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David Cunningham 

Joined: 07/02/2021 Posts: 1016
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Some thoughts from last night.


Didn't write up a long story because I wasn't in Brooklyn to get quotes and it's Thanksgiving, but

It’s interesting looking at the +/- after the game…
Murphy: -10
Aluma: -9

1. Memphis’s physicality won the game. N’Guessan played four minutes, Ojiako played four minutes, Pedulla played one. Maddox played 14, but only really because he had to. Tech's bench wasn’t physical enough, and I think that showed. I listened to Laaser and Burnop at one point and they mentioned that Young had barely gone to his bench, which I think was an indication of they just couldn't match Memphis's physicality and depth.

2. If you make YOUR shots, the shots you usually make and you want to be taking, you win the game. Sometimes you just have an off-shooting night. That's going to happen. The fact that Tech only lost by eight and still missed so many good looks is promising.

3. Glad Alleyne got to the FT line so much. Someone needs to do that. Young's preached that, and it's good to score points in a way like that which slows the game down.

4. Murphy had six turnovers… and five points. When I was in Miami, I chatted with a friend who had talked to a former college basketball coach. His one question about VT was, “can Murphy defend ACC-level players?” I don't think this is a good example because Memphis is so physical, but we'll find out more about his defensive ability down the road. Six turnovers, too, is poor, though some of them could've been foul calls. Again, there won't be many other games like this where every player on the floor seems overwhelmed by what the other team is doing and because of their size and length. However, when you don’t have an option that is somewhat experienced behind Murphy (Pedulla) or the guy that is isn’t a natural and is turnover prone (Cattoor), it won’t bode well at times. That's just the bottom line.

5. 2-12 from behind the arc in the second half is killer. Cattoor, Alleyne and Murphy were a combined 5-15. Murphy was 0-3, while Alleyne was 3-7 and Cattoor was 2-5. Guess you’ve got to make those if you want to beat a lengthy team, but when you don’t hit them, you have a tough chance. Especially if you miss layups in transition. The fact that Tech missed that many shots but still had a chance to win is, again, promising.

Playing these tough teams, even when the game doesn't turn out well, is more entertaining (and you learn more) than the scrub games at the beginning of the season. And besides a weeknight game in Cassell vs. Cornell, it's all tough games from here on out. We'll learn a lot about this team between now and the end of December.
[Post edited by David Cunningham at 11/25/2021 2:11PM]

Posted: 11/25/2021 at 1:15PM



+23

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Current Thread:
 
  
Some thoughts from last night. -- David Cunningham  11/25/2021 1:15PM
  Agree with most of your thoughts but -- NC Hoke 11/26/2021 12:27AM
  Preparing VT for March ** -- VaTechHokiesACC 11/25/2021 7:38PM
  It’s not a fluke that we shot poorly -- Squatro 11/25/2021 4:37PM
  TBH, I thought Aluma wasn't physical enough... -- Hokie Chief 11/25/2021 4:36PM
  Aluma the victim of several no-calls. ** -- OakHillHokie 11/25/2021 3:20PM
  I felt like we were always “IN” the game…. -- HightyTightyHokie 11/25/2021 2:30PM
  Always there -- crazylane 11/25/2021 5:06PM

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