The 11 seed Hokies play 14 seed North Carolina at 7PM tonight at Greensboro. The game is on the ACC Network. The winner plays 6 seed Syracuse at about 9 PM Wednesday. UNC has played very un-UNClike for most of the season. They got off to a decent start and were 6-3 when Cole Anthony hurt his knee and needed arthroscopic surgery on Dec 16. He missed the next 11 games. Overall UNC has had 11 scholarship players miss a total of 98 games this season. Unfortunately, they are mostly healthy going into the ACC Tournament. They are 4 point favorites tonight.
As I said above they started the season 6-3. Then the injury bug hit and they started losing, ending the season 13-18 and 5-14 in ACC play. But they seem to have found their game going 3-1 at the end of the year beating NC State and Wake Forest at home and Syracuse on the road before losing to Duke at Duke to end their season.
The Hokies beat UNC in a double overtime game at Blacksburg on Jan 22. But Cole Anthony and Brandon Robinson did not play in that game. I think both will play tonight.
I am afraid we are catching UNC on the upswing while we are on a downswing. With Brooks and Bacot underneath and Anthony, Keeling and Robinson hitting from three, I don't see how our defense can slow UNC down. And unless Nolley breaks out of his extended slump, and Catoor and Cone shoot well, I don't see the Hokies having the offense to stay with UNC. We definitely drew the worst match up of the bottom three teams. Our chances against Pitt or WF would have been much better.
Even if we end the season tonight, things have gone much better than expected. The future looks brighter. With Aluma playing and Ojiako with a year's more experience, we will be much stronger underneath. Cone certainly looks like he is going to develop into a very good point guard. Nolley has a lot of ability, which he really has not shown at the end of this season; if he comes back and plays to his potential, the Hokies will have a lot of options next year. And Radford might continue to get better; he needs to extend his shooting range a little to open up his fake and drive options. Catoor, Alleyne and Wilkins also look like players that will grow into Coach MY's system. And Bede and Horne will be back to provide leadership. Although Bede may not play as many minutes next year.
Back to the Tournament, this would be a great win for the Hokies. And I think they would have a chance against Syracuse tomorrow, which would be about as good a run as we can expect.
Go Hokies!
Edited to correct players who did not play in the regular season game.
Comments
All we have to do is score more points!
VT has to limit UNC's offensive rebounding and second chance points. No one on their team really scares me shooting the basketball. Would love to see VT play compact on the defensive side of the ball and clog up the lane. That would make it harder for Brooks and Bacot to score in the paint and for Anthony and Black to drive the lane.
Offensively, it's all about making shots.
VT has to hit 3's. When we don't we lose.
Brooks had 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists against us.
Oops. Brandon Robinson not Brooks. Edited the post.
That's why someone who knows b-ball better than me should do these.
We appreciate your effort and that member's comment could have been presented less callously. Keep up the good work Dmhbeaver. Only 5 or more games left to report on.
I believe you forgot the 6 other games we'll be playing in the NCAA tournament as well😉
Please. Those were implied.
I was not offended. My comment was serious. I really don't feel qualified to do these threads. I'm just an old engineer who has figured out how to steal data from the teams websites. I don't really have any basketball knowledge to impart. I would be happy if someone with more expertise wanted to do this.
I've really enjoyed these threads! Thank you for your hard work all season
I literally just put his stat line from the game. There's no need to add drama where there is none.
I would love nothing more than ending UNC's basketball season after effectively ending their one in football
I think we got boned in the matchup... last team I wanted to see was UNC, but such is life.
Big money on UNC -2.5 fo rme... Hope I'm wrong
Thanks, Georgia Tech.
Poor Roy having to cobble together a season with injuries to one of his 5 mc donalds all americans that aren't required to take college level courses. I really feel for him.
UNC is the most dangerous bottom seed in ACC tournament history. Tough draw.
