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H
Hokster OP
Feb 26, 2024 at 05:27 PM ET
ND Game Scout
I have been following ND pretty closely all season. Here is what I think: Hidalgo - She is an amazing PG and likes to drive the ball to the basket but also can shoot the three. Probably the best freshman PG in the country. Defensively she is probably the best player in the country at getting steals. Getting her into foul trouble will be crucial. She runs their team like Amoore runs our team. Citron - Also likes to drive the ball and spot up for threes but can pretty much hit a shot from anywhere. Probably the most dangerous shooter on ND's team. I am guessing our best defender will be on her. When she is on her game ND seems to win. DeWolfe - Has been clicking recently for ND. She can hit a shot from anywhere on the court as well. Can't let her get open threes. Bransford - Depends on the game. Some games she is that player that gets the tough shots to go and adds an extra scoring threat. Defensively she is good regardless if her shots are falling or not. Watson - Most likely will be guarding Kitley. She was expected to be a huge part of the team this year scoring wise, but she isn't their first or second option for scoring. She is also a player that can have a big game or hardly score. But offensively they don't really need her to be a scoring threat every game. I think her play will also be a big part of this game, especially if she is paired with Kitley. Westbeld - Can play anywhere on the court and hit shots from anywhere. Have to guard the three against her as well. I could see her being a matchup problem for us. We really don't have any players like her on our team. Marshall - Could possibly be paired with Kitley as well. Her scoring points for them is an extra bonus, but she is a good scorer around the basket and can also hit a shot from around the free throw line. Long player who poses a threat along with Watson for grabbing rebounds. I think getting Hidalgo into foul trouble is probably the most critical thing we can do. She does get frustrated easily, so that could cause her to get into foul trouble as well. Especially when she goes for steals. Amoore seems to be crafty with getting fouls on other PGs. We need her to do that against Hidalgo early. Limiting Citron and Westbeld's points is also crucial. When they start hitting shots they get hot. But I do think for us defensively Hidalgo, Citron, and Westbeld are going to be hard to stop. Hidalgo is one of those fast athletic guards that can beat defenders pretty easily. She also tends to finish shots with contact. Keeping up with her speed may be an issue for us. Getting Watson and Marshall into foul trouble will be crucial for Kitley. These are just my observations.

17 Replies

1
133921Hokie
I worry about a game plan that focuses on getting their key players in foul
trouble.
King of Hokies King of Hokies
The team will not have that as their primary focus. They will attack the ND
defensive weaknesses whatever those are. And they will try to defend with combos of man and zone if having trouble staying in front of Hidalgo. If they can get ND players in foul trouble then so be it. But no coach has that as "the plan." ND has a lot of talent and experience. They will be tough to beat at home. And we are underdogs because of that. That being said, we've been road dogs against 4 Top 20 teams in a row, and won each one.
H
Hokster OP
Yeah definitely won't be the game plan, just saying it would help us a lot
if we can get them into foul trouble early.
King of Hokies King of Hokies
I mean, doesn't that always help?
H
Hokster OP
Depends on how deep the team is that you are playing.
R
RJHokie
Agree.
The Lamers have lost 6 games. Syracuse beat them twice, and Loserville beat them too. We need to play our game and attack their weaknesses, and play good defense. We’ve played pretty well on the road. Play smart and we should win.
King of Hokies King of Hokies
I don't think we "should" win. "Should" is a horribly misused word because
it suggests you know what the outcome will be if VT plays well. But we are not favored for a reason. So, no, VT "should" not win. But VT may well win if they play very well and/or ND does not play well.
Italian Stallion Italian Stallion
Actually "should" is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as used to "indicate
a desired or expected state". Since a win by Va Tech is desired, and expected by RJ Hokie, the use of the word is acceptable and proper in that context. ** Edited by Italian Stallion at 2/27/2024, 10:02:13 AM
King of Hokies King of Hokies
That's hardly an honest representation of what Oxford says. Par for the
course. I don't have a subscription to Oxford, but here's what Oxford Learners says (nowhere is "desired" found): used to show what is right, appropriate, etc., especially when criticizing someone's actions used to say that you expect something is true or will happen used to say that something that was expected has not happened used after that when something is suggested or arranged used to express surprise about an event or a situation used after that after many adjectives that describe feelings used with I and we to give opinions that you are not certain about used for expressing strong agreement used to tell someone that something would amuse or surprise them if they saw or experienced it And here's what Merriam Webster says (also, nowhere is "desired" found) past tense of SHALL 1 —used in auxiliary function to express condition if he should leave his father, his father would die —Genesis 44:22 (Revised Standard Version) 2 —used in auxiliary function to express obligation, propriety, or expediency 'tis commanded I should do so —William Shakespeare this is as it should be —H. L. Savage you should brush your teeth after each meal 3 —used in auxiliary function to express futurity from a point of view in the past realized that she should have to do most of her farm work before sunrise —Ellen Glasgow 4 —used in auxiliary function to express what is probable or expected with an early start, they should be here by noon 5 —used in auxiliary function to express a request in a polite manner or to soften direct statement I should suggest that a guide … is the first essential —L. D. Reddick So you have to reach into the obscurity of British English to try to prove me wrong on something as simple as the word should. Nice, but lame, try.
Italian Stallion Italian Stallion
I'm glad that you are adamant about being wrong. It is so you.
I didn't copy everything as you did but please take note of # 2 below. Now say you are sorry little one. "Should" is used properly here no matter how much you want to deny it. Now carry on! should [SHo͝od] verb 1) used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions: "he should have been careful" · "I think we should trust our people more" · "you shouldn't have gone" 2) indicating a desirable or expected state: "by now students should be able to read with a large degree of independence" 3) used to give or ask advice or suggestions: "you should go back to bed" · "what should I wear?" (I should) 4)used to give advice: "I should hold out if I were you"
R
RJHokie
We shall see come Thursday evening.
King of Hokies King of Hokies
No, we shall not see whether we "should" win. You cannot see that unless
you're somehow omniscient. We are underdogs. We *should* lose. But we may well win.
L
Lumbee09
Where are you seeing the odds showing VT as underdogs? Just curious.
vthokieq vthokieq
You really must be a blast at parties.
Where are you seeing a line on this game?
R
RJHokie
Being underdogs may work in our favor.
As I said, we will know Thursday evening.
B
BEST2VT
Hidalgo is very good. I think Westbeld is there second best player and
maybe Summiel guards her. Citron also good. For the most part, if keep Hidalgo semi controlled, I think we should be fine—but it won’t be easy. We are rolling now and I’m sure they will be very ready and their place will be loud.
1
133182Hokie
Appreciate the analysis. Hope KB & staff devise a good plan.