IT'S GAMEDAY!! #BeatNCState pic.twitter.com/viFOhDuyTb— VT Men's Basketball (@VT_MBBall) January 2, 2016
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All right Hokie fans, Happy New Year and its time to fire up ACC play. We start off with the NC State Wolfpack, who come in on a six game winning streak, beating Missouri and USF in that time. Their last loss was to Michigan back in the ACC/BIG10 Challenge. Their only other losses were to Arizona State and a surprising drubbing by William and Mary to start the season. Mark Gottfried seems to have his uber talented Wolfpack back on the right track since that early disappointment. The one thing to watch for though is as good as NC State has been the last four years under Gottfried, they have consistently struggled in conference. They come in having won 22 or more games each of the last four seasons but their best conference mark was 11-7 in those years. 11 wins is nothing to scoff at though in the ACC considering the opponents. Just ask Tech fans, who last saw 11 conference wins back in 1995-96, when we were still in the A10. Not once has it happened in the Big East or ACC days.
The Wolfpack are led by Junior Guard "Cat" Anthony Barber (#12), 6'2, 190 Lbs, who is scoring 23.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 5.2 APG. He shoots 43% from the field and 85% from the free throw line. He is their version of an Ironman, playing over 38 minutes a contest so far. The only way to get him off the floor is to get him in foul trouble. Hopefully we can match up a couple of our larger wing players over him on offense to force him to foul to prevent drives to the basket. Don't be surprised however if we see him squaring off with Bibbs as this game progresses.
Maverick Rowan,(#24) a 6'7, 215 Lbs Freshmen Guard, is next on their team in scoring with 13.2 PPG and while grabbing 4.1 RPG. Rowan is very similar to Blackshear in terms of production. He will have a monster game and then disappear for several games. Expect Leday and Rowan to match up against each other most of the afternoon.
Caleb Martin,(#14) 6'7, 215 Lbs Sophomore Guard is essentially a mirror image of Rowan on the other wing spot. Defensively we will need a big night from TYRONE to keep Martin under wraps. He comes in dropping 12.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG. Speaking of mirror images, Caleb's twin brother, Cody(#15) 6'7, 210 L , also plays for the Wolfpack. His time at State hasn't flourished as much, but he still averages 5.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG. Cody is the motor defensively as he does a bit of everything while on the court for the Wolfpack. The twins are like having two Chris Clarke's on the floor, so lacking ours will make this a challenge matchup wise.
The other three members of this team to note are Abdul Malik Abu, (#0), 6'8, 240 Lbs Sophomore Forward, Lennard Freeman, (#1) 6'9, 250 Lbs Junior Forward and Beejay Anya, (#21) 6'9, 285 Lbs Junior Forward. These three work the boards and adjust opponent's shots as much as they score and are pretty interchangeable for the Wolfpack. They combine for 22 PPG, 20.2 RPG, and 3.7 BPG. The main shot blocker is Anya out of this group, credited with 2.9 BPG by himself. This group shows you just how important big men can be in the ACC and until Pierce, Blackshear, Henry and Hamilton can match up with opponents like this, we will be at a severe disadvantage in the lane against ACC opponents.
Keys to the game will be limiting opponents second chances, making your free throws and keep the Wolfpack off the line. Right now, NC State comes in ranked 32nd in Division I in rebounding, averaging 43 rebounds a game, to include almost 13 offensive boards per night. If we don't limit that number it will lead to another big deficit just like the WVU game. Both teams are shooting in the mid 60s when it comes to free throws so whomever gets to the line and hits their shots in this game could see a significant edge as to the final result in this game. The Wolfpack are averaging almost 27 attempts per game, while Tech is still managing 30 attempts at the charity stripe this year.
These teams are composed of the same mix of players, utilize the same style of play, average almost the same numbers across the board both offensively and defensively so far this season. The final in this one is going to be whichever team manages to effect the other more, as this game will probably come down to a subtraction not an addition. Whoever is cold shooting, or turning the ball over more, or is just downright sloppy is going to lose this game. After the success WVU had running the press against us, don't be surprised if we see the Wolfpack employ some press early in each half to try to create some separation between teams.