I'm going to be watching how late-season/much-improved Ojiako handles talented bigs like Bacot and Brooks. Carolina signed two 5-star centers in their 2020 class, so I really hope Ojiako measures up well tonight. If he doesn't, we may see a lot of dunks by the bad guys in this match-up next year. Though I should note there's always room for growth in the off-season, and I know nothing about what Aluma will bring to the table.
Hope the team has on some of those copper fit energy socks
Looks like it's going to be a "neutral court" tonight. 🤦♂️ Either way, beat the Tar Holes! LET'S GO!!!
Continuing our cold shooting. 0-4 from three, 1-7 overall.
...and after a series of bad shots...we're down 10.
Just let Cone shoot 3's! Cash Money.
Let's go... we are settling in now.
Bede drives the lane...and actually shoots. That could be a difference maker for the game.
and scores.
Yeah. I was just happy he took the shot. A make is icing, baby.
F carolina blue. I hate these announcers
Nolley has packed it in. Jeesh
Finally, a unc foul
Take Nolley out. 2 seconds left on shot clock and he passes it away?
Yea, i mean WTF
He has done that in every ACC game that I can remember. Gives the ball to somebody else and then they have to desperation heave or have the turnover.
Shame the half had to end Landers was starting to heat up a bit
That ankle flop hahahaha
As soon as he thought he was far enough out of camera view he waved off his helpers and started jogging.
Call me optimistic, but I like our chances. We are +18 in the second half vs ACC opponents this year
Hello Optimistic!
But thats a great stat. Unc looked touchable last 6 minutes. Let's get em!
UNC is -7
Man, please take the lid off the basket
12-4 fouls in unc favor
19 free throws to 2. Fuckin typical.
What an F-in flop, and the annnouncers eat it up. Gag!
Here come the bullshit foul calls has been the story all acc play
Frick, our young team seems a bit shell shocked. Darn
4's feet were in when the ball got to him. Another bad call by these refs.
Never touched him.
This reffing trend of waiting to see if someone makes a basket before deciding whether or not to blow the whistle is making basketball nearly unwatchable for me.
Fuck this unc tilted acc tourney bs
Fuck Georgia Tech for cheating and still sucking
About 50% of the calls in the last four minutes were completely wrong. I'm so tired of the disparity for the team that's not the title weight.
UNC is going to be tough for anyone in this tournament. Boeheim is probably really worried. I don't think Syracuse can handle UNC..
If the refs keep calling their games like this they'll win it all.
If they got these types of calls in the big dance they'd have 20 titles to Duke's 21
Watch...they'll magically make a deep run, enough to get them in the Dance. NCAA cannot live without their brand being represented.
Man I was hoping we would be competitive tonight. This is getting embarrassing... at least it's on a channel I don't fucking get on my TV. My bootleg version on my computer makes this much easier to handle. Doesn't feel real. Thanks Comcast!
We don't have any words and we know you don't want to hear them.
We understand your anger, your frustration, your sadness. Everything you're feeling – we get it.
This isn't the ending we imagined, and certainly not the one we wanted. Thank you for being there the entire way.
- Baltimore colts owners leaving in the middle of the night for Cleveland ?
After getting swept in the first round following a season where they finished with one of the best records in NHL history
Love it. Thanks for actually taking the time to pull this
It's an obscure reference but one that will see more use in the future
Refs fixin to get that foul disparity a little tighter now that the game is in the books. Carolina Mafia does it again.
Edit: VT shot 5 fouls in the first 35 mins and 4 between minute 5 and the last MTO. Ahhhh that's that acc stuff right there!
I mean, I understand people's frustration and all, but the refs did nothing to cause VT to brick shot after shot.
When you can't hit from outside you go inside. When you get hacked every time you go inside with no call you go back to shooting outside.
Yeah, the refs aren't the reason for a 20 point difference. Rebounding, lack of shooting, and poor close outs on the one guy who can get hot for UNC are bigger factors by far.
No shit, but thinking it's a non-factor is asinine. This team won the first matchup.
