Things I liked and didnt like from Monday...
Things I liked:
1) Ball movement - a lot has been made of the assists number (19) from Monday, and while that is a phenomenal number what's better is that regardless of whether shots were made (second half) or shots were missed (first half) the ball moved a lot more effortlessly in both halves in comparison to last season. The turnovers mostly came from being too ambitious, which isnt necessarily a bad thing early in the season.
2) Kept shooting - despite outcry from the fan base on the boards, VT didnt stop shooting the looks they were given. It would have been very easy for Hansberry to stop shooting after his first half performance, but not only did he keep shooting, he shot well enough to pull his average up to 33%. That will be huge as teams prepare for VT. If you cant give up that shot to Hansberry, then youre really in a bind (I'll try and diagram that part later) as a defense
3) Spacing and execution - these 2 could easily be two different categories, but what I want to convey is that VT got MUCH more open looks than what they got last season. Last season there were more non-threats on the floor which allows for quicker recovery from secondary defenders. When Avdalas has the ball with Lawal rolling, Hansberry popping and Schutt on the weak side it is very difficult to defend regardless of who that 5th player is on the floor. Last year, VT has some optimal lineups but they either didnt hold spacing or couldnt find those open gaps quick enough. VT did both on Monday. The only thing missing in the first half was making the shot. But from a spacing and execution standpoint, this club looks a lot closer to MYs better teams than last year's iteration.
4) Scoring depth - Each player that took the floor Monday showed flashes of being able to score on their own. Pasha seems to be behind the other newbies when it comes to knowing where to be, but you could see flashes of why he can be valuable once the light comes on for him. Christian Gurdak wasnt expected to be in the rotation this season, but at a certain point of the game he was the most relied on Hokie...that will do wonders for injury depth that will inevitably take place as the season goes along.
This scoring depth also helps the spacing and execution from above. There isn't anyone on the floor that jumps out that you can leave alone. Charleston Southern chose Hansberry as the one to leave alone. It worked out for them for about 20 min, then Hansberry started hitting what they were giving him. Some games Im sure teams will choose Johnson or Bedford as the ones to leave open, and theyll need to hit enough of the open looks to make teams think twice about it...but you HAVE to leave someone open with this group. Avdalas and Lawal getting downhill to the rim is too dangerous not to bring additional help...it has to come from somewhere. Judging on the makeup of Providence's lineup, I would bet theyll try Hansberry and hope for first half results. But he should get a lot of open looks.
Things I didnt like:
1) Gameplan execution defensively - especially away from the ball. This is to be expected to a certain extent on day 1, but either the scout was really bad on the actions Charleston So ran over and over or the players were having a difficult time adhering to the scout. They chased when they should've gone under. They went under when they should've chased. They didnt communicate switches all the time, they didnt switch when they should've. Lots to work on there. (I dont really care about all the 3s CSU hit...good for them. They were shots youd rather give up for the most part. But CSU didnt make VT pay on some actions that could be a problem later on)
2) Pace - still way too high for this team and this roster to be successful. This team is fastER than previous teams, but still not fast enough to negate what they really do best (their skill across the board in HC offense). Limiting possessions limits your opponents possessions. Fewer opportunities for your opponents means the team who is most efficient will win. High skill makes high efficiency more likely. Dont play a low efficiency game with a high efficiency roster.
3) Secondary action execution - the Hokies got anything they wanted off of primary actions in the second half. But CSU did a good job of scouting VTs main options and taking them away in the first half. If this team were further along they would simply move through the actions until their superior size/skill found a weakness in the defense. That wasnt the case Monday. If the primary action wasnt there, they looked to the sidelines for what to do next. That's also.to be expected at this stage in the season, but they have a tough one coming up. Providence will make them pay for not being efficient for a full half. They need to learn not to panic and know what comes next. It will come with time and experience, but it needs to come soon.
17 Replies
8mo
I could drive to Blacksburg, watch the game, grab dinner somewhere, and finally return home… And I live in the Richmond area!
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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Hoke
8mo
Had a great offensive half but misplayed actions on D repeatedly. Am I wrong?
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
8mo
I must misunderstand what you mean by efficiency. I typically think that efficiency means points/possession on average. However, to me that would mean that the more efficient team wants MORE possessions since the more possessions you get, the closer you will be to your average in general. This is usually how you see it in football. The less skilled team wants to keep possessions lower, since the weaker team can only stop the better team (or get lucky with turnovers) so many times.
