Recent Comments

1) The problem with that offensive strategy came to the forefront tonight, when the officials simply werent blowing their whistles on the same contact that has gotten the Hokies to the line all season, so then we were left with either bad shots after contact or turnovers because they were already past the point of passing out to an open teammate. The officials were consistent tonight with that and on both ends for the most part. One of the reasons you didnt really see me lamenting the officiating. Typically so far in ACC play we have reached the free throw line 30 times or more, tonight we only got to the line for 20 attempts hitting 14. So thats about 7 points we normally count on being there that werent. The Louisville game also saw us shoot 87% from the line on 33-38 shooting. Thats 19 more than we put through tonight, Oh we lost by 19?

Another area that consistently kills us is bench contribution. As was brought up by others we saw 65 of our 71 points scored by four players. The Panthers got 29 points from their bench compared to our 4. Any time we are forced to substitute, we are adding to the offensive liability that is our bench on the floor. At one point tonight, Buzz had Justin Robinson, Devin Wilson and Johnny Hamilton all on the floor together. That left Bibbs and Allen to try to score with three non factors. Every minute that our team has a group like out there is the potential for the other team to go on a six to ten point run. Even Blackshear has dropped off in the last few games

2) Defensive rotation is a basic basketball skill and yes we have been terrible at it all year, especially against a teams second or third perimeter shooters. I dont know if its that our wing players arent agressive enough trying to get through screens down low or some other aspect of how Buzz wants the lane protected that is the root cause but consider this in ACC play.

Pitt - 8-25
Louisville - 12-18
UNC - 3-23
ND - 5-17
GT- 4-15
Wake - 13-24
Duke - 9-24
UVA - 9-20
NC State 5-23

Total - 68/189 = 36%
Four Bad Games (Louisville, Wake, Duke and UVA) - 43/86 50%
Other Five Games - 25/103 - Essentially 25%

Its not perfect defense but half the games have been bad, while the other half are about what you want as a head coach in that they are under 30%. Our bigger problem as evidenced tonight has been just the open shot or open man in general. A large part of that I contribute to the lack of experience/lack of continuity of our "big men" on the floor. They fail to close out cleanly in transitions on high screens which leads to defensive drag on the rest of the positions on the floor. Only takes about a half second release to get a shooter open in the corner. Its definitely happening in every game and I am not sure Buzz is going to have an answer for it this season.

Just as an example. Opponent has ball at top of the key against Seth Allen, their big man screens Allen up top, Blackshear comes to top, but opponents big is already two steps back into the lane, so Leday steps up to cut off pass into lane turning into easy dunk, while man Leday was guarding completes screen of Bibbs, and Blackshear isnt back yet to rotate for Bibbs so Bibbs man goes to the corner and is wide open for pass from big man on Leday to take the clean shot. Just one type of play I have seen us have problems with consistently.

Yeah...as if Facebook and Twitter are relevant to, or have any bearing upon our school's reputation. They are nothing more than the peanut gallery.

First thing I noticed in that pic is Coach's wind suit.

LOVE this kids motor!

Honestly, they should go the route the way the NHL did... Don't want to play defense? Take it out and make it a 7 on 7 mini tournament. What they did in hockey today wasn't terrible, which is an improvement on the past.

Two freshmen from MD who recently got into VT went to Blacksburg and allegedly committed a senseless crime. My thoughts are with the family of the little girl, but VT obviously has nothing to do with the actions of two newly enrolled students from MD. The child family and the blackburg community are as much victims of the alledged actions of the former MD residents who recently go into VT.

Tyrod's not off to a good start in the pro bowl. This game is hard to watch. I sure I would rather watch a skills competition or a mic'd up flag football game versus this trash.

We are getting those 4 with Fuente. And Eron Carter. Rodgers...
I am trying to hear something about Ross and Pine. Anyone have anything?
Pridgeon is not coming....which would have been nice.

Agreed. The strategy of making contact at the rim and getting to the line doesn't work if the refs just don't call fouls

Sad part is our Ladies squad lost by even more than the men. Bad all around day for Tech basketball losing by a combined 47 points today.

Tired of these no calls on our offensive end. Fouls are there and have to go one way or another. Cost us at least six free throw attempts imo. Not that it really mattered by how unprepared this entire team has been except for Allen.

Yeah. I can't really blame the guy for it I guess. I would certainly be biased against LOLuva. So IMO it's ESPNs fault.