Why do we just stuggle in conference play.
61 Replies
5mo
Sure, racking up early season wins against Maryland Eastern Shore and The Little Sisters of the Poor are great, but year in, year out, we crap the bed against the ACC when the games really matter. Also, we have no clue how to win road games as well. Another key indicator of a bad team. Smoke and mirrors every season.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
And possibly one we were fortunate to win.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
1. ACC conference play is hard
2. We don’t spend what the top tier ACC teams spend
3. Therefore VT needs the planets to align to place well in the ACC
4. This year our ACC schedule was not favorable
5. We have a good enough roster but injuries have been devastating this year
6. We have to hit on our new player gambits
7. See 2 and 3
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
is there's a big drop after the 1st tier. so VT amongst others don't compete well against the 1st tier, 'usually' win against the 3rd tier, and split with the 2nd tier. and we're 5-6 in conference play because of that. I'm not sure i'd say struggle in conference play as much as it's a struggle to compete against the 1st tier
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
Our record bolstered by crappy wins. We stink against ACC and can only beat the absolute worst teams, and those must be played at home. No excuses for this team....they just stink.
(In response to this post by 6thStreetHokie)
5mo
** Edited by TboneParkerVT at 2/11/2026, 12:58:42 AM
(In response to this post by 6thStreetHokie)
5mo
Don't they know it's the end of the world
'Cause you don't love me anymore.🎶
Your post reminded me of this Skeeter Davis hit song.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
the top half of the league.
2. We can’t shoot.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
(In response to this post by NC Hoke)
5mo
Just before the UVA game, we got smacked with injuries. In fact, we beat UVA with two of our best sitting on the bench. We have not had our full roster available since that game. In fact, we’re ranked pretty high in the nation in the consequences injuries have had on our record.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
Exactly in line with the preseason polls. Well coached, talented, injury-free teams get better as the season progresses. CMY VT teams generally wane from fatique in February.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
13th in Fg%
11th in 3Fg%
12th in rebounding
About the only stat we are in the upper half is 3point % defense and turnovers.
(In response to this post by WildTurkE)
5mo
We haven’t improved at all from game 1 to game 24. We started at a higher baseline level than last teams but we haven’t seen that change. We are a much better defensive team than offensive team for the first time in the MY era. In conference play we’re borderline top 5 defensively, offensively we’re 12th.
AdjO after the Bahamas was 112, as of today it’s 114.
AdjD has stayed flat at 101 the entire season.
To compare, in 2022 AdjO went from 107 to 115 by the tournament. In 2024 we went from 108 to 115.
Those numbers account for opponent strength and location.
It’s a combination of a bunch of stuff but the primary issue is we can’t shoot.
** Edited by soflahokie at 2/10/2026, 10:43:04 AM
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
V
VTCALS72
5mo
IMHO he is still trying to put the players we have in the best position for the team to do the best. Thing is, his "system" depends on a player like NA not underperforming expectations as this slump has had him doing. We simply need more players who can execute the offense game in and game out all season long without the stinker games like Hammond had last time out.
(In response to this post by soflahokie)
5mo
rotations most of this season.
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
5mo
differs from any other teams offense. Nor can I see all that much complexity to it. Looks very redundant. Would like to know how many hours of practice have been looked to this point but should be enough to break down most of Albert’s theories by now much less a basketball offense.
** Edited by uber hokie at 2/10/2026, 1:11:40 PM
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
5mo
It looks simple because he doesn’t run set plays, that’s what makes it so hard to defend. It’s a motion offense that when it’s working best doesn’t require beating your guy 1v1. Typically we’re undersized and less athletic where that’s critical.
If the trigger man doesn’t recognize whats occurring off the ball fast enough the opportunity is lost. If an off guard is slow to maintain spacing it allows the defense to recover. If a big gets caught ball watching instead of screening the secondary action is toast. If a shooter can’t react to what the defense does fast enough it’s at best a reset and at worse a turnover.
If you’ve never played that kind of offense (like Neo) it’s incredibly hard to pick up
(In response to this post by uber hokie)
J
jpking17
5mo
NC State and Duke we never rotated anyone behind the double teams. I watch Illinois/Michigan State and the first thing right out of the gate they see a double team when driving to the basket and a guard rotates behind the double team they find him kick it out for an open look. Frustrating when you watch other teams execution and then ours.
** Edited by jpking17 at 2/11/2026, 2:21:32 PM
(In response to this post by soflahokie)
5mo
Eleven teams were deemed to be better than the Hokies, and that assessment was before you factor in the number of games lost to the Tyler and Lawal injuries.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
R
RiverVT
5mo
Portal class MY acquired and kept saying we were a top 20 team .
I pointed out everyone else competed and got their portal players too.
