All of my writeup was based on Sy not playing but I have heard he is participating in all the shootarounds so he will likely be a gametime decision. This doesnt mean he will be able to give them significant minutes even if he plays though so just be prepared for a game without him and if he plays its a bonus.
#Hokies will be without G Seth Allen and F Khadim Sy. Less than ideal situation for Buzz and Co. https://t.co/expvzwrnLO— Ricky LaBlue (@RickyLaBlue) January 7, 2017
IT'S GAMEDAY! #BeatFSU Tallahassee, FL 2 PM ACC Network pic.twitter.com/OUnH8FmH6W— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 7, 2017
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: January 7, 2017 / 2 p.m.
Opponent: No. 12/13 Florida State
Site: Tallahassee, Florida. (Donald L. Tucker Center)
Radio: Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Talent: Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
TV/Internet: The ACC Network
Talent: Dwayne Ballen & Brian Oliver
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Game Notes: Virginia Tech
XM Radio: XM 194 (Internet 956)
Where can you watch the @VT_MBBall game at FSU? All the affiliates on a new #HokieHuddle. #Hokieshttps://t.co/nmCTrXi2Ra pic.twitter.com/Rh1BVeRQ0J— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 7, 2017
Getting back to basics
Buzzketball has started the ACC slate on a roller coaster ride. Way up to blowout #5 Duke and then all the way down to lose to NC State by almost 30. Now its time to get their heads back on straight, return to the basic tenets of basketball that got them to 12-2 or face another huge loss at the hands of the Seminoles. Florida State has the athleticism and size of NC State combined with the talent level of Duke with the makeup of their roster. The Hokies cant afford even a five minute layoff, let alone a forty minute one if they hope to compete in this game.
This game is another holiday break game but at least it is a weekend for the Seminoles to try to attract a solid crowd. Florida State enters this game 14-1, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Temple 89-86. They come in winners of their first two ACC contests over Wake Forest and then #12 UVA on a last second three pointer. They have P5 wins over Illinois, Minnesota and Florida outside of conference. The Hokies have to hope that the Seminoles overlook them a bit, with their next contest against #8 Duke on Tuesday night.
This will be the fifty third meeting between the Hokies and Seminoles. Florida State leads the all-time series 30-22, starting all the way back in 1968. The Hokies last victory against the Seminoles came last season, with two wins, one in Blacksburg and the other in the ACC tournament. The last time that the Hokies won in Florida though was 1990.
The Seminoles are coached by Leonard Hamilton, who has coached FSU since 2002, and before that coached Miami starting in 1990. Hamilton has almost three decades of coaching against the Hokies in all their different forms over the years.
Defensively, the Seminoles employ a high pressure man to man defense primarily that varies in its starting point throughout the game. They regularly switch up to full court pressure in order to create turnovers and get easy transition baskets. One thing Hamilton and his staff do better than most is assigning defensive matchups. You may see some unusual pairings but they aim to best utilize their players strengths on the defensive end to cause the most problems for their opponents. Some assignments might be based on strengths to turn the ball over, others might be based on ability to rebound effectively and once in a while they even identify the best chance to score in transition with matchups.
Offensively, Florida State has historically run a motion offense that relied heavily on its bigs to score or distribute but with his current personnel, Hamilton has had to change to a more motion based system that relies on his perimeter players to score for the Seminoles. Regardless of the change, it appears to be working, with the Seminoles off to their best start ever under Hamilton. So far this season, Florida State is averaging almost eight points more per contest than their highest season ever under Hamilton. Tech has to expect to play a shootout if it hopes to win this contest.
What does that mean for the Hokies?
The Hokies are going to need to hit their shots because this is a team that can drain it from three and has the talent to get open regularly against them. They also will have to contend with bigger bigs underneath which could prove the Hokies Achilles heel all season especially with the news that Khadim Sy and Seth Allen will miss the contest today due to injury. This is a big blow to an already depleted roster for the Hokies. I would expect to see Devin Wilson play with Allen out.
This should be one of the highest paced games this season if the Hokies want to have a chance to win. They cannot afford a letdown like they had against NC State either, as the Seminoles will simply run away with this game. The key will be to open quickly, build a lead and continue to run for the rest of the game.
