2021-22 Hokie Hoops Statistical Notes: Volume 6

The Men's Team
I don't want to say the wheels have come off of the 2021-22 iteration of the men's basketball team, but with a .500 overall record and dead last place position in the ACC, I can't say much else. I will, however, say one good thing. With the exception of the pasting we took at the hands of Wake Forest, all of the losses were close fought games that the Hokies just couldn't finish. The remaining 9 losses were by a combined 50 points. One more, three-point make per half in those loses, and instead of 10-10 (2-7), we're 15-5 (6-3) and sitting 5th in the conference.

Instead, the Hokies went 1-3 over this window.

Scoring
Well talking about scoring this quartet, we can't be upset about the level of contributions from most of the players. Aluma leads all with 16 ppg, who is joined in the double figures club by Cattoor (12), Mutts (11), and Alleyne (10.25). I can't even be too upset with the bench scoring production, led by Maddox (4.75), Pedulla (4.25), N'Guessan (4), and Ojiako (0.5). Four starters averaging double figures, and a bench that, as a whole, would be 2nd on the team in scoring isn't bad.

What is bad is Murphy. At only four points per game this four game window, he's tied for 7th on the team in scoring. This was his worst four game outing as a Hokie, beating out the second set of games, which included Memphis and Xavier. I've come around to agreeing with the thought that he is not a High Major conference scorer.

Rebounding
Mutts led all Hokies in rebounding at 8 boards per game, followed closely by Aluma at 7. Alleyne (3.75), Cattoor (3), and N'Guessan (2) are the only other Hokies averaging more than 1 rebound per half. The rest of the team averaged 5 rebounds per game.

Assists
In the ATO department, the Hokies did very well, as only Alleyne (1:7) had an ATO margin worse than 1:1. Cattoor (7:3) and Maddox (4:1) had the best outings. Mutts (17) led the team in assists, followed by Aluma (10), Pedulla (9:5), then Murphy (9:7).

Looking at this, I do also see a weakness in Murphy. As the PG, he should not be near the lead of the team in turnovers. He should also not be tied for 3rd in assists.

Experience/Depth
Each of the starters is averaging more than half a game in minutes, led by Cattoor (36), Aluma (32.25), Alleyne (31.75), Mutts (30), and Murphy (28). Three bench players are also getting in quite often; led by Pedulla (14.75), followed by N'Guessan (14.25), and Maddox (10.25). That gives a solid 8 man rotation, with 5 guards and 3 post players getting solid time.

But this brings me to the Point I want to make. Pedulla should be playing the Point more than Murphy. He's getting half the minutes, but has the same number of assists (with fewer turnovers), 1 fewer total rebound, and scored 1 point more, over this 4 game window.

On the season, as a whole, Pedulla has gotten a third of the minutes, more than a third of the scoring, more than half of the rebounds, just under half of the assists, 40% of the turnovers, but the same number of steals. I don't think Murphy really gives you anything you can't get better per minute than Pedulla.

Next Four
So what do we have, coming up? Well, here in a few minutes the Hokies will tip off down in Tallahassee. The Noles are tied for 5th in the ACC, they score a little bit better than the Hokies, but allow a good deal more scoring.

Then the Hokies will welcome the Yellow Jackets. Again, GT averages slightly higher scoring per game, but allow a good deal more scoring than the Hokies.

Rounding out this quartet will be back to back games against Pitt. The Panthers are bad. They give up more ppg than the Hokies score, and they score fewer points than the Hokies give up.

Prediction
It's been a rough season to this point. Very rough. James Johnson rough. If the Hokies are going to salvage the season, it will have to start now. Pitt is a very bad team and we should beat them regardless of location in proximity to the Mason-Dixon line. We have the size to outplay Georgia Tech, but their guard play worries me. Florida State has four players 7' tall or taller and they average a combined 40 minutes per game, so expect a constant 7-footer in the paint.

I hope we go 3-1. I won't hate going 2-2. But anything worse and it will be beyond disappointing.

The Women's Team
Now to end the doom and gloom...wait...Kitley was hurt in the UVA game???

Oh, she came out of the locker room and was sitting on the bench, laughing with her teammates?

The Hokies went 3-1 over the last quartet, with a close loss to a very highly ranked NC State team, and a sweep against in-state punching bag UVA. They now stand 15-5 (7-2) and tied for 3rd in the ACC.

Scoring
As with almost all editions, Kitley leads the way in scoring with 16.25 ppg over the four game set, followed by three other Hokies in double figures (Amoore with 13.75, Sheppard with 11.5, and Traylor with 10.5). C. King is also a significant contributor in scoring at 7.75 ppg, and the rest of the roster was able to contribute 5.25 ppg.

Rebounding
Baines led the way in rebounding this tetralogy, with 8.75 boards, followed by Kitley's 7.5. While no other Hokie managed to corral an average of a board per quarter, the rest of the roster did manage to average 16 additional rebounds per game.

Assists
Amoore led the Hokies in assists with 14, and was joined by Sheppard (12) and Kitley (11) in double figure assists. Kitley had the best ATO margin at 11:6, followed by Amoore at 14:8 and C. King at 5:3. Baines, Traylor, and Lytle had ATO margins worse than 1:1.

Experience/Depth
As a result of being taken out after just 8 minutes in the UVA game, Kitley doesn't lead the team in minutes for the set. Amoore earned the most minutes at 36.5 per game. Other Hokies getting 5 minutes or more per quarter are Sheppard (32.5), Traylor (32.25), Kitley (29.75), Baines (26), and C. King (24.25). Gregg (10) and Lytle (9) round out the 8 player rotation.

Next Four
The next four games will be a good test and chance for separation for this squad. First, the Hokies will travel to South Bend. The Irish are a half game behind the Hokies in the ACC standings. They have a slight disadvantage in overall height, but do most of their damage down low. If the Hokies can keep Mabrey from getting open looks from distance, the Hokies' advantage in shooting 3s should be the difference maker.

Back home, the Hokies will take on Boston College. Sitting 2 games back of the Hokies, the Eagles have a height disadvantage to the Hokies, and they don't really have a super consistent outside shooter.

Next will come Clemson, barely half a game out of last place in the ACC. To win, the Hokies must contain Delicia Washington, who leads the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.

Wrapping up this tetralogy will be Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are tied with the Hokies at 7-2 in conference, so this is the big one in this set. They are well balanced with all five starters averaging between 9 and 11 points, led by one of the few women Kitley doesn't have a major height advantage over. They don't have a go-to deep threat.

Prediction
This should be the moment the Hokies kick it into overdrive and separate themselves from the upper middle of the pack. The injury to Kitley is worrying, but if she is healthy, Amoore and C King continue to light it up from range, and Sheppard and Traylor keep up their production, this should be a four game sweep, putting the Hokies clearly in the top 3 of the conference, with NC State and Louisville.