2022-23 Hokie Hoops Statistical Notes: Volume 3

The Men's Team
The Men's Team is coming off a runner-up appearance in the Shriner's Children's Charleston Classic where they went 2-1 with wins over ODU and Penn State but came up just short against the Charleston Referees. Overall not bad when you consider it was 5 on 8 (10 if you count the announcers).

So the Hokies stand 5-1 on the season and Mike Young has tied Red Laird for 8th best four season start to a career.

Scoring
Once again, all five Hokie's starters are averaging double figures in scoring for the window. Leading all is Pedulla with 15 ppg, followed closely by Basile (14.67). Joining them in scoring 10 or more per game are Mutts (12.33), Maddox (10.33), and Cattoor (10.00). You know my feelings on the subject, if you can get all five starters in double figures, you put yourself in the position to win more often than not.

However, bench scoring plummeted. Last window, the bench averaged 22 per game. This time, the numbers were worse. Collins (3.00), Poteat (2.67), and Kidd (2.33) accounted for all of the bench scoring. 22 ppg down to 8. They're gonna have to get better. Hopefully, we'll see a new face in the mix here in the near future.

Rebounding
Averaging a double-double for the window is Mutts (10 rpg) and he is doubling up the next closest Hokie. Cattoor and Basile (4.33 each), Maddox and Collins (3.00 each), and Pedulla (2.67) are the only other Hokies averaging a rebound per half. The bench bigs averaged a combined 2.17 rpg.

Assists
Pedulla paced the way with an ATO of 13:6, but when you factor in steals, his adjusted ATO is 13:1. Collins is coming on nicely, having dished out 5 assists to just 1 TO. All told, the CMYBall crew is doing well to protect and share, netting an ATO of 45:26. Adjusting for steals and the AATO is 45:9. I think we'd take 5:1 all day every day.

Experience/Depth
Well the bench shortened up hardcore in this window. The starters got almost all the minutes, as Mutts led the way with 37.67 mpg, followed by Cattoor and Pedulla (35.33 each), Maddox (29.67), Basile (27.67), and Collins (20.33). Coming of the bench, only Poteat (7.67) and Kidd (6.00) were on the court for any appreciable time.

Next Window
The Hokies have a chance to exorcize the Holy City's demons with Charleston Southern. The Buccaneers are 2-2 with losses to Ohio State and Tulane. They are balanced with 3 forwards and 5 guards averaging 5 or more points per game. Their most potent scorer, averaging nearly 20 per, is Soph G Claudell Harris. If the Hokies can't play perimeter D, he can light us up. The other worry I have is 6-7 Soph F Taje' Kelly. He averages about 12 per and pulls down 8.3 boards. These two teams are very similar in height.

Next the Hokies welcome the Gophers as part of the ACC-BigTen Challenge. At 4-2, with losses to Depaul and UNLV, Minnesota screams old school basketball. 6 of their top 8 scorers are forwards or centers. They are led in scoring and rebounding by 6-11 So Forward Dawson Garcia, averaging almost 16 ppg and pulling down just shy of 7 boards. Their next leading scorer is 6-7 Jr Forward Jamison Battle, just to give you an idea of their style of play. Oh, and they have a third big, 6-9 Fr Pharrel Payne who completes the trio of 6 rebounds per game players for the Gophers. Seriously, they have 9 guys north of 6-7. Oh, don't get comfortable, they have taller guards, too, as 4 of the 5 are 6-4 or 6-5.

Next, your Hokies will begin their defense of their ACC Tournament crown against UNC. The #1 Tar Heels are undefeated, though not for lack of trying. They've experienced two close shaves from Gardner-Webb and Portland. We know what to expect from this team on the court. They'll start 3 forwards (Bacot, Nance, and Black) who all score well and rebound well. On the wings, expect heavy doses of Love and Davis. Up to this point, they haven't gone to the bench a ton, as only two players have more than 10 mpg. Given how different the two teams are, it may come down to how good are Leaky Black and Pete Nance defending the perimeter vs how good are the VT guards at defending the post.

Rounding out the slate will be the Dayton Flyers who defeated the Hokies last year in Ohio. Currently .500 with losses to UNLV, Wisconsin, and NC State, the Flyers appear to have settled on a 8 player rotation that somehow only manages two guards. It's more of the same of the two previous matches, as the games should be decided down low.

