IT'S GAMEDAY, #HOKIENATION! pic.twitter.com/ecfFbiCC9h— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 9, 2016
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Hokies fans, its ok to savor the 2-0 start after years of frustration in the ACC. This team has done some amazing things in overcoming overtime against NC State and taking down the number four team in the country in UVA. The Hokies will need all that magic and more today at Cameron Arena if they want to continue their winning streak in the ACC. Duke comes in at having beaten Tech 20 out of 21 times in their friendly confines. That said, Tech does have recent success against the Blue Devils, having won two of the last four regular season meetings.
Duke is led in scoring by the guy that only after injury was pushed into the starting lineup, Grayson Allen, (#3) 6'4, 195 Lbs, Sophomore Guard, averaging 20.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG. Allen is a much more controlled version of Seth Allen, with an uncanny knack for finding his way to the rim but with far less turnovers in doing do. He can hurt you inside and out though, shooting better than 40% from outside. He also is averaging eight trips to the line per game, where he shoots 86% right now, so fouling him wont save the Hokies many points.
Behind Allen are four other Blue Devils averaging in double figures. Brandon Ingram, (#14) 6'9, 190 Lbs Freshman Forward is averaging 16.4 PPG, 6 RPG, and 1.6 APG. Arguably the top freshmen in the ACC at this point with the guard duo from Florida State, Ingram consistently delivers underneath in getting key put backs as he averages 6 second chance points per game.
Matt Jones, (#13) 6'5, 210 Lbs Junior Guard is averaging 14 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 2.1 APG. He also shoots better than 40% from outside. Tech will need to constantly have hands in face around the perimeter today as all but their starting Center shoot better than 40% from outside the arc.
Luke Kennard, (#5) 6'5, 180 Lbs, Freshman Guard, comes in putting up 12.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 1.3 APG and is the only one of Dukes top five scorers that doesn't average over 40% from outside. He does however have a deadly short range jumper and is shooting 93% from the line.
The last of Duke's double digit scorers, and arguably their most important, wont be available to the Blue Devils. Amile Jefferson, who had been averaging a double double on the season went down with a fracture in his right foot back in mid December and there is no timetable on his return.
The last two men that Tech will need to concern themselves with is Marshall Plumlee, (#40) 7'0, 255 Lbs Senior Center, putting up 6.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG and Derryck Thornton, (#12) 6'2, 175 Lbs, Freshman Guard averaging 9.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG and 2.7 APG. After that Duke very rarely plays much more of their roster except in mop up duty.
If you did the math there, you would realize that nearly half the Blue Devils scoring production come from freshmen. Sounds familiar. Also is a reason for a little bit of hope.
This game is going to come down to three things, Tech's ability to defend the perimeter, how well Tech collapses their defense in the lane and can this young team shake off this tough environment to find their shooting stroke. Do these things and we are right there at the end. Miss on these and the Blue Devils run us out of the gym.
It's an away game in one of the toughest environments in college basketball, they delivered in a tougher situation on Monday, and its against a top 15 team. All the recipe for these guys being amped up, and Buzz has shown he can keep them focused. I believe we have the talent, size and speed required to stay step for step with Duke today. Allen needs to repeat his defensive performance against Grayson Allen and our bigs need to be smart with their fouls but not hesitate in the lane. I just cant see our team pulling back to back upsets of this nature quite yet. Tech falls late 77-73.
Comments
SACK UP LETS GO
ESPN3 stream is blacked out in my area. Any other live streams online???
Nevermind...I found another stream. It is on the ACC network at http://www.theacc.com/game-center/5617f5b5e4b0ef626f2c1126/
LET'S GO...HOKIES!!!
#BeatDuke
Still don't understand how the black out works. I live right in between Virginia Tech and Duke. Comcast Sports Network doesn't seem to be showing the game either...
Typically if it is blacked out on espn3 it is on a local network. In charlotte it's on mytv12.
I freaking hate blackout rules. Blame duke for not selling enough damn tickets.
This game's on CBS where I live. How hard can that be?
MY TV Channel 20 here in Fairfax. Should be on whatever channel you could watch ACC Network football games locally.
Try this everyone:
http://www.theacc.com/game-center/5617f5b5e4b0ef626f2c1126/
You sir are a saint
WTF is with the Blue Devil shooting???
We are going to be in serious foul trouble quickly...
Welp
Yikes.
Wow, the refs finally called something on Duke!
At least they're shooting down to the mean on 3s after opening 4-4.
Also love how Coach K wanted to complain on that shooting foul after everything that's been called on us early.
According to the announcers Allen just scored without the ball.
Wow. These boys gonna grow up quick today.
Complete opposite on our defensive intensity compared to the LOLuva game. We look completely lost.
As if the dang refs need to help them out!
