Rise. Survive. Advance.Tonight vs Miami, it's our time.#WhyNotUs pic.twitter.com/EJ9dKCJ5aF— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) March 10, 2016
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Six straight wins #ACCTourney wins in back-to-back seasons Consecutive double digit wins LET'S GO!https://t.co/asqeWRdSEf— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) March 10, 2016
Hokies fans, If you have that sense of Dj vu, its because we just did this dance last Saturday in Cassell South. Now we need to manage the same dance in Cassell North. We all enjoyed the Hokies domination of the Hurricanes but don't expect it to be as simple this time with the return of their third leading scorer, Jaquan Newton from a suspension. There is also the fact that this team has been able to sit and rest while our young team had to play herky jerky basketball until just after midnight last night with all FIFTY THREE fouls. So far today both teams that played yesterday did very well until the final ten minutes of regulation. Than both higher seeds took advantage of tired legs and moved on to the next round. Our young Hokies need to pace themselves tonight so that come that final push they are able to match Miami stride for stride like they did last night in closing out Florida State.
Last time out, the Hurricanes were led by Sheldon McClellan as usual, who put up 17 on the Hokies along with Davon Reed, who had 19 points of his own. Miami suffered though from poor games by Angel Hernandez and Tonye Jekiri. Being able to neutralize big men has become a surprising trait of this team, having done it in four or five games during this winning streak. Not having Newton though threw off the Miami rotation all night and they found no one off the bench that gave them a steady replacement.
Who to watch out for from the Hurricanes -
Last time out was something Angel Rodriguez (#13) Senior Guard, 5'11, 180 Lbs. wishes he could forget against the Hokies. He will be motivated to get that bad taste out of his mouth tonight. He is their do a bit of everything from running the point to being their top defender. This season his numbers are: 11.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.4 SPG. Shoots 80% at the line but his perimeter shooting if down dramatically this season barely above 30%.
Sheldon McClellan, (#10) Senior Guard 6'5, 215 Lbs is their top scorer at 15.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1 SPG while shooting 87% from the line and about 40% from outside. Sheldon is the most steady of all the Hurricanes so expect him to get his regardless of how this game finishes. Just dont let him have a magical day and the Hokies will be ok.
Only other Hurricanes in double digits are Jaquan Newton (#0) Sophomore Guard 6'2, 185 Lbs and
Davon Reed (#5) Junior Guard, 6'6, 208 Lbs. 11.4PPG and 10.7 PPG. Minimal impact beyond that but Newton is a threat to shoot from outside so guarding him closely would be a good idea.
All these guards complement that with a monster down low in Tonye Jekiri (#23) 7'0, 244 Lbs who is scoring 8.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1 BPG while shooting better than 54% from the field. Jekiri is another Hurricane that had a terrible game last Saturday so look for him to be motivated early and looking to make a statement against our bigs. As long as we limit the fouls we can afford for him to burn up his energy early so he disappears late.
#GamedayGuide: #BeatMiami pic.twitter.com/7XaZ0puB1J— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) March 10, 2016
Clarke will again be needed to provide those stretches of high energy to maintain the Hokies through tough stretches. Leday will also need to come up big around the basket, as much for the rebounds as the points. Hokies use their youth and energy to their advantage to gain an early lead.
Last but not least, stellar perimeter defense will definitely be needed against this team more than Florida State because of how well they shoot the three. Miami as a team shoots 36% from behind the arc. Expect to see substitution moments from Ivan Cruz Uceda(#33) and Anthony Lawrence(#3) to try to spark the Hurricanes from outside as they both shoot about 45% from beyond the glowing line.
Cassell North rings true, as do the officials whistles early and often, Miami once again cant rise to the occasion, because if you cant get up for a regular season title being on the line than a midway conference tournament isn't going to do it for you. Buzz has his guys jumping off the bat again, probably closer to 10 with all the delays so far today and Hokies fans are bleary eyed and excited tomorrow for one more day of basketball. Tech wins 86-77.
