HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: LEHIGH (0-1) VS VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (1-0) 6PM ACCN

By: ltrepeter2000
HOKIE HOOPS WIZ
on November 10, 2022, 1:25 PM | 37 comments

HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: LEHIGH (0-1) VS VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (1-0) 6PM ACCN

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Nov 10th 2022 600 PM
Opponent: Lehigh
Site: Cassell Coliseum

TV Broadcast
ACC Network
Play-by-Play: Mike Corey
Analyst: Cory Alexander

Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop

Internet Audio
LVFoxSports.com

Broken Wings....
The Hokies go into their second game welcoming back Justyn Mutts from his one game suspension. The Hokies are 1-0 against Lehigh going into their 2nd meeting. The Hokies won the lone previous meeting with Lehigh, 79-53 in Blacksburg on Nov. 16, 2019. The Hokies crushed Delaware State 95-57 highlighted by the debut of Grant Basile putting up 30 points. The Hokies also had a plus-18 rebounding margin in this contest.

The Mountain Hawks are coached by Brett Reed, who began his college coaching career at Oakland CC as an assistant coach in 1995. Lehigh is his only college head coaching job. He took over the Lehigh position in 2007 and has a with a 246-209 overall record guiding the Mountain Hawks. Last season the Mountain Hawks were 13-19.

The Mountain Hawks are 0-1 to start the season after an opening loss to Syracuse 90-72. In the opener it was Senior Guard Evan Taylor leading the way with 20 points, as the only player in double figures. Sophomore guard Keith Higgins had 9 points in support.

The Mountain Hawks come into this season with four new Freshman. The biggest change in the roster is inside as several key big men graduated. The rest of the roster returns from last season. Henri Adiassa is the only freshman that appears to feature early in Lehigh gameday strategy. The 6'11", 240 lbs Center saw 13 minutes against Syracuse.

Other returning players that will impact this game outside Taylor and Higgins are Center JT Tan and Guards Tyler Whitney-Sydney and Jakub Alumudun.

Defensively, they play a high risk transition defensive style. Coach Reed drills into his players the situational approach of how to attack an offense if faced with odd man rushes. He invests in drilling his teams on the statistical probabilities of each scenario so they are prepared for a variety of situations. This is a much more experienced opponent than the Hokies first game.

Offensively, Coach Reed uses the risk of playing transition defense into having additional opportunities on offense. His team has a major focus on offensive rebounding. This team is very capable of clean passing and situational offense creatig open looks especially on the perimeter. They had 16 assists and shot 38% from outside against Syracuse. Their interior shooting against Syracuse though suffered which is not unusual against Jim Boeheim's defenses. The Mountain Hawks shot 76% from the line on 13 attempts.

Mountain Hawks Backcourt
Evan Taylor (#5, SR, G, 6-6) 20.0 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Keith Higgins Jr. (#13, SO, G, 6-4) 9.0 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 3.0 Ast
Tyler Whitney-Sidney (#22, SO, G, 6-2) 6.0 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Luke Traina (#15, SR, G, 6-5) 5.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Mountain Hawks Frontcourt
Jakob Alamudun (#0, SR, F, 6-6) 8.0 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Dominic Parolin (#35, JR, F, 6-8) 7.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
JT Tan (#42, JR, C, 6-8) 6.0 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 3.0 Ast
Bube Momah (#23, FR, F, 6-8) 5.0 Pts, 0.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast

What to expect from Lehigh?
As a team the Mountain Hawks are a capable perimeter shooting team hitting 38% on 8 of 31 shooting but the are just as susceptible to perimeter shooting on the defensive end. Syracuse shot 50% against them from outside which is a major weakness going up against the Hokies. Evan Taylor needs to be the Hokies focus here as he hit four out of five three point attempts.

Lehigh has a fairly balanced roster size wise. They tend to run a three guard two big rotation on the floor and utilize mostly a 2-3 Zone in the half-court. They played most of their roster in the first game with 9 players getting 10 or more minutes.

Lehigh committed 19 fouls in the first game which could be considerably higher against the Hokies due to their ball movement and improved interior play. If the Hokies get to the line 20 times that alone may decide the game.

The Hokies
The Hokies again will be able to shoot from outside almost at will especially if the Lehigh zone is late in shifting out. The surprising ability of Basile to shoot from outside becomes a forcing factor and with the return of Justyn Mutts makes the inside out game even more impactful. The Hokies will have four players finish in double digits while at least 10 players contributing 5 or more points.

