Turnover-prone Hokies drop close contest to hot-shooting Wildcats, 87-93

Virginia Tech fell to No. 8 Kentucky 87-93 on Saturday afternoon.

Kentucky made a season-high 11 of 22 shots from three, an outcome which visibly surprised Kentucky coach John Calipari as he gazed at the stat sheet during his postgame press conference. Buzz Williams made it clear that even though the Wildcats performed above their average (37.1%), he wouldn't have changed anything about Tech's game plan.

"If we'd play again tomorrow, I would still play the numbers," explained Williams after the game. "That was the gamble."

Virginia Tech, in defeat, shot the best percentage from the floor in Rupp Arena during the John Calipari era. The only time a team has shot better than the Hokies 58.2% was Florida in 2014.

The Hokies' record output came via an otherwise off-night shot wise. The first half hovered around the pace Tech wants to shoot from deep (7 for 12), but Tech followed that up with only 3, three-point buckets in the second half.

Given the size differential, the Hokies kept the rebounding margin much closer than expected. Kentucky finished the game with a slim 33-30 advantage in total rebounds. The killer was offensive rebounds though.

"It takes a lot [out of us]," Hill answered when asked about giving up nine offensive boards in the second half. "It's basically what we prepped for ... when it doesn't go that way, we're just giving them points. And it's the easiest shot because they're right there for a layup."

However, what hurt Virginia Tech most of all were turnovers. Kentucky deployed a 2-2-1 trapping press to help force the turnovers. It sped the Hokies up to a pace they were visibly not comfortable with, and the Wildcat's length only enhanced their success.

"That's my old press from 10 years ago," noted Calipari after the game. "You always press the pressing team. And that makes you the aggressor. If we let Virginia Tech be the aggressor in this game, we lose."

Tech finished the contest with 19 giveaways which gave way to 36 Kentucky points. Justin Robinson had a team-high four turnovers, which he owned up to in the post-game interview.

"They're long and athletic ... they're a good defensive team," said Robinson. "Their 2-2-1 gave us fits early on. We had 19 turnovers and I led the way. It's something I got to do a better job as a teammate, getting our turnovers down."

From the press row perspective, in the thick of Rupp Arena's raucous atmosphere, the environment turned up to a level Tech was unaccustomed to this season. Yet, the Hokies didn't buckle.

"It was a good road experience. We play in the best conference in the country," noted Robinson. "It's what we see everyday, night in and night out. There's no awe in playing Kentucky."

Virginia Tech played in front of 22,690 people on Saturday afternoon. About 22,640 of them were raging Kentucky fans.

The Hokies could've gotten rattled after they started to throw the ball away early in the first half. They could've become unhinged after giving up a 9-0 run late in the first. Buzzketball could've given up after Kentucky flipped a seven-point deficit into a four-point lead in the early moments after the intermission.

But they didn't. They showed they belonged on the big stage. They played their style of basketball, against one of the most talented rosters in the country. It might not have been a 'W' in the win column on Saturday afternoon, but it most definitely was a mental victory. The Hokies learned they can compete with any team in the country on any given night.

First Half, Virginia Tech 47, Kentucky 41

18:30 — The Hokies have started well, forcing two Wildcat turnovers and scoring a fast-break layup. This place is so quiet at the moment. It's kind of shocking honestly.

17:51 — Blackshear picks up his first foul. It's crucial he stays out of that column on the stat sheet today.

16:36 — Kentucky shows some press after their first basket and flusters Nickeil Alexander-Walker into a turnover. He showed his age there.

15:39 — Tech looks confused. They've given up a 9-0 run and have forced multiple passes, leading to sloppy turnovers.

14:58 — If Chris Clarke is going to be the Hokies' center, there will be some issues. He's entirely too small to be bodying up Kentucky's much much larger players

12:57 — Kentucky has gone small, just like the Hokies. Although, their "small" is still taller than most players on this Tech team. It'll be interesting to watch how Virginia Tech attacks the Wildcats on offense.

11:44 — Tech grabbed a two-point advantage at the under-12 media timeout. Their offensive success has come from two sources: fast break layups and a specific set.

The set is as follows:

1. High ball screen from a good passer (usually Clarke or Blackshear Jr.).
2. Initial pass goes to that screener at the top of the paint.
3. Two guards cut off either side of the screen, tight, towards the basket.
4. Either the guards are open for a layup or the weak-side guard rotates to the top of the key for an open jumper.

9:59 — Virginia Tech is out-rebounding Kentucky. So... there's that.

