Here is one of my favorite highlights from this season. Enjoy
(posted by JH)
Showing posts with label Virginia Tech Hokies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia Tech Hokies. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Tourney File: Virginia Tech
Here is the second of a periodic breakdown of teams expected to be in the NCAA Tournament
Virginia Tech
What to Like: Team basketball. The Hokies have good players; maybe even great players, but what separates this team from, say Virginia, is that there is never an instance while watching them on television that would make you say "Wow,
[insert player name]is taking a lot of bad shots". Last night against UNC, Zabian Dowdell may have scored 33 points, but he did so in 41 minutes, on fifteen shots from the floor and an impressive 17-19 from the foul line. Five Hokies took more than ten shots, which means that they're spreading the ball around the floor.
What to be Pleasantly Surprised By: Coach Seth Greenberg, who has come into a football school, and created a top notch basketball program in arguably the best basketball conference in the game
What Will Keep Them From Winning: Depth. This is not a deep team, and could hurt them in the tournament if they ever run into foul trouble on the perimeter. Compounding their depth issues, they are also very young on the bench, getting significant minutes from four sophomores and freshmen.
What We Don't Know: If their good fortune can last. Dowdell is the leader of this team, and their tourney hopes delicately are balanced on his health and strong play.
X-Factor: Sophomore A.D. Vasallo. In four games at UNC (2-10 from the floor last night), at GW (2-6 threes) at Western Michigan (1-6 from distance), at Marshall (0-4 from three point), the Hokies won only one game, and lost the others by a margin of three or fewer points. In their loss against Southern Illinois, Vasallo shot 2-6 from long range as they lost by five.
Who Do They Want to Play?: North Carolina and Kansas. Virginia Tech has proven twice that they can slow down the pace at will, and grind it out with the best of teams who rely on talent, more so than a system of sorts to win games.
Who Don't They Want to Play?: Texas A&M and Ohio State. The Aggies are showing up a lot as a team that teams do not want to face in the tournament, and it's because of their defense. Acie Law is the kind of player who can put some kind of clamps on Dowdell, who is the Hokies' catalyst on offense. Ohio State would cause tremendous matchup problems for VT, since the Buckeyes can limit penetration with Greg Oden anchoring the lane.
Prediction: Anywhere from a four to a six seed. The Hokies still have a lot of work to do (hosting BC and Clemson, travelling to Virginia), but the true challenges are games against NC State and Miami. I wouldn't fault them for losing to Virginia at the John Paul Jones Center, but they need to take care of business at home, against the bubbling Wolfpack and the bottom feeder Hurricanes.
Virginia Tech
What to Like: Team basketball. The Hokies have good players; maybe even great players, but what separates this team from, say Virginia, is that there is never an instance while watching them on television that would make you say "Wow,
[insert player name]is taking a lot of bad shots". Last night against UNC, Zabian Dowdell may have scored 33 points, but he did so in 41 minutes, on fifteen shots from the floor and an impressive 17-19 from the foul line. Five Hokies took more than ten shots, which means that they're spreading the ball around the floor.What to be Pleasantly Surprised By: Coach Seth Greenberg, who has come into a football school, and created a top notch basketball program in arguably the best basketball conference in the game
What Will Keep Them From Winning: Depth. This is not a deep team, and could hurt them in the tournament if they ever run into foul trouble on the perimeter. Compounding their depth issues, they are also very young on the bench, getting significant minutes from four sophomores and freshmen.
What We Don't Know: If their good fortune can last. Dowdell is the leader of this team, and their tourney hopes delicately are balanced on his health and strong play.
X-Factor: Sophomore A.D. Vasallo. In four games at UNC (2-10 from the floor last night), at GW (2-6 threes) at Western Michigan (1-6 from distance), at Marshall (0-4 from three point), the Hokies won only one game, and lost the others by a margin of three or fewer points. In their loss against Southern Illinois, Vasallo shot 2-6 from long range as they lost by five.
Who Do They Want to Play?: North Carolina and Kansas. Virginia Tech has proven twice that they can slow down the pace at will, and grind it out with the best of teams who rely on talent, more so than a system of sorts to win games.
Who Don't They Want to Play?: Texas A&M and Ohio State. The Aggies are showing up a lot as a team that teams do not want to face in the tournament, and it's because of their defense. Acie Law is the kind of player who can put some kind of clamps on Dowdell, who is the Hokies' catalyst on offense. Ohio State would cause tremendous matchup problems for VT, since the Buckeyes can limit penetration with Greg Oden anchoring the lane.Prediction: Anywhere from a four to a six seed. The Hokies still have a lot of work to do (hosting BC and Clemson, travelling to Virginia), but the true challenges are games against NC State and Miami. I wouldn't fault them for losing to Virginia at the John Paul Jones Center, but they need to take care of business at home, against the bubbling Wolfpack and the bottom feeder Hurricanes.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Breaking Down the ACC Action 2/10
Wake Forest (RPI 135) @ North Carolina (RPI 2)- Has the whole world gone crazy? Wake Forest a football school? They would be play in game bound in the old days. The world is off its axis with FSU, Virginia Tech, and Clemson looking like legit tourney teams. When is the real heat going to turn on Skip Prosser? His teams have been bottom feeders since the Chris Paul gravy train departed Winston-Salem.
