Unlike the White Stripes, we are not going to Wichita. wichita state is coming to Blacksburg for Round 2 of the Virginia Tech Invitational. It’s Brunch in Blacksburg as the Hokies host the shockers at 11 AM Sunday in the Cassell! Yep, the shockers come to town as the Hunt for 69 rolls on.
With a Hokie win, the current senior class will pick up their 88th win and post the most wins in a 4-year span in VT basketball history.
Both teams enjoyed woodshed beatings in their NIT openers on Wednesday. VT scrambled bethune-cookman 79-54 (Recap). wichita state popped the cornhuskers of nebraska by a 76-49 margin.
The big question for the Hokies will be the status of Victor Davila. He has what has been diagnosed as either a torn labrum, a rotator cuff, or a deep bruise in his right shoulder. He actually hurt it in the georgia tech game last Thursday and has logged 84 minutes of action in three games since. But he couldn’t even lift his right arm above his shoulder earlier this week. I bet he’ll play, but he’ll be battling it. It doesn’t help that this is his dominant arm. That sweet hook shot of his will be even more of a baby hook.
Erick Green also has an ankle injury from practice on Tuesday, but looked solid Wednesday. Could we be down to six scholarship guys on Sunday? We’ll see. Heck, I might be suiting up by the time we get to New York if we can win two more.
I usually talk about how Virginia Tech will have an advantage with this game being at 11 AM, which is 10 AM Central where the shockers are. But after baylor killed VT in an 11 AM game two years ago, I’ll just let that one go.
SERIES: VT 1-0 (Won 91-90 in 1965)
STARTERS:
| Position | Virginia Tech | wichita state |
| Guard | 11 Green – 6-4 | 23 Murry 6-5 |
| Guard | 23 Delaney – 6-3 | 1 Ragland 6-0 |
| Wing/Forward | 1 Bell – 6-7 | 14 Hatch 6-4 |
| Forward | 0 Allen – 6-7 | 32 Blair 6-8 |
| Forward/Center | 14 Davila – 6-8 | 31 Durley 6-8 |
Talk about a contrast – the shockers will go five deep on their bench. Tech can likely only go two deep at most.
STATS:
| Virginia Tech | wichita state | |
| PPG | 70.1 | 72.3 |
| Pts Against | 62.2 | 61.5 |
| FG % | 45% | 46% |
| 3-Pt % | 33% | 35% |
| FT % | 71% | 74% |
| Leading | ||
| Scorer | Delaney 18.4 | Durley 11.3 |
| Rebounder | Allen 9.8 | Blair 6.2 |
| Assists | Delaney 4.1 | Murry 3.4 |
| Steals | Green 1.7 | Murry 1.1 |
| Blocks | Davila 1.2 | Blair 0.9 |
When I say the shockers have a balanced attack, I mean they have a really balanced attack. They have 10 guys averaging between 4.5 and 11.3 points per game. Seven of those guys will shoot the three, so you have to defend almost their whole lineup on the perimeter except for Gabe Blair, one of their big men (he transferred from ecu). David Kyles off the bench is their best shooter — he’s hit 72 3′s at 40%. J.T. Durley is an inside-outside forward who will step out. Luckily for VT, he isn’t that aggressive and doesn’t get to the line a lot. Toure’ Murry will slash and look to get to the rim. VT may play man if the shockers are hot from deep.
The shockers are in the top 60 in the nation in offensive and defensive efficiency. They also are the 4th best defensive rebounding team in the nation, holding opponents to 26%.
Note: Malcolm Delaney needs just 8 assists to become VT’s all time leader.
BORING FACTS ABOUT wichita state:
- Colors: Black and yellow (another Wiz Khalifa fan)
- Established: 1895
- Type: Public
- Conference: Missouri Valley
- Mascot: WuShock
- Tragedy: 31 football players died in a 1970 plane crash… but they didn’t get a movie with Matthew McC.
- Baseball: Winningest team in the NCAA over the past 31 seasons – 1989 national champs and 3 time runner-up.
- Willie Jeffries became the first Division I black head coach at wsu in 1979.
- Bill Parcells played at wsu.
- Co-foundes (and brothers) of Pizza Hut went to wsu.
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