Buzzketball Central: Alabama State Hornets (0-0) vs Virginia Tech Hokies (0-0) 7PM ESPN3

We're back, #HokieNation!!

See you at 7 in Cassell when we take on Alabama St

pic.twitter.com/rNHHUCitjx— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) November 14, 2015

Radio

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Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
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Television/Internet
ESPN3
Andrew Allegretta & Mack McCarthy

Its been a seemingly long road to get us back here as we are set to begin Season 2 of Buzzketball. We saw transfers, injuries and graduation dramatically change this roster from last year. We are about to begin the season with six players that have never suited up for the Hokies before, barring injury, it would have been seven. The first few games will be critical to show us whether these changes are for the good or if we are looking at another season of finding our way, constantly having to move pieces around in hopes of finding something that works. If you haven't had a chance to check out my first post of the season, please check it out here as it will bring you up to speed on all the new rule changes in college basketball this season.

Now onto our opponent for tonights game, the Alabama State Hornets, come in off a 19-11 season, but losing four of their top six scorers from last season. Leading scorer, Jamel Waters, a preseason SWAC all conference first team nominee, comes in having put up 14.2 PPG and 5.2 APG last season. Waters (#12) is a 5'9, 160 lbs senior point guard that has already joined the 1000 point club in his career and will be critical for the Hornets tonight if they want to succeed.

He is joined by second team SWAC nominee Bobby Brown, (#5) a 6'6, 195 lbs senior shooting guard who has enjoyed the role of sixth man the last two seasons for the Hornets but must now step up to a starting role. He scored 8.4 PPG and had 5.2 RPG last season. His improvement in a staring role might be the most critical for the Hornets as they don't have many other reliable scoring threats left from last season.

A third guard to watch out for this evening will be sophomore Steve Rogers, (#52) 6'1, 160 lbs who led the team in three point shooting at almost 46% last season while being named the SWAC Freshmen of the Year. If the Hokies struggle to guard the perimeter like they did season, than Rogers could be set to have a big night tonight.

The Hornets round out their players on the floor with Terrance LeFlore, (#30) a 6'1, 170 lbs shooting guard, Robert Ojeah, (#45) 6'9, 245 lbs senior Center, and Chidozie Omile, (#1) a 6'5, 210 lbs senior guard.

LeFlore is coming off injuries last season, so his coaches hope he returns to form, when as a freshmen, he averaged 5 points a game in sixteen minutes on the court.

Ojeah is one of three "big men" on the roster for the Hornets, expected to play center in a four guard, one big set. He is capable of playing with his back to the basket, which allows him to pass or shoot consistently from the lane.

Omile assumes the role that Bobby Brown played for this team the last two seasons, stepping in as sixth man to provide a spark when things are going awry for the Hornets.

Alabama State hopes to play a fast paced four guard, one big set with high pressure defense leading to turnovers and fast break points. Their coach, Lewis Jackson, had this to say in an interview earlier this year, "Defense! If there was one word, it's defense! People tell me that I was known as a scorer, but I thought I was a hell of a defensive player too. It was always about defense. It's been ingrained in me. Our defense and hustle is what has kept us in the top half of the league for the last few years." They will play mainly zone defense on the Hokies, especially with the size differences at almost every position in favor of the Hokies but really expect to see these Hornets close in on ball handlers to try to create turnovers.

I would expect Buzz to have these young Hokies push the ball down low, taking advantage of their size down low to put Alabama State in foul trouble early and get our bigs in the game from the start. Expect our guards to drive the basketball from the perimeter, causing matchup nightmares for the Hornets.

The Hokies absolutely cannot come out flat or they might fall victim tonight like NC State did yesterday to William and Mary and Georgetown did today with Radford. Hats off to two in state schools that pulled off big upsets to start their seasons, especially the Highlanders, who beat Georgetown in double Overtime. This also shows you why, until these young Hokies show me they can play as a team, I expect a few ugly non conference losses. We play at Radford on 12/9, so hopefully the Hokies faithful will travel heavily for that game.

As for tonight, I expect a pretty high scoring affair, with the Hokies coming out on top 84-65, having to endure a couple runs from the Hornets in the second half to put this game away. The Hokies cant sleep walk through this one or they will find themselves playing catch up and might not recover. The new roster has the size and talent to make this a quick game but until I see it happen, the jury is out. Go Hokies!!