This should be a close game since its at home. Hopefully some crowd shows up to cheer on the Hokies this game so we have less of an opponents influence on crowd noise. These early ACC games will be tough without the students back from Winter Break. I think after the towel lashing Buzz gave these guys last game they are going to desperately want to show him they can get things done the way he wants them done. I expect Tech to pull this one out very late with Leday and Allen being critical contributors at the free throw line to put this victory away. Hokies win 78-74 in the waning moments of this one.
Comments
A win would really help to wipe out the memory of WVU!
Regular season starts today!
Looking for at least a moral victory here. State is a pretty balanced team, and a bit of a bad matchup for the Hokies, but no ACC road game is a given. If we can shoot the basketball well and play a little defense then we can win any of these home games. Also hoping Pierce can play tough in this one, otherwise whoever's out there will get manned down by Anya
Any word on Ahmed Hill?
Buzz stated after the WVU game that he estimates Ahmed is at about the 85% mark. He wouldn't speculate if, at all, when Hill would be ready.
Anybody able to find a decent stream? Blacked out on espn3 in Hampton Roads.
Reporting in from Cassell. Already had a car bomb from the Liverkill. Hoping for a victory for the good guys.
lol I've never heard it called that
How do I watch this? It's blacked out on ESPN3 and not on the TV...
Typically if its blacked out on ESPN3 than they have given it to one of your regional channels. DC area its on Comcast Sports Net. Not sure which one has it near you.
Seth Allen should never be covering Cat Barber one on one. Just asking for disaster.
Anyone else getting a blackout on WatchESPN?
We are allowing them to get us in poor matchups way too often. Robinson guarding one of the Martin brothers? Allen on Barber? Refs aren't helping, allowing Anya to get away with murder down low on both ends. Nothing our bigs are going to able to do if the refs continue to call the game that way. Allen with two more poor possessions, one on the offensive foul turnover and the other on that three point attempt from 10 feet past the arc.
We drive, we get good looks, we make the extra pass to get a high percentage shot... Then miss. Talent, work ethic, and pure basketball IQ is visible in these guys. Yes there are mental lapses that young players make and yes Seth Allen can turn into a maniac, but one of these days it's all going to come together.
Wear red
Fall down
Draw a foul
Would like to see Bibbs get some open looks but that requires the defense helping off of him and considering we can't even pretend to finish at the rim this game it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Also, these refs are pretty abhorrent at this point.
That was piss poor, Blackshear definitely was fouled as he went to the basket and then he never touched the guy as he fell and gets called for something
I agree but our offense is simply embarrassing at this point. Every possession is one on one and it's difficult to watch. Haven't seen an entry pass to the post all game so we aren't playing inside out which is when it seems we are most successful. Also there are no drive and kick opportunities because we haven't showed any ability to score off the dribble.
Glad to be sitting at Midcourt so I can have a full visual of how bad the officiating is. Regardless we are forcing ourselves to take numerous bad shots. Not to mention getting beat on the offensive board.
Regardless we are shooting below 30% so that's not going to get it done ever against any team.
Decent run at the end of the half. That's the defensive effort we need but we have got to find a way to get rebounds off of the defensive rotation. Our guys look lost trying to find someone to box out or just out of position entirely in the post.
It doesn't seem like there's a lot of fire in the team right now. I'm not sure if there's the hangover from the Wvu game or not but there's not a lot of urgency. That being said, this feels like a deficit we can overcome if they come out firing. Also, Seth Allen is making things happen by himself. That steal and drive home was pretty.
We are playing a lot better so far in the second but we still can't finish anywhere on the court. Must be really frustrating for the guys and Buzz. Need to play through it though.
TYRONE
Wow. I see why our kids aren't blocking out now because it's apparently a foul to box someone out today.
