Buzzketball Rolled By Saint Joe's 79-62

The Virginia Tech men's basketball team came into Tuesday's New York City matinee with Saint Joseph's off a four game victory tour over lower level opponents. The Hokies' 79-62 loss at the hands of the Hawks deflated whatever momentum the team had built over the last few weeks, as they were thoroughly handled from the opening tip.

Buzz Williams' team has taken strides since the Iowa State debacle nearly a month ago. The tempo has picked up, the offense has found more identity and the defense is slowly solidifying. It all seemed for naught against Saint Joe's, as the team settled for jumpers, allowed the pace to be dictated and were individually dominated on the other end.

Versatile wing DeAndre Brembly paced the game for the Hawks with 18 of his 22 points in the first half, before making way for fellow undersized forward Isaiah Miles, who scored 36 and added 15 rebounds. The duo was simply too much for Tech to handle, as they not only struggled containing the two but keeping up with them offensively as well.

The Hokies noticeably failed to attack the basket and create all afternoon, relying on Seth Allen's quick first step (18 points) simply because it was the only thing that worked. Justin Bibbs couldn't find his shot early on and was swallowed up by the Hawks' defense, Chris Clarke looked like he was still recovering from whatever bug kept him out the previous game and Zach LeDay was engulfed by defenders with each touch.

Saint Joe's head coach Phil Martelli decided to double the post early and often, which meant LeDay's touches were under duress with every entry pass. Though he did post a double-double, it was nowhere near as efficient as the junior's been in game's past, and the entire team paid for it.

As for the rest of the supporting cast, none made a mark. Devin Wilson and Jalen Hudson failed to penetrate successfully and ended up with looks Saint Joe's would have paid them to take (the two were 0-7 from behind the arc, which needless to say is less than ideal). Justin Robinson was racked with fouls which limited his minutes, and Kerry Blackshear Jr. (also saddled with foul trouble) and Johnny Hamilton couldn't take advantage of their opponent's small lineup.

It was a disappointing result in the team's first test since the Northwestern game. Don't get it confused, the Hawks were the better team coming in (30 spots higher in KenPom's basketball ratings) and remain so on the way out of Brooklyn. But in a season of perceived corners turned and improvements made, Tech looked disappointingly listless.

And as concerning as this performance was, it only gets more difficult from here. The Hokies host West Virginia next Wednesday and then kick off conference play with NC State, Virginia and Duke in the span of seven days. Not exactly the perfect time to get things right.

One bad loss isn't the end of the world by any means for a team this young, but it's the last time they'll play someone similarly talented for three weeks (WVU, UVA and Duke are all top-12 teams according to KenPom, NC State is 64th). Can they grow during this stretch? Yes, but it'll be more of a baptism by fire type of growth, one that breaks teams much more often than it molds them.

A Few Quick Thoughts ft. Joey Coogan

This space is usually reserved for my analysis about the game, but since we're both overloaded with observations Joey and I decided to tackle this one together.

Brian: There's a cruel irony when you compare this team to last year's version. The talent up and down the roster is better at every position, but the one thing they took a step back in (three point shooting) is the same thing that kept them in many-a game in 2014-15. Last season's team wasn't good, but if they got hot at the right time things could keep things close in the last five minutes.

Now? The scores during ACC play may be even more lopsided, even though Tech is actually improving. It'll be hard to see, but these results (whatever they may be) will be less flukey. There are more defenders, more tough guys and a higher ceiling in Blacksburg. It'll be incredibly frustrating to watch, especially after the last three years, but personally I'll be fine with basketball players who can get to the rim and a team which can rely on more than blindly bombing away from distance.

Joey: The absence of Ahmed Hill cannot be understated.

Hill, who averaged 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game a season ago, was arguably the Hokies' most important player in Williams' first year in Blacksburg.