My favorite pics from last night. Loose balls require 10 & 10 - so that does NOT count as one by @ZachLeDay32. pic.twitter.com/2tSTp88du3— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) March 10, 2016
Comments
First Like!......sorry, couldn't help myself
Ok basketball followers answer me this, why has the XM radio feed play by play guys all been the opposing school no matter where the game is played? Miami at VT, ACC tourney game both were other teams play by play guy.
Great feeling we can pull this one out!
Hope the guys' legs aren't too gassed from running all over Florida State last night. I want to see more high flying action:
When's the last time VT basketball had an actual game on ESPN? Not ESPN2, not ESPNU, not ESPN3 or any of the other ESPNs I'm forgetting.
Thursday February 2, 2012 against Duke at home...probably just because of our upset the year before.VTGuitarMan was right down below. Duke was the last ACC game on ESPN.
Nov. 12, 2013 when we beat WVU.
Did anyone else catch Buzz call Jakiri 'Beef Jerky' the other night on TTL?
No, but that's awesome.
After our win over FSU we moved from 88 to 83 in the RPI. I wonder how much we would move up if we could pull it off tonight.
Depends alot on how other teams do but expect around 70-72
I know it's been discussed before, but I'm sure things have changed in the late few days. Is there any chance we make the NCAA tourney without winning the ACC? I haven't even seen us listed "on the bubble" anywhere today.
I think if we get to the ACC Championship, we'd almost have to be in. That would mean we beat Miami and (assuming they hold on here) UVA twice this year. That's pretty tough
If we beat Miami and UVA and then lose to UNC we're looking at an RPI of about 64. We're not on the bubble yet, if we beat Miami we still won't really be on the bubble, but we can be a bubble team if we win the next 2.
We want UVA to Win tonight. If we can pull off two more I think it could be enough. I think BUZZ has these guys focused with a one game at a time mentality.
Sitting in the phone booth surrounded by LOLUVA fans. 2 observations:
1. I hope like hell they leave when there game is over
2. They are strange basketball fans. They get loud in the last 10 seconds of the defensive shot clock. Not anything like Hokie fans screaming for the whole 30.
Edit :
3. I am really glad we are NOT a school that sings our alma mater and sways in the stands.
Where is Colin Cowherd when you need him?
I've never needed him.
I watched the UNC-LOLUVA game on a bachelor party of 6 Wahoos. Annoying as anything I've ever experienced. They truly think UVA is the greatest school ever. Then you start taking to them when they aren't around the other idiots and they slowly start to admit that no one at their school cares about football
Am I in the minority for liking to sing our alma mater?
especially one sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"
Flipped over to the cousins game. ACC does not have a monopoly on whistle happy refs. more than half the game in the bonus for both, at least twice I heard whistle before the offensive player made contact. They are 42 fouls with over 10 left.
Bilas shredding the ACC refs after UVA player flops there and gets a flagrant 1 call.
The refs for this conference are not covering themselves in glory so far
Our lucky Leprechaun is in place, everything is coming together! LET'S GO HOKIES!
Fuck Miami.
Man, if we can pull it off tonight and play UVA in the ACC semis on Friday night in DC? Holy cow what an atmosphere that would be.
I want a rubber match with UVA bad
I want to scorch UVa like Sherman did to the south...what, too soon?
Should I wear the shirt I was wearing last night? Or the shirt I was wearing when I was in attendance for the Miami beatdown?
edit: Looks like we're going with Miami beatdown shirt. Sorry guys, but it's too warm here in the 'burg to wear two shirts if I plan on celebrating good play after good play tonight.
edit #2: should i change shirts?...
Miami beatdown shirt
Both
Agreed, layer up bro. It's for the good of the team.
I've been wearing the same shirt since the winning streak started. Wore it last night to the Verizon Center, wearing it again this evening at the comfort of my home. Hoping the crowd brings it again like they did last night
LETS GO!
Never wash your shirt sir.
If you're out right now I hope you brought the other one with you.