The Seminoles surprisingly dont heavily rely on their starting five, although four of whom play twenty five or more minutes per contest. This is one of the most balanced and widely used rosters Tech will face in the ACC.
Hamilton so far has regularly used 11 players per contest so Tech has to be ready to face fresh legs and not see many opponents in foul trouble. The highest fouls per game for FSU is Terrance Mann at 2.4 per contest. This kind of balanced play could leave the Hokies worn out towards the end of the game unless Buzz finds a way to lengthen his bench a bit for this game.
One last note on the way Florida State uses their roster. So far this season, every player from the Seminoles is averaging at least 3.8 points per game. That is incredible balance and shows how deep a team this is.
Seminoles Backcourt
Dwayne Bacon (#4) 6'7, 221 Lbs Sophomore Guard has averaged 18.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.6 APG and 1.1 SPG. He is shooting 38% from behind the arc and 49% overall. He is also shooting 75% from the free throw line.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, (#22) 6'4, 208 Lbs Junior Guard comes in averaging 10.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.5 APG and 1 SPG. Rathan-Mayes operates as their point guard. He is the best of this group off the dribble though so this is who we need to watch for in terms of driving the ball or kicking out to open teammates.
Terrance Mann, (#14), 6'6, 204 Lbs Sophomore Guard is averaging 8.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2 APG, and 1.1 SPG. Mann essentially has taken over the spot on the wing held by Malik Beasely last season, a freshman that went one and done.
Seminoles Frontcourt
Jonathan Isaac, (#1), 6'10, 210 Lbs Freshman Center has been a key find for the Seminoles this season. So far he is averaging 12.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG, and 1.3 BPG.
Senior Center Michael Ojo, (#50) 7'1,304 Lbs is averaging 5.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.1 BPG. He is still not 100% returned from injury last season so he has only been playing about 13 MPG.
Names the Announcers will Butcher
Braian Angola-Rodas is obviously first on this list. Christ Koumadje and Xavier Rathan-Mayes get honorable mentions.
What to expect from Florida State?
The Seminoles will have several options in this game. I believe they will come out playing their normal game, working for open perimeter shots and getting good looks while creating transition basket opportunities. The Seminoles have seven players that average at least 0.8 Steals per game. They regularly turn their opponents over.
If their normal style of play doesn't work for them, then I expect them to transition into dominating the paint against us similar to how NC State and Texas A&M did because we simply don't have the players available to reliably deny them the lane with Sy out.
One scary number to keep in mind is that Florida State is shooting 51% from the field as a team this year. They can simply put the ball in the basket and with that, the biggest change has been their steady play on defense this season. That has probably been the most crucial change in the Seminoles and why they are where they are so far. They are 33rd in the nation in Blocks, 46th in Steals, and 83rd in Defensive Rebounding. All of these are significant improvements over last season.
The biggest way to counteract this is turning Florida State over. The Seminoles average 12 turnovers per game, most of that with the starters, so if the Hokies can up that total a bit it will take scoring possessions away quickly. That becomes even more important because this is an opponent that just doesn't foul that much which the Hokies have used time and time again this year to distance themselves.
The Seminoles are averaging 86.2 PPG (15th in the Nation) and only allowing opponents 68.1 PPG. That's a 18 point average margin of victory so far this season. They haven't had to deal with many close games so if the Hokies are able to pressure the Seminoles to make mistakes it could lead to them collapsing late.
The Hokies
Tech needs to be ready to keep a high paced tempo the entire game without letting up if they want to win this matchup. They have to be able to get a high number of transition baskets like they did against Duke to get Florida state out of its comfort zone in methodically attacking the ball. Essentially force the Seminoles to deal with a sort of mirror as they try to go up and down the court.
Tech will have a tough time winning the lane, especially with Sy out for this game, so it has to be able to hit its jumpers, especially critical is hitting its perimeter shots. Tech likely needs to shoot better than 50% from outside to be a factor in this game.
Tech has to still make an attempt at getting to the basket with Leday Robinson and Clarke. If they forego working the ball inside than the Seminoles will be able to ignore the inside and focus solely on the perimeter. The Hokies dearly need clean looks today to stay in this game.