In double OT without Cole Anthony and Brandon Robinson. We were 18/62 (29%) and 10/36 (27.8%) from three, we ball watched on a lot on the defensive boards, and were lazy with backside help on the high screen. Yes, ACC officiating is terrible but it didn't decide the game.
I know, I was there. Funny thing about that is the fouls were nearly dead even for that one. My entire point is that shitty officiating really matters and causes teams to get down on themselves.
Edit: Keep up that downvoting for opposing opinions boys. Man that internet will really get after ya.
Nice edit. Do the fouls now.
You're right, I'm wrong. It's a conspiracy.
My point is that the officiating sucked, not that there is some sort of conspiracy (that I like to joke about), but keep assuming.
Edit: Keep up with the downvoting because you didn't understand my original argument.
Its all ugly. 44 rebounds to our 27. Talking about NIT now, I kinda doubt it.
Feels like a long shot. Harder to get into now for P5 conference teams.
The NIT is not going to take more than 4 ACC teams (1 in each region).
There will be 5 "eligible" teams.
NCState and Notre Dame are locks
Syracuse is likely
The winner of Clemson/Miami would be eligible... Clemson has a better resume and Miami beat VT both times head to head so hard to make a case taking VT over either of those
Don't see it happening
What percentage do we put on Nolley wearing a VT uniform next November?
If he feels he's ready for the NBA after this season I'd be shocked
He might be able to make a team in Israel
If he's smart 100%
Due to going to the NBA or losing his scholarship? His play the last 20 games hasn't really been worthy of a scholarship. /s
He needs to get over the freshman wall and figure out what went wrong. He went from being a 40% shooter to a 18% shooter. The silly turnovers (every game he is good for at least 2) and the passing ball with under 3 seconds is getting pretty old.
I think another off season being able to work with the team and develop will help a lot. I give him a 100% chance back.
It's true the refs did not cause us to lose. But it's still frustrating to see so many fouls called with no contact.
Or the obvious travels they let slide for big dunks to get the crowd going
Why downvote this comment? Banging on the refs, even if it's a nonfactor, is the most common of fan angst. It's also makes me sleep better at night 😅. No harm, no foul. . I'll see myself out!
See the thread above, it's obvious who it is
If you're speaking about me, I haven't downvoted anything.
Ok
If you had asked me going into the year if 16-16 would be okay and 7 ACC wins I would've been good with it but after the promising start these last 12 games have all been swift kicks to the groin
Reality bites.
But I am gobbling proud this year.
We had 4 scholarship players on the roster (5 counting Radford) 10 months ago. .500 is goddamned COY-worthy
Well, on to next year, maybe a miracle gets us into the NIT.
Well this season is finally over and it was painful down the stretch. #2 is not ready for the NBA, contrary to what his dad thinks. Mentally and physically he is not there yet. When the league caught up to him, he could not handle the pressure. He should stay but I doubt it. OK, here come the down votes, I have said it for 2 years, #3 is not a an ACC caliber point guard, can't shoot and picks the ball up on drives down the lane. I will give you he plays with a lot of heart. We need height and I know CMY knows that too, so that will be his biggest issue to address. All in all, a good year for such a young team, short team. Next year should be better if some guys realize they are not quite ready for Prime Time.
Just finished the game. Two observations:
1. The free throw discrepancy was 21-5 up until very late in the game. You absolutely cannot compete in a D-1 basketball game when that is the case (see the Duke game in Cameron). I absolutely hate the ACC for reasons like this.
2. Jalen Cone is going to be an absolute star! He had Cole Anthony turned around so much he looked like a drunk chicken trying to find some place to lay down. On top of that he played some really good defense against a first round draft pick at PG. He's got to get some pre-season All-ACC love before the 2020-21 season begins.
I joked on here that the refs were going to try to even it up with the game in hand and within a minute VT shot four FTs. Don't call out terrible officiating impacting game flow on here though, you'll get labeled a conspiracy theorist.