What's telling and has to be analyzed the inability of the staff to continue and develop, teach the players. I have not seen any great development so far this season. That's the most disappointing aspect .
(In response to this post by GalaxHokie)
5mo
3 -4 regular players from last season (should be 4) coupled with 3 transfers/recruits
Our record is FAR better but literally every school in the top 12 of ACC seems CONSIDERABLY more talented than last year
(In response to this post by RiverVT)
5mo
Hammond has developed tremendously since last season. Gurdak has done way better than anybody has expected. Lawal is a much better player than he was at VCU (but he's missed nine games). Johnson is a much better player than last year (but he's missed 11 games). Neo probably would have developed, but he's had ankle and back injuries to the point that he's had to be held out of skill development workouts so he's able to do regular practices and play in games. Bedford is shooting better at VT than he did last year at UNLV despite the increase in competition. Hansberry's 3-point percentage is up from 29% to 34% from last year at WVU to this year at VT.
Nearly everything I can see indicates that players have developed, with injuries playing key roles with Johnson, Lawal and Neo. You can point to Pasha and you'd be right, but there is a lot more positive development than not.
(In response to this post by RiverVT)
2
2hhoop3
5mo
people make are puzzling and really raise the question of how much understanding they have of what they are watching. Yes there are things that could be better but, considering everything going on and likely some things not known I think the team has developed about as I would have expected.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
COMPREHENSION is often not.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
5mo
Not a coincidence that was first ACC game and his stats in ACC are much worse
Don’t think he’s been healthy…probably was his most healthy vs NCSU the entire ACC season
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
He left the court at one point. Adrenaline kept him in it, and he played great. But as time went by, I'm guessing the pain got worse, and that changes your shooting motion of course. They've had to hold him out of all the skill development drills so he can play in games and get through regular practices.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
5mo
May have helped with expectations over the last month…
Radio silence about injuries isn’t always a good thing.
Indeed.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
That’d make it so much worse if it was the other one too
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
After Providence, he was basically coming up lame once a game for awhile. I assume it was always a reaggravation.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
S
Stech
5mo
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
Some comedy show. A guy looking like Rev Angley said, "Heeeal", as he hit the guy on the forehead. Then the head went rolling across the floor.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
C
chagerma
5mo
I would disagree with your lack of development comment. Look at Hansberry. Look at Hammond. Look at Schutt. Look at Lawal. All marketably better than last yr.
It needs to be noted that the 3 losses on last second shots (or 2 min. collapses) have hurt but in general there has been development amongst the team for sure.
(In response to this post by RiverVT)
H
HokieRat
5mo
of the players brought onto the team.
The have a great ability in evaluating lowly-regarded talent and raising their floor, which turn them into indispensable members of the team.
Aluma, Cattoor, Mutts, Hammond, Johnson
But then cant seem to raise the ceiling of highly regarded talent into becoming dominate, leaders of that same team, to take them over the hump of the top 3rd of the conference and consistent NCAA tournament team.
Bamsile, Kidd, Nickel, maybe Pasha, Avdalas is starting to look that way,
** Edited by HokieRat at 2/10/2026, 12:51:53 PM
(In response to this post by RiverVT)
5mo
Back and ankle. Young finally disclosed that yesterday. I'll have more on that later today in an Inside the Numbers article.
As far as Bamisile goes, the only person that limited Joe Bamisile is Joe Bamisile. And Young got the absolute most out of Kidd. He didn't play at Clemson, developed into a good low post threat at Tech, then his scoring, shooting percentage and FT% all dropped after he left for Miami. He very much goes into the positive development side of the spectrum, especially since he reclassified and enrolled a year early in college.
(In response to this post by HokieRat)
5mo
challenging. On one hand, maybe it eases some of the fan pressure and pressure Neo is putting on himself - if either have been an issue - and on the other hand, you wonder if discussing a nagging back injury is a detriment to Neo come draft time. I imagine a lot of thought and conversation went into what to say and when to say it.
Here's hoping we can get healthy fast!
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
Avdalas was well regarded, but also carried lot of risk. He needs another year of development to show his full potential, which is not a knock on the coaching staff.
(In response to this post by HokieRat)
5mo
Moving up from mid major to P4
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
5mo
Shame we don't get to play Pitt
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
(In response to this post by HokiesACC2004)
5mo
Even on the lower ACC teams in the conference there are talented players. There were already talented players and now they are bringing in good European players.
VT is trying their best. I am surprised Wake and Notre Dame are struggling like they are. Their fans must be frustrated as well.
Season is not over yet. Maybe VT can finish strong in March. I always enjoy the ACC tournament.
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
we had a weak non conference slate
(In response to this post by Lunchbag_Hokie)
5mo
(In response to this post by VermontDDS)
5mo
you have to look at this teams full body of work and take them for who they are verse the best version we thought of in
(In response to this post by George Baylor)