One critical area the Hokies must improve as it could have made a major difference in the NC State game. They have to not turn a great defensive play immediately into a poor offensive play. They cant go from getting a stop or creating a turnover to throwing the ball away. Tech did that at least seven times during the NC State contest and it has happened more this season than in others under Buzz. Scoring in transition is nice but scoring period is most important.
Highlight of the NC State Game
In Closing
Expect to see a fast paced game on both sides in the first half and then watch Tech aim to slow that down in the second half to really clamp down on a lead by not letting the Seminoles get out in transition much. The deeper into the shot clocks Tech can take Florida State, the better as they just aren't geared to play half court ball as well as our Hokies. Ideally the Hokies would just keep running but I think with how well Florida State uses their bench and how limited Tech's bench is, it will require them to strategically slow the game at points.
Less talented and completely outsized. We faced those same words when many were comparing Tech to Duke. I would argue that they are of a differing talent but the size aspect will play a factor. Tech has to use its speed and athleticism. They have to find open looks and they have to be able to hit those shots. Defensively they have to be able to limit the number of attempts Florida State gets either by forcing turnovers or bad shots.
I expect to see Buzz stretch the floor, especially on defense with Allen out. Buzz will likely have to use some full court pressure in this game as well as some zone defense to counter the Seminoles offense.
I really wanted to be able to say that Tech would win this game but with the injuries and the size and talent of their opponent combined with being on the road, Tech takes another on the chin, hopefully in less embarrassing fashion as last time out. Tech loses 76-68.
pic.twitter.com/Ip6Iw3gRs6— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) January 6, 2017
Comments
Thanks for adding the XM channel. Also read people talking on Twitter the roster is short this week? Can't Buzz bring on Walk ons to cover their inured players?
Buzz has walkons. He doesnt use them enough. Galloway and Donlon. Part of the issue is that we also have two players on the roster that are sitting out this season and another taking what appears to be a redshirt. Nick Fullard, Seth Leday and Tyrie Jackson. Its another reason why I expect Devin Wilson to make his season debut today.
Do redshirt s count against scholarship limits?
Yes, both Seth Leday and Tyrie Jackson count towards the 13 scholarships. Wilson does not because he counts towards football this season.
Ojo is a fricking mountain of a man. I can't imagine there's another dude like him physically in the country. Maybe Bam Adebayo at Kentucky.
Wish Allen wasn't missing this game, FSU is an interesting matchup with us philosophically. While Buzz seems to favor smaller quick players, FSU always seems to have a ton of length and size that can really jump off the floor. Last year it seemed like they had a hard time containing us off the dribble, interested to see how they handle us this year.
Definitely weird from a matchup standpoint. Does Clarke take Bacon or Isaac? Both are essentially guards on the offensive end, but they're a tough draw for our guys other than Clarke with their size.
Alright guys and gals. Let's do this. I went from the highest of basketball highs to the lowest of lows in record time this season. Time to right the ship. #beatf$u
And it's not on TV here instead I have Louisville and GT.
ACC seems so far behind I can watch: VCU/ UMASS, Creighton/Providence, BC/Duke, Charlotte/WKU on TV.
ACC Network
Not the game, just game center, sorry
South Carolina Myrtle Beach-Florence WPDE-D2 Weather (This is the only listing for South Carolina on todays game channel list.)
Has the game started because it's still the local weather channel right now.
Called the station, because of the
That came barely through here no game today on TV leaving it on weather.
Hahah...Bullshit Man swooping in to save the day!
Same for me. If it's going to be blacked out on WatchESPN then at least make sure it's broadcast on cable. Thanks, Time Warner.
They finally turn to basketball AND it's the GT vs Louisville game, the same one on the CW channel. What the hell ACC/ESPN
Should Wilson get decent minutes with Allen out? I'm hoping he has some good moments today
Opinion question: if we somehow beat #12 FSU today are we still ranked after our blowout loss to NC State?
I would think so. Maybe drop a spot, but it also depends on how well NC State plays against UNC tonight.
Go NC State? More chaos in the ACC?
Good start so far.
The broadcast on the other hand.... not so much. The announcers are terrible and no scoreboard overlay.
I already hate these announcers. Can't pronounce our players names and love FSU.
Matt Galloway checking in.
He's either ahead of Wilson on the depth chart or the rumors that I've heard of Wilson redshirting this season are true.
