Buzzketball Central: Virginia Tech Hokies (18-7, 7-6) at #8 Louisville Cardinals (21-5, 9-4) 1PM ACC Network

Ruth's Chris is Back!!

IT'S GAMEDAY! #BeatUL KFC Yum! Center 1 PM ACC Network pic.twitter.com/Bn2Zs4J5ZO— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) February 18, 2017

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: February 18, 2017 / 1 p.m.
Opponent: No. 8/7 Louisville
Site: Louisville, Kentucky (KFC Yum! Center)
Radio: Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Talent: Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
TV/Internet: The ACC Network
Talent: Tim Brando & Mike Gminski
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Game Notes: Virginia Tech
XM 202 (Internet 962)
Television Stations for the ACC Network

Where can you watch @VT_MBBall game vs. Louisville? For a complete list of affiliates, click on #HokieHuddle. https://t.co/nmCTrX0rsA pic.twitter.com/piidgicCAf— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) February 17, 2017

Hokies have their hands full of Papa Johns Cardinals

Buzzketball has progressed their NCAA tournament chances tremendously in the last two games, especially considering the loss of Chris Clarke for the year. Which is fortunate because today they may run into a buzz saw. Louisville comes in having won five of its last six contests with the only loss to UVA while missing three starters and their backup point guard. The Cardinals when healthy are probably the most complete team in the ACC outside of possibly North Carolina. They have the talent to run the floor with a dominating big lineup or switch off to a small lineup with speed and athleticism. Their only other losses this season have been #20 Baylor, #12 Notre Dame, #10 Florida State and once more to #12 UVA. The Cardinals have wins over #6 Kentucky, #15 Purdue, #16 Indiana, and Wichita State in their OOC slate and #7 Duke, Pittsburgh twice, NC State, Wake Forest, Clemson, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Miami in the ACC.

This is a road game, sure to be close to a sellout of the KFC YUM Center, the Hokies have now had the time for the Clarke injury to sink in, and their opponent is one of the best the ACC has to offer. The Hokies need to be ready right out the gate to execute their offense effectively. The Hokies have to be on target tonight or this could be another long afternoon similar to the Florida State or NC State. The Cardinals will be down their backup point guard Tony Hicks and one of their small forwards V. J. King in this game due to injuries. This is about 11 points and 4 rebounds per game not on the floor this afternoon for the Cardinals.

This will be the thirty ninth meeting between the Hokies and Cardinals. Louisville leads the all-time series 30-8. Louisville won the last meeting 91-83 in Blacksburg.

The Cardinals are coached by Rick Pitino, who has been at Louisville since 2001. His first season the Cardinals won 19 games and that was the one and only time Louisville has won less Than 20 games in a season. Pitino has been a great success guiding Louisville to nine NCAA tournament appearances, including three Elite Eight, one Final Four and one National Championship. He also guided them to two Conference USA tournament titles, one regular season Conference USA championship, two Big East tournament titles, one regular season BIG East Championship and finally one American Athletic conference regular season and tournament championship.

Defensively, Louisville uses the Matchup Press Defense which is a high pressure, man to man defense that looks to trap teams at key points on the court. It is designed to prevent penetration stopping the ball handler that is having to deal with two defenders in difficult locations to pass or shoot. The defender that is on the ball handler is expected to be up close, hand in face to create turnovers or force drives to the corners rather than the lane. The difficulty in running this defense is having defenders identify the points they break off their man to man coverage to assist with trapping the ball handler. If not done correctly it can leave a defense exposed to open shooters all over.

Offensively, the Cardinals run a 2-1-2 zone offense. In this offense, picture an X centered on the free throw line. The primary post player will be found at the center of the X, with two guards to the perimeter and two forwards to the baseline. Having a post player that can pass cleanly and effectively is crucial to the success of this offense. Considering a good portion of this offense is designed to find open forwards on the baseline, its not surprising that the Cardinals have had trouble with UVA, whose defense is designed to stop offenses along the baseline. This is their primary offense but if the Hokies are having success against it, then expect a Pitino coached team to make necessary adjustments.

What does that mean for the Hokies?

