Hokie Hoops Central: NC State (9-7) at Virginia Tech (7-9) 7pm ESPNU

By: ltrepeter2000
HOKIE HOOPS WIZ
on January 15, 2025, 12:13 PM

NC State (9-7)
at
Virginia Tech (7-9)
Cassell Coliseum
7pm ESPNU

TV | ESPNU
Jay Alter, PxP
Randolph Childress, Analyst

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

VIDEO STREAM
@HokiesMBB ESPN.com and ESPN app

LIVE STATS
stats.hokiesports.com

WHITE OUT GAME

The Hokies held on after blowing a 21 point lead at Cal to get a 71-68 win. It showed the very highs and very lows of this team. The first half they executed perfectly. The second half they dribbled into traps, made sloppy passes, couldn't get the ball inside the paint and had several of their patented scoring droughts. It's a very frustrating group to watch.

As for their opponent, the Wolfpack come in 9-7. They are 2-3 in ACC play but it's a sporadic result similar to the Hokies. They lost by two to UNC but lost to Wake by 18. They had a seven point come back in the final two minutes against Notre Dame to win 66-65. They beat FSU by 10 but lost to UVA, as the Wahoos only ACC victory so far. They lost to the three other P4 teams they played in Texas, BYU and Purdue and beat all the buy game opponents they were expected to.

They are a very Senior team led by the guard duo of Marcus Hill and Jayden Taylor. NC State's top seven scorers are Seniors. Five of them are ACC transfers so faces we have seen before such asDontrez Styles, Ben Middlebrooks, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. This team will probably eke it's way into the NCAA but be the team no one wants to see.

They seem to always have 3 guards on the floor, but alternate the two other spots with Styles and one of either Middlebrooks/Huntley-Hatfield or both Middlebrooks/Huntley-Hatfield on with Styles or another guard on the bench. This will be interesting to see how Young matches up when the two bigs are on together.

Keatts defensively has the Wolfpack back to its extended defense, a mix of full court press and aggressive at mid-court. This is a two-edged sword. It could force the Hokies into turnovers and get them out of rhythm. It also has run the Wolfpack ragged late in games since they rely heavily on a 7 man rotation. The question will be can the Hokies weather the storm?
One area NC State has really struggled is ball screen switches leading to easy baskets by bigs underneath which could mean big games for Lawal and Poteat.

Offensively, NC State does nothing that jumps out at you as a major difference maker. They don't have great shooting statistics inside or out, they are pretty good at shooting free throws and get to the line almost 20 times a game. They attempt about 19 three-point shots but only hit 31%. They are surprisingly poor at rebounding on both ends. It's a free flowing motion offense but it hasn't really clicked this season.

Poteat will be seeing Breon Pass, who played together early in high school. Jaydon Young and Wessler will see familiar foes from high school in Styles, Keatts and Snell.

Hammond is expected back in the starting lineup but as with any injury we will see at game time.

Hopefully the Hokies decide to play both halves in this one.

Need more games like this from Jaydon Young.

Hokies Starting Five
Toibu Lawal
1 JR F 6-8 200
12.0 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 0.6 Ast

Mylyjael Poteat
34 SR F 6-9 260
11.0 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Jaden Schutt
2 SO G 6-5 185
7.7 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 1.8 Ast

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

Tyler Johnson
10 FR G 6-5 215
5.7 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 1.1 Ast

Key Bench Players

Ben Burnham
13 SR F 6-7 200
7.5 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 0.9 Ast

Brandon Rechsteiner
7 SO G 6-1 185
7.3 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 3.4 Ast

Jaydon Young
3 SO G 6-4 205
6.8 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.3 Ast

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

Rodney Brown
4 SO G 6-6 180
4.4 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 2.3 Ast

Wolfpack Starting Five
Marcus Hill
10 SR G 6-4 185
Rockford, IL Rockford Christian (IL)
13.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 2.2 Ast

Jayden Taylor
8 SR G 6-4 190
Indianapolis, IN Perry Meridian HS
12.2 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 1.6 Ast

Dontrez Styles
3 SR G 6-6 210
Kinston, NC Kinston HS 60 (2021)
9.4 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 0.4 Ast

Michael O'Connell
12 SR G 6-2 180
Mineola, NY Blair Academy
6.8 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 3.8 Ast

Ben Middlebrooks
34 SR F 6-10 225
Fort Lauderdale, FL Westminster Academy
9.1 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 1.1 Ast

Key Bench Players
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield
1 SR F 6-10 235
Clarksville, TN Scotland Campus Prep HS 23 (2021)
8.9 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 0.9 Ast

Breon Pass
4 SR G 6-0 175
Reidsville, NC Reidsville (NC)
5.1 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast

HokieClub and HokieSports are hinting at some "big" announcement for students that dropping Friday. They have a running clock up on HokieSports.com.

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