S
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Something I think that’s important is that while we have a top 60* defense
We don’t have a single top 60 defender on the roster.
Somehow-someway that has to happen.
There has to be a diamond in the rough somewhere who might not be the best offensive player but can guard the other teams best player.
No more Ebuka Okorie
No more tre Donaldson
No more cálmese
No more Somerville
I have always thought the defensive game plans are good but one perimeter player always cooks us because we don’t ever have an elite defender. Even Cattoor wasn’t that guy.
I think we either spend to keep Hammond, elite defender, Johnson , Hansberry, Gurdak
Or Hammond, Schutt, Johnson, Hansberry, elite big.
Pick your poison. First lineup would be very vulnerable to pnr coverage
Second lineup would get torched on perimeter, but should force threes/ tough mid range shots with a rim protecting big.
Tech hasn’t had a rim protector in years.
Posted: 02/24/2026 at 09:42 PM ET
Thread Replies (28)
Something I think that’s important is that while we have a top 60* defense
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-- SC_Hokie
Feb 24, 2026 at 09:42 PM ET
SC_Hokie
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02/24/26 09:42 PM ET
Rim protection seems overblown, not the reason we lost to SMU, Stan, or UM**
-- GoldCoast
Feb 25, 2026 at 04:51 PM ET
GoldCoast
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02/25/26 04:51 PM ET
You can never put blame on a single reason for a loss, but it’s absolutely
-- SC_Hokie
Feb 25, 2026 at 08:07 PM ET
SC_Hokie
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02/25/26 08:07 PM ET
Understand, but we've never had a rim protector, even on our best teams...
-- GoldCoast
Feb 26, 2026 at 08:39 AM ET
GoldCoast
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02/26/26 08:39 AM ET
It adds up, though.
-- Chris Coleman
Feb 26, 2026 at 09:22 AM ET
Chris Coleman
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02/26/26 09:22 AM ET
Can Gurdak become a good shooter?
-- Squatro
Feb 26, 2026 at 12:23 PM ET
Squatro
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02/26/26 12:23 PM ET
Hard to say, I've never seen him attempt a jump shot.**
-- Chris Coleman
Feb 26, 2026 at 12:25 PM ET
Chris Coleman
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02/26/26 12:25 PM ET
Rim protection is highly important and is but mostly invisible in stats. **
-- uber hokie
Feb 25, 2026 at 07:10 PM ET
uber hokie
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02/25/26 07:10 PM ET
We bring everyone back but Pasha and Dorn. We bring in an
-- VT ChemE 1986
Feb 25, 2026 at 09:37 AM ET
VT ChemE 1986
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02/25/26 09:37 AM ET
Roy Brown was our only rim protector in decades, imo. Virginia has two
-- VT One
Feb 25, 2026 at 09:14 AM ET
VT One
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02/25/26 09:14 AM ET
…pretty certain you meant Roy Brow**
-- chumley
Feb 25, 2026 at 02:04 PM ET
chumley
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02/25/26 02:04 PM ET
Tyler Johnson is our best defender
-- hokiepro
Feb 25, 2026 at 03:32 AM ET
hokiepro
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02/25/26 03:32 AM ET
And even he is just better than average. Not a “great” defender. **
-- marcbvtgm
Feb 26, 2026 at 08:03 AM ET
marcbvtgm
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02/26/26 08:03 AM ET
best ability is availability
-- VermontDDS
Feb 25, 2026 at 09:36 AM ET
VermontDDS
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02/25/26 09:36 AM ET
i just don't love the hypothetical
-- VermontDDS
Feb 25, 2026 at 11:35 AM ET
VermontDDS
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02/25/26 11:35 AM ET
I would not be shocked if the ACC Tourney is the earliest Johnson gets back**
-- Atlee Hokie
Feb 25, 2026 at 04:54 AM ET
Atlee Hokie
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02/25/26 04:54 AM ET
Honestly, I will be shocked if we see him at all this year. I really hope
-- santafe
Feb 25, 2026 at 07:44 AM ET
santafe
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02/25/26 07:44 AM ET
Won't see him this year, IMO. ? is will he be @VT in 26-27, see R Rice?**
-- George Baylor
Feb 25, 2026 at 08:59 AM ET
George Baylor
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02/25/26 08:59 AM ET
And will he be 100% by then?**
-- EDGEMAN
Feb 25, 2026 at 07:34 AM ET
EDGEMAN
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02/25/26 07:34 AM ET
I think we do everything we can to bring back Hansberry Hammond gurdak and
-- TheHokieMan483
Feb 24, 2026 at 10:14 PM ET
TheHokieMan483
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02/24/26 10:14 PM ET
Pasha is not making big money**
-- GCHokie34
Feb 25, 2026 at 10:05 AM ET
GCHokie34
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02/25/26 10:05 AM ET
You are probably right but just curious as to how people seem to know these
-- uber hokie
Feb 25, 2026 at 07:25 PM ET
uber hokie
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02/25/26 07:25 PM ET
Do you think we cut him loose or try to keep him to see if the lightbulb
-- HokieBrazil
Feb 25, 2026 at 10:26 AM ET
HokieBrazil
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02/25/26 10:26 AM ET
Yes he tries to be sensational instead of solid and dependable.MY doesn’t
-- uber hokie
Feb 25, 2026 at 07:18 PM ET
uber hokie
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02/25/26 07:18 PM ET
I don’t think he is a great fit for CMY’s system.
-- NC Hoke
Feb 25, 2026 at 04:59 PM ET
NC Hoke
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02/25/26 04:59 PM ET
I could see them going either way...
-- GCHokie34
Feb 25, 2026 at 10:45 AM ET
GCHokie34
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02/25/26 10:45 AM ET
Then CMY and Fraser have to stay for that to happen**
-- Midwestguy
Feb 25, 2026 at 08:52 AM ET
Midwestguy
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02/25/26 08:52 AM ET
CMY will be back. Hopefully Frazier too unless something
-- NC Hoke
Feb 25, 2026 at 05:03 PM ET
NC Hoke
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02/25/26 05:03 PM ET