Men's Basketball: Northern Iowa (4-0) vs Virginia Tech (2-1) 7PM CBS Sports Network

Television
CBSSports Network - Thad Anderson & Steve Wolf

Radio
Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network - Bill Roth & Mike Burnop
Also available on:
Digital: Hokies Xtra & TuneIn

The Hokies will face Northern Iowa in their second game of the Cancun Challenge this evening. This is the first time Tech will have ever faced this opponent. This opponent will provide us insight into how much of the remainder of this season may go. This is the first team we will face that has at least some ACC caliber talent, especially at the Power Forward position. Northern Iowa is also not relying on freshmen at many key positions like our previous opponents were. Seth Tuttle(#10), Senior Power Forward for the Panthers, comes in averaging 17 ppg and 7.3 rpg. He is the best big man we will have faced so far this season. JVZ and Pierce will have their hands full and I am hoping we see Buzz insert Bibbs or Henry as a complement down low to at least assist the bigs so that they dont spend the majority of the game on the bench in foul trouble.

Northern Iowa comes in having defeated four relatively overmatched programs so they have not faced a team that while young has nearly the talent that Tech presents. Tech will need to look to push the pace of this game, create turnovers and turn those into points. This may be a challenge to maintain the energy required considering this will be the first time Tech plays outside the confines of Cassell and there is no guarantee of much of a crowd at this tournament. I can recall games from this tournament from years past where there appeared to be less than 1000 people in attendance. Its hard for a young team to maintain a focused fast pace game with little to no crowd support.

Northern Iowa, after Tuttle, relies primarily on a trio of guards. Wes Washpun(#11) brings 12 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 3 apg from the point guard position. Paul Jesperson(#4) puts up 8.3 ppg along with 3.8 rpg. Last or the trio is Deon Mitchell (#1), who averages 8.3 ppg along with 2.8 rpg. Forward Marvin Singleton(#12) rounds out their starting five with 6.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Northern Iowa so far has 7 players scoring at least 4.8 ppg so they spread the ball well. This will really give us an idea of where we stand defensively as a team. Jesperson will likely play more of a hybrid 2/3 position with his height and size, 6'6 and 210 lbs so having three players out there to defend will be key to our success against this squad.

One area of concern will be our defense outside the arc. Northern Iowa is currently shooting about 40%, hitting almost 8 threes per game.

After the App State game, I am not sure what to expect from Buzz in terms of lineups. He seemed intent on playing everyone and in doing so didnt allow any one person to really get locked in. Hopefully in this game he gives the starters a lot more leeway to establish themselves.

I unfortunately dont think that Tech will be able to stay with this team after the App State game and expect a Hokies loss, 70-62 as Northern Iowa closes the game by making free throws down the stretch as they currently are shooting 73% as a team. Hopefully these Hokies prove me wrong and can maintain a fast paced game leading to many transition baskets and forcing their opponent to conform to them rather than playing a slow paced game that favors the Panthers.