The count rises for ill-advised Seth Allen drive and missed layups. That's really really frustrating for a team trying to come back and win a ball game.
Edit: Seth shut me up there with that deep 3.
And then he drains a three from 23 feet. It's hard for me to dislike his play for long periods of time.
That's the reason he plays. He's so frustrating for so long and then he goes on stretches where he is just the best player on the court with the ball in his hands. If he can figure out how to play effectively 80% of the time instead of 40% of the time he could a great player.
Edit: see there he goes again taking a terrible shot early in the shot clock which basically relinquished the lead. And then he makes the game-tying 3.
My heart can't take another heartbreaker. Come on boys!
Wow, how did Blackshear not come down with that rebound??
Not really sure. It looked like he looked up before he really had possession of it or something.
ALLEN!
OH MY SWEET BABY JESUS.
Just credit the whole team for that block. Damn son.
Buzz had them ready for that.
That block was so fresh, so clean.
Great defense on Barber! OT!
shew. My heart rate is like 150 right now. Lets find a way to win this game boys.
lets start ACC play off right! go get that w
If Shane would just go up after catching that pass it's a dunk. Instead he put in on the ground and put up a turnaround fadeaway shot.
LeDay was more pumped about that putback than Blackshear! Yes!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Jon Laaser just nailed it... "Buzz Williams is down, and so is the bucket." Instant classic.
Blackshear showing his athleticism driving to the basket and getting the floater!
Guys.
We're undefeated in league play.
Woooo!!!! 1-0 ACC guys!
Are you kidding me?!
Go Hokies!
We did it mom! Get the camera!
Yeah Baby....I didn't see it taking overtime and was doubtful after the first half but I bit my tongue and these boys delivered. Awesome win and great way to respond to the WVU game. Bunch of people are going to be upset they didn't watch this one now.
Was at the St. Joes-UR game so only caught half the second half and OT. And boy was I glad I got to see it.
St. Joes is really good by the way. Winning at UR is no easy feat.
I'm in a car driving up from the Rose Bowl (side note: Iowa fans are so salty it's amazing they can grow anything at all in that state), and I'm quite upset I missed it. Might have to watch that replay once I get home.
Just like football!
this. ALL OF THIS!
Haha, said that to a Pack fan who spent the whole game being super obnoxious about 3 rows behind me. He waited until he got to the bottom of the section and then f-bombed me. It was great.
REAL VICTORIES ARE SO MUCH MORE FUN THAN MORAL VICTORIES.
OH HI EMMA.
My sister goes to NC State. She was lucky enough to be in Blacksburg to witness both the football and basketball games this year! Go Hokies!
Like I have said before, this team has good young talent and a good portion of it is currently injured. We have gotta be patient, look at Frank Martin at USCe, he took over a practically dead program and struggled mightily for his first 3 years but you could sense that the talent was building up. They are now undefeated in year 4, ranked in the top 25, and look like a legit threat to Kentucky.
We will get there, it may take until year 4 or so but I honestly believe that we will get there. Today was a HUGE step forward.
Bring on UVA!
Tyrone showed up! Love me some Tyrone!
Gotta give Seth Allen and everyone else who guarded Barber a lot of credit. Even with the OT, he did not reach his season average.
great turnaround in the second half a great step for Buzzketball!
THAT is what a tough team looks like. Not pretty by any means, but love the mental toughness more than anything.
I love it
A good win against a good team. Gives me something entertaining considering these bowl games are kind of weak
Arsenal still on top of the league and now this? Good sports day.
Win over a North Carolina school in roundball?! Thank you sir may I have another!
Just got home from the game. Like folks are saying above, I was yelling for Coach Buzz to bench Allen about 3 possessions before he hit that 3. I gotta hand it to the team, they were down double digits for a big chunk of that game. They hung in there though and ground out a tough one. Also, it was my 4 year old little girl's first Hokie game. She had a blast. It was a great day all around.
Living in Raleigh, all I can say is thanks