New seats set as next big improvement to Cassell Coliseum: Fan comfort to increase with wider seats https://t.co/f5BEdy23l8— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) February 17, 2017

The Hokies are getting an opponent that is going to dwarf the Hokies, while not giving up much in terms of athleticism and speed. If the Hokies are going to compete today than Bibbs and Hill both have to be burning the net down. Forcing Louisville out to guard the perimeter is critical if the Hokies want to be able to avoid their traps.

Get to the free throw line, get the Louisville defense on its heels and get their bigs in early foul trouble. Last season we had something like 38 attempts from the free throw line. Even if we have an off night at the line, with that many attempts it will make a huge impact on the final score of this game.

The Hokies need to make an honest effort to limit points off turnovers and second chance points. The last five games the Hokies have given up double digit points in these categories. Its extremely difficult to overcome top level competition like Louisville when you are giving away 20% or more of your total possessions in every game.

always have fun with it @Hokie_Hoops #DemHits pic.twitter.com/SM045RX7Fn— Justin Robinson (@5Alive_) February 16, 2017

Cardinals Backcourt

Donovan Mitchell (#45ee) 6'3, 200 Lbs Sophomore Guard is averaging 15.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG. He is shooting 36% from behind the arc and 41% overall. Donovan drives his offensive game by playing stellar defense. He averages 2.2 steals per game and is a constant presence when Louisville puts trap defense to work.

Quentin Snyder, (#4) 6'2, 175 Lbs Junior Guard comes in averaging 12.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG. He is shooting 38% from outside and at the free throw line, shooting 73%. Snyder is the primary ball handler for the Cardinals. He is the one we have to be concerned about driving the ball and making a great pass to an open look.

Cardinals Frontcourt

Deng Adel, (#22), 6'7, 200 Lbs Sophomore Forward is averaging 11.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.1 APG. Adel is usually one of the baseline forwards that is shooting 40% from the field, 35% from outside and 76% from the free throw line.

Jaylen Johnson, (#10) 6'9, 230 Lbs Junior Forward is averaging 8.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.1 APG. Johnson is also one of the baseline forwards but gets much more involved in rebounding and getting second chance opportunities for the Cardinals. He is shooting 60% from the field, 33% from outside and 61% from the free throw line.

Mangok Mathiang, (#12) 6'10, 230 Lbs Senior Forward is averaging 7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 1.1 BPG. Mathiang is the center of the Cardinals offense in rebounding and defensive shot adjustment. He is shooting 51% from the field, 33% from outside and 61% from the free throw line.

Names the Announcers will Butcher

Mangok Mathiang would be my first inclination. After Mathiang it's a pretty vanilla lineup name wise.

What to expect from Louisville?

The Cardinals rely mostly on their offense to go fast and get up and down the court. They have played in quite a few barnburner type games. Usually success for the Cardinals is creating turnovers and turning them into points to spread their lead while also wearing down their opponents.

Rebounding is also a huge key to how Louisville separates itself from its opponents. They have had success this season when they outrebound an opponent by double digit margins. The rebounds allow them quick put back points or to kick the ball out to Snyder to begin again at the top of the key.

Shooting from outside does not usually play a big factor for the Cardinals, who attempt some of the fewest three pointers in the ACC. Then again, they are facing the Hokies who seek to inspire teams to splashdown glory.

The Hokies

Tech needs to be ready to go fast in this game. The defense and offense of Louisville play into the hands of what Tech likes to do best so they should be able to turn this game if they are consistently making their shots, especially from outside.

Space and pace is the big thing in the NBA right now, but in this game it's a sort of war cry for the Hokies. Find the area that the Cardinals aren't able to stretch their defensive presence and get the ball to open shooters.

Highlight of the Pitt Game

The And 2 Flagrant Foul + Bibb 3 Pointer for a seven point swing in less than a second on the clock.

In Closing

The Hokies are going to need an abundance of free throws and shooting above 50% from the floor to win this game. The Hokies are able to get the Louisville bigs in foul trouble which leads to a less than reliable bench with key players out with injuries.

The Cardinals will look to take the ball inside and use their size to their advantage.

With the two recent wins, this becomes just another road game in regards the path to the Tournament. The Hokies are back on track if they play like they did at Pitt for the rest of the season.

#WednesdayWisdom pic.twitter.com/LQe5IfpJch— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) February 15, 2017

Hokies pull off one more shocker 68-62 because #WednesdayWisdom . The Hokies probably wont get another seven point possession but find enough juice to get this Tournament defining win.