  Statistically, Hokies One of the ACC's Better Teams by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, December 23, 2011 Virginia Tech is done with 13 of their 15 non-conference basketball games, and they have a 10-3 record. They are one of just four ACC teams with 10 wins right now, and the combined record of the three teams the Hokies lost to is 33-2. The Hokies are playing solid basketball in plenty of ways, and are probably a little better overall than most people expected them to be. A quick run through the ACC stats page, as well as the RPI and SOS numbers on StatSheet.com, show where Tech stacks up to the rest of the league. Keep in mind that the ranking average takes into account how each team ranks in the league in 10 statistical categories, such as scoring offense, field goal percentage, assists to turnover ratio, etc.
Virginia Tech is third in the ACC in average ranking against the sixth toughest schedule any ACC team has played. Tech is first in the ACC in three point percentage defense, second in free throw shooting, while their lowest ranks are rebounding margin (7th) and turnover margin (7th). Do the Hokies need to continue to get better? Of course. They need to get better on the boards, they need to stop the ball from getting into the paint so much, and they'll have to keep shooting the ball well. However, they'll have plenty of opportunities for wins, because right now the numbers indicate that Virginia Tech is one of the top six teams in the ACC, as usual, and perhaps even better than that. I think the Hokies have three big things going for them right now: 1) Depth. The Hokies use a nine-man playing rotation, and everyone they put on the court is a solid contributor. There are no empty uniforms. 2) Shooting. This Virginia Tech team, through 13 games, has flashed the ability to knock down the open jumper.  3) Passing. Overall, this is probably the best passing team at Virginia Tech in the Seth Greenberg era. And it's not just backup point guard Marquis Rankin. Jarell Eddie, Robert Brown, Cadarian Raines, C.J. Barksdale, Dorian Finney-Smith and Erick Green have really stood out to me in that area as well. That's just about everybody on the team.In short, this is a good looking basketball team. The 2011 recruiting class, which was arguably the best in school history, actually looks slightly better than expected so far (knock on wood). They can shoot, they can pass, and they are playing well together. As they get into conference play, they'll have to beat some top 50 teams. We've already been over that. However, they are just as likely be harmed in their conference schedule as they are to be helped by it. If you scroll back up and look at the table, you'll notice that two ACC teams (Clemson and Boston College) are ranked outside college basketball red line: #200 in the RPI. Clemson is #228, while BC is #257. If you rank outside the top 200 at this point in the season, then you are a bad, bad basketball team. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they have to face Clemson and Boston College a grand total of four times this season. That's four times Tech's strength of schedule will get drug down by a lowly ranked team. If Tech manages to be upset by either team, then it will be even worse. Fortunately the Hokies only play Georgia Tech (#143) once. Come March, it looks like we might find ourselves in a familiar situation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Showing posts with label Tech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tech. Show all posts
Friday, December 23, 2011
Statistically, Hokies One of the ACC's Better Teams
Friday, December 16, 2011
Poor Showings in Neutral Site Games Keep some (VA) Tech Fans Home
  Poor Showings in Neutral Site Games Keep some Tech Fans Home by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, December 16, 2011 There are many reasons why a lot of Virginia Tech fans aren't making the trip to the Sugar Bowl on January 3. We went over almost all of them earlier in the week, but one we didn't focus on very much is the fact that Virginia Tech doesn't do very well in neutral site games. Since the ACC era began, Virginia Tech is 6-10 in neutral site games.
