Categorized | 2009-10 Season, Game Recaps, Home

Niemo’s Notes | VT (6-3) 72, nc state (2-8) 52

Posted on11 February 2010. Tags: ,

Boxscore

Niemo’s Notes:

  • nc state, aka: our temple, our kryptonike, our Harlem Globetrotters, stinks.  But…
  • Coming into tonight, VT had never led in the final 37:30 of any game at nc state since joining the ACC (eliminated).
  • Coming into tonight, VT had never led by more than 6 points against nc state (we led by 22 tonight… eliminated).
  • Coming into tonight, VT had never won at fsu or nc state since joining the ACC… (nc state – eliminated – and maybe fsu, too, due to forfeit)
  • Coming into tonight, VT hadn’t won at nc state since 1917 (19 game losing streak – eliminated)
  • Coming into tonight, nc state had made at least one 3-point shot in every game since 1989 (0/13 – eliminated)
  • As much crap as we all gave Zo Hudson early in the year, I think we owe him a formal apology – I’m sorry.  Zo has now scored 17 or more points in 5 of the last 6 games.  He had a game high 23 points tonight (no one had more that 15 in the game).
  • Tech limited nc state’s star, Tracy Smith, to 12 points, 5 below his average.  But considering he had 6 points in the first 100 seconds of the second half, VT really did a good job on him, forcing others to beat them.  And the pack couldn’t hit a 3 to save their lives tonight – 0/13.
  • VT shot 54% from the floor.  Seriously?  The Hokies?  I told you their D sucked.  The Hokies hit their first 10 shots from the floor and finished at 54%, their third highest effort this year and first time in ACC play they’ve surpassed 50%.
  • Look at these numbers: Hudson 9/13 from the floor (money!), Thompson 6/8, and Allen 5/7.  Wow, that felt good to type.
  • The only bad thing tonight was Tech got dominated on the glass for the third game in a row.  nc state grabbed 18 offensive rebounds in 44 opportunities (41%).  Tech used to hold their opponents to 30% and nc state is not big inside.  Tech also lost the turnover margin for just the second time in ACC play, but just by -1 (15/14).
  • What can you say?  We played a crappy nc state team in front of “plenty of good seats still available” type of crowd and waxed them.  The Hokies jumped out to a 19-point lead early, and while it got within 7 early in the second half, VT put the game away.  That’s what 6-3 ACC teams do.
  • Oh, by the way, have I told you how bad georgia tech is on the road?  Yeah, they lost at miami, yes, miami tonight (yes, I know we lost there, too).  The jackets are now 6-31 over the last five seasons in ACC road games.
  • My worst coaches in the ACC?  #12 – Sidney “Red Coat” Lowe (nc state), #11 – Paul “Can’t Win on the Road” Hewitt (ga tech).
  • FYI: Tech was 6-3 last year in the ACC, but finished 7-9.  Don’t mean to be a downer but don’t get too comfy yet.  But VT was going into 2 road games at this point last year instead of…
  • VT plays the ACC’s #5 and #3 teams back-to-back coming up at home (where VT is 12-0).  The Hokies must win at least one of these two games (especially the wake game, who are RPI darlings).  Now things get interesting!

This post was written by:

- who has written 1106 posts on Tech Hoops.

Niemo is a member of the VT Class of '98. Attended every home basketball game during his 4 years at VT after missing the first home game. Has attended 122 straight VT football home games (every game since '94), eclipsing the 100 mark in September of '09. During the final home basketball game of his senior year, he was brought onto the court and was awarded 2 passes to the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament in Philly during a timeout. The Hokie Bird made the award on behalf of Athletic Director Jim Weaver. Niemo was known to be in the front row of every home game with his familiar red afro hairdo. Niemo currently lives in DC and speaks the Hokie gospel as often as possible. He watches over 50% of all ACC games, making him one of the most knowledgeable experts on ACC basketball.

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  • Danram

    Zo’s reverse layup underneath the basket while going at full speed on the fast break was one of the prettiest plays I’ve seen all season … anywhere. Dude had a great game tonight.

    • Niemo

      Yeah, that play was legit. I think he tweaked a hammie or cramped or something on that play but did return to the game later on.

  • Mike

    VT has four games left against teams in the top 50 RPI rankings. If VT wants to get a bid to the tournament without a run in the ACC tournament, then I believe we need to win all three games against UVA, MD, and NC State and then go two and two against the teams in the top 50. That would leave us with a 3-4 record against top 50 teams and a 24-6 record overall. Our RPI is currently too low and ACC is too weak to go 8-8 in ACC play and expect to make the tournament.

  • Hokie-ritaville

    I like what Erik Green is bringing to the table, he’s handling a lot of the laborious point guard duties; bringing the ball up, getting us into our offense and into specific set plays…I feel like it’s saving Malcolm some energy and the two of them have really gotten into a nice flow together…it also allows Zo to operate at the 3, keeping him on the wing and in the corner instead of helping handle the ball out front.

  • http://www.heyhokie.com Goodraisin

    Agreed, that play was sick. I think it was a cramp from the way he reacted… let’s hope it’s not a hammy injury though.

    How incredible was it to see VT dominate at NC State? This game was a long time coming and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. Fantastic play from Zo and Jeff Allen. I am really loving Zo these days… is there anyone else in the league who can miss so wildly on one shot then bury 3 jumpers in a row after that? I submit that there is not. He’s really turning into the scorer that Greenberg thought he would be.

  • http://www.heyhokie.com Goodraisin

    By “league” I meant “NCAA ranks”. I must be in NBA mode.