This zone is not working. The rotation is almost a full pass behind. Buzz needs to change it up and fast
I think the referee's forgot they don't have to call every little thing they see... #LetEmPlay
But but we are playing the Duke Saints
We look flat and that half to whole step slow is why we are fouling so much. The marginal calls won't go our way against Duke.
Hudson is apparently a freshman from Manassas.
These commentators are garbage.
OK, I thought these pain meds from my wisdom tooth surgery were making me hear things...almost wish they had though. How do you mess up that bad? They weren't even close!
..I can't watch the game.
But from reading these comments...
Down 31-14 in the first 12 minutes, they hit double bonus already
Dang man
Well I was gonna watch but after watching half of the first half I just hope they don't get completely embarrassed.
It already is completely embarrassing, down 20 in the first 12 minutes.
Turned it off
I have better things to do with my day than watch an unprepared team get blown out in a game they're sleepwalking through.
Okay. This is getting ridiculous. That offensive foul on LeDay was a garbage call. Looking like the mantra of Duke gets all the calls is really coming to fruition today. I'm fine with losing to a good Duke team but it would be nice to have the chance to put up a fight. Also, these commentators are hot, smelly garbage.
Couldn't agree more.
I have no idea what constitutes and "charge" and a "block" now. I'm not sure the stripes do either. Totally lopsided foul calling.
yeah but the commentators just said, "Good work by the officials today." pitiful
First Buzzketball game I've watched all year. We cannot seem to get a rebound. Have a crush on a chick who is a Duke fan. Our next date looks like its going to suck for me.
Just cancel and reschedule for football season, although with a Duke fan you may just want to cancel
I concur. If that last Hokie I dated would just come to her senses I wouldn't have this problem
That's why I married a Hokie.
Why is Blackshear shooting 3's?
Because he's playing lost and undisciplined like the rest of the team.
He has the ability to make them, he just hasn't made them consistently this year
"Duke, you're welcome!"
Sincerely
ACC Officials.
So I guess we are just done trying? No effort on the offensive side of the ball right now. Just one-on-one every time. Really embarrassing to watch.
this is getting very hard to watch.......
FIFY
Waiting for the Buzz haters to come out again and call for him to be on the hot seat next year....
If you bring your A+ game against Duke you may have a chance. If you bring your C- game against Duke and they hit there 3's and get every call from the so called officiating crew, the game is over at the 5 minute mark.
As well as we played against UVA, we've played as bad if not worse against Duke. The team seems uninterested in playing defense (completely unable to effectively play a zone), the shot selection has been atrocious, and overall they're playing with absolutely no emotion. Not sure what happened between UVA and now but my lord.....
Agreed, especially on the shot selection!
yeah...i was thinking that earlier about the emotion thing....mid first half Blackshear had a lay in off a great pass where he was all alone under the basket when we were only down by about 14 or so.....right after Plumlee had a dunk on the other end, and i'm sayin to myself....'dude! you gotta dunk that shit hard and fire the team up with some emotion......when you're getting killed like this you gotta get angry....and channel that anger into pure will to win.......
I'm angry and I'm sitting on the couch!
what LeDay just did is exactly what i was talking about.....show them the may be beating you.....but you're not their bitch....
The team is uninterested in defense because every time they play defense the officials call a foul. Then to further punish us, they also call a bogus offensive foul on us after Duke scores. These officials are garbage. I wasn't expecting to win, but I at least hoped for a clean game and loss. Thanks to these officials I am not sure we will stay within 30.
Oh good gracious, do not be that fan that blames the refs for us being run out of the building. The refs don't dictate us being completely out-rebounded. The refs have no effect on Kerry Blackshear (an 18% 3 point shooter) from hoisting up 3's. The refs also aren't the ones allowing wide open threes.
Yea, I don't think we're within the "refs are giving it to them" margin.
Foul count is 13-8 at half, but it was 13-5 before the officials called some small off the ball fouls to make it look better. The difference is the Duke fouls didn't have much affect, our fouls took points away on offense and resulted in free throws on their end.
Figuring out how to bring your A game and the intensity needed to just competitive each game can be tough for a young group. Hopefully they learn from this and are at least able to come out and compete in the second half.
Plumlee is a buffoon.
Are you really a Plumlee if you aren't a buffoon? I think not!
Good point.
He's one of those players you hate on the other team but would love to have on your team.
Coach K still working the officials. I think Duke is getting their money's worth already, but what do I know
They always have, they always will.
50-23 at half, nothing like seeing the other team go to their backups before halftime and still pull away
Why does this game not surprise me?
I sort of expected this type of let down, but maybe not quite this bad.
As bad as this game looks...we still beat UVA!
Yea, look at the bright side.
If I had a choice of losing to both respectably, or winning against the Hoos and losing badly to Duke, I guess I'd pick this.
