Buzzketball Central: Wooden Legacy: Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1) 4pm Nov27 ESPNU

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: November 27, 2016 / 4 p.m. ET
Opponent: Nebraska
Site: Anaheim, Calif. (Honda Center)
Radio: Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Talent: Phil Brame
TV/Internet: ESPNU
Talent: Doug Sherman, Sean Farnham & Jeff Goodman
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Game Notes: Virginia Tech

IT'S GAMEDAY! #BeatNEB Wooden Legacy 4 PM EST ESPNU pic.twitter.com/bC2q568wQH— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) November 27, 2016

Wooden Legacy Tournament

Buzzketball takes on the Cornhuskers in the third place game at the Honda Center in Anaheim as part of the Wooden Legacy Tournament. This will be only the second time Tech has faced Nebraska on the court. The Hokies are 1-0 all time, with a 87-81 win over the Cornhuskers in the 1994 Puerto Rico Shootout.

The Hokies come in "favorites" but these two rosters seem very similar in terms of size and speed. Nebraska is currently ranked #74 in the KenPom rankings. This is the kind of game Virginia Tech should win but a loss wont hurt the Hokies dramatically in terms of evaluation by the tournament committee at the end of the season. Nebraska finds most of its scoring from its guards, while using their bigs more defensively and in terms of rebounding but there are still two legitimate scoring threats down low as well. The Huskers come in 4-1 with wins over #294 Sacramento State, DIV III University of Mary, and #147 Louisiana Tech before the tournament. In the Wooden Legacy Nebraska has beaten #44 Dayton and a lost to #20 UCLA.

The Cornhuskers are another very young roster, bringing nine freshmen or sophomores to the floor. So far these underclassmen have responded well so I would expect a very even game with the Hokies today. This is the kind of game that comes down to who hits their shots and who doesn't.

Nebraska is coached by Tim Miles, who took over the program in 2012. The Cornhuskers have not really had long term success under Miles, with one Tournament appearance in 2014, but losing records in all of his other seasons at the helm. Their one quality win this season against Dayton came with the Flyers missing three projected starters so the value of that win may diminish if Dayton is not able to turn things around with players out.

Coach Miles does have one claim to fame, as he is the only active coach to have taken teams to the Tournament at Division I, Division II, and the NAIA. One thing Miles is really known for though is the ability to recruit. He has brought in seven top 150 players in the last two seasons so he knows how to bring in talent.

Defensively, the Cornhuskers utilize both man to man and zone defenses, switching regularly to attempt to slow an opponents transition game as well as force poor shots towards the end of the shot clock. They run very little full court pressure, rather, using variety to make an opponent more methodical to assess which type of defense the Huskers are running.

Offensively, the Cornhuskers run the triangle offense, or a read and react type offense, where the offensive players movements are driven by what the defense is doing. The offensive players move to the open spaces to get the ball. Its primarily called a triangle offense because the goal is to always have two available options to move the ball to, one on the perimeter and one in towards the lane.

What does that mean for the Hokies?

The Hokies need to remain true to what they are and look to run a fast paced offense the entire game. They can ill afford to let Nebraska bog them down with their changes of defensive styles. The quicker the pace in this game the better off Tech will be. Going away from the fast paced game in the second half of their loss to Texas A&M is likely what led to the difference.

The Hokies need to find their driving ability from last season against this opponent. Nebraska, especially their starters, have a hard time staying out of foul trouble. So far this season, Morrow, Jacobsen and Webster seem to have a challenge staying out of foul trouble. The deeper into the bench that Tech can force the Cornhuskers, the more likely a victory becomes.

Tech needs to be able to use its speed to stay out in front of the defense, making transition baskets a real key to this game. I would expect to see mostly a small ball lineup here, with Hamilton and Sy both sitting the majority of the game. Hopefully if they are needed to change the path of the game, one or the other can respond in a big way but I just don't see Buzz utilizing them, especially with how he moved players through the last game.

Someone will have to hit their perimeter shots in this game to keep the Huskers honest in their defensive approach. Inside or out though, the key to this game is consistently finish. Whichever team does that better tonight will likely walk away the winner.

Defensively the Hokies need to stay with their assignments, especially off the ball, because off the ball movement is critical to Nebraska finding success offensively, finding the space open inside the Tech perimeter to operate effectively.

Cornhuskers Backcourt

Tai Webster, #0, 6'4, 195 lbs plays the point for the Cornhuskers. So far this season he is knocking down 17.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1 SPG. Webster so far is shooting better than 50% from both the field and behind the arc. This is one guy Tech needs to know where he is at all times.

