#22 R.P.I. Virginia Tech vs #232 R.P.I. Northern Iowa:

Dear Weak Forest prediction:
Before coach God, I affirm and avow: “GET IN MY BELLY!”

Gulp!

12 years doing this, twice introducing my very own words to my very own digestional  tract. And as bad as the Wake Forest football upset truly was, the Appy State upset was far worse …as Vegas did not even offer a line!

As someone who speaks truth to the power said on the Pay MB over on TSL, this is just not a very good offensive basketball team. That person lied. As this team is not much of anything on offense, beyond a Wilson penetration, a spot-up-3, or a put-back bunny and/or easy breakaway basket.

Where have you gone Erick Green?
Hell, where have you gone Jarell Eddie?!?

For as much as I am still sky high on my boy Buzz, we all need to give Buzz three years. And I may have just lied again. As that 3 possibly should have been spelled f, o, u. r.

Up next we see a feisty and tabbed by some to win the whole darn Missouri Valley Athletic Conference Northern Iowa. At 4-zip and fresh off the heals of snapping a 34 game home wining streak @S.F.Austin! This is a sex Panther’s squad indeed, 60% of the time Northern Iowa wins every time.

And it may be sometime before we/Virginia Tech chalk up another revenue sports win. Just ask this week’s calender.

Northern Iowa Backcourt: (returning starters=3 of 3)
The 3M’s of Matt Bohannon, Deon Mitchell and Jeremy Morgan make up the starting part of this nominal 3-Guard Panther offense. Matt is a 6’4” 195 lb. 2-guard who is known for teeing it up from outside. A former quad-A state titlist himself, Matt nets 38% of his three’s historically, even if he is a downright chilly looking 15% thus far this year. Such is a far cry from his 9.9 ppg last season, as Matt is only scoring 2 ppg this season. It should be noted that Matt has not attempted anything other than a 3 this season, and therefore is shooting 15% overall as well.

Deon Mitchell has a cool first name and yet he too is a bit off from 12.2 ppg last year. Deon is getting you 8.3 ppg currently on 21% from the field and a miserable 11% from 3-point-land.  This from the strong looking 6’1” 196 lb. senior year point-guard who shot 34% from beyond the arc last season. Deon does lead No.Iowa in steals 1.3 spg (steals per game) and in dimes or assists at 4.5 apg (assists per game). The book on Deon says him to be an “unselfish floor-leader” who does all the little things right; after receiving a pretty big time looking offer list coming out of Texas.

Jeremy Morgan is a 6’5” 192 lb. off-Guard in his second year which tells you he was at least good enough to start as a rook’. Right now Jeremy gets you about 5 points a game on 40% from the outside. And he looks a little bit like a younger President Obama; who also got his start out in Iowa. No attempt at hillarity intended, really, he does. Not too shabby for the 2013 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year in high school who picked up two Iowa champion rings for his troubles.

No.Iowa Frontcourt: (starters back=both)
Senior Seth Tuttle is the best player when he steps out onto the Cancun Challenge court, in point of fact, he is the best player when he steps out on most any court. This kid flat out gets it, and is prolly an overseas Pro if he wants it. Right now the 248  lb. Tuttle only leads the Panthers in scoring 17.3 ppg (points per game), rebounding 7.3 rpg (rebounds per game) and he is second in blocks at 1. And oh by the way …the 6’8” Tuttle (no M*A*S*H relation) is shooting 74% from the floor and has yet to miss from beyond the arc! WOW!!! Tuttle may be more parts lay-up than he is dunk from the power-forward spot (even if he looks like a next level three); although he is a honor roll man’s Three as he is crafty and wily enough to take what he gets and make (most) of what he takes. This is a heady kid with a very high basketball I.Q. folks. Even if he is not a jump outta the gym pure athlete, the game comes easy to a throwback baller such as this. Not to mention the fact that he’s already been to the line 28 times on 73%.

