HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: COPPIN STATE (1-5) VS VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (5-1) 530PM RSN

HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: COPPIN STATE (1-5) VS VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (5-1) 530PM RSN

We're back in Cassell on Saturday, taking on Coppin State for the second straight year ✊#StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 18, 2020

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Dec 19th 2020 530 PM
Opponent: Coppin State
Site: Cassell Coliseum
RSN, Evan Lepler (PxP) and Dan Bonner (Analyst)
Virginia Tech Sports Network. Jon Laaser (play-by-play) and Mike Burnop (analyst)

Eagles floored.....

The Hokies come into this contest having just beaten a ranked Clemson team. The Hokies are 3-0 against Coppin State going into their 4th meeting. The Hokies come into this matchup 5-1.

The Eagles are coached by Juan Dixon, who had a nine-year NBA career after being a first round draft pick in 2002 out of Maryland. He returned to his hometown of Baltimore to take over at Coppin State in 2017. He has an ugly 25-77 overall record guiding the Eagles. He unfortunately faces an uphill battle every season scheduling schools well above their talent level to cover much of the Athletic Department budget. Overall, he is 26-102 as a head coach with one other stop as the District of Columbia as the women's coach.

Coach Dixon's Eagles are 1-5 with a win UNC Greensboro. Their five losses are at Duke. Georgetown, George Washington, Drexel and UMBC. They have shown the ability to stay in games. Lost to Duke by 10 in the final minutes, but have also been blown out as well, losing by 32 to Georgetown. Juan Dixon knows how to motivate his team for big games though. Last year they took down four out of conference opponents, Loyola Chicago, Cornell, James Madison, and East Carolina.

Coach Dixon lost Aaron Robinson, Ibn Williams, Kamar McKnight, Giir Ring, Nigel Marshall, Andrew Robinson, and Brendan Medley-Bacon to a variety of reasons. These seven accounted for about 49 points per game and were 7 of their top 10 scorers. Andrew Robinson and McKnight were the one-two punch for Coppin State.

The Eagles come into this season with three new Freshman and several transfers. Anthony Tarke is their do it all transfer from UTEP who transferred in to play with his little brother, Nendah. Kyle Cardaci is another transfer from Bryant. Tarke and Dejuan Clayton have formed a solid inside-out duo. Anthony Tarke racked up 33 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and four blocks in Coppin State's 85-80 victory over UNC Greensboro while his brother added 20 points and four rebounds.

Defensively, they play a high pressure, high risk man-to-man defense, varying their levels of pressure depending on personnel and their opponent, in terms or how hard they guard, how far they extend the court. Their aggressive style leads to quite a few fouls but they are also averaging 9.5 steals per game and converting those into 15 points per contest.

Offensively, Coach Dixon uses a lot of pick and roll plays focused on getting the ball inside to Tarke and giving him the option of taking it to the rim or kicking out to Clayton and his little brother. The Eagles must rely on the perimeter, attempting over 32 per game, which is the 9th most in the NCAA. They do however only shoot about 26% from outside. Forwards outscore the Guards 36-26 on this roster.

Eagles Backcourt

Kyle Cardaci (# 12, SO, G, 6-1, 170 lbs) 7.0 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 1.3 Ast. He is a three point specialist that transferred in from Bryant. Shoots 35% from outside, 75% from inside and has not attempted a single free throw.

Dejuan Clayton (#13, SR, G, 6-2, 185 lbs) 13.7 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 3.3 Ast is the heart and soul of this team as a four year starter for the Eagles. Clayton shoots 24% from outside and 87% from the line on 5 attempts per game.

Nendah Tarke (#4, FR, G, 6-4, 190 lbs) 5.7 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast. The freshman is shooting 23% from outside, 80% from inside with a deft touch when he drives the basketball. He is only shooting 53% from the line.

Eagles Frontcourt

Anthony Tarke (#3, SR, F, 6-6, 220 lbs) 17.2 Pts, 7.8 Reb, 2.5 Ast. The elder Tarke is shooting 27% from outside, 53% from inside and shoots 64% from the line on 5.5 attempts per game.

Koby Thomas (#10, SR, F, 6-6, 190 lbs) 10.8 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 0.8 Ast, shoots 28% from the perimeter, 38% from inside and 44% from the line.

Chereef Knox (#2, SO, F, 6-5, 210 lbs) 5.8 Pts, 0.8 Reb, 0.6 Ast, shooting 31% from outside and has yet to make an inside shot on the season. Shooting 50% from the line

Domantas Sakickas (#14, JR, F, 6-7, 230 lbs) 4.6 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.8 Ast shooting 44% from the perimeter on 3 attempts per game. Another 3-point specialist that has not hit an inside shot this season.

Kenan Sarvan (#22, FR, F, 6-10, 225 lbs) 5.8 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1.3 Ast, shooting 13% from outside but not for lack of trying as he averages almost 6 attempts per game.

What to expect from Coppin State?

As a team the Eagles are shooting a surprisingly low 26% from the perimeter on 32 attempts per game. Cardaci, Knox, and Clayton are their consistent perimeter shooters. Sakickas is actually there best shooter outside but doesnt get nearly the attempts as the others. If things go the way that they always seem to go against the Hokies, it will be Sarvan that will have the breakout game since he is only shooting 13% from outside this season.

In addition to poor shooting from the perimeter, the Eagles suffer from poor shooting in general. There is not a single Eagle that shoots better then 50% from the floor and they shoot 35% overall.

Coppin State rely heavily on three players. 8 players are getting 10 or more minutes a contest. Tarke while a bit undersized as their primary "big" has risen to the occasion with double digit scoring in all six games.

Coppin State struggles when it comes to rebounding, being outrebounded in all five games, an 18-rebound average on the season. The biggest threat from the Eagles are Tarke, Clayton, and Thomas.

Coppin State must hope they can create points off turnovers and are able to avoid significant foul trouble. Four of their starters are averaging more then 2.5 fouls per game. Sarvan and Thomas are the most likely to have issues, especially with Aluma's athleticism and Pemsl's size and brute style underneath.

The Hokies

The Hokies need to focus on getting Aluma the ball early and often. The Eagles are ripe to send Aluma to the line for double digit attempts.

The Hokies will generate a ton of open looks from the perimeter and should be able to hit at least ten 3's in this contest.

The Hokies need to ensure they have crisp passes, especially near the top of the key. Coppin State opponents are averaging 19.7 turnovers per contest The Eagles are also adept at drawing the charge with an off ball defender.

Diarra has opted out, creating additional opportunities for Cattoor and Cone. This takes away a high energy ball handler but reduces the turnovers and improves the perimeter defense significantly.

This is the kind of game where the Hokies should be able to get N'Guessan, Bamisile and Maddox some meaningful minutes.

The only major concern here is keeping the Eagles where they have been most of the season. Needing to catchup but not able to shoot from the perimeter very well. Keep them on the perimeter and keep a defender relatively close. Get the to miss their shots and grab the rebounds, rinse, dry, repeat.

Highlight of the Clemson Game

Free throw line 25-31

𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚'𝙙 𝙐𝙥 🍿Gettin' to the foul line was key, as we took a step forward last night #StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/mGC1n1KE8y— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 17, 2020

In Closing

The Hokies work the ball inside, win the rebounding battle and outscore the Eagles inside. The Hokies will hit some daggers from the perimeter. They should be able to add 20+ points at the free throw line.

There will be at least five Hokies in double figures. Bamisile gets in a groove and gets double figures for the first time as a Hokie.

Hokies push the pace and run away from the Eagles. Hokies don't have a lapse like the VMI game and win 77-53.