Pilchard
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With an 8-3 OOC slate behind our Deacs, WF begins ACC play (20 conference games in a row through March 9) this Saturday against the VT Hokies, and the Gobblers are previewed below:
This season -- 9-3 (1-0) #49: To date, the Hokies sit 2-3 against top 100 teams: beating #12 Iowa State and #72 Boise State, and losing to #67 S. Carolina, #11 FAU (by 34) and #10 Auburn (by 27). The blowout to Auburn is the only road game for VT so far. Saturday's game starts a run of games 6 straight WF games where the projected margin is 4 points or less; the VT game is particularly important as the Hokies are likely one of the teams WF will be battling against for an NCAAT bid (won't be easy for ACC teams to get bids after UNC, Duke and Clemson), and head to head can be deciding factor (although not always, see Clemson v. NC State last season). Like WF, VT struggled in November, but both the Deacs and Hokies are unbeaten in December. Most recently, VT shutdown American, winning 77-55 on December 21st; both teams will be rested for Saturday's tilt. Here is the analytical matchup:
VT Offense ---- WF Defense
Eff: 111 #62 ---- 101 #105
E FG% 52% #117 ---- 47% #70
3 PT% 34% #165 ---- 32% #117
2 PT% 53% #98 ---- 47% #79
TO% 16% #99 ---- 18% #149
WF Offense ---- VT Defense
Eff: 114 #32 ---- 98 #53
E FG% 56% #29 ---- 48% #115
3 PT% 37% #47 ---- 32% #112
2 PT% 55% #39 ---- 48% #123
TO% 15% #56 ---- 20% #83
Additionally, both are elite FT shooting teams (VT 79% #6; WF 78.5% #11). VT spreads its minutes (#41 in bench minutes); WF does not (#324 in bench minutes). WF is slightly taller; VT has more experience.
The roster:
Last time out VT PG Luke Pedulla sat out with a ankle/foot injury which has bothered him for a month as he has been in and out of the lineup. Expect Pedulla to start, but in his place, VT inserted frosh Brandon Reichsteiner as PG. While not intending to sidetrack the preview, feel compelled to advise that Reichsteiner's father is pro wrestler Scott Steiner a member of perhaps the greatest tag team in professional wrestling history -- the Steiner Brothers:
So look for this guy at the Joel
Against AU, the Hokies started:
6-0 Fr. Brandon Rechsteiner: 2nd in assists; 11 assists and 0 TOs against AU last time out; 31% from three; 4 star recruit
6-3 Sr. Hunter Cattoor: 14 ppg; elite three point shooter; 38% from three this season, which is the lowest of any of his 5 VT seasons; led the ACC in 3 PT% last season; will finish his career as #1 in career three pointers made for VT
6-7 Sr. Mekhi Long: Rhode Island and ODU transfer; 0 for 7 from three on the season (36% last year); yet to get to double figures in any game
6-7 Sr. Tyler Nickel: UNC transfer: 2022 4 star; buried on the UNC bench as a frosh; started the last 5 games; 35% from three; 114 O rating;
6-10 Sr. Lynn Kidd: Perhaps, the most improved player in the ACC this year; offered by WF out of HS; started at Clemson; was a minor bench piece scored in double figures 3 times in 51 games heading into the season; leads VT in scoring (17 ppg) and boards (8 rpg); 133 O rating; last time out 31 points (14 for 15 FGs); doesn't shoot threes
Bench:
6-1 Jr. Sean Pedulla: three year starter; 15 ppg in 2023; 37% career three point shooter; leads team in assists; injured this season; has been limited in recent games
6-4 So. MJ Collins: out for two games with an injury; back for last game (12 points); 21% from three; 16 for 16 from the line on the season
6-9 Sr. Robbie Beran: NW transfer - 4 year starter; leads team in blocks; offense has regressed for VT; 91 O rating; 22% from three (35% for career)
The Projection:
KP: WF 74 VT 71
Torvik: WF 72 VT 71
Both these teams should improve through the balance of the season.
WF is a youngish team that is working Reid into the lineup, and hopefully Damari is coming. VT has had injury issues with Collins and Pedulla missing games. With Kidd's break through, VT could do damage this year with a healthy Pedulla, Cattoor and Collins. Further, Nickel and Beran are still figuring things out with their new team, and should play better as the year goes on. If the total is in the low 140s and Pedulla is playing, would lean over as the offense for both teams has the edge on the opposing defense, and both teams have high ceiling offenses. That said, coaches often slow the pace in conference play; so, only a mild lean to the over. The game handicap comes down to Pedulla's status. If he is playing and 100% VT is solid everywhere, and the Hokies have an edge upfront with the suddenly unstoppable Lynn Kidd; Reid's going to need to stay out of foul trouble. If Pedulla is out or limited, WF should overwhelm the freshman PG in his first ACC road game. Would watch for the twitter updates on Gameday to get a read on Pedulla's status. Every conference game is big for the Deacs, given our three OOC losses, but this game is particularly huge for each team's NCAAT hopes. If both teams are healthy (absent Monsanto), this could be a one possession game. If Pedulla is out, WF wins.
