It's our time.8 PM at Cassell#BeatPrinceton pic.twitter.com/XJVAkZgZap— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) March 16, 2016
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This time tomorrow, postseason basketball returns to the Cassell #BeatPrinceton pic.twitter.com/ecapm7hHoz— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) March 16, 2016
All right Hokies Fans, At least one more trip into the Cassell to cheer our young Hokies on. We have all heard about Princeton and how they like to deal you death by 1000 cuts. The Tigers currently are 38th in the RPI, but that seems to be much of a misnomer, likely explaining them being left out of the tournament. This team essentially beat the teams it should have and lost to the teams it should have. Their top wins this season are against Harvard, Yale and Hampton. They only played three games all year against P5 schools, all ending in losses by double digits. This is a very methodical but extremely efficient offensive team, averaging 79 points per game. The way they accomplish this is simply said but hard to achieve. They use crisp passes to get people open looks, averaging 15 assists per game. As small as this roster is they are also not terrible when it comes to rebounding which doesn't bode well for our Hokies. Realize though that most of these numbers were established against Ivy league or less talent.
Good Morning!12hrs until tipReminder: I bought 150 more for @virginia_tech students. Pick up is @ 9:00 @ Lane. pic.twitter.com/ltZ52quu7l— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) March 16, 2016
The Tigers come in led by Henry Caruso down low, (#21) 6'4, 190 Lbs Junior Forward, who provides Princeton with 15.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 53% from the field, 72% from the line and 47% from behind the arc. Get used to seeing those kind of numbers for perimeter shooters because this team is loaded with them.
Second in scoring is Freshman Guard Devin Cannady (#3) 6'1, 180 Lbs, scoring 11.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG. Cannady shoots 50% from the field, 88% from the line and 48% from behind the arc.
Steven Cook, (#25) 6'5, 185 Lbs Junior Forward contributes 11.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1 SPG. Another thing to be aware of is that essentially all of their starters average 1 or more steals per game so expect them to get hands in the passing lane tonight so the Hokies need the crisp passing we saw against Florida State in the ACC tournament. Cook only shoots 45% from the field, 74% from the line and 37% from outside.
Spencer Weisz, (#10) 6'4, 180 Lbs Junior Forward, gives the Tigers 10.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 1 SPG. He shoots 43% from the field, 80% from the line and 40% from outside. This team attempts 25 three pointers per game and averages making about 9.5 of those. Tech really has to be prepared to defend the perimeter and force this team to beat you inside, especially considering their lack of height across the roster.
The last of the starters, Amir Bell (#5) 6'3, 160 Lbs Sophomore Guard has put up 9.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1 SPG. Bell shoots 46% from the field, 67% from the line and 36% from behind the arc. The fact that this team has five players essentially in double figures every night shows you how balanced they are and why it can be difficult to focus your defensive efforts on one particular player. Excellent passers and excellent shooters means leaving someone open is bad for your health against the Tigers.
Help us pack Cassell tomorrow! Tix still available-just $15 & $5. RT & share w/friends! https://t.co/YIJb4wTw7x pic.twitter.com/Ao6ZzcJc4v— VT Promotions (@VTPromos) March 15, 2016
The Hokies need to take advantage of this rare height advantage without having to rely on their big men to come in for significant minutes. This is a game that sets up perfectly for Zach Leday to have a monster game. Leday should be able to put up double digit points in each half. He wont be able to do it alone if we want to win this game so Tyrone or Bibbs needs to also have a big night to keep things open and balanced. I don't think Princeton has seen anything like how this team takes the ball to the basket to force fouls and the Tigers have not had to deal with foul trouble very often this season. Getting a few of their starters to the bench is a quick way to build a lead.
Defensively they need to be spread to the perimeter to force this team inside where the D can collapse strategically to create turnovers. Ball control is critical against a team with this kind of offensive efficiency so Robinson and Wilson really need to hold on to the ball.
IT'S FINAL! #HokieNation will wear maroon on WednesdayLet's pack Cassell#MaroonEffect #BeatPrinceton pic.twitter.com/n1ak3QFDyW— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) March 15, 2016
Tech gets out running against this team and scores over 20 points tonight in transition to slowly put this game away. Tech wins this one 87-69. I just don't think the Tigers have faced enough quality opponents and the ones they did all put them away quickly. This team is good but not good enough to overcome a Buzz focused bunch with a packed Cassell behind them.
#Hokies #BeatPrinceton
Comments
Let's go
Hokies!
I've got us winning a 76-71 game. Hope we can get the W
Heading down 81 right now with a white shirt on. Smh.
Not too late to pick up a maroon effect shirt from Volume 2 on the cheap.
Doesn't matter as long as you're loud
I no longer have a voice! It was intense but the crowd was so into it.
Region 2, 3 and 4 are chalk so far. Not looking good for St. Bonnie's.
Edit: 40 - 26 Wagner at half. (was 36-19) Would set up another home game in 3rd round pending our victory tonight & this weekend.
I believe that Khadim Sy will be there.