I know guys were speaking highly of the walk ons but serious question--why would Galloway and the other walk on get minutes over a senior in Wilson? Is it just because Wilson missed time with football? He was our starting PG once upon a time.
LeDay, my mouth is agape.
The game is blacked out in Charlotte...thanks ACC
Blackout in Norfolk...
Busch League.
These announcers really like the word penetration.
It's ridiculous how many times he's said it
Acc network pulling a clown show performance again
Yeah, the channel that usually shows the ACC network in upstate SC is showing UNC Asheville vs High Point instead of the ranked VT vs. ranked FSU game.
#goACC
What was Hill thinking on that lob attempt?
Just not big enough for the acc
Whatever. What we lack in size we'll make up for in speed. Ask Duke what they thought of our size.
Ask Nc State what they though of our speed
We had no speed that night, and there were a lot of factors that played into that reason. Not worth going into now, but that shouldn't be a problem today.
Good point. And to be fair, FSU and NC State are probably the two most athletic teams in the conference.
More than that, they're the two teams in this conference that can best expose our lack of height and size down low. NCSU feasted on it, and FSU appears to be figuring it out as well. The good news is that we should be much better off with these 2 teams behind us, and come ACC Tournament and NCAA Selection Sunday, those games should be so far in the past, they'll be relatively easy to overlook.
Never had this game chalked up to a win. FSU is the exact kind of team that is our kryptonite with Blackshear out and Sy hobbled. That said, the fact we are still able to make things work has me very hopeful for next year and beyond because that weakness should be neutralized.
I really hope nobody chalked this up as a win. We were twice as big of an underdog in this game as we were vs Duke. Hopefully we can find 2 ACC road wins this season, but none of them are going to be gimmes.
We need to slow down. As much as it goes against our style of play, it's what got us the early lead.
Yay, blackouts. #goacc
Game is blacked out in Raleigh despite not being on TV in Raleigh
Fuck you, ESPN
I'm in Raleigh and am watching it on WatchESPN. Not sure what's going on.
Robinson is playing out of control right now
Can someone get Buzz a new shirt? It looks like someone gave him a gatorade shower, I know he coaches hard, but that amount of sweat is excessive.
At least get him a towel!
Watching our team throughout the season feels like
LOL I just looked it up... The game is a regional split on the ACC Network. If you don't have the game, ESPN decided to black it out.
Raleigh didn't get the game. Even in some areas where the game is supposed to air, like Charlotte, they decided to air the GT game instead. If you don't have the game on TV, you can't get it online, despite there actually being a stream currently running online through the WatchESPN app and website. ESPN blacked out the entire ACC viewing area, and then some.
Fucking brilliant. Good job, ESPN.
This is my preferred *cough* streaming *cough* source. Ad/malware shields up, of course.
Takes a bit for the stream to load/buffer, but it's better than nothing.
Regardless of the outcome of this game, the team is playing with much more intensity than they did the other night in Raleigh.
Bad pass and terrible non-boxout
Well the turnovers certainly aren't helping.
Turnovers have been the story of the 60 minutes of play with this team.
9 first half turnovers (so far) that cannot continue
Getting sloppy
Ty Outlaw looks like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole as it relates to chemistry on the court with this team. The team looks quite a bit more awkward when he is on the floor.
Come out of the break on a mission, and we are right back in control. Second half will be better
Since I have a cable log in, I use Hola chrome extension as a quasi VPN to get around the blackout. Sounds technical but it's really not. Just download the extension from the chrome store and then when it's all up and running choose your location and set it as United States. That should give you a random location that isn't where you actually are and allow you to watch any blacked out game on ESPN without having to stream it on firstrow and navigate porn pop-ups and adware.
Being down 11 at halftime is much easier to stomach than being down 25. Open the second half like we did against the Pack and this is anyone's game.
FSU-Duke should be a good game. Both are great teams
There has been too much attempting to PENETRATE the lane to try to score rather than to kick out to open shooters. We only attempted 6 threes in the first half which is definitely not our style. Expect to see a ton of perimeter shooting in the second half.
Each team with nine personal fouls but Tech because of the short bench has two starters with two each, whereas FSU has no starters with more than one.
Once again though we are blowing chances where we get stops or turnovers and then proceed to try to go too fast and give it right back. I counted four instances of this in the first half. Likely costs us four to six points there. Much different ball game in that case.
