The Setup

The Hokies return home for the first time in over three weeks and look to snap a three game losing streak against the unc-asheville… hmm… what could their nickname be? bulldogs! That’s it! Didn’t even have to look it up [uh huh].

On paper, this should be an easy game for the Hokies. But this year there are no easy games for the Hokies. They have to show up every game until they find some consistency. The dawgs are 6-1 on the year, but three of those wins have been against non-Division-I teams. Yes, there’s over 300 Division I teams, but they decided to play three non-D-I teams. That’s a sign. However, this is a pretty good team and they have a giant on their team (7’6″ kenny george), so VT can’t win this by name. Don’t be surprised if this game is very close.

The Opponent

Mildly Interesting Facts:

• Location: (you guessed it!) Asheville, NC
• Conference: Big South (same as vmi, liberty, radford)
• 2006-07 Record: 12-19, 6-8 in bs play
• unc-a is part of the 16 school unc system (I think I can name half)
• enrollment: 3500
• 59% chicks!

Ok, I’ll admit I know nothing about unc-a’ville or their team. But here’s what I discovered: they have a guy, #22 kenny george, that is averaging 6.5 blocks per game. 6.5!!! At first I thought it was a typo, but sure enough, he does. kenny has reached double-digit blocks in two games and eight in another. In fact, he got the dawgs first triple-double ever earlier this year when he had 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks against campbell. Needless to say, george was the big south player of the week that week.

So, how tall is he, I’m sure you are wondering. Seven foot six inches. 7’6″!!! Think Gheorghe Muresan here (we miss you and your wonderful SportsCenter dancing/pinata commercials, Gheorghe!). All I can say is, “Keep it in the circus!” However, he didn’t play in unc-a’s last game and their web site doesn’t give any reason, so he may be out.

Enough about that dude though [*cough* behemoth *cough*]. unc-a’s best player is senior guard #2 k.j. garland. He runs the team and averages almost 18 points and 7 assists.

This team does not shoot a ton of three’s, which is good for VT since they don’t defend it very well. But the dawgs do shoot 43% from behind the arc and over 53% from the field. The Hokies will have to play better defense then they have the last few games to keep unc-a from getting open looks.

Keys to the Game

• Dish: There’s a monster in the lane. Make the extra pass when you penetrate. If you don’t, your shot will be blocked (if #22 george plays). If all else fails, maybe Tech could put Thorns up on Allen’s shoulders and see if that works. (Please someone get a picture of 5’9″ Thorns next to this george dude)
• Guard D: Thorns and Delaney, so far, have been playing defense with their hands instead of their feet. This leads to reaching fouls, instead of turnovers like Gordon and Dowdell used to create.
• All D: The team, as a whole, is not playing good defense. The guys are young and just haven’t adopted Greenberg’s tough defensive philosophy yet. Nothing seems to work. In man, the guards let the other team penetrate and dish for open looks too easily and the other players don’t help out and pick up the open man. In the 1-3-1 zone, Tech has a 5’9″ guy standing under the hoop and when he runs out to help, the shooter can shoot right over him (Deron is at the top of the zone, which is actually a good idea).
• Deron: Deron just doesn’t seem to be the type of guy that can carry a team like Dowdell did last year, especially on the offensive end. He did draw FOUR charges in the last game, but Tech needs more O from Deron. If Deron can’t step up, someone else has to and it hasn’t been A.D.
• Feed the Ball to Allen: VT under Greenberg has never looked to feed the ball inside. That may be due to the fact the Hokies haven’t had a low post player that had low post moves (even Collins liked to face the basket rather than have his back to it). Allen has moves. Feed him the ball. He could resolve the last bullet.

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