Wonder if Ric Flair is available to keep the Steiner brothers in check...
This season -- 9-3 (1-0) #49: To date, the Hokies sit 2-3 against top 100 teams: beating #12 Iowa State and #72 Boise State, and losing to #67 S. Carolina, #11 FAU (by 34) and #10 Auburn (by 27). The blowout to Auburn is the only road game for VT so far. Saturday's game starts a run of games 6 straight WF games where the projected margin is 4 points or less; the VT game is particularly important as the Hokies are likely one of the teams WF will be battling against for an NCAAT bid (won't be easy for ACC teams to get bids after UNC, Duke and Clemson), and head to head can be deciding factor (although not always, see Clemson v. NC State last season). Like WF, VT struggled in November, but both the Deacs and Hokies are unbeaten in December. Most recently, VT shutdown American, winning 77-55 on December 21st; both teams will be rested for Saturday's tilt. Here is the analytical matchup:
VT Offense ---- WF Defense
Eff: 111 #62 ---- 101 #105
E FG% 52% #117 ---- 47% #70
3 PT% 34% #165 ---- 32% #117
2 PT% 53% #98 ---- 47% #79
TO% 16% #99 ---- 18% #149
WF Offense ---- VT Defense
Eff: 114 #32 ---- 98 #53
E FG% 56% #29 ---- 48% #115
3 PT% 37% #47 ---- 32% #112
2 PT% 55% #39 ---- 48% #123
TO% 15% #56 ---- 20% #83
Additionally, both are elite FT shooting teams (VT 79% #6; WF 78.5% #11). VT spreads its minutes (#41 in bench minutes); WF does not (#324 in bench minutes). WF is slightly taller; VT has more experience.
The roster:
Last time out VT PG Luke Pedulla sat out with a ankle/foot injury which has bothered him for a month as he has been in and out of the lineup. Expect Pedulla to start, but in his place, VT inserted frosh Brandon Reichsteiner as PG. While not intending to sidetrack the preview, feel compelled to advise that Reichsteiner's father is pro wrestler Scott Steiner a member of perhaps the greatest tag team in professional wrestling history -- the Steiner Brothers:
So look for this guy at the Joel
Against AU, the Hokies started:
6-0 Fr. Brandon Rechsteiner: 2nd in assists; 11 assists and 0 TOs against AU last time out; 31% from three; 4 star recruit
6-3 Sr. Hunter Cattoor: 14 ppg; elite three point shooter; 38% from three this season, which is the lowest of any of his 5 VT seasons; led the ACC in 3 PT% last season; will finish his career as #1 in career three pointers made for VT
6-7 Sr. Mekhi Long: Rhode Island and ODU transfer; 0 for 7 from three on the season (36% last year); yet to get to double figures in any game
6-7 Sr. Tyler Nickel: UNC transfer: 2022 4 star; buried on the UNC bench as a frosh; started the last 5 games; 35% from three; 114 O rating;
6-10 Sr. Lynn Kidd: Perhaps, the most improved player in the ACC this year; offered by WF out of HS; started at Clemson; was a minor bench piece scored in double figures 3 times in 51 games heading into the season; leads VT in scoring (17 ppg) and boards (8 rpg); 133 O rating; last time out 31 points (14 for 15 FGs); doesn't shoot threes
Bench:
6-1 Jr. Sean Pedulla: three year starter; 15 ppg in 2023; 37% career three point shooter; leads team in assists; injured this season; has been limited in recent games
6-4 So. MJ Collins: out for two games with an injury; back for last game (12 points); 21% from three; 16 for 16 from the line on the season
6-9 Sr. Robbie Beran: NW transfer - 4 year starter; leads team in blocks; offense has regressed for VT; 91 O rating; 22% from three (35% for career)
The Projection:
KP: WF 74 VT 71
Torvik: WF 72 VT 71
Both these teams should improve through the balance of the season.
WF is a youngish team that is working Reid into the lineup, and hopefully Damari is coming. VT has had injury issues with Collins and Pedulla missing games. With Kidd's break through, VT could do damage this year with a healthy Pedulla, Cattoor and Collins. Further, Nickel and Beran are still figuring things out with their new team, and should play better as the year goes on. If the total is in the low 140s and Pedulla is playing, would lean over as the offense for both teams has the edge on the opposing defense, and both teams have high ceiling offenses. That said, coaches often slow the pace in conference play; so, only a mild lean to the over. The game handicap comes down to Pedulla's status. If he is playing and 100% VT is solid everywhere, and the Hokies have an edge upfront with the suddenly unstoppable Lynn Kidd; Reid's going to need to stay out of foul trouble. If Pedulla is out or limited, WF should overwhelm the freshman PG in his first ACC road game. Would watch for the twitter updates on Gameday to get a read on Pedulla's status. Every conference game is big for the Deacs, given our three OOC losses, but this game is particularly huge for each team's NCAAT hopes. If both teams are healthy (absent Monsanto), this could be a one possession game. If Pedulla is out, WF wins.
Wonder if Ric Flair is available to keep the Steiner brothers in check...
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