Thanks for the info good sir.
Let's actually use our size to our advantage and not just settle for jumpers, please?
In honor of VT's return to the NIT
End of UConn Game from Brian Sewell on Vimeo.
Didn't they get rid of that 5 second rule?
If you stop dribbling they start counting it.
Leg for the clarification.
If you move your pivot foot 5 feet while trying to get out of a 5 second call, apparently it's not a travel though.
So on TV the crowd doesn't look great but the lighting and seats being empty behind Princeton doesn't help. How does it look there?
Looks pretty packed to me. That is the Princeton section after all.
I thought so ???
Slow start. Not sayin there's any correlation but I wonder what the players think when they hear Buzz answer Kyle Bailey's question like he did. Maybe nothing but maybe something since it kind of contradicts what he's supposed to be building. If I were a player it might be in my head.
Personally wish he would have declined to answer those type of questions until after the NIT.
Sorry,I think that's on me. I turned on the game a bit late, and we were down 12-4. Since I turned it on though, Princeton hasn't scored. I'll keep watching
He pretty much did decline to answer by saying he'd do what's best for his family. I know we've all been freaking out (myself included) but I don't think we can draw any conclusions from his interview with Kyle Bailey. I doubt the players care what he said in that interview. They probably have a much better idea of what his plans are than we do.
Buzz is pretty savvy. He was told prior to the interview the question would be asked and he chose to do it anyway. If he was 100% firmly committed to finishing what he start at VT he could have said absolutely he'll be the head Hokie next year leading this young team he's built into the dance.
If his answer was going to be anything else, it was going to be a potential distraction.
I understand where you're coming from but I'm trying to be optimistic...
He could've been trying to keep leverage with Whit, making sure we know he could leave at any time. And, I'd like to think that he may plan to give this same answer every year - my family comes first, I won't say anything else until I have to.
I get that this is something we need to be prepared for, but for now, I'd just like to win the NIT. It's been a great year, now let's finish it off in style.
Hey REfs got Charge correct, oh no ACC refs tonight
I like like Zack!
Buzz is coaching this one like it's the real tournament.
Just practice for the next 10 years
It's the tournament we're in, this is the real tournament
I agree with you. I'm happy to be in any post season tournament.
I'm just saying he's as animated as I've seen him all season.
Yup, giving Seth an earful for that last 3, came right out onto court!
Hudson always surprises me with his explosiveness.... I wish he went ham on people more. Terrible start, great recovery with Leday leading the way. Keep it going, and let's hope they stay cold from 3
Gimme some blackshear! Need to get into the paint against this smaller team
Leday is having a great game so far, some sweet turnaround jumpers down low.
He may not be the most athletic big we've ever had, but I love his effort. His game has improved a lot.
Somebody called him a poor man's Zach Randolph a couple months ago and that couldn't be more accurate
Agreed. That is an excellent comparison.
That was some slick ish by Hudson, looks like he might have gotten a knee knocker in the lane
26-5 run. Is that good?
Look out, they have their own run thanks to our turnovers. Too much dribbling, not enough passing and movement
Spoke too soon
How happy is LeDay to not have to play against guys 3 inches taller than him, looks like he is living it up out there
Oh no. We suck again
Just have to weather the runs.
sounds like my last trip to mexico...
Serves you right for drinking something other than beer
VT kinda let their guard down a bit lately. Gotta get back to moving the ball
OT: Is there a Whit fathead in the student section? We've got Frank, Buzz, and Justin all covered.
I think the AD makes and controls the giant heads. They don't allow signs into the game as it blocks views
That's weak sauce
Nice stop and stuff. Leday is gonna have to keep the pressure on inside. I'd like to see Allen attack the basket more, seems tentative
If Wagner pulls the upset the road to New York gets a little bit easier.
Hoping UAB takes care of their business tonight.
Down go the Bonnies.
Going too slow so far. Pace and interior drives need to pick up so we pull away in this one. Ugly basketball so far letting Princeton stay in game offensively
So just a couple rows down from me are some members of the Football team.. Settle, Ford and even Coleman I think. They're really into the game!
Anybody capture gif of that kid multi dabbing and then flashing the VT. He has been raised proper!
I've never seen somebody get jump ball call like that. Who let the ACC ref in Cassell.
Leday was swinging him around on his back. That was insane.
Well, they're certainly letting them play
Robinson just got drilled on back to back drives. Somebody pull the whistles out of the refs throats!
Hey, no one mentioned that our Director of Basketball Operations used to run the Princeton offense when he was coaching at Air Force!
I was worried our lack of experience vs Princeton offense teams would come back to bite us.
But, are they actually running the Princeton offense?
Clarke looks like he needs a breather, didn't follow is man through the lane leading to a wide open (missed) shot from the corner then got badly beat off the dribble for an easy layup. Might be running out of all that gas in the tank he picked up while rehabbing his foot.
GOOD GOD THAT JUMPSHOT
WILSON!!!
That Three by Wilson has to be a Sportscenter highlight!
