That's actually a very interesting question worth some research...
So I may not get to the full answer here but I'll try and come back.
Some things that jump off the top of my head though:
I'm not sure there's a common theme from a roster standpoint among the last few National Champs. Baylor was strong and athletic while shooting a ton of 3s well. Villanova was pretty similar there. Villanova was undersized though, like Miami from this season.
UConn spread the scoring, but had guys play their roles perfectly. They were very versatile in how they could match up with lots of different styles, making them hard to scout. You could figure out what they were going to do, but you couldn't prepare for how they were going to take you out of what you did well.
What I can say with certainty is most national champions are pretty elite from an efficiency standpoint on both sides of the ball.
VT is very close to elite level offensively, just need the consistency. Defensively they run a system very close to the 2019 Champs UVA, so schematically there's hope there. I'm not sure they've had the full roster they've wanted from a defensive standpoint yet so it'll be interesting to see how that translates if they stay healthy this season with a full roster.
So I guess a short answer would be they shoot lots of 3s like Baylor and Villanova, they defend schematically like UVA, they are much more versatile this year than any other year, closer to what UConn was able to do last season.
Not that they've proven they can do any of those things at the level of what those past teams did, but rather from a tendency standpoint there are some things shared.
Ultimately they'll need to create their own lane though. No one looked at FAU and said, "they do a lot of things like previous final four participants"
Thread Replies (61)
Working on the last article of the summer series about the program...
-- GCHokie34
Jul 01, 2023 at 04:01 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/01/23 04:01 PM ET
How often do coaches regret guys they sign as soon as they get on campus?
-- 1980VT
Jul 10, 2023 at 10:48 AM ET
1980VT
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07/10/23 10:48 AM ET
Exhibit A on our WBB team.**
-- goodbadugly
Jul 11, 2023 at 09:59 AM ET
goodbadugly
•
07/11/23 09:59 AM ET
What player, if they over perform vs. "normal development"....
-- vtbball80
Jul 08, 2023 at 05:15 PM ET
vtbball80
•
07/08/23 05:15 PM ET
Whoever plays the 4 spot?**
-- Femoyer Hokie
Jul 08, 2023 at 05:35 PM ET
Femoyer Hokie
•
07/08/23 05:35 PM ET
Honeymoon’s over. Sounds like you rolled over, lit up a lucky strike**
-- JackDSML
Jul 04, 2023 at 03:45 PM ET
JackDSML
•
07/04/23 03:45 PM ET
Sweet 16 Buzz Team vs MY ACC Champ team - 3 game series
-- Painterboy
Jul 04, 2023 at 03:31 PM ET
Painterboy
•
07/04/23 03:31 PM ET
Man if both squads (JRob) are healthy, that Buzz team wins by double digits**
-- JMuff114
Jul 05, 2023 at 08:23 PM ET
JMuff114
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07/05/23 08:23 PM ET
Completely agree**
-- hokieinparadise
Jul 10, 2023 at 12:10 AM ET
hokieinparadise
•
07/10/23 12:10 AM ET
If shots aren't falling that's possible
-- HokiesACC2004
Jul 08, 2023 at 02:30 PM ET
HokiesACC2004
•
07/08/23 02:30 PM ET
There's nothing really to support that claim...**
-- GCHokie34
Jul 06, 2023 at 12:28 AM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/06/23 12:28 AM ET
Lol what? One team clearly had more talent and a better coach**
-- hokieinparadise
Jul 25, 2023 at 12:32 AM ET
hokieinparadise
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07/25/23 12:32 AM ET
How quickly will the incoming players be able to adjust to CMYs system.
-- wwhokie1
Jul 03, 2023 at 11:00 AM ET
wwhokie1
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07/03/23 11:00 AM ET
I don't think that's a question I can answer...
-- GCHokie34
Jul 03, 2023 at 01:38 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/03/23 01:38 PM ET
What is VT’s ceiling?**
-- NativeBurger
Jul 02, 2023 at 10:24 PM ET
NativeBurger
•
07/02/23 10:24 PM ET
not popcorn. literally no one on house hunters likes popcorn ceilings.**
-- squarerootofone
Jul 03, 2023 at 01:26 PM ET
squarerootofone
•
07/03/23 01:26 PM ET
Mike Young does. Or maybe that's popcorn buckets?**
-- KCHokie2
Jul 03, 2023 at 09:08 PM ET
KCHokie2
•
07/03/23 09:08 PM ET
Final 4/National Championship
-- GCHokie34
Jul 03, 2023 at 12:43 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/03/23 12:43 PM ET
The ceiling is the roof - everybody knows that
-- Hokie Chief
Jul 03, 2023 at 07:42 AM ET
Hokie Chief
•
07/03/23 07:42 AM ET
During the summer, do we ever get players to attend professional camps?
-- Jbohokie63
Jul 02, 2023 at 09:03 PM ET
Jbohokie63
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07/02/23 09:03 PM ET
Much of that has given way to personal trainers...