Prediction
I can't lie, Charleston left a bad taste in my mouth. Poor 3 point shooting, poor post defense, and more home cooking than what caused my latest tryptophan induced coma, leave me unhappy. That being said, the Hokies come out like Lt. Robert Maynard, and smite the Buccaneers. Minnesota is a great warmup for what to expect from UNC. I'm going to hedge a little bit and say the Hokies will close out the window going 3-1, with the loss coming against either UNC or Dayton.

The Women's Team
Coach Brooks' squad comes in at 5-0 having cleaned up in the Bahamas. There's not much to talk about as there were only two games, but both came against teams in major conferences. As with the men, there was a definite drop in bench production and minutes.

Scoring
Four Hokies averaged 10 or more, led by Kitley (21), followed by Amoore (14.5), Traylor (13.5), and Owusu (11). Soule was close at 9.5, and King and Gregg rounded out the scorers with 4 each. I cant really complain too much, as, even with just seven scorers, they still put up 77.5 ppg.

Rebounding
Kitley was the rebounder-in-chief, pulling down 11.5. Traylor (6.5) Soule (5.5) and Owusu (4.5) all averaged at least one per quarter, while Gregg (3.5), Geiman (2.5) King and Amoore (2) all averaged one per half.

Assists
The ladies were uncharacteristically sloppy, putting together an ATO of 32:29. Even adjusted, it's still 32:22.

Experience/Depth
The bench shrunk to 7 as the competition got tougher. Amoore (37.5), Kitley (35), Traylor (32.5), Owusu (29.5), Soule (23.5), King (22.5) and Gregg (16) provided all but 8 of the 400 minutes of these two games.

Next Window
First up, we welcome the Lancers to Cassell. Longwood is currently 1-3 and will be no better than 2-4 by the time they get to Blacksburg. Their lone win is a one point upset of Ohio, and have been lanced by Delaware and Towson on the year. Three guards lead Longwood in scoring double figures, with only three other players averaging more than a basket a half. They have only one consistent post player in Alyssa Chapman, but at 6-2, I don't see her holding off what the Hokies can do underneath. Oh, and they are baaaaaad at handling the ball. Even factoring their steals, their AATO is still 8.3:11. They turn the ball over twice as much as they get it to a shooter.

In the ACC/BigTen Challenge, the Hokies will welcome Nebraska. They are 3-2 with losses to Creighton and Drake. Ten Huskers have gotten into every game so far. They are led by 6-2 So C Alexis Markowski in both scoring (15.6) and rebounding (9.6). Expect carnage down low between Markowski and Kitley. Don't get comfortable when she's not in the game, because 6-2 Jr Forward Isabelle Bourne is second in both categories (11.4 and 8, respectively). Guard scoring threats include 5-10 Soph Allison Weidner (10.8) and 5-9 Jr Jaz Shelley with 9.4. Shelley is also a top ball-handler, having dished out an average of 8 assists per game, although three-quarters of her assists have come in the wins against Omaha, Tarleton, and Houston Christian.

Then the Hokies will go on the road for the first true road game, the Jimmy V Women's Classic against a struggling Tennessee. The Lady Vols have dropped four of their first six, including both of their games against ranked opponents. 6-2 Sr F Rickea Jackson leads the Vols in scoring (17.7) and rebounding (6.5). Next top scorers are Guards Jordan Horston (13.4 ppg/5.2 rpg), and Jasmine Powell (10.5 ppg), who also leads the team in assists at 4.7 per game. Kitley will be seeing eye to eye with the Vols' starting C, 6-6 Sr. Tamari Key, who is only averaging about 8.3 ppg and only 3.7 rpg.

Brooks' squad will open ACC play on the road, going up to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College. The Eagles are currently 4-2 with losses to Harvared and Ohio State. They have four players in double figures, led by Jr G Dontavia Waggoner's 12 ppg, which she pairs with 7.3 rebounds as well. Next is Fr G T'Yana Todd's 11.2 ppg, followed by 6-3 Soph C Maria Gakdeng's 11 ppg, which she pairs with 9.2 boards. Rounding out the top scorers is Jr F Jojo Lacey who has managed 10.5 on the young campaign. As a team, they are not good ball handlers, as their at is 13.8:22.8, however they are active on defense, creating 12.3 thefts. Even so, their AATO is 13.8:10:5.

Prediction
I'm hoping the Hokies can get some of their ball control issues taken care of. I don't see anybody particularly able to threaten them over the course of a full game, but sometimes Lady Luck doesn't side with the better teams. That being said, the Hokies stay perfect on the season. 4-0.