Cheering on the Hokies from the very remote Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. If any of you all need a badass, rustic vacation, go here.
I spent two weeks in Costa Rica back in 98. It was incredible.
I don't condone violence but man I just wanna punch Lunardi in da FACE!
Leprechaun check.
Mic on Miami Cheerleaders check.
Troeggs Nugget Nector Cold and ready, check.
Hokies in the house, "Let's GO HOKIES!" Check.
until we Lose I BELIEVE we will WIN!
LETS GO...
Larranaga's pregame speech game is weak.
First loss of the evening goes to Miami and their uniforms
Let's goooooooo000000000000000000000000000000.
...Hokies!
J-Rob eats Angel's lunch: Part 2. Coming soon to a theater near you.
theaterphone booth
FTFY
I think I jinxed us.
That Miami big man is going to be an issue.
Hello Tyrone
Here's to hoping Tyrone makes an appearance!
Buzz looking suave as hell
Energy level waaaaay down from last night.
Yep, really disappointing crowd after last night's turnout. Looks like more UNC and UVA fans than anything. Definitely aren't playing as aggressively as we have been either.
Isn't it still secession tickets so UVA fans have tickets to this secession already.
I wish UVA would secede from the U.S.
I wouldn't mind one bit if they went private and wouldn't be burdened with my tax dollars.
I bet UVA fans stuck around just to be quiet so they can stop hearing about our homecourt advantage. I'm sure they don't want to experience it tomorrow
I was more referring to the team, but yeah the crowd is quiet as well.
This is going to be a battle.
blackshears did nice job defending Jakiri on last possession, needs to keep that going.
Looking like the young team on a big stage we are. Gotta hang around long enough till we settle down.
Looking really sloppy tonight. Hope we can keep it close. Miami is out to get us after last weekend, I was worried about drawing them in this game.
So Rodriguez can hit LeDay and that's not a foul? Okay.
I had to rewind and watch a couple of times and it sure looks like he threw some sort of punch at LeDay. Not sure why they didn't look at that.
That kid's a punk. He pushed Bibbs after a play earlier too.
He absolutely is. Hopefully we can keep his butt on the bench.
Refs paid by the whistle again tonight
Getting owned down low, need some size in the game.
Seems like we're not getting any open looks from outside tonight. Best bet would probably be to stay aggressive and try to draw fouls and get to the line.
Miami clearly the better team so far tonight so far
Let's Go
Is that the third or fourth time we have dribbled it off their foot leading to an easy basket. Take away the free 8 points we have gifted them on turnovers and we are right in this.
Yeah. We are trying to attack but we have got to be smarter and stop dribbling into doubles. We also aren't utilizing the ball screen right now so everything is one-on-one. No one is cutting and everyone seems complacent with standing around. Honestly, imo, we look tired.
They are forcing those turnovers though. Their defensive intensity is way higher than it was last Saturday.
Well, eventually Allen will just foul all of them out, right?
This is starting to piss me off. Every possession feels like a foul is called.
That's probably the only reason we're in this game honestly
Yep. But it makes it a lot harder to enjoy the game.
I was worried about the energy of Verizon when I saw all the UVA fans at their game. Just a huge difference in the flow of the game.
We are fortunate to be this close. This is exactly what we needed - to hang around long enough to turn it around. It seems like we're starting to click a little more on offense. Hopefully Buzz can coach 'em up at the half and we can come out hot
Keep banging inside while the whistles are hot! Nice close to half Hokies!
That was an ugly half and we're still only down by 1. If we can stop dribbling off of our own shoes we'll be in good shape.
Agree!
That run to end the half was huge
The fact we're down by one at the half is equal parts Buzz's sorcery and divine intervention.
Lucky to be down only one, hopefully we can clean up some of the sloppiness in the second half
minimized turnovers and closed the half on a big run. let's protect the rock in the second half!
is it me or is it weird seeing UVA fans cheer us on when the camera man is doing crowd shots (watching through ACC Network)?