Sidelined after undergoing offseason leg surgery, Hill has been an afterthought all season, presumably headed for a redshirt. But until today, after watching a listless Hokies' team get thoroughly dominated by Saint Joe's, I failed to realize just how much the Hokies missed him.

Hill plays with an unrelenting intensity on both ends of the floor that bears a striking resemblance to the sideline demeanor of the man who recruited him to Marquette and then Virginia Tech. Like current freshman Chris Clarke, Hill's aggressive mentality gets the best of him at times, but with a full year under his belt, I expected a much improved Hill.

When Hill combines his motor with an understanding of when to pick his spots, he'll be a dangerous player. People are quick to forget that Hill finished his heralded high school career as the 3rd leading scorer in the history of Georgia high school basketball. Regardless of the competition, offensive system or the height of the rim, that's a downright impressive statement.

Combine that knack for putting the ball in the basket with his ability to lockdown the other team's best player defensively and it's no mystery as to why Hill endeared himself to his head coach so quickly.

It's probably wishful thinking to expect Hill to return this season, but if the sophomore can get back on the floor, expect the Hokies to be much improved.

Brian: Allen is the focal point of the offensive attack. This not only means he's the best player, but it also highlights the team's lack of ability to get to the basket at other positions. LeDay and Wilson have physical limitations, Hudson's notoriously up and down, and the rest of the freshmen (Clarke, Robinson and Blackshear) are still finding their games.

Because of these limitations, Buzz and company have to do their best to put lineups on the floor that can optimize their strengths. They're not good enough to play someone who's an absolute zero on one end of the floor, which is why we'll end up seeing less and less of the current big men.

The Hokies are at their best when the move the ball around quickly, get up and down and force the other team into mistakes. Hamilton and Henry are complete negatives in this sort of style. Neither has great hands or vision to make the appropriate pass to a cutter (outside of Johnny's one nice assist today), and don't have to be respected outside of five feet. And on defense, neither is the sort of shot blocking stalwart who makes his limitations acceptable.

With the lack of time Satchel Pierce has seen thus far, it looks like the coaching staff isn't comfortable with anything he brings to the table right now. Considering how quickly the rest of the team wants to move, it makes sense to see the sophomore as the odd man out. He's a little slow and robotic when his squad has the ball, but again (are you seeing a theme here?) he's not enough of a presence on the other end to warrant major playing time.

Blackshear is the best option as a lone big next to LeDay, even then he looks bogged down at times. To borrow an old Hokie football euphemism, his mind sometimes ties up his feet. But the difference between him and the rest of the pack is that his other skills (court vision, passing) are enough to make up for his deficiencies.

But with one true option as a big, the Hokies will struggle against larger teams and be forced into a choice: sacrifice everything they do offensively for someone tall enough to guard an opposing center, or go small and understand the disadvantage. If I had to guess, we'll see much more of the latter.

Joey: Seth Allen is this team's best player, and it's not close.

Sure, his shot selection is less than desirable at times, and sure, he's turnover-prone when attacking off the dribble. But instead of focusing on what Allen isn't, focus on what Allen is.

Allen is the team's only natural scorer, an alarming but honest assessment of this year's version of the Hokies. He's proven himself to be a talented passer — he led the team with 7 assists against Lamar. But more importantly, he's the Hokies' most talented and most experienced player, a combination that is rare in college basketball today.

After the Hokies' early-season win over Jacksonville State, I asked Buzz if he felt Allen, who at the time was in a serious rut, was pressing just a few games into his Virginia Tech career.

His answer — comparing Allen's feel for the game to NBA all-star Jimmy Butler's — was astonishing.

Had we been watching the same Allen, I wondered? The one who jacked up contested three-pointers, turned the ball over at an alarming rate, and often appeared frustrated with everyone from his teammates to the officials?

But after 12 games, I'm starting to realize Buzz's seemingly-outlandish comparison isn't so outlandish.

Make no mistake about it, this is Allen's team, and they'll go as far as he takes them.