Hokie Hoops Central: Virginia Tech (6-8) at Stanford (9-5) 9pm ACCN

Ready to hoop in Cali 🫡🆚 Stanford🕘 9PM ET📺 ACCN🔗 https://t.co/Ypqs6c7UWE pic.twitter.com/VKQKYTPTkY— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 8, 2025

Virginia Tech (6-8)
at
Stanford (9-5)
Maples Pavilion
9pm ACCN

TV | ACCN
Dave Feldman, PxP
Ben Braun, Analyst

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

VIDEO STREAM
@HokiesMBB ESPN.com and ESPN app

LIVE STATS
stats.hokiesports.com

First Times
This will be the Hokies first time ever playing at Stanford. It will also be the first time half the players have ever been to California.

Coming off a last second win over Miami, Virginia Tech will be going up against arguably the second best player in the ACC tonight. Maxime Raynaud, the Cardinals 7'1 Center is a one man wrecking crew. He is putting up 20.9 Pts, 11.4 Reb, and 1.6 Ast per game this season.

Outside of Raynaud, the Cardinals heavily rely on their starters, especially Guards Blakes and Sellers. This is really only a six man rotation so foul trouble is an Achilles heel for Stanford.

This season Stanford is 9-5 with losses coming against Clemson, Pitt, #10 Oregon, Gulf Coast University and Cal Poly. The only P4 win is over other ACC newcomer Cal, who is 0-3 in the ACC. It's tough to judge what kind of team this is. They don't have any really quality wins. Vegas expects Stanford to win. Spread is 8.5 which is more than just a home court nod.

They are a poor rebounding team, especially on the defensive end. The shooting inside is over 50% but pretty poor perimeter shooting. No other statistical categories stand out.

As for style of play, Coach Smith uses a motion zone offense. His primary setup is a 1-3-1. Defensively, he is much the same in terms of using a variety of zones. It should be interesting to see how Mike Youngs man-to-man on both ends up against zone on both ends.

Hokies Starting Five
Toibu Lawal
1 JR F 6-8 200
12.1 Pts, 5.8 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Mylyjael Poteat
34 SR F 6-9 260
10.9 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 1.1 Ast

Jaden Schutt
2 SO G 6-5 185
8.8 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast

Tyler Johnson
10 FR G 6-5 215
5.6 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 1.1 Ast

Ben Hammond
11 FR G 5-11 170
5.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 2.2 Ast

Key Bench Players
Brandon Rechsteiner
7 SO G 6-1 185
7.2 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 3.4 Ast

Ben Burnham
13 SR F 6-7 200
6.9 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Jaydon Young
3 SO G 6-4 205
6.5 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast

Patrick Wessler
5 SO C 7-0 245
4.9 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 0.1 Ast

Rodney Brown
4 SO G 6-6 180
4.4 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 1.9 Ast

late night work at Maples 🏗️🏗️🚧 pic.twitter.com/1nVuUBOSqa— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 8, 2025

Cardinals Starting Five
Maxime Raynaud
42 SR F 7-1 235
20.9 Pts, 11.4 Reb, 1.6 Ast

Jaylen Blakes
21 SR G 6-1 208
14.6 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 5.2 Ast

Oziyah Sellers
4 JR G 6-5 185
13.8 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 0.8 Ast

Ryan Agarwal
11 SO G 6-6 190
7.1 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 2.0 Ast

Benny Gealer
5 JR G 6-1 160
6.9 Pts, 1.9 Reb, 1.7 Ast

Key Bench Player
Chisom Okpara
10 JR F 6-8 225
6.4 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 0.8 Ast