-- GCHokie34
Jul 03, 2023 at 12:44 PM ET
GCHokie34
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07/03/23 12:44 PM ET
Thx for the follow-up **
-- Jbohokie63
Jul 03, 2023 at 03:22 PM ET
Jbohokie63
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07/03/23 03:22 PM ET
How many kids are we gonna take in the 24 class? **
-- Hokies0725
Jul 02, 2023 at 08:05 PM ET
Hokies0725
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07/02/23 08:05 PM ET
At a very high level, yes**
-- GCHokie34
Jul 03, 2023 at 12:35 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/03/23 12:35 PM ET
Interesting, what’s the Kenner League?
-- st_andrew
Jul 02, 2023 at 08:32 PM ET
st_andrew
•
07/02/23 08:32 PM ET
What are the top 2-3 things that need to improve
-- win-tech
Jul 02, 2023 at 11:46 AM ET
win-tech
•
07/02/23 11:46 AM ET
Continue molding the roster until versatility matches your play style
-- GCHokie34
Jul 03, 2023 at 01:28 PM ET
GCHokie34
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07/03/23 01:28 PM ET
Great answer. Full of info. Thanks.**
-- win-tech
Jul 03, 2023 at 05:53 PM ET
win-tech
•
07/03/23 05:53 PM ET
What player will be the biggest positive surprise to fans in 23-24?**
-- win-tech
Jul 02, 2023 at 11:47 AM ET
win-tech
•
07/02/23 11:47 AM ET
I think that depends on what each person's personal opinion is of player X
-- GCHokie34
Jul 03, 2023 at 01:47 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/03/23 01:47 PM ET
Love the part about Pedulla. Can’t wait to see him killin it this year.**
-- VTKev80
Jul 08, 2023 at 04:41 PM ET
VTKev80
•
07/08/23 04:41 PM ET
Do you think the shot clock is a positive for high school?**
-- Curious Hokie
Jul 01, 2023 at 10:46 PM ET
Curious Hokie
•
07/01/23 10:46 PM ET
Does AAU use a clock?**
-- Femoyer Hokie
Jul 02, 2023 at 11:17 AM ET
Femoyer Hokie
•
07/02/23 11:17 AM ET
Some tournaments have...most dont**
-- GCHokie34
Jul 02, 2023 at 12:37 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/02/23 12:37 PM ET
It’s still weird to me that high school and pros have quarters
-- HokieAl
Jul 02, 2023 at 09:34 AM ET
HokieAl
•
07/02/23 09:34 AM ET
Here's a bit of history on bb periods**
-- Gadfly
Jul 02, 2023 at 12:47 PM ET
Gadfly
•
07/02/23 12:47 PM ET
I call BS on "Longer halves means less [sic] stoppages during a game,
-- HokieEngineer
Jul 05, 2023 at 02:13 PM ET
HokieEngineer
•
07/05/23 02:13 PM ET
Development of returning players. Any insights?**
-- RiverViewHokie
Jul 01, 2023 at 08:03 PM ET
RiverViewHokie
•
07/01/23 08:03 PM ET
I haven't seen any of them play yet unfortunately **
-- GCHokie34
Jul 01, 2023 at 11:54 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/01/23 11:54 PM ET
Very interested in seeing the Rice/Pedulla/BRoc distribution
-- st_andrew
Jul 01, 2023 at 07:18 PM ET
st_andrew
•
07/01/23 07:18 PM ET
I think you'll see Rice and Pedulla a lot
-- GCHokie34
Jul 01, 2023 at 11:55 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/01/23 11:55 PM ET
How do you feel our inside game will compare to last year's?**
-- 949hokie
Jul 01, 2023 at 05:34 PM ET
949hokie
•
07/01/23 05:34 PM ET
It's my biggest worry for next season...
-- GCHokie34
Jul 02, 2023 at 12:01 AM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/02/23 12:01 AM ET
How would you rate CMY’s staff? Who is his #2 now?**
-- Femoyer Hokie
Jul 01, 2023 at 05:16 PM ET
Femoyer Hokie
•
07/01/23 05:16 PM ET
I'm in a wait and see pattern there
-- GCHokie34
Jul 01, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/01/23 11:59 PM ET
What was driving force on Mike’s departure?**
-- HokieDelNorte
Jul 02, 2023 at 08:47 AM ET
HokieDelNorte
•
07/02/23 08:47 AM ET
Easier to recruit, he really loves the DMV area, adds to his resume**
-- GCHokie34
Jul 02, 2023 at 09:38 AM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/02/23 09:38 AM ET
How does the style/structure of our team compare to past national champs?
-- HokieAl
Jul 01, 2023 at 04:29 PM ET
HokieAl
•
07/01/23 04:29 PM ET
That's actually a very interesting question worth some research...
◄
-- GCHokie34
Jul 01, 2023 at 04:42 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/01/23 04:42 PM ET
Project minutes and positions for the incoming additions.
-- 133182Hokie
Jul 01, 2023 at 04:13 PM ET
133182Hokie
•
07/01/23 04:13 PM ET
That'll come in the article
-- GCHokie34
Jul 01, 2023 at 04:23 PM ET
GCHokie34
•
07/01/23 04:23 PM ET
Thank you...looking forward to reading it!**
-- 133182Hokie
Jul 01, 2023 at 07:15 PM ET
133182Hokie
•
07/01/23 07:15 PM ET