Broadcast cost us two possessions as well by not getting things on tape. The one obvious one was where the officials went to the tape because the FSU big had control of the ball and turned it back over to Robinson down low but they never restarted the shot clock, we were whistled for a shot clock violation but because the only angle the coverage had was high up with the bigs back shielding the play, it remained FSU ball.
I really dont understand all the run that Galloway is getting in this game. He is a non factor on both sides of the ball so we end up playing four on five essentially.
It appears as though Galloway has played good defense, even forcing one turnover. I'd say he has done OK in his limited action today.
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers...
Jrob's getting mugged.
He's playing out of control though and then flailing trying to draw fouls. Won't get much sympathy from the officials in those cases
Need to pour in a couple triples, get some momentum going out way. Just 2/8 today.
Do we get an extra timeout after halftime? Or is the ACC Network so bad that they can't keep track of how many timeouts we called in the first half (hint, it's 3)
Can somebody that's good at Xs and Os explain something to me? FSU is playing man to man defense, so what is our approach on offense? Do we technically improvise when we're on offense by setting ball screens and finding an open man?
Basically, yes.
You'll notice when we have Sy in the game, we'll run a double high screen with Sy and the other "big man" (Outlaw or LeDay usually), which the PG will come off of in either direction and look for either a roll from the big man or a drive and kick to the corner.
Our offense in terms of a name is Four Out One In Motion Offense. Essentially picture half of a bicycle wheel. Each of the four out are the end of a spoke that vary in location around the perimeter and then Sy or Leday are the hub of the spoke.
Here is a link with some basic tutorials on how we play offense:
http://www.coachesclipboard.net/4Out1InMotionOffense.html
Dang... we are just a turnover machine.
As stated earlier we penetrate but then instead of dishing it back out we make a wild shot. Messy messy messy. But I did change into tech clothes so maybe it'll fix it.
FSU is more aggressive and playing with more energy, they deserve to beat us today.
We're playing sloppy as fuck right now.
I love this team but we're the wrong kind of desperate at the moment.
I expected us to go 1-1 on this short road trip with this being the loss. FSU is very talented and very deep. Despite the sloppy play, there is a ton more energy than there was the other night at PNC Arena. The ACC is going to be a grind this season, so we have to clean up the turnovers and poor shot selection(s). If we can do that then we will be OK.
Edit: And one of these days, we will have a roster full of healthy scholarship players. Wont that be nice!
Where is Devon Wilson?
Someone mentioned above that he may be attempting to redshirt this season. Tough to hear that with the way this bench already is decimated by injuries.
Galloway is eating space on the floor because of foul troubles is what I finally figured out is what finally dawned on me with how Buzz kept rotating him in and out. He was putting him in on plays that have a high percentage of off ball fouls called to avoid a starter getting one like inbound plays on the defensive end.
Outlaw is a major detriment on the defensive end. Too often today its been his assigned player that has either popped an open perimeter shot or stepped past him as he tried to close in to get an easy layup.
It is irritating that we are not taking more perimeter shots since we arent going to close in on them trading baskets. Not that we have been taking quality perimeter shots so far as it is. We are now 3-14 from outside because we are taking bad shots.
Another game where Bibbs has been a complete non-factor, 2-9 shooting, 0-3 from outside. Getting to the point that teams will be able to guard three spots on the floor and beat us, especially when Bibbs and Outlaw are on the floor together.
Last but not least, missing eight free throws, with missing both on two trips, one by Clarke and one by Hill, really doesnt help the comeback.
Difference in the game though is the perimeter shooting. FSU has hit 7 of 17 to our 3 of 14. Twelve point swing.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought Bibbs and Outlaw were supposed to be solid shooters? Bibbs seems to be feast or famine this year so far. Outlaw, I hope, is still trying to find his footing with this team.
Bibbs seems to be able to only shoot when receiving a clean pass when he is in a shooting position. Otherwise he defers and passes again. This wouldnt necessarily be a bad thing on this team except on nights this team is struggling to hit perimeter shots and needs to hit them to make a comeback possible. My other issue with his choices are when he makes that additional pass with less than ten seconds left on the shot clock because he essentially is putting a teammate behind the eight ball in needing to get up a shot as the shot clock is expiring.
