date || 1/23 || time 7:00 || venue || Kassel Coliseum || video ESPN
After an enormous win over Miami, Duke will head to Blacksburg to face Mike Young’s Virginia Tech Hokies. They say he is on a seven-recreation shedding streak, however do not be fooled. A really harmful group.
Virginia Tech misplaced senior Hunter Cattoor at the begin of a shedding streak, however Young says their downside is deeper than that.
The group will carry again Cattoor, Justyn Mutts, Darius Maddox and Sean Pedulla from final yr’s squad.
Not coming again: Storm Murphy, Keeb Alib, Naheim Alleyne.
For our functions, alleyne is so inconsistent that we do not depend it. Murphy and Alma have been completely different.
Alma was a high quality huge man averaging 15.8 factors, 6.5 boards and 1.9 assists. He can shoot from virtually anyplace, averaging 53.8% for him general and 33.3% for him on 3s. This is mainly the break-even level. And he let Duke match.
Despite going simply 6-0, Murphy was a robust level guard who may lead his group and dominate the recreation. he was actually spectacular.
He was certainly changed by Sean Pedula, who held his personal.
Alma?
It grew to become troublesome to exchange him.
His nominal successor is Grant Basil, a switch from Wright State University.
Basile did effectively, however in an ideal world he would play up entrance and another person, say Aleve, would deal with the submit.
We have not seen each Hokies match, however Basile has had some nice matches. He opened with 30 factors in the season opener towards Delaware State. He had 23 towards Dayton and 26 towards Syracuse.
But you possibly can discover patterns. With the exception of Syracuse, he does not fare so effectively when he performs towards high quality huge males, so when the Hokies play towards his UNC and Armando Bako, he has his 12 factors and his 4 rebounds. was recorded. He scored 17 factors in first and 13 in second once they performed towards Clemson.
His stats additionally drop when Virginia Tech faces an excellent defensive group. So Wake Forest held him to 9, North Carolina held him to his 4, and Virginia held him to 12.
Basil is not the only one:5, of course. He clearly cannot get rather a lot achieved if his teammates cannot get him the ball. Still, he cannot do what Alev can.
Pedulla stepped in at that time and did a strong job general. Aside from main Va. Tech with 15.9 scoring, he is averaging 4.2 apg and impressively he is almost 4 rpg at 6-1 guard.
Mutts is sort of a Swiss Army knife of actual worth. he can do rather a lot But usually talking, he is somebody you wish to encompass your self with who can carry heavy issues. He’s a really invaluable individual, however he is not what you must lead a group.
Cattoor is a really sensible participant and really environment friendly. He does not spend a lot time wanting round. He both begins shifting or removes the ball and continues shifting. And he can shoot. Seeing how shut most up-to-date losses have been, you possibly can think about he would have made an enormous distinction (he is solely come again in his two video games).
Darius Maddox was dazzling in the spot final season. I assumed he was prepared for an enormous enchancment. Although he is scored virtually two minutes, his measurable outcomes have improved barely.
Freshman Michael Collins is firmly in the rotation, however not statistically making a huge impact (of course, you possibly can’t measure the whole lot statistically).
Lynn Kidd, a 6-10 Jr. on 6-10, had his second, however clearly he is not the reply. If so, he would have gained extra minutes (he’s presently drawing 13.7).
And lastly, freshman Rodney Rice was imagined to be an element, however he missed all however one recreation and was injured again.
There’s much more to Young stated about the points his group faces. Widely considered a very good offensive coach, Young’s group positioned him eighth general in his ACC in offensive scoring this yr (Duke is his ninth, by the method). Virginia Tech ranks him seventh in free throw share (Duke is his 2nd). And given Young’s 3-pointer his completely happy offense, the Hokies are anticipated to shoot effectively, however they’re his ninth. Duke is twelfth, however 2nd in three-level protection.
There’s an enormous hole in rebounding – Duke will get 13.84 offensive boards per recreation. This is a primary in the convention, and these groups are mainly defensively his rebounding low, with the Hokies at 26.63 and the Blue Devils at 26.16.
Duke’s inside power can be an enormous problem for Virginia Tech. As we have now seen, the guard performed effectively in Roach’s absence. Tyrese Proctor has come a good distance and Dariq Whitehead has proven an excellent flash, however has but to place collectively a dominant recreation. But he wants consideration and at the least makes life simpler for others.The inside of Virginia Tech’s protection is a bit questionable, so this recreation can also be a chance for his Ryan Young and Derrick Lively.
So many issues on this recreation may very well be higher suited to Blue Devils. Still, it is not sure.
why?
Well, for some cause.
First, regardless of their struggles, Virginia Tech has strong expertise and expertise. And at this level, nobody doubts that Mike Young is a high quality coach. Cassell Coliseum can also be dwelling to his court docket benefit, as elsewhere in the ACC, particularly for giant video games.
And as we have seen this season, the youth can take on Duke. The Blue Devils may have gained at Clemson had they closed the recreation effectively, and whereas they have been nonetheless successful, they failed to attain a basket in the remaining 5 minutes towards Miami.
Duke lastly introduced Jeremy Roach again to Miami. The Blue Devils scored no objectives in his remaining 5 video games, however Roach took Nigel his puck along with his 13 seconds remaining.
Playing in a loud and noisy place like Kassel isn’t any simple job for an skilled group. It could be an enormous breakthrough for a younger group like Duke’s Victory.
