterday and throughout the last season with the close games against Syracuse, Virginia and Duke.
Muck Fiami
I don't know about y'all but I have 71-68 for the good guys.
Larranaga is still mad because he invited Frank to his birthday party and he didn't show up.
Anyone have an watchespn account that works? I keep getting "authorization error"
Same here (TWC new york). ESPN didn't say anything about a black out.
I think they're having issues with logins. I should have access but I'm getting the same authorization error.