From inside the arena - they are definitely not cheering us on
thanks for the clarification--didn't want their support anyways...LOL
Robinson getting into foul trouble early may have been a blessing in disguise. He should be pretty fresh for the second half and he's the one that has really made our offense go during our win streak. Need a big second half from him.
limit turnovers, and get Leday and Clarke involved inside, and this game is ours......
Alright!
I've changed my shirt, we ended the half on a good run, and we've averaged a +5 advantage in the 2nd half during our 6 game win streak.
Let's do this!!
^ Paint touches = more offensive production
The turnover stat graphic spot on
We're going to drive the ball down their throats until they're out of bodies.
Wow, still not a ton of energy. Methinks things might be different if Robinson and Allen could be on the floor at the same time.
Gotta defend those 3s. That might be game already
This is getting ugly in a hurry.
Gut check time.
Somebody wanna cover Rodriguez?
VT asst coach chewing the ear off a ref. It was a conversation about something just before this timeout and Buzz told him to go have the talk w/ ref
I'm going to fall asleep, hopefully I'll wake up reading about a victory.
Team has run out of gas. Hope the blowout isn't too bad
VT looks flat. Maybe the late night really caught up to them
Very little ball movement, zero defensive rotation... this is the basketball team from December
This is an exhausted basketball team. Hopefully they can get some rest before the NIT.
Am i the only one that hates sheldon mclelon and angel rodriguez
Why hate them? They play hard and smart
Rodriguez is a dickhead
Because they're Hurricanes?
probably not
I'm indifferent on McLellan but I despise Rodriguez
seems like seth allen is the only hokie playing with heart right now..
Keep attacking the bucket let's get some fouls.
We are exhausted. No energy and it shows. Going to need a gift from god here going forward to have a shot at this game.
Sloppy passes, slow rotation, unable to guard the perimeter. Lot missing from yesterday
Hudson needs less minutes....
Jekiri's reaction/over reactions are kinda funny to watch. Every time he mishandles a pass it's like the end of the world (as he knows it)
Fine with me. It just got him a technical.
And I feel fine...
Just getting completely dominated. It happens
I don't understand what is and is not a foul. Grace shooter's elbow with your fingers, foul. Body check offensive player on the way to the hoop, no foul.
JR was floating nice bucket! Come LET GO HOKIES!
Really ESPN? A cut-up of Miami highlights and Larranaga's speech?
ESPN has always had it out for us. We can barely get praise when we win games.
**Edit: That's why it will be all the sweeter when Buzz and CJF bring home natties.
We never win. The other team just loses
26 foot 3s made...we keep missing layups
Every other stat is irrelevant when that happens.
I think my count is somewhere around 15 missed layups tonight. Or at least that's what it feels like.
Hahahaha chill out Beef Jerky
YES! left, right... Left sit down!
Jekiri's temperament might have just given us the break we need.
Just noticed James Johnson on the Miami bench.
Wow, VT coaching reunion in DC tonight. Just noticed James Johnson consoling Jekiri on the bench, Greenberg in the booth and Buzz leading the troops.
I wouldn't have it any other way
JR cold stonned/them!
Keep grinding men
Showing some fight now
Just need some stops, just get some stops.
Feeling too little too late
No we have them right where we want them plenty of time.
Another sloppy pass
Tonight is just not our night.
That barrage of 3's to open the half is the difference. Those hurt.
It's exactly what we did to them in the second half at Cassel. Basketball is a game of runs, and they just had the strongest one tonight.
J-Rob has ridiculous vision. He is gonna win some awards before he leaves Blacksburg.
Good effort to make it a game at the end, but Miami is just better than us right now.
They won't be next season though
McClellan or whatever his name is just carried the ball in the corner and then went on to score. That was Shortly after LeDay switched pivot feet in broad daylight. These refs are paying no attention to this game.
I've seen a player switch their pivot foot multiple times tonight. The sad part is, these refs are probably among the best we've had this season.
I agree. Pretty sad that the bar is set that low.
