#223 R.P.I. USC-Upstate @ #176 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:

Virginia Tech opens its secondary revenue sport for 2013-2014 fiscal business as the VT men’s basketball begins its season at home inside the Cassell Coliseum on Saturday. Vs. an upstart USC-Upstate Atlantic Sun men’s hoops club on a day that some experts are already hinting could prove to be upsetting indeed.

Coach J’s boys should enjoy a backcourt and a frontcourt advantage alike. At least you would hope that any Atlantic Coast Conference squad would over any Atlantic-Sun. However, one downright selfish frontcourt suspension later … and one loaded USC-Up backcourt on top of that; and suddenly I’m not so sure? Neither should be you… as this issue is officially in doubt…

Today’s word is … underdog!

un·der·dog  (ndr-dôg, -dg)

USC-Upstate Backcourt: (returning starters=2)
The Spartan backcourt is a little thinner than the Spartan frontcourt is how the book reads here. One back-up transferred and another graduated; although the starters are back. Tyrone Green is the best of the lot, he and his 12.6 ppg on a below average team leading 33.6% from downtown says so. And it should be pointed out, that the one Spartan foible here is that this is a team that is a little bit short from long-distance. Mario Blessings is a bantamweight 165 lbs. fellow backcourt starter who is a lot of defensive things, and a shooter or offensive threat is not among them.

Spartans Frontcourt: (starters back=3)
#23, S/F Torrey Craig could start at Virginia Tech; in fact he could start for a decent sized slice of the A.c.c. Be that as a Three or as a Two (shooting-G). This kid is for real. As is any kid when Lindy’s tabs you as the Best Shooter, Most Versatile (great inside-out game); and Best N.B.A. Prospect in your given conference. Accordingly, this is the best baller on the court; period. The best rebounder on the court might just be Ricardo Glenn. As #12 is a true workman who reports to the same with a scowl on his face and his body on the glass. Clearly this is a Richmonder who got away; foot-problems Coach God willing behind him. As 10.5 ppg and 8.5 boards as a D-1 rookie does not suck; and you have to like this kid’s chance as a Pro, be that home or abroad come 2016.

 

USC-Upstate Bench: (depth=3, maybe more like 4+)
Babatunde Olumuyiwa not only nets you a ton of Scrabble points, he also nets you a very willing frontcourt reserve. Dood sports a Grace Jones haircut and I dare you to tell him that. Me neither. As this is one rough looking dood up-front, who lists “sleeping” as one of his hobbies. That said, his game in the key is wide awake and 4 point, 4 boards and a roughhouse block would agree. Adrian Rodgers gives you nearly 10 per game and the defensive minded yet streaky Fred Miller gets you another five; for 15 total from the leading Spartan backcourt substitutes.

Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:
Most illuminating to see several pre-season magazines and on-line previews that mention USC-Up as a potential NC2A invitee and Virginia Tech as a spring broke team furloughed in lieu of post-season terms on an early Spring Break. I’m not sure if the Spartans are in the Top-68 or whatever the big-show tourney fields this time? However, I am sure they enjoy the services of the best player on the floor; they prolly filed the best front-courter, they are a real live threat to win their conference and secure said Tourney bid;  and I am likewise sure that they are catching favored Virginia Tech at a favorable time.

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Although I am totally recalcitrant to even begin my calculus on this, this opener just does not pass my acid-test. And it may not even be that USC-Upstate is all that; it may actually be that coach J’s boys simply aren’t. That places host Virginia Tech in the danger zone indeed. As this one will be USC-Up’s World Series, Super Bowl and heavyweight championship of the world all rolled into one. As Cvillehoops13 so sagely pointed out to me on the Men’s Hoops MB, this game is really only an opportunity for an O&M fan-base go “eject eject eject”, or a chance to unplug from the hoops season beginning with game#1.

I can’t believe I’ma gonna type this out; however: when I pull the string, remember to go duck duck Goose, and dodge the canopy, as this is about as Maverick of an underdog pick as I can possibly author. Dangnation, cue the Kenny Loggins sweaty all-male volleyball game music and someone Kevorkian me now…

Virginia Tech=63, USC-Upstate=65

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**