Marvin Singleton stats upfront along side Tuttle at 6’6” where he gives you 6.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg as well. The senior year Singleton is basically a worker-bee down-low, where he does what he can as small-forward who has greatly improved his rebounding this season; 252% improved on the glass this campaign if you are keeping score at home. Marvin shoots 63% from the floor and he is second in steals, making him a useful if not quality all-around 3-time state champion guy.

Panther Bench: (depth=3 to 5)

• Sizey 6’7” 2o6 lb. uva transfer and big time recruit Paul Jasper was hoped to be the over-the-top final backcourt piece for the Panthers this year. Coming into this year, Jasper was nothing much beyond a glorified sniper from downtown. Although he is pretty snipey from range at a third best 8.3 ppg and 50% on the three. Paul is a guy you do not wanna leave open as his range is basically the gym, if he’s in it, he’s open. Paul has expanded his game to include almost 4 rebounds per game and is slowing filing out his game per a shooting-G of his natural size.
• Wyatt Lohaus: is a 6’2” 185 lb. t-freshman point-G who was only Mr. Basketball for the state of Iowa last year, and only won three straight states for it. Wyatt already gets you 6.3 ppg on 43% from the edge and the smart money is wondering just how much longer until he takes over the starting One spot as he is helping close-out games already.
• Wes Washpun: Wes is a 6’1” 176 lb. junior transfer Pt.Guard from Tennessee. Wes is known more for his handles, and defense. After setting a high school record for most steals in a season. Wes is however, a ssuprise second in scoring at 12.2 ppg, and in assists at 3.5. On a hot like the Sun 76% from the floor and 100% from the outside! Wes and Wyatt and Paul, clearly give Northern Iowa the best and deepest backcourt bench we will see all year. As methinks 2 or maybe even all 3 of these guys could start right now at Virginia Tech.
• Klint Carlson and Nate Buss: these two combine to provide spot-minutes for the Panther forecourt starers. Neither one being remarkable in any particular way. Nate is the 6’9” 212 lb. string-bean leaper from his P/F spot, who manages to find his way to 4 ppg and 3.5 boards of the bench while leading the team in G.P.A. which is no small thing at No.Iowa.
  Klint is the 6’7” 225 Swing forward who is known more so for being an all-around Swiss Army pocket knife than he is for being a pure machete. 1.5 ppg, 1 board and 1/2 an assist.

Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
There are a few hints and whispers that this may be Northern Iowa’s second Sweet-16 mens hoops team in five years. There are no hints that this is even a post-season Virginia Tech men’s hoops team, not in two or maybe even three years.

This from a Northern Iowa hoops squad who returns 91% of it’s 2013-2014 scoring and rebounding alike!

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Now that being said, as much as these Panthers are perimeter killers under coach Ben Jacobson; they did only win 3 road games last year for a reason. As Northern Iowa does not travel all that well no matter how dominate they may be at home. Academics also are of the highest priority under Jacobson. U.N.I. posted a 3.23 team cumulative grade point average in the fall 2010 semester. A total of 18 Panther basketball players have earned first-team, second-team or honorable mention Academic All-Conference honors since 2003. Not bad work for a giant killer mid-major head coach (ask Kansas and Florida how that tastes) if you can get it.

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Now, do observe up top that several of these Northern Iowa Panthers have opened up at less than their A-game(s) would suggest, in fact two or there of them are not even yet chalking up flat-C’s. IF that should shift, and suddenly, Virginia Tech won’t have much of an answer in this one. As it is pretty easy to keyboard than several of these Panthers are due to break out of their season opening respective slump’s.

Wanna add …nice looking homegrown in-state talent keeping program this Northern Iowa lot. Would that we (Virginia Tech), could track these Panthers in that regard.

As I don’t see any real chance for Coach Buzz here; because in spite of the fact that 44th in defensive rebounding Northern Iowa -to their credit- is off to a fast 4-0 start; they surely have a the look and feel of a team that has yet to play their best basketball thus far. And that might just scare a few Missouri Valley teams, or maybe even terrify a #1 or #2 seed come March.

(90% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=52, Northern Iowa=74

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**