Trip to the Garden

 

Semi-final vs. #5 Syracuse

Defensively, for the first 28 minutes of the game, the Hokies looked very stout.  Syracuse could not hit a shot. Virginia Tech turned the ball over too many times and could not take advantage of their hot shooting and their tough defense.  Despite this, the Hokies led 29-27 at the half.

The second half started off similar to the first, with teams trading baskets and Virginia Tech building a 7-point lead.  However, at the 12-minute mark, Syracuse could not miss.  They went on a run that crippled the Hokies chances, and took an 11-point lead after a big run.  The Hokies cut it down to 5, but fell short and lost 69-58.

The Positive

  • Defense – Defensively this was one of the better games Virginia Tech has played. The defense shut down Syracuse in the first half and for the majority of the game.  For 80% of the game the Hokies were the better team on the floor. 
  • Shooting – The Hokies shot great.  The problem wasn’t making the shots; it was getting shots up.

The Negative

  • Turnovers – This plagued the Hokies in the game, as Virginia Tech could’ve taken a big lead during its hot shooting, but could not capitalize due to the amount of turnovers.
  • Offensive Production – The team did not move the ball well enough against the zone, and it showed in the limited points scored by the Hokies.

Overall, the team did play well, and showed that we can defend against the top 5. It was a good game to have played, and the team should get better offensively as the year progresses.

DISCLAIMER: Blog posts may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.