The Hokies rotation down low gets the huge boost of Mutts returning. He and Basile appear to be the primary starters with Camden, Kidd and Poteat rounding out the rotation.

The guard rotation remains the same with Pedulla and Cattoor starting. Maddox is fluctuating starter depending on the lineup. MJ Collins will get the majority of remaining Guard minutes while Rodney Rice remains out with an ankle injury.

The Hokies will have to work much harder in this contest and can not afford the second half sloppiness in the passing game and the defensive end of the floor.

Highlight of the Delaware State game
Basile dropping 30 in debut

In Closing
The Hokies work the perimeter to open up the 2-3 zone, providing space for Mutts and Kidd to operate in the lane. The Hokies will win the rebounding battle especially on the offensive end.

The Hokies will create opportunities at the line, getting 24 to 28 attempts. Reaching 20 attempts will lock the result of this contest.

I only expect four Hokies in double figures. Cattoor, Mutts, Pedulla and Basile. The rest of the roster will see at least 6 more reach the 5+ point level. Hokies should get 35+ points off the bench and have a clear point buffer with ten minutes remaining.

Hokies push the pace, methodically operate inside out passing and ground the Mountain Hawks. Hokies enjoy Mutts return with an win 87-64 win.

In Other News
Several recruits signed their NLIs today for both basketball programs

Mens Basketball:
Jaydon Young,
SG 6'4 190 Lbs
3* 247Sports Ranking
86th SG Nationally

Brandon Rechsteiner
PG, 6'1 185 Lbs
4* 247Sports rating
84th PG Nationally

Ladies Basketball:
Clara Strack
Forward, 6'4
4* ESPN Scouts Grade

Mackie (Mackenzie) Nelson
PG, 5'8,
4* ESPN Scouts

Carys Baker
Forward, 6'1
4* ESPN Scouts rating

Samyha Suffren
PG, 5'8
4* ESPN Scouts

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Comments

07Hokie's picture 07Hokie
STATS AND DOG SPORTS
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Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

SoupHokie09's picture SoupHokie09
SOUP OR SALAD?
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"Runs up the hill! Into the Tech student section! Here in Charlottesville!"

APrimusHokie's picture APrimusHokie | 1 year 5 months #

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Hey! It goes beyond big brother in the sky
Beyond the threat of martial law, No Horus eye
No one came to cuff you they just handed you the chain
Blind follows the blind and now the one-eyed man is king

07Hokie's picture 07Hokie
STATS AND DOG SPORTS
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Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

APrimusHokie's picture APrimusHokie | 1 year 5 months #

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Hey! It goes beyond big brother in the sky
Beyond the threat of martial law, No Horus eye
No one came to cuff you they just handed you the chain
Blind follows the blind and now the one-eyed man is king

Danny Coale Is My Spirit Animal's picture Danny Coale Is My Spirit Animal
DRIVES THE FURY ROAD
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I found TKP after two rails from TOTS then walking back to my apartment and re-watching the 2012 Sugar Bowl. I woke up the next day with this username.

hokietopher's picture hokietopher
๐Ÿˆ STICK IT IN! ๐Ÿˆ
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My wife takes the kids and leaves the house while I watch my Hokie games.........nuff said

hokietopher's picture hokietopher
๐Ÿˆ STICK IT IN! ๐Ÿˆ
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My wife takes the kids and leaves the house while I watch my Hokie games.........nuff said

hokietopher's picture hokietopher
๐Ÿˆ STICK IT IN! ๐Ÿˆ
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My wife takes the kids and leaves the house while I watch my Hokie games.........nuff said

APrimusHokie's picture APrimusHokie | 1 year 5 months # ^

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Hey! It goes beyond big brother in the sky
Beyond the threat of martial law, No Horus eye
No one came to cuff you they just handed you the chain
Blind follows the blind and now the one-eyed man is king

benw92's picture benw92
HOKIE IN CHICAGO
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Outside it's night time, but inside it's LeDay

benw92's picture benw92
HOKIE IN CHICAGO
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Outside it's night time, but inside it's LeDay

07Hokie's picture 07Hokie
STATS AND DOG SPORTS
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Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

S-E-I-K-O-H 'Psycho' Hokie's picture S-E-I-K-O-H 'Psycho' Hokie
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Fifth Law of Thermodynamics: You can never have enough BBQ Sauce

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No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.