Hokies Hoops Central: Clemson (16-4) at Virginia Tech (8-11) 5pm ACCN

back at it tomorrow 🆚 Clemson🤝 @ValeroEnergy pic.twitter.com/LF6iqpp9kn— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 24, 2025

Clemson (16-4)
at
Virginia Tech (8-11)
Cassell Coliseum
5pm ACCN

TV | ACCN
Anish Shroff, PxP
Michael Carter-Williams, Analyst

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

VIDEO STREAM
@HokiesMBB ESPN.com and ESPN app

LIVE STATS
stats.hokiesports.com

What team?
It seems like the most repetitive question, but what version of this Hokies team shows up tomorrow? The loss to Georgia Tech was more self-inflicted than what the Yellow Jackets brought to the floor. Missing 20+ layups and turning the ball over 14 times in the second half, mostly by throw aways just destroyed any chance at a win.

Now they face a much stronger opponent in Clemson, who are 8-1 in ACC play. Only loss was by ten to #25 Louisville. Wins are over Stanford, Cal, Wake Forest, FSU, Georgia Tech, Pitt, Syracuse and Miami. This record doesn't really tell us much. Wake Forest is their strongest victory in that group.

Unfortunately the Hokies fall right in the middle of the teams Clemson has beaten. The Hokies are facing another Guard- Forward duo similar to Wake Forest Salas and Hildreth. Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin are putting up over 30 points combined. Hunter is shooting 46% from three and as a team is shooting 39%. With the Hokies struggles to cover the perimeter, those kind of results don't bode well.

Clemson plays a big starting lineup with three Forwards on the court at most times. Hunter, Schieffelin and Zackery are averaging over 30 mpg. The play a pretty methodical style of game to keep their starters on the floor. They execute on offense exceptionally well though, scoring inside at over 50%. They are excellent free throw shooters too at 77% from the line. Rebounding is surprisingly average for such a big lineup. They employ a Gap Attack Motion Offense that looks to use a variety of pick and roll actions to get the ball inside the paint to facilitate forwards scoring or open perimeter shooters.

One area defensively that Clemson focuses on is isolating the shooter and limiting open passes. They allow much fewer assists than most of the Hokies other opponents. Opponents have however been successful scoring inside on Clemson so that bodes well for Poteat and Lawal.

Defensively, it's a pack line defense that is susceptible to corner threes and breaking at the free throw line on either drives to the rim or drop off passes to the offside forward.

I don't really see how the Hokies pull a W out of the hat in this one.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝟰 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 🎨👟We're teaming up with @CarilionClinic to raise awareness for pediatric cancer care in our region!To learn more: https://t.co/x7CxHBvHeW pic.twitter.com/2LAvg6EAB1— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 24, 2025

Hokies Starting Five
Toibu Lawal
1 JR F 6-8 200
12.5 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Mylyjael Poteat
34 SR F 6-9 260
10.4 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Jaden Schutt
2 SO G 6-5 185
8.3 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 1.7 Ast

Tyler Johnson
10 FR G 6-5 215
Orlando, FL Oak Ridge (FL)
6.3 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 1.1 Ast

Ben Hammond
11 FR G 5-11 170
Fairfax, VA Paul VI (VA)
4.8 Pts, 1.6 Reb, 2.1 Ast

Key Bench Players
Brandon Rechsteiner
7 SO G 6-1 185
Acworth, GA Etowah (GA)
7.2 Pts, 1.1 Reb, 3.3 Ast

Ben Burnham
13 SR F 6-7 200
Fort Mill, SC Carmel Christian School
7.1 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 0.8 Ast

Jaydon Young
3 SO G 6-4 205
Goldsboro, NC Greensboro Day (NC)
6.4 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 1.4 Ast

Patrick Wessler
5 SO C 7-0 245
Matthews, NC Butler (NC); Combine Academy (NC)
4.2 Pts, 2.8 Reb, 0.1 Ast

Rodney Brown
4 SO G 6-6 180 Perris, CA Rancho Christian (CA)
4.6 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.0 Ast

Tigers Starting Five
Chase Hunter
1 SR G 6-3 204
17.9 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 2.4 Ast

Ian Schieffelin
4 SR F 6-8 225
12.9 Pts, 9.9 Reb, 3.2 Ast

Jaeden Zackery
11 SR G 6-2 200
11.0 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 3.2 Ast

Viktor Lakhin
0 SR F 6-11 228
10.2 Pts, 6.1 Reb, 1.6 Ast

Chauncey Wiggins
7 JR F 6-10 205
9.0 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 0.8 Ast

Key Bench Players
Dillon Hunter
2 JR G 6-3.5 193
5.7 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 1.7 Ast

Jake Heidbreder
3 JR G 6-5 180
4.6 Pts, 1.1 Reb, 0.8 Ast

Del Jones
10 FR G 6-2 187
3.7 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.9 Ast