Senior Glynn Watson Jr., #5, 6', 174 lbs is also considered a point guard in this offense. Kennedy prefers to have two ball handlers up top to run things. Watson is putting up 15.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG. Watson has been almost as consistent shooting wise as Webster. Watson is over 50% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. Neither though take an excessive number of outside shots, preferring to drive in to score their points. Each are averaging right at 30 minutes per contest. Behind them is very little in terms of performance, with only one other guard scoring more than 3 points per game.

Junior Anton Gill, #1, 6'3, 195 Lbs a transfer from Louisville, spells them by providing 3.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 1 APG. If the Hokies are successful in getting these guards in early foul trouble, Gill will be an interesting piece to watch.

Cornhuskers Frontcourt

Sophomore Forward Ed Morrow,#30, 6'7, 234 lbs provides 11.2 PPG, and 7 RPG, while shooting 63% from the field. This gives them one of their inside spokes in terms of the Triangle Offense.

The second inside spoke seems to be Jack McVeigh, #10, 6'8, 215 lbs. sophomore Forward who is contributing 10 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.2 APG. Guarding McVeigh will probably fall to Chris Clarke as he definitely rotates above the arc, having attempted almost a third of his teams three point shots. He hits those shots at 38% so far this season so definitely could impact the outcome of this game if Clarke fails to close out on him.

The only other big man of note is sophomore Michael Jacobson, #12, 6'9, 239 lbs. He comes in averaging 5 PPG, 5 RPG, 1 APG, and 1.8 BPG.

Names Announcers will Butcher

Nebraska's Jordy Tshimanga joins the Hokies Khadim Sy in this category.

What to expect from Nebraska?

The Cornhuskers play a changing half court defense focused on slowing the game and preventing open looks. So far Nebraska only averages 4 steals per game so don't look for them to apply great pressure or get out in transition to often.

In a half court set, the Cornhuskers regularly move the ball in and out, looking to create mismatches or open looks. Their bigs move extremely well in terms of finding open spaces along the lane to allow for interior passing.

Rebounding wise, Nebraska numbers seem relatively normal, with about 39 per game and considering that Tech will be similar size wise, I don't expect to see a huge momentum swing from the rebounding portion of the game.
Nebraska is going to try to force their slow methodical game on the Hokies and the Hokies are going to try the opposite. Whichever is more successful in doing so will likely have an advantage.

Expect to see their guards drive from the top of the key, either to feed in to the big men in the lane or to force a basket vs foul situation on the Hokies. Seth Allen and Justin Robinson need to be careful to avoid falling into this trap because their ability to make the Hokies offense go can ill afford to be on the bench with foul trouble.

The Hokies

Buzz needs to get this team to just flat out run and then run some more. Wear Nebraska out and get baskets in transition is an early key to a big lead. Tech will still need Bibbs, Hill and Allen to hit their perimeter shots to prevent the Nebraska defense from collapsing on Leday or Sy. If Buzz has these guys running, than expect to see a few extra minutes of Outlaw and Galloway to provide others with short breathers.

The next critical aspect of this game is to cause their opponent foul trouble early to force them to go deeper into their bench players. Right now, Nebraska's talent falls off after about the sixth man so forcing extra substitutions will give the Hokies advantages across the floor. If Nebraska is forced into their bench, expect to see more zone defense to allow a better coverage of the half court with lesser talent.

Highlight of the Texas A&M Game

Highlight of the game for me was Ahmed Hill and his outside shot. Not often do you see someone so in the groove from outside as Hill was against the Aggies. Unfortunately he didn't have one extra left in the bag at the end of the game.

In Closing

This game will be like the story of the turtle and the hare. Nebraska wants to go slow and steady, keeping things from allowing much momentum to build for the Hokies. The Hokies want to go fast, stay fast and not run out of gas at the end. They need to get Nebraska breathing hard, reaching for the ball because their feet just wont move that fast and finish this team off.

This game will be a full roster game for Buzz and Company. Everyone will be called upon to handle some minutes in this game so that the pace doesn't slow up in the last part of the contest to allow a comeback like we saw against Texas A&M. Fortunately, the Nebraska lineup in much smaller than the A&M one so being able to just physically manhandle the Hokies underneath doesn't seem likely even if the pace does fall off some.

Really need a steady full game performance from the outside shooters. Nothing spectacular, but also not a hot and cold or cold and hot version of each half. Getting feet set and taking clean open looks will likely decide this game.

pic.twitter.com/l7L3ZyGSiJ— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) November 27, 2016

Tech wins this game by a larger margin than most expect, winning by 15-17 points. Something in the neighborhood of 73-58. I just don't think Nebraska has the athleticism to keep the Hokies contained enough to clamp down on a win here.

your priorities into your life everyday.Ultimately, the transcript of your , become the script of your life.— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) November 24, 2016