Perhaps what you mean is efficiency in the half-court offense (as opposed to fast breaks, turn-overs, etc.)? Thus, the more efficient (but perhaps less athletic) team wants a slower pace (fewer possessions) since they are more likely to score in the X half-court possessions they get, whereas the more athletic but less efficient team scores less in half-court and relies more on fast pace, turnovers, etc.
Is that how I should understand it? Thanks in advance!
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
8mo
Let's say you are challenged to a game by your clone. You both have 1 minute to make the most layups as possible from a full court sprint. Once you make a basket you turn around and get to the other end to shoot again. Over and over until 1 min is up
Well since you are exactly as skilled as your clone you decide that all you need to do is go at a faster pace than he does. He goes first and makes 1 layup per 10 seconds, doesnt miss any...6 total.
You go next and you a sped up more than your controlled pace so you miss a few, but thats ok because your increased speed makes up for it. You make 8 layups, but you shot 15.
For the next go-around the rules are changed. Your clone goes first and you alternate turns for a minute...you cannot go until he finishes his shot.
You decide to keep your same pace. You shot a little over 50% at that pace. Your clone also keeps the same pace. Takes him 10 seconds but he makes the shot...your turn. You take 5 seconds but miss the shot. He takes another 10 seconds and makes the shot. You take 5 seconds and make it.
The game is now halfway over and hes up 2-1. Its his ball. He takes another 10 seconds...makes it. 3-1. You go even faster, 3 seconds...need to make up time. Miss it. He makes it after another 10 seconds. 4-1. You both take and make your final 2 shots as the buzzer sounds...both of your efficiencies stayed relatively the same as your previous try.
BUT because he controlled the pace to play at his optimal speed for ensuring the best shot possible, your clone won the moment you missed your first shot.
Now...let's say its you vs Lebron James. You're less skilled than him, obviously. You realize your only chance is to make this a one possession game...take the game to a complete halt. Either you make it and win or miss it and tie.
Now...let's say its Steph Curry vs Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is highly athletic and somewhat skilled. Steph is somewhat athletic and highly skilled. Curry, being the more skilled one, would want to slow the game down to where his possessions mattered more. If he went fast, even being super talented, he would still be giving Russell Westbrook a chance to win the game with every possession he created.
Hopefully that makes sense, but the gist is that slowing down helps you both offensively and defensively. It reduces your opponents chances and keeps you from taking shots without making a defense play defense for the longest amount of time. More energy, better shots, higher efficiency. Less energy for your opponents, worse shots, lower efficiency. And it is MUCH harder for them to speed you up than for you to slow them down
(In response to this post by DrMaroon)
8mo
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
8mo
as VT in game 2. Some good, some bad in their game 1. They aren't the team they will be at game 15. (as is VT).
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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vtfin91
8mo
Most ACC level teams construct a similar cadence of 4-5 tough November games (and a couple of easier), including a tough tourney (and ending w ACC-SEC challenge for VT) followed by an easy December. Is the reason just to quickly assess where you are, spend December working to improve, and then onto the conference slog? I would think that mixing the tough and easy thru Nov/Dec more evenly would give a "work on things, test it vs a bad team, work, test vs tough opponent" and repeat, but not the case.
** Edited by vtfin91 at 11/7/2025, 2:56:53 PM
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
8mo
Most people also schedule tournaments around the end of November when tv ratings are high for Thanksgiving
So thats usually why the cadence is what it is...I know some people think athletes never go to class but final exams time was some of the most stressful time for our athletes so adding travel or big games around that time will only divide their attention
(In response to this post by vtfin91)
8mo
weren't dropping, they kept the ball moving.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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HokieSA
8mo
It looked like he got more comfortable as the game went along, he tried to create a lot..2nd lowest offensive rating for the game per KenPom (Pasha lowest). I assume he'll have better nights than 1-6 from 3. Do you want him shooting that many threes and how about defensively also...?
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
8mo
I dont think more than 1 (if any) of his threes were tightly contested, so I'll live with living and dying on those shots.
Offensively Id like for him to be more assertive, especially the closer he gets to the rim. It seemed like he was chasing assists at times.
Defensively I wish he'd stop laying on ball screens and either fight to get his leg over top of the screen or trust his length to go under depending on the scout
Hes definitely a Top 20 caliber NBA Draft Pick. Hopefully he puts up the kind of production it'll take to make that dream come true
(In response to this post by HokieSA)
8mo
(In response to this post by HokieSA)
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HokieSA
8mo
Obviously the whole team did as they adjusted at halftime..but Neo looked more confident to me once he got that first 20 minutes of American college ball out of the way.
(In response to this post by UTPr0sim)
8mo
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
