Hokie Hoops Central: Charleston Southern at Virginia Tech 7pm ACC Extra

Will get to the writeup this afternoon but wanted to post early enough to remind people basketball season is here. I also get to spend time trying to figure out a way to watch since the YTTV crap hasn't ended.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV | ACCNX
Evan Hughes, PxP
Mack McCarthy, Analyst

RADIO | VT Sports Network
Zach Mackey, PxP
Mike Burnop, Analyst

VIDEO STREAM LIVE STATS
ESPN.com and ESPN app stats.hokiesports.com

LINE: VT -18.5

Who are we?

The Hokies come into this season after a second straight overhaul of the roster. The good news is this one was much more impactful to good basketball. Coach Frazier returned after stints in Illinois and WVU. He brought his recruiting chops to bear and is credited with bringing in. Avdalas and Dorn from the European circuit as well as Hansberry and Pasha from WVU and Delaware respectively. The other portal newcomer is Jailen Bedford from UNLV.

The biggest difference between this year and last years portal overhaul is the influx of scoring. Last year saw the Hokies lose about 86% of its scoring from the year before and the portal brought back about 40%.

This year the portal/graduation saw about 55% leave but that was replaced by about 85% if you count Avdalas and Dorn's pro production.

Hansberry last season averaged 9.8ppg and 6.5rpg.
Pasha put up 11.9 ppg, 4.2rpg, and 3.9apg.
Bedford put up 10.2ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.2apg.
Avdalas put up 8.8ppg, 1.7rpg and 1 apg as the reserve PG.
Dorn put up 9.5ppg and 4.6rpg.

As for the freshman, the only one I expect to be an early contributor is Forward Christian Gurdak. Gurdak will see more time tonight as the NCAA is requiring Dorn to sit out one game as part of his professional to College move.

As for the Hokies opponent tonight, Charleston Southern is coached by second year head coach Saah Nimley. The Buccaneers went 10-22 last season and lost nearly 90% of scoring from last years team. Power Forward Reis Jones is their highest scoring returner at 5.5ppg.

The Buccaneers do have a high scoring shooting guard returning from injury that sidelined him all of last season. A'lahn Sumler put up about 13 ppg in the second half of the 23-24 season so will be someone the Hokies need to be wary of.

Brycen Blaine is another incoming transfer that can shoot from outside. He hit almost 43% last season at Gulf Coast.

The projected point guard is Armari Carraway, who also shot over 40% from outside at the JUCO level.

Luke Williams put up 15.4 ppg and shot 38% from 3 at Division-II Maryville last season and will play heavy minutes.

Charleston Southern does have some height to counter our bigs with four players taller than 6'9, including 7 footer Devin Brafford. Brafford was a transfer from Siena.

Expect to see Charleston Southern in a 4 out-1 in offense focused on shooting threes and getting out in transition.

Defensively last season Nimley installed his philosophy of EDIG7. Every Day is Game 7. He ascribes tough, physical defense that is very high energy. He has smaller lineups in general so they are expected to use speed and lane interruption to create turnovers while making a heavy push to force opponents away from the perimeter.

Charleston Southern is projected to finish 7th out of 9 teams in the Big South so bottom line this is a team the Hokies SHOULD beat 99 times out of 100....but prove it.

Still not really sure who this team is. It appears Young is planning to start with Avdalas, Johnson, Lawal, Bedford and Hansberry. Others featuring into the rotation will be Hammond, Schutt, Pasha and Gurdak. Dorn will as well upon return.

In the Seton Hall scrimmage, Hammond was the predominant PG with Avdalas in a bit of a Point Forward role. Interested to see how Pasha is used as early on in his transfer window he was the assumed starter at the point.

Guess we will see or in my case hear as I will be stuck following along with the hokiesports.com broadcast if I can't find a stream.