That record doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Three of the wins came against Boston College and Cincinnati in the state of Florida in empty stadiums with no atmosphere against teams with much less talent than the Hokies. The win over Louisville in the Gator Bowl is overshadowed by the ejection of Jimmy Williams and the Marcus Vick stomping incident. The Chick-fil-A Bowl win over Tennessee was gratifying, but the reality is that the Vols went 7-6 that year. Of those six wins, only the ACC Championship Game against Florida State is a game that Tech fans will remember over the long haul. Tech went head-to-head against a solid team, dominated the game, and won the ACC Championship. Unfortunately, there was a stretch between the end of the 2005 season and the beginning of the 2008 season that began to usher in a change in Tech's traveling fanbase. The 2005 season ended with an ACC Championship Game against an unranked Florida State team that was reeling. The Noles had lost three in a row, while the Hokies were 10-1. FSU blew the Hokies off the field, although the final score was close. Sugar Bowl Tickets   In the next neutral site game, the Gator Bowl, Marcus Vick embarrassed the Hokie Nation as Tech beat Louisville and their backup quarterback (Brian Brohm was out with an injury). Fast forward to the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the end of the 2006 season, and the Hokies blew a 21-3 halftime lead and lost to Georgia 31-24. At the end of 2007, Tech avenged a regular season loss to Boston College by beating the Eagles 30-16 in the ACC Championship Game. However, the Hokies went on to get upset by a Kansas team that was inferior in talent in the Orange Bowl. Then, to start the 2008 season, Tech got upset by unranked East Carolina in Charlotte. After that stretch, I think we've seen Tech's traveling fanbase steadily decline. Hokie fans have historically spent a lot of money to follow their team around the country, but in that stretch Tech went 0-3 against unranked teams. They lost some games they had no business losing, and Tech fans got tired of spending their money to travel and see their team perform poorly. In many ways, I think it's as simple as that. Nobody really expected the Hokies to beat USC, Auburn or Alabama. Those losses aren't the reason Tech fans stopped traveling as much. It's the Kansas loss (not showing up to play), the Georgia loss (allowing a huge comeback), the ECU loss (losing to an unranked team) and the Boise State loss (spotting the opponent 17-0). In all of those games, Virginia Tech lost moreso than the opponent won. There's also the "what have you done for me lately?" argument. Tech is only 1-3 in their last four neutral site games. You've got the disappointing loss to Boise State to open the 2010 season, and two shellackings at the hands of Stanford and Clemson, with an ACC Championship Game win over Florida State in between. That doesn't inspire Tech fans to spend $2,000 on a trip to New Orleans during the middle of a work week. Looking for something positive? Consider the fact that while the Hokies are just 6-10 in neutral site games, they are 5-0 in neutral site games against opponents ranked #11-20. That's exactly where Michigan sits. Unfortunately, Tech is 1-10 against everybody else.  Right now, I think the ACC is a four-bid league. It has the potential to change to a three-bid league or a five-bid league, depending on what certain teams do. Hoping for more than five teams is wishful thinking, and in all likelihood four is the highest number of teams the league will get into the NCAA Tournament this year. There just won't be enough quality, top 50 wins available in conference play. For example, Virginia Tech is scheduled to play the following top 50 teams: Norfolk State (#36, and unlikely to stay in the top 50), FSU (#21), UNC (#30), Duke (#2), at FSU (#21) and at Duke (#2). Throwing out Norfolk State, that's just five top 50 opponents remaining on the schedule, and with such a young team, wins over Duke and UNC are very unlikely. Perhaps a team like UVA or NC State can creep into the top 50, but that remains to be seen. The Hokies really needed to hold on and win that road game at #28 Minnesota. In the eyes of the NCAA Tournament Selection committee, Tech isn't going to have any quality non-conference wins ? as usual. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Friday, December 2, 2011
Injuries Creating Future Depth for Tech Defense
Injuries Creating Future Depth for Tech Defense
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, December 2, 2011
The postseason All-ACC teams were announced on Monday. It was quite different from the preseason list that came out in late July. Many players whom the media expected to have big seasons didn't turn in the performances that were projected.
On the offensive side of the ball, only two players who were first team on the preseason list made first team on the postseason list.
2011 All-ACC Teams, Offense
Pos. Preseason Postseason
WR Conner Vernon (Duke Sammy Watkins (Clemson)
WR Dwight Jones (UNC) Chris Givens (Wake)
TE George Bryan (NC State) Dwayne Allen (Clemson)
OT Blake DeChristopher (VT) Blake DeChristopher (VT)
OT Andrew Datko (FSU) Zebrie Sanders (FSU)
OG Brandon Washington (Miami) Austin Pasztor (UVA)
OG Omoregie Uzzi (GT) Omoregie Uzzi (GT)
C Tyler Horn (Miami) Dalton Freeman (Clemson)
QB E.J. Manuel (FSU) Tajh Boyd (Clemson)
RB Montel Harris (BC) David Wilson (VT)
RB Andre Ellington (Clemson) Giovani Bernard (UNC)
Blake DeChristopher and Omoregie Uzzi were the two offensive players to stay on the list. It's not a coincidence that they are both offensive linemen, where the media members are more inclined to just go with their preseason picks because the O-line is difficult to watch and evaluate.
Conner Vernon and Dwight Jones both had very good seasons, but true freshman Sammy Watkins exploded on the scene and Wake's Chris Givens came out of nowhere to put up huge numbers. There were several deserving receivers in the ACC, but it's hard to argue with the postseason selection of Watkins and Givens.
In the backfield, E.J. Manuel, Montel Harris and Andre Ellington were the preseason picks. None of those guys made it. In fact, Harris and Manuel didn't even managed to make second team All-ACC. Instead, it was Tajh Boyd, ACC Player of the Year David Wilson, and UNC r-freshman tailback Giovani Bernard. With Watkins and Bernard, there were two freshmen on the preseason first team All-ACC offense.
