Virginia Tech hosted Ole Miss in one of their last big OOC matchups before the ACC schedule tips off on New Year's Eve. The game was sloppy at times, but the Hokies managed to hold off the Rebels 80-75 in front of a crowd that was half students avoiding finals and townies getting out of the cold. Now for some photo highlights!
Something I noticed early in the first half, Ole Miss Head Coach Andy Kennedy would call a set or a play when his team was on offense, and Buzz would be watching until he did, then call a defensive play of his own immediately. I wonder if he saw something on tape.
I'm always a sucker for wide angle shots.
In the second half, Buzz and referee Roger Ayers (a Roanoke native and Final Four referee) exchanged some... heated words after a call went against the Hokies. You knew it was a good one because both men covered their mouths so Little Timmy in the stands didn't hear.
Speaking of Buzz, it was a fantastic day of photographing him.
The lighting in Cassell, while miles ahead of the old lamps back when I was a student, is still fairly dark in spots along the baseline, especially underneath the basket. However, this time, it kind of worked to my advantage, providing some interesting shadows on Khadim Sy's face.
Another wide shot that I really like, especially with the bench just starting to jump up for the three ball.
BUT MARK, I WAS PROMISED DOGS! WHERE ARE THE DOGS?
They were SO FLIPPING EXCITED to be pushing the barrel down the court.
CAN'T CONTAIN THE EXCITEMENT
This guy was definitely the star of the bunch.
Look how far away that frisbee is. Look at him flying through the air a couple yards away. He managed to land when he missed, sprint further down court, then jump back into the air to make the last second grab.
Take a bow!
Even the HokieBird couldn't believe what he was seeing.
13/10 all of them were good dogs.
I'll be back in Cassell on December 20th photographing the Charleston Southern game before the holidays. Stay warm, everybody. Check out the entire Virginia Tech vs. Ole Miss photo gallery, and remember the rest of the photo galleries produced by The Key Play at photos.thekeyplay.com.
Comments
Well my day has been made.
I like dags
This is a great pull. One could even say you snatch-ed it out of the mental vault.
Dags what are dags? Oh you mean dogs, yeah I like dags. I hate it when they poop in your caravan though.
The ref legit looks like a schoolgirl giggling over passing notes about little Johnny liking her.
I'm enjoying the photos and understand the need for the Key Play logo. Any chance of moving it to a lower corner? I noticed earlier, from the Clemson or loluva game that the logo obscured some of the photo that would have been good to see. You may have a reason for placing it there. Was just curious. Thanks!
It's in the middle because when people pimp the photos to post on Instagram it gets cropped out.
there's a reason for everything
Figured as much.
Any chance you could blow up the TKP logo, put it right in the center of the picture, but make it transparent enough to see the picture clearly behind it? I'm no photographer but it seems this would obstruct the image less while still protecting the ownership of TKP. Then you could give TKPC members access to un-watermarked shots. Just an idear...
It's really cool seeing another sport take off in Blacksburg. It'll be interesting
to see how Cassell becomes known as a venue and game environment. Hope
we surprise some teams come ACC play.
I mean, I'm just as excited to see the dogs doing well and all, too, but don't you think it's a stretch to consider this a "sport" ? /s
The dogs are a good one but nothing beats Red Panda for a halftime show:
That'll be happening later this season!
I had never heard of this Red Panda you speak of and then I get a pair of free tickets for the Pelicans-Warriors tonight and guess who did the half time show? The effin' Red Panda.
I think this is an instant addition to my top 10 gifs of all time... LEG!
Those dogs are so dang cute.
They're good dogs Brent
#offseasonposts