The Heels have shown some youthful inconsistency on the road, but they are the most talented team in the country. When this team comes to play, they can’t be touched.
Matchup to watch: Kyle Visser vs. Tyler Hansborough and Brendan Wright. It’s two against one. Visser has been the only player to consistently bring it for Wake. Look for Visser to pick a few quick whistles as the onslaught begins.
Prediction: This one is over in warm ups. Heels big.
Virginia (RPI 31) @ Virginia Tech (RPI 35)- An exciting matchup with implications in the ACC race. Both teams are probably safely, but this one is huge for the Hokies. They have been leaking oil after a hot start with three straight conference losses. If this team continues, their two sub 150 RPI losses could come back to haunt them on selection Sunday.
On the other hand, UVA has caught fire after the debacle in Puerto Rico. They know who their horses are in JR Reynolds and Sean Singeltary. This teams confidence is through the roof right now after the Clemson comeback. That is a momentum boost that a team can ride deep into March.
Matchup to watch: Tywon Lawson and Wayne Ellington may be the future, but the two best backcourts in the ACC are going to be on display in Blacksburg. Singeltary/Reynolds vs. Dowdell/Gordon will be one too watch.
Prediction: VPI in a close one to end the Hoos winning streak.
NC State (RPI 105) @ Miami (RPI 171)- If the Wolfpack have any intention of making a move towards the bubble, this one is the first of many must wins. Sidney Lowe looks to have the Wolfpack in the right direction and with Atsur (What is this, his 9th year?) back healthy. They have the talent to beat anyone in the conference.
The Canes have to be ready to pack this season in. It started off on a bad note with Frank Haith’s personal tragedy and never got better. This season was over before Christmas as they picked up losses to Buffalo (RPI 221), Cleveland State (RPI 278), and Bighampton (RPI 279). Miami has been decimated by injuries and will only suit up two players over 6’3 tommorow.
Matchup to watch: NC State’s frontcourt of Brendan Costner, Gavin Grant, and Ben McCauley vs. Miami’s depleted bunch. NCSU’s trio goes 6’8, 6’9, 6’10 and combine to average 47.7 PPG and 19.8 RPG. This matchup could get ugly with some quick fouls. Miami just doesn’t have the size.
Prediction: Miami fights hard for a half at home, but they’re outmanned after the intermission. NC State picks up a road win and hangs onto its dance hopes by a thread.
-PS
The Heels have shown some youthful inconsistency on the road, but they are the most talented team in the country. When this team comes to play, they can’t be touched.
Matchup to watch: Kyle Visser vs. Tyler Hansborough and Brendan Wright. It’s two against one. Visser has been the only player to consistently bring it for Wake. Look for Visser to pick a few quick whistles as the onslaught begins.
Prediction: This one is over in warm ups. Heels big.
Virginia (RPI 31) @ Virginia Tech (RPI 35)- An exciting matchup with implications in the ACC race. Both teams are probably safely, but this one is huge for the Hokies. They have been leaking oil after a hot start with three straight conference losses. If this team continues, their two sub 150 RPI losses could come back to haunt them on selection Sunday.
On the other hand, UVA has caught fire after the debacle in Puerto Rico. They know who their horses are in JR Reynolds and Sean Singeltary. This teams confidence is through the roof right now after the Clemson comeback. That is a momentum boost that a team can ride deep into March.
Matchup to watch: Tywon Lawson and Wayne Ellington may be the future, but the two best backcourts in the ACC are going to be on display in Blacksburg. Singeltary/Reynolds vs. Dowdell/Gordon will be one too watch.
Prediction: VPI in a close one to end the Hoos winning streak.
NC State (RPI 105) @ Miami (RPI 171)- If the Wolfpack have any intention of making a move towards the bubble, this one is the first of many must wins. Sidney Lowe looks to have the Wolfpack in the right direction and with Atsur (What is this, his 9th year?) back healthy. They have the talent to beat anyone in the conference.
The Canes have to be ready to pack this season in. It started off on a bad note with Frank Haith’s personal tragedy and never got better. This season was over before Christmas as they picked up losses to Buffalo (RPI 221), Cleveland State (RPI 278), and Bighampton (RPI 279). Miami has been decimated by injuries and will only suit up two players over 6’3 tommorow.
Matchup to watch: NC State’s frontcourt of Brendan Costner, Gavin Grant, and Ben McCauley vs. Miami’s depleted bunch. NCSU’s trio goes 6’8, 6’9, 6’10 and combine to average 47.7 PPG and 19.8 RPG. This matchup could get ugly with some quick fouls. Miami just doesn’t have the size.
Prediction: Miami fights hard for a half at home, but they’re outmanned after the intermission. NC State picks up a road win and hangs onto its dance hopes by a thread.
-PS
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