OT: Jordan Spieth fork/spoon commercial was hilarious (first time I'd seen it)
Driving me nuts. We keep slowing down once we get into the double digit lead. Then presto that lead drops to four in two trips.
Nothing's ever easy.
I keep having to remind myself that I should hate these guys as much as I hate Duke and UVA. They're Duke and UVA, just better at school and worse at sports
The fact that we aren't able to score at will in the post is completely frustrating. We should be killing them down low
I keep wondering why we aren't seeing more Blackshear. Hell, Pierce would have 8 inches on his defender!
Getting so sloppy.
Come on Hokies, they are going to blow this
We're good... Just gotta get the ball inside and force them to foul
That's where we have needed to be going on more drives. They can't handle Leday
Getting a 3 off the over and back. Awesome.
That was a nice pass
True. But it should have been our ball.
We're still playing down to our opponents
Is something up with Shane Henry, haven't seen him yrt
Really don't want to get in a free throw shooting contest with them
Can't believe Blackshear isn't playing a bigger role. This is ridiculous. So frustrating to watch us circle around the edge
Have been thinking the same thing. Hes a great mismatch
Hard playing 8 guys wearing black.
Why do refs always seem to want to keep it close? It's like they're the behind the scenes guys at Buffalo Wild Wings
I don't like it one bit
Those free throws were huge, but I still don't have a good feeling about this.
Ok, overtime looks good for us with them in foul trouble
I'm getting too old for this shit.
I hear you, some of these games are taking years off my life.
Ok we can do this. A second chance.
Did Jeff Capel go to an ACC school? /s
I don't have a problem with broadcasters calling it evenly, but that ass clown is actively pulling against us.
Duke.
Still kills me that they were able to get that tip back attempt. Hope we go big for part of ot. If just to foul the other four foul players out. They have two more with four both on the court
How many of their guys are in foul trouble?
VT is 3/16 from 3. No business playing this outside game, but hurts when your stinking it up as well.
Does Buzz really want to leave this?
And I just got to work as we go to overtime, I'll have to watch the tape in the morning. Grr.
We......
Clarke getting beat like a drum. Can we get Blackshear please?
Have to get Clarke out
Both teams are not having friendly rims tonight.
The NIT worked fast to get their logo all over Cassell.
They even got their digital logos up on the scoreboards in Cassell.
LeDay got caught in no man's land against that drive. Flat footed and inside of the arc.
Really didn't need this angst tonight. Come on boys. Have to execute here.
Yes Making us work for it!
Oh I love you Tyrone
Buzz didn't want to be close in that play did he?
LeDay is gassed. He has cinder blocks for feet on defense.
Hack-a-hokie
The next game against BYU is going to be brutally late isn't it?
At least it'll be a Friday.
Friday at 9:30 old man!
So I'll get a half and some change in before I fall asleep.
Assuming BYU wins
It's trending that way.
H-O-K-I-E-S HOKIES
Closeout strong
Good. Lord.
20 wins. Woot.
Buzz is sending them into the stands, awesome.
AND THERE IS 20 WINS!
WHO WOULDA THUNK IT!
On to BYU by the looks of how that game is going. Think next round is weekend day time game
ESPN graphic just said Friday 930P.
Was Buzz just sending the team into the stands? That is insanely awesome.
I saw that too.
Those of you at the game: please report on the awesomeness.
Was 10/10 on a scale of awesomeness.
I was at the game. There was much awesomeness.
It wasn't a short trip into the stands either - they hung out there until after my roommate and I left around 5 minutes after they went into the stands.
Sure looked like it. Buzz is definitely a class act!
Was BUZZ directing players to stands? I Love That!
Go UAB Blazers!
BYU has hit five threes in first eight minutes. That doesn't bode well for us.
I'll just counter with until we Lose I BELIEVE we will WIN! Start of a new Hokie win streak doesn't bode well for the rest of NIT field. Let's GO!
HOKIES!
I really dont understand buzz playing clarke over blackshear. Clarke looked lazy and was beat constantly (while almost giving up a layup at the end of regulation) and blackshear has looked very strong and would have created a huge nightmare for princeton.
That said, buzz cant leave if we keep winning, right?
If he really is leaving the least he could do is leave us a banner.
But I'm staying optimistic that he'll stay.
When Princeton went small, there was no one Blackshear could guard.
Hooray!
Video anyone? Buzz sending players to hang with with fans?
Buzz came up in the stands as well! They all stayed up there for a good 5-10 minutes taking pictures with people and hanging out!
My Bromance Mancrush of BUZZ continues to blossom!
I love the shirts the students has that looks like Buzz's sweater! Pure class.
Congrat Hokies! Get the rest you needs, BYU looks like a tough match-up.
The color commentator for the BYU game just had one of the best sayings I have ever heard:
"He is breaking them down like Chinese bunkbeds"
No clue what the hell that means, but made me laugh
Cassell Coliseum was BUZZing last night. (get it) *nudges you with elbow*
Seriously though, seeing it like that in there almost brought a tear to my eye. Well done by the fans all around.