Hokie Hoops Central: Virginia Tech (3-0) vs Penn State (3-0) 730pm Peacock

It's 🆙 in B'more tonight‼️🆚 Penn State🏀 CFG Bank Arena🕢 7:30 p.m. ET📺 Peacock🔗 https://t.co/Ypqs6c7UWE pic.twitter.com/WT19K6aE2c— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 15, 2024

Virginia Tech (3-0)
vs
Penn State (3-0)
730pm Peacock
CFG Bank Arena
Baltimore MD

TV | Peacock
Jason Knapp, PxP
Nik Stauskas, Analyst

RADIO | VT Sports Network
Zach Mackey, PxP
Mike Burnop, Analyst

VIDEO STREAM LIVE STATS
stats.hokiesports.com

Spread: PSU -7.5
O/U: 150.5

Neutral Site, P4 Opponent, What do they have?

This is a truth game for Coach Young. Do the Hokies have the roster to hang with a P4 opponent that is outside the top 40 for now? They will be at a neutral site in Baltimore so we also get to see how they react to not being in the confines of Cassell Coliseum.

Hokies are 3-0 but it's a tenuous one at best. They have had long scoring droughts in every game. They can't afford to do that tonight.

Penn State also comes in 3-0 but they have cruised to it. Their opponents were like most P4 teams early on. Paid lambs to the slaughter. They have faced Binghamton, UMBC, and St Francis PA. Those teams are 5-8 to start the season and only that good thanks to UMBC being 3-1 after playing their own cupcakes.

That said, Penn State has done what every coach would want to see against that competition. Their lowest output is 92 points so far and smallest margin of victory was 30 points.

It's tough to put much value in how they performed considering the competition on much other than they were consistent. They did not have scoring droughts and they scored in the paint, in the mid-range and from outside consistently. They also were above 70% from the free throw line in each game.

The biggest key to this game will be whether the Hokies can't stop the Lions from filling it up outside. Penn State comes in shooting 39.5% from the perimeter on 27 attempts per game. The other challenge is how do the Hokies post players stand up against the size inside. The big German center is very nimble inside. Puff Johnson brings height as well but will extend out to the perimeter in what is more a four guard one center lineup.

The real concerns on the perimeter though will be Zach Hicks and Ace Baldwin. This will be a return home for Baldwin, a Baltimore native, so expect him to want to ball out in front of a home crowd.

Defensively, the Hokies are going to face a Havoc style of pressure. Penn State will often extend the defense to 3/4th quarter of the floor. High pressure to create turnovers and force guards into faster decisions.

The Lions will be looking to move from turnover to transition baskets on offense quickly. D'Marco Dunn and Kern are frequently leading those transitions.

In all three games so far, Penn State has had a different leading scorer. This is a well balanced starting five so it's not a team you take away one or two shooters from and expect much relief.

Bottom line, Hokies can't go 5 or more minutes putting up bricks if they want a chance to win this one.

We love having you here Tobi 🦃🤟 pic.twitter.com/l1v69qsJDy— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 14, 2024

Hokies Starting Five
Toibu Lawal
#1 JR F 6-8 200
14.3 Pts, 8.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Mylyjael Poteat
#34 SR F 6-9 260
12.7 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 2.7 Ast

Jaden Schutt
#2 SO G 6-5 185
12.0 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 2.3 Ast

Jaydon Young
#3 SO G 6-4 205
11.0 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 3.0 Ast

Brandon Rechsteiner
#7 SO G 6-1 185
9.7 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 3.0 Ast

Key Bench Players
Tyler Johnson
#10 FR G 6-5 215
9.3 Pts, 6.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Ben Hammond
#11 FR G 5-11 170
3.3 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 1.7 Ast

Patrick Wessler
#5 SO C 7-0 245
2.7 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 0.0 Ast

Ben Burnham
#13 SR F 6-7 200
1.7 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 0.0 Ast

Nittany Lions Starting Five

Yanic Konan Niederhauser
14 JR F 6-10 215
15.0 Pts, 7.7 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Zach Hicks
24 SR F 6-7 185
14.3 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 3.0 Ast

Ace Baldwin
1 SR G 6-0 190
12.7 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 6.0 Ast

Freddie Dilione
4 SO G 6-5 195
6.7 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast

Puff Johnson
5 SR G 6-8 190
11.3 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Key Bench Players
D'Marco Dunn
2 SR G 6-4 185
12.7 Pts, 2.7 Reb, 0.3 Ast

Dominick Stewart
7 FR G 6-5 195
8.3 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 1.3 Ast

Nicholas Kern
3 SR G 6-6 190
7.3 Pts, 2.0 Reb, 2.7 Ast

Jahvin Carter
0 FR G 6-3 185
6.7 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 2.7 Ast