BY HALF 

Let’s break down the Hokies’ points in their 4 ACC games in several ways, first by half:

This clearly shows what a better team VT is offensively in the 2nd half.  And this number is not skewed by late free throws, which can boost your points, since Tech has been playing from behind in the 2nd half of three of the four games. 

Now let’s look at this same table for the opponents instead:

As you can see, Tech’s opponents’ points go well down in the second half, while VT’s go way up.  Not surprisingly, VT has been playing from behind in the second half of all four of their games.

Why the raise in VT points?  I broke down points in the maryland game, and VT had 19 fast break/transition points in the 2nd half, compared to just 2 in the first half.  As a result, they scored 40 second half points compared to just 27 in the first half.  I’m confident you would see similar numbers in the wake and ga tech games.  VT needs to run more, and they seem to do this better in the 2nd half when they are forced to push the tempo more due to their deficits.

BY BASKET TYPE

Next let’s look at Tech’s points by type of bucket (2-point field goals, 3-pointers, and free throws) in ACC games:

An interesting stat here is that the Hokies have made more threes and fewer free throws in their wins than their losses.  However, after four games, that isn’t much of a sample size.  Normally free throws go up in wins, but that’s assuming you are playing with the lead, which VT has not been.

Here’s the same table for the opponents:

This comparison shows that VT is getting to the line much more than their opponents.  But it is three-point shooting that has killed the Hokies.  In Tech’s two losses, they have given up 8.5 threes while just 5.5 in their wins.  But to me the next category is much more telling.

SHOOTING PERCENTAGES

Now let’s look at VT’s overall shooting percentage by shot type overall and in wins (ACC Games Only):

It is interesting that Tech’s percentages are actually worse in every category but threes in their two ACC wins.  What’s that tell you?  That Tech’s defense must have been better in their wins.  So let’s look at this same table but for the opponents:

So as I suspected, the opponent’s shooting percentages go down in VT’s wins (except for FTs).  This proves that as the Hokies defense is better, they are better.   Tech certainly is a defensive-oriented team, and want to win games in the 60′s.  Both their wins were in games that were in the 60s (in regulation, at least).  Both their losses were in games that got in to the 70s or more.  Tech simply can’t keep up with teams when they are scoring easily.  

TURNOVERS

Finally, VT’s turnovers go way up in their losses (23 per game in losses compared to 15.5 in their wins).  The opponents’ turnovers have held pretty steady, except for the wake game where VT lost the turnover battle 22-11.