^^^ post of the day....
This has to upset them all the more, too.
Oh yeah, they have to be loving that. Just one more thing for them to whine about.
i just hope that nobody quits, and we come out second half with some fight in us.......i can see us making a run to get within like 15 or so......we've certainly proved we have the capability to do that....but i think this is too high of a hill to climb.....
I'd love to see them come out in the second half and make it respectable.
Not with this offense, they are heaving threes and trying to take on the entire defense single handedly.
Yep, that's really all we can hope for from the second half. The level on intensity and attention to detail just wasn't there from the opening whistle. Hopefully they come out and keep playing in the 2nd half and can build on that. This year will be full of up and downs, just got to learn from the setbacks.
Watching Plumlee come up short on that dunk was the best thing all day, even with the foul
lol Duke seriously complaining about foul calls right now. Up 26.
They generally win the "whining battle". It's just something they're good at.
They are used to getting them, any turnovers or misses must be the result of fouls
This game is essentially Iowa State all over again. Half step slow on perimeter and then a full step slow when they drive instead of shoot. We also have to make our open shots. 28% shooting in first half isnt getting it done. Good to see us more active on offense in the second half but still poor execution.
Complete BS that Ingram doesnt get whistled for the reach in right there
Leday needs to be in the lane on offense not outside the arc setting picks
I love how one of the announcers said "well I don't know" in the lowest auditory mumble possible after watching the replay of a "blocking foul" that someone put on Plumlee earlier in the game. Way to take a stand there.
Way too many jump shots with no one inside to rebound. Just giving the ball to Duke.
Our guys are young. Their guys are young. They are the NBA annointed. This game our guys get asked the existential question, "What are you doing here?"
Getting a degree? Yes (I hope)
Playing some ball? Yes
Getting ready for the NBA?
The last question is the question these guys have to ask themselves. If yes, every summer they have to get much much better. They have to figure the Duke kids are working hard, but they have to work harder and smarter. Developing handles, working on a 3 ball, bumping up a vert. You name it they have to pick a couple of things a summer and blow up on them. Then when they are juniors and seniors and they play the 1anddone'ers from Duke or wherever... they feel like they got a shot... better yet they feel like they got experience and heart over these kids, and their skills are on par.
We'll get there. Today is the proverbial day the coach will refer back to when its time to leave for the offseason.
LeDay is mad.
Surprised we didn't get a technical on the dunk. Coach K wanted one called.
Had he not pulled himself up he would have swung out of bounds probably flipping in the process. That was a very dangerous position to be in.
Hell at this point we're only a couple fouls away from Donlon and Galloway getting some good playing time.
LeDay still giving it all he has. Hopefully we can make this game look respectable.
Leday v #allofDuke Dunk of the game maybe the year
What is Buzz so worked up about on that call?
I am still not sure what he is worked up about, maybe thought there should have been a flagrant foul on Leday
lol at the dookies getting riled up.
Good to get VT playing in that atmosphere, though.
That's at least the 3rd time I've seen us try to make a flashy pass and just throw it away. Just make the simple play guys.
You talking about that pass from Allen to blackshear? That was the simple play they have to make, blackshear should have had an easy two, it was a great pass
No. The possession before when Hudson whipped the ball 100mph at Blackshear's face when he could have just made a simple bounce pass in the lane to him.
This game is going to hurt our defense, getting called for all these minimal contact fouls will have our guys confused at what is legal and playing soft for the next two games
Blackshear is going to have a LOT to learn from after this game. He hasn't looked so uncomfortable on offense and defense all year
Hopefully this blows away any remaining high school confidence and highlights the level he needs to play at to compete in the college game. I thinks that's one of the hardest things for guys who dominated high school to realize until they have a few of these games
WTF. Raycom just decided that I didn't need to watch the final 3:00 of the game. Just turned it completely off mid-possession and now I have to watch LOLuva? um, no.
They were saving you from the pain...
Cant win when you only play a half. Not a fan of that blocking call on Blackshear considering he didnt put a hand in the guy and the guy retained control. Impossible to play defense these days.
How was that not offensive goaltending to end the game there? Just one last poor call for the game.
Combination of bad perimeter defense from us, great 3-point shooting from Duke, and absolutely lopsided officiating that made no sense in the first half put us in a hole we couldn't get out of. The team still has a lot to learn but there are surely going to be more games like the LOLuva game and more games like this Duke game in the future as we continue to grow.
Well, I'm glad that's over. Bring on Wake.
Tough to play 5 against 8, but when you go to play at Duke, that's a given. We scrapped when we could, but even without the help of the stripes, we were out balled today. I will be so bold as to predict that Duke will not have as easy of a game the next time they visit our house. So, to salvage the day, GO GEORGIA TECH!!!!!!!!
Duke sucks.
Duck Fuke!