So begins the free throw competition.
Edit: And Miami loses some more size at the 5. Just keep driving the ball for the rest of the night.
Too sloppy, not enough perimeter shots for us, last game we went 11 of 18, tonight we are 2 of 7, never could recover from that Rodriguez outburst
Let's Dial up a Miami TO please!
We just won't quit. Probably still won't be enough but this team is so resilient
Really going to enjoy the ride next year. This team is primed
We aren't done yet. We may even get another game in Cassell before this season is over.
Sooooo, this will be like the Louisville game where we simply trade two's for two's until the end of regulation?
I'm gonna watch til the bitter end. Proud of these guys regardless.
Oh well. Great run to end the season. Hopefully we will see some post season action. And, by God, next year ESPN will have to give us some credit because we are going to be a team to be reckoned with.
Shut up Shulman you moron
Huh Greenberg and Bilas good friends.
Seth got fired for a reason. If you want to talk about a VT basketball coach, you should be talking about buzz. (Directed towards announcers)
Seth got fired because he was a dickbag. He was a good basketball coach though.
Wasn't claiming it was for his coaching ability.. My beef is primarily the lack of focus on the current state of the program and the future. It is starting to really bug me.
Buzz and his guys will do work whether they get media praise or not. ESPN will be forced to talk about this team next year when they make a tourney run.
With all the talent the Greenberg squandered, BUZZ would have gotten us to multiple sweet 16s.
We were nowhere near our best tonight but we fought hard and hung with one of the best teams in the country. Now let's win the damn NIT
It's infuriating that we aren't attempting threes every trip down when the lead is three possessions.
First attempted 3 was with like 30 seconds left. About a minute too late
I can't even recall the last 3 we attempted
Bibbs has been invisible tonight.
Great Run at end of season Proud of these HOKIES! Fighting to the end!
Their free throw shooting was just too good to overcome.
Hoping we get a 4 seed or better in the NIT.
That barrage of 3s to start the half was the difference. Oh well.
Love this team, do something in the NIT
That plus those first half turnovers.
NIT is not a lock right now. Conference Regular season Champs have already claimed 12 of the 32 spots in the NIT and there are still 19 conference tourneys not complete. Take five or six of those out because they are not likely to have an upset where the regular season champ also doesn't make the tourney. Still the potential though for 25 of 32 spots to be gone before NIT selects teams. Really strange post season thus far so cheer for regular season Champs going forward.
What a fun month of basketball. This team wildly exceeded my expectations. Now let's rest up for a run in the NIT.
I'll take it over where we were a year ago.
Crazy how far we've come in such a small amount of time. We expected to beat the #11 team in the country on a neutral court. This time last year, I wouldn't expect to beat Radford at Cassell. Can't wait to see what next year brings
You don't win many games when your opponent shoots 57%. Still incredibly proud of these guys though.
We were outscored on perimeter by eighteen. They almost made as many as we attempted. We outscored them at the free throw line by eight.
Dam that sucked to watch!! Im not a basketball guy but I learned one thing tonight. My hatred for miami transcends all sports. And Im down to two beers?! @$!#!!
if we had not lost Clarke for all those games I believe we would havr found the wins to make the NCAA tourney.
We definitely would have had a better shot in the Notre Dame and Syracuse games.
This team plus Ahmed Hill next year is going to be a handful for anyone we play.
Ugh, I really hope we make the NIT (which we almost definitely will) because for the first time in a long time I'm not sure I can go 8 months without Hokie basketball.
Better start cheering on regular season Champs to win conference tourneys. NIT autobid's going fast this year.
I don't know about everyone else on this site, but I can't remember the last time I was excited as I am about our big 2 programs (football and basketball).
We are getting close. We're not there yet, and I don't think it'll be this year for football, but these next few years could be something special.
Let's hope we get a high seed in the NIT so we can rock Cassell one more time!
Really hoping we make the NIT. The best part is we would be overwhelmed with Spring Football and Basketball postseason news for a good period of time.