8:48 — I'm really struggling to stay unbiased on press row. The Hokies are playing their brand of basketball and beating the No. 9 team in the country. I don't know if a victory will be the end result, but this type of showing is extremely encouraging.

6:13 — Hokies have accumulated 10 turnovers already. This is a completely different ballgame in the second half if that stat can be limited.

5:07 — Kentucky is on a 9-0 run, with all their made shots coming from deep. Virginia Tech needs to close out this half on a strong note and head into the locker room with some momentum.

2:12 — After calling timeout to quell the 9-0 Wildcats' run, Tech has gone on an 8-0 run of their own. Ahmed Hill and Blackshear Jr. both drained a three.

1:06 — Blackshear Jr. put Wenyen Gabriel in a damn washing machine for a layup. Virginia Tech is on a 15-2 run.

Halftime Thoughts

Virginia Tech fought off adversity to take a six-point halftime lead.

Kentucky shot at a 57% rate from deep. They average 35% for the season. I can only imagine the Wildcats will cool off in the second half.

"We executed our game plan well," Robinson reflected after the game. "They just had wide-open shots. I think it's just something we have to watch in film and take as a team and see what we got wrong."

Remember when I wrote Kentucky would dominate the Hokies on the glass? That's not happening. Tech is actually out-rebounding the Wildcats, with a 16-14 advantage. Kentucky isn't crashing the glass at all with the hopes of stopping the Hokies' run-and-gun style. But still, Tech is out-rebounding one of the biggest teams in the country. On the road. In Rupp Arena.

The Hokies turned the ball over 11 times which led to 21 points for the Wildcats. Take just half of that stat line and Virginia Tech is in complete control of the contest.

I didn't think I would write this, but this is Virginia Tech's game to lose. I write it cautiously, because it's Kentucky. But I haven't seen anything from Tech that tells me they're incapable of beating Calipari's squad.

Second Half, Virginia Tech 86, Kentucky 93

19:14 — Blackshear Jr. picks up two very quick fouls to start the second half. He'll sit with three fouls. Hokies will need to show they can compete without their "big" man on the floor.

16:41 — Here come the Wildcats. A couple three-point plays and an open three brings them within one point.

15:48 — Circle Blackshear Jr.'s third foul. Kentucky has gone on a 13-2 run since he sat down on the bench. Additionally, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has showed his inexperience today. Several bad turnovers from the freshman have led to some very easy baskets for the Wildcats.

14:27 — Kentucky is in the bonus. The Wildcats have only committed one foul so far this half.

11:36 — Here comes that expected rebounding deficit. Two offensive boards during the same possession allows the Wildcats to get an easy put-back dunk. Blackshear Jr. checked back in with about 13 minutes left, which was a little risky. Not sure why Williams didn't wait until the under-12 media timeout.

One more reflection from this media timeout: Tech has turned the ball over 15 times and given up 27 points off those giveaways. And yet, they're only down two.

7:45 — Under-eight media timeout and we're in about the same situation as the under-12. Virginia Tech has kept it close, using some scrappy rebounding and fast tempo to get them easy layups. Tech needs to make a run here in the next few minutes before Kentucky gets their last licks in.

5:25 — Blackshear Jr. picks up his fourth foul. Kentucky has opened up a five-point lead, after two straight lane violations by the Hokies. Tech did the same exact thing in their loss at Louisville last season.

4:43 — Kentucky hits a three to go up by 7. Feels like the dagger, but there is a lot of time left. This game has been a battle of runs. We'll see what Williams does to calm the Hokies down during this timeout.

Virginia Tech still hasn't made a three this half. To have committed seven turnovers and still only be down by single-digits is something seriously impressive.

3:54 — Last media timeout. Blackshear Jr. will have a one-and-one opportunity out of the break. Hokies really need to figure out how to get a stop on defense and make a couple shots from deep.

3:29 — Blackshear Jr. fouls out on a very strange call. I believe the officials said he cleared out the defender. That's most likely the nail in the coffin.

2:40 — Robinson hits the first three pointer for the Hokies in the second half. Really not sure how Tech is still in this game (77-82).

36.4 — Hill hit a huge three (83-85), but then the Hokies give up an easy corner three to Hamidou Diallo (83-88). Follow that up with a blocked Hokies layup and a Wildcats rebound, and Kentucky is about to close this one out at the free throw line.

33.1 — Hokies call timeout down by six. They'll need some type of miracle here to pull off the upset.

25.0 — Hill clanks his attempt from deep off the back rim and Kentucky snags the rebound. Although Tech won't walk out of here with a victory, I think they've gained a lot of respect.