On the defensive side of the ball four players who were on the list in the preseason were also included on the postseason list.
2011 All-ACC Teams, Defense
Pos. Preseason Postseason
DE Brandon Jenkins (FSU) Andre Branch (Clemson)
DE Quinton Coples (UNC) Quinton Coples (UNC)
DT Tydreke Powell (UNC) Joe Vellano (Maryland)
DT Brandon Thompson (Clemson) Matt Conrath (UVA)
LB Luke Kuechly (BC) Luke Kuechly (BC)
LB Sean Spence (Miami) Sean Spence (Miami)
LB Kenny Tate (Maryland) Zach Brown (UNC)
CB Chase Minnifeld (UVA) Chase Minnifield (UVA)
CB Jayron Hosley (VT) David Amerson (NC State)
S Ray-Ray Armstrong (Miami) Matt Daniels (Duke)
S Eddie Whitley (VT) Josh Bush (Wake)
UNC defensive end Quinton Coples was an easy pick. He's an All-American caliber player, and most likely a top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Tydreke Powell and Brandon Thompson were good picks in the preseason, though they haven't been as statistically dominant as expected.
Luke Kuechly, the league's defensive player of the year, was also an easy pick. Miami linebacker Sean Spence and UVA cornerback Chase Minnifield were also on the list at the beginning and the end of the season.
In the secondary, VT cornerback Jayron Hosley didn't come close to matching his 2010 numbers, when he led the nation with nine interceptions. Miami safety Ray-Ray Armstrong was on the preseason team, but if you watched him play any this season, he was often seen trying to catch up with wide receivers after they burned him deep. Exhibit A.
There were also players who had very good seasons who were not included on the first team, second team, or the honorable mention list. From the Virginia Tech perspective, Danny Coale, Jarrett Boykin and Derrick Hopkins all should have gained some sort of recognition, but they didn't. Fans of other teams also have their owns lists of their own players who they believe should have been included.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Hokie Playmakers Could be the Difference Saturday
Hokie Playmakers Could be the Difference Saturday by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, November 25, 2011
Virginia Tech has defeated UVA for seven years in a row, and they've been statistically dominant in every single game. Only one contest in that span has been decided by single digits, and the Hoos haven't gained 300 yards of total offense against the Hokies since their last victory against Tech in 2003.
When you look at the total yardage in each game, and you see what an advantage the Hokies have had, it's easy to see why Tech has won seven in a row against their in-state rivals. VT vs. UVA
Year Margin VT Rush VT Pass VT Total UVA Rush UVA Pass UVA Total
2004 14 147 200 347 188 111 299
2005 38 333 170 503 114 140 254
2006 17 156 146 302 46 66 112
2007 12 131 299 430 97 144 241
2008 3 216 176 392 172 77 249
2009 29 298 185 483 175 120 295
2010 30 201 182 383 70 221 291
Average 20.43 211.71 194.00 405.71 123.14 125.57 248.71
The Hokies have won each game by an average of two touchdowns, they have outrushed the Hoos by nearly 90 yards per game, and they have gained over 150 yards per game more in total offense. Tech, not known for how they throw the ball in most years, has outgained the Hoos through the air in six of the past seven seasons. This rivalry has been completely one-sided in favor of the Hokies.
Virginia Tech has had many game breaking players participate in the games from 2004 through 2007: Bryan Randall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Flowers, Chris Ellis, Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi, Ryan Williams, Darren Evans, Tyrod Taylor, Josh Morgan ... the list goes on and on.
Virginia has had some first round talent, such as Chris Long, but overall the Hokies have had the impact players in this rivalry in recent years, and their presence on the field has been the difference. Again in 2011, Virginia Tech will have at least the two best college players on the field in David Wilson and Logan Thomas, and if the Hokies win, it will likely be these two players who are the difference.
Wilson leads the ACC in rushing yards per game, averaging 131.1 yards per game. He is the most explosive outside runner in the league. Meanwhile, Logan Thomas is gaining steam and getting stronger as the year goes on. As we pointed on in Wednesday's game preview, in his last six games Thomas has a quarterback rating of 158.17. He's thrown for 1,452 yards in that span, with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Thomas has also been a force on the ground, and he has developed into Virginia Tech's top short yardage runner. In those six games, he has run for 257 yards and eight touchdowns.
Both Thomas and Wilson are ACC Player of the Year candidates. They have that type of talent. When two of the best offensive players in the league are in the same backfield, combined with the two leading receivers in school history, that becomes a very difficult offense to stop.
Virginia is a good football team that has earned their chance to beat the Hokies for the Coastal Division Championship. But do they have the star power to match up with Logan Thomas, David Wilson and the talented Tech offense? We'll find out on Saturday.
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