HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: GRAMBLING STATE (6-3) AT #24 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (10-1) 4PM RSN
Hokies Kids Night in Full Effect...
Say hello to Zach and Karly who will be running our account today 😄🦃🏀 pic.twitter.com/4lRbFIIvMc— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 17, 2022
Grambling State (6-3)
vs. Virginia Tech (10-1)
December 17, 2022
Cassell Coliseum
4:00 p.m. ET
RSN
Virginia Tech Sports Network
TV Broadcast
RSN
Play-by-Play: Dean Linke
Analyst: Mike Gminski
Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Current Spread: Hokies -18
Over/Under: -135
Hokies Kidd's Night continues...
The Kidd turns 2️⃣1️⃣ 🥳🎉 @lynnkidd20 pic.twitter.com/fhRllN5kRi— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 17, 2022
Wheels on the Bus....
The Hokies (24th in AP Poll/23th in Coaches Poll) look to keep the wheels on the bus in their final non-conference game. This is only the second meeting off these two teams. The Hokies defeated the Tigers in 2015, with Justin Bibbs going off for 31 points. The point at which this game was scheduled, Grambling State looked like an easy way to keep the team in tune during the winter break. Although the Hokies are still favored by a large margin, Grambling State will not be a pushover game but still shouldn't be close.
The Tigers are coached by Donte Jackson. He began his college coaching career at Central State as an assistant coach in 2003. Grambling State is his second college head coaching job, taking over the job in 2017 after being an assistant there for a year. He has a 81-81 overall record guiding the Tigers.
The Tigers come into this contest with two P5 wins over Colorado and Vanderbilt. Their four other wins were by twenty or more points. Their three losses were Arizona State, Grand Canyon, and Incarnate Word. The Tigers are a similar defensive team to Oklahoma State so expect a physical fast-moving contest.
The Tigers are a veteran team, featuring six Senior guards and two Junior forwards. The lineup will normally be a four guard and single forward mix. This team is 13th Nationally in FG% allowed. Opponents are shooting 37% from the floor this season. Eleven players average 10 or more minutes per game although injuries and other factors play into those numbers. Several players have played in less than half the Tigers games so far. Coach Jackson is constantly subbing the guard rotation but forward Carte'Are Gordon will be on the floor nearly 30 minutes barring foul trouble.
Coach Jackson defensively uses as an aggressive mix of man-to-man and zone defense. This lineup is a smaller, faster version of the Hokies last opponent that plays defense the full length of the floor quite often. The Tigers excel at disrupting passing lanes and turning that into points. The Tigers force nearly 16 turnovers per game
Offensively, Coach Jackson uses a motion offense focused on the inside out game between Christon, Cowart and Gordon down low. Five players are averaging at least 5.7 points per game. This offense is constantly moving so the Hokies will need to switch off seamlessly to avoid quick fouls or easy buckets. They are pretty sloppy with the basketball, averaging over 14 turnovers per contest so plenty of transition basket opportunities for the Hokies. They get to the free throw line nearly 20 attempts per contest but shoot a dreadful 63% as a team.
Rank{ed} us 😃🦃📈 pic.twitter.com/NOUwHAZHoL— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 12, 2022
The Tigers Backcourt
Cam Christon (#1, SR, G, 6-6, 190) 11.7 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 1.4 Ast
Shawndarius Cowart (#10, SR, G, 6-2, 180) 10.7 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 3.3 Ast
Terrence Lewis (#24, SR, G, 6-6, 200) 9.3 Pts, 0.3 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Virshon Cotton (#00, SR, G, 6-2, 165) 6.0 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 1.7 Ast
Zahad Munford (#2, SR, G, 6-3, 170) 4.8 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Tra'michael Moton (#5, SR, G, 6-1, 170) 5.0 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Quintin Murrell (#23, SO, G, 6-4, 175) 4.2 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.5 Ast
The Tigers Frontcourt
Carte'Are Gordon (#4, JR, F, 6-9, 240) 13.8 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 1.9 Ast
Jourdan Smith (#11, JR, F, 6-7, 195) 5.7 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 0.9 Ast
What to expect from Grambling State?
Defense, defense, defense and surprisingly strong for a much smaller lineup. The pressure on the perimeter is one of the best in the nation, allowing only 27% shooting from outside.
The Tigers like a face paced contest with high energy on both sides of the ball. This will likely be a high scoring affair. The Tigers are averaging 67 points per game but have broken 80 three times.
Grambling State holds its own in the rebounding department despite its size. They have been a +/- 5 rebounds in six of nine games.
Fouls may be a major factor today. The Tigers draw an average of 17 fouls per game but get whistled for nearly 19. Criston and Gordon both struggle here averaging 2.8 and 3 fouls per game respectively. Timing of these fouls on the Tigers top two scorers could play a major role in the final score.
Adding these to our wish list!@Collins2Mj with some fire feets 🎄😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z0v7KxcLhy— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 14, 2022
The Hokies
Sean Pedulla needs to take it to the rim right at Gordon early and often. His decision making against driving guards is suspect at best and could land him on the bench early if the Hokies focus in on him. If Gordon is off the floor for significant portions of the game then the Hokies will have a banner day scoring in the paint.
The Hokies continue to protect the ball which will limit a significant portion of the Tigers offensive game plan. This game will be about patience and focus due to the holiday break game against a lesser opponent. Coach Young will make it clear that this opponent is not a pushover by showing them film of the Vanderbilt game. How the team responds will be obvious early.
The Hokies could put this game away at the free throw line if they shoot just their average so far this season. The potential of a six to eight point spread at the line should be enough to separate these two teams
Highlight of the Oklahoma State game
Pedulla Oblongata getting that dub against a high school teammate.
Reunited in Brooklyn 🦃🤝🤠@PedullaSean and @BrooksManzer were high school teammates at Edmond Memorial in Oklahoma! pic.twitter.com/YMVnhrdVAg— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 11, 2022
In Closing
The Hokies don't let the holidays effect their play, focus in, have a double-digit lead by halftime and build on that in the second half.
Scoring down low to take advantage of this much smaller opponent is the path to victory. Use the Tigers over aggressive focus on the perimeter against them.
Hokies ring in the holidays with Dub11 and win 75-58.
For those in attendance, players will be available post game for signatures as this is Hokies Kids night.
This is a Five Popcorn Decision. No reason to doubt the final outcome.
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