Bibbs also seems to shrink in the spotlight, which is why his performance against Duke is such an anomaly. Our last five games, Bibbs has scored 0, 2, 18, 3, and 4. Thats all while playing 16, 21, 24, 31, and 38 minutes in those games. This is arguably his worst stretch of games since he came to Tech. Last season he only had a total of five games where he scored less than five points. This season that total is already five with at least sixteen games to go.
Outlaw is a solid shooter, especially considering his lack of significant playing time. He is averaging 4.3 PPG and 2.3 RPG on 12 MPG. He is currently shooting 41% from the field and 43% from three. His field number is kind of ugly but he is the second best average on the team from outside behind Hill's 44%. Offensively the only real issue I have is that he still does not seem to be in sync with the rest of the squad, especially in terms of movement. He often drifts into one of the corners and stays there for the entire offensive possession. This limits teammates being able to move to that corner and allows defenders to remove much threat from one side of the offense in terms of creating open voids. My major issue with Outlaw is his defensive liability. He has major issues closing out on perimeter shooters. He is late doing it and gives the shooter's essentially two choices. They go up with a clean perimeter shot (he gave up at least four of FSU's seven threes tonight as the primary defender) or as happened three or four other times, they wait for him to lunge out and then step past him driving to the basket where there is no help defense because of how late he was in reacting.
Difference in the game is 7'4", 7'1" and 6'11". Until we get height on this team our margin of error is razor thin. Great effort, but lack of height puts a lot of pressure on the entire team.
On top of this having people out or hurt/not 100% adds to the pressure. Then they get sloppy.
Yes, their height advantage didnt help things but neither did our insistence on continuing to try to drive directly into those bigs and flail up shots when it was clear that the officials werent going to call many fouls down low on FSU. Penetrating the lane is important but primarily to draw in defenders to get someone that has a clean look open. Tech didnt do that nearly enough tonight which was the difference in this game. If Tech remotely shoots what it normally does from outside, than this is a very different game. We came into this game shooting 40.6% from outside on essentially 9 of 22 attempts per game. Today we shot 4 of 15 for 26.7%. To be that far off your averages shows you let the opponent dictate their game plan to you.
Spot on, on this one Rob!
Welp, that wasn't pretty.
I am curious as to what went down at the end of the game. I saw Buzz walking back from the opposite end of the FSU bench while there was still time on the clock. Then there appeared to be some sort of scuffle as they panned to Mann, who appeared twice to react to something on the court. I know our guys didnt like the poster dunk at the end, which is why Clarke fouled the guy instead of letting him run down to take a buzzer beater shot. FSU didnt like the foul but if you are up more than 10 there your guy should be looking to dribble it out rather than race up for a shot.
I am curious as well. Looked like something was going on at the end. Definitely seemed like FSU was trying to rub salt in the wound and it got chippy.
Wins on the road are going to be awfully tough this year especially with 2 key contributors out. Hopefully we can get back in the W column at home.
Kind of pissed there was no post game coverage, no interviews, nothing. TV jumped right to Bones episode.
Hopefully our #18 Lady Hokies do better against Clemson tomorrow at 2. That game is also on the ACC Network unfortunately. Clemson comes in 11-4, with all of their losses to the only P5 teams they have played. 0-2 in ACC play so far.
We are not going to win many games getting a total of ten points between Bibbs and the bench. Four guys combine for 5-18 shooting for 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 turnovers, 8 personal fouls. The four players appeared to get a combined 47-50 minutes on the floor.
Edit:Turns out it was 67 combined minutes. That is more than 1.5 spots for the entire game.
Do not get emotionally invested...Do not get emotionly invested......
I hear you but this is a team of kids who as a team are perhaps overachieving. Hard not to root for them. ACC is beyond a doubt ridiculous this year. Will be very tough for this team the whole way through the ACC.
They keep grinding and they will bet better. Rooting like crazy for a couple of these kids with NBA / Overseas potential to continue developing. Mebbe we don't win the ACC or contend for it, but there is lots to cheer for here.
Some losses are gonna be very ugly however. They just have very big weaknesses as a team.
Great write up and analysis. Would not disagree with anything you said, but really don't feel like talking about it right now. Hopefully we'll have something good to talk about soon.