  • http://stores.ebay.com/hip-hop-heads-vinyl-crates HipHop_Hokie

    I have made my apologies to Dorenzo both privately directly to him as well as publically both here and on the ESPN boards. For the first 2+ years of his career, though, he was awful. Just a below average basketball player that had me wondering why he was even on our team. However now he is a certified superstar… a threat to go for 20+ on ANY given night, and he is now tied with Malcolm for my favorite player on this team, and both are headed towards all-time favorites the way this season is going. If Malcolm doesn’t hurry up and find his shot again (he was still only 4 of 10 from the floor last night, right at his now 40% FG% for the season), then Dorenzo may end up passing him.

    Then again, let us never forget that much of the reason that Dorenzo is excelling so well is because of all the attention Malcolm draws. That plus the fact that he is CASH MONEY IN THE BANK.

    So my main question is what in the world happened to turn Dorenzo from a passive player who couldn’t hit a jump shot to save his life, into the man, the myth, the LEGEND that we are all witnessing now? Did he go vegan? Has he taken up hot bikram yoga?? Or did he just practice harder than he ever has and find a part of his game that nobody knew was there?? I have no clue, but I honestly have never seen a switch come on like the one that Zo has hit lately. In my personal opinion, he is the most improved player in the NATION. Period.

    All that said, I am also very excited to now have all of those stupid NC State anomalies out of our record books. The 20 point beatdown we handed out last night certainly exercised a lot of VT basketball demons… now we get to poop all over the Boo Hoos from Boo Hooville as they come into the fortress that is THE CASSELL!!

  • Matt

    I agree I’ve definitely eaten my words earlier in the year saying the Zo was going to lose time to Boggs. What was I thinking?!? I love what Zo brings the game. He plays really nice defense and is very long making a mismatch against the smaller guards he’s against matched up with. Boggs, I think like Atkins may need to work on his ball handling?

    I also really think T Bell is an unsung hero this year. He grabs loose balls, plays great defense, gets a few steals, a few blocks, rebounds well for his size. Just a general hustle player. Then he’ll randomly knock down a 3.

  • Les

    His dribbling was a major deficiency when he came to Tech. He was hesitant to put the ball on the floor. Opposing teams would try to trap him.

    The only thing that surprises about Hudson is his three-point shot. If he could bring his dribbling up to the level of a 2-guard, he would have the ability to get to the basket on his own or to create space between himself and the defender. I always thought he’d excel at driving to the basket and making the mid-range jump shot because of his strength. In the past, he was a libability against traps because of this weakness.

    One has to accept that we’re not a top-tier basketball school and most of the players will need to work on something, even if it might be a core skill for the position they’ve been recruited for.

  • http://www.heyhokie.com Goodraisin

    I am also eating crow when it comes to Hudson. I had said earlier in the season that I wouldn’t be surprised if he lost minutes to Ben Boggs. My nose has been sufficiently rubbed in it as Boggs has really faded from his hot start (still has value, just not the shooter I thought/hoped he’d be). Meanwhile, Zo is tearing up the ACC, and his knuckleball shot keeps going in the basket.

    The points about Malcolm finding his shot are valid. You can tell that right now, he is primarily looking for contact when he shoots the ball inside the 3-point arc, and making the shot is an afterthought. It’s okay to look for contact when it appears you don’t have a good/open shot, but I think Delaney still needs to figure out when is a good time to look for contact and when is a good time to just put the ball in the hole. If you look for contact, the ref doesn’t call it, and then you miss the shot… well, that’s just a plain ol’ miss from the field. And the referees seem to realize that Delaney is looking for the foul first and foremost.

    • Niemo

      While Malcolm still struggles to finish when he thinks he’s contacted near the rim, his midrange jumper has been automatic of late, which is a great sign. And he’s finding layups all of a sudden and usually makes them if he doesn’t think he was fouled. When he gets his 3 back, he could go on a tear.


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2012-13 Schedule

November
11/10 Hokies 80, etsu 62
11/12 Hokies 69, rhode island 50
11/15 Hokies 95, vmi 80
11/19 Hokies 96, unc-g 87
11/23 Hokies 87, appalachian state 76
**ACC/BIG Ten Challenge**
11/27 Hokies 95, iowa 79
December
12/1 Hokies 81, #15 oklahoma state 71
12/8 wvu 68, Hokies 67
**Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic**
12/10 Hokies 70, mvsu 49
12/15 Georgia Southern 78, Hokies 73
12/22 Hokies 66, bradley 65, OT
12/23 colorado state 88, Hokies 52
**Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic**
12/29 byu 97, Hokies 71
January
1/5 maryland 94, Hokies 71
1/9 boston college 86, Hokies 75
1/12 Hokies 70, georgia tech 65
1/19 Hokies 66, wake forest 65
1/24 virginia 74, Hokies 58
1/27 clemson 77, Hokies 70
1/30 miami 73, Hokies 64
February
2/2 unc 72, Hokies 60, OT
2/7 maryland 60, Hokies 55
2/9 Georgia Tech 64, hokies 54
2/12 virginia 73, Hokies 55
2/16 nc state 90, Hokies 86
2/21 duke 88, Hokies 56
2/24 Hokies 80, fsu 70
2/27 miami 76, Hokies 58
March
3/2 Hokies 69, clemson 61
3/5 duke 85, Hokies 57
3/10 wake 90, Hokies 79
**ACC Tournament in Greensboro**
3/14 vs. nc state, 2:30 p.m.
3/15 Quarterfinals
3/16 Semifinals
3/17 Finals

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