#2 R.P.I. virginia @ #235 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:

The team you all love to hate is up next as the #2 nationally ranked virginia cavaliers invade our very own Cassell Coliseum for this early-bird Sunday (1pm) afternoon tip.

In case you live under a rock, or have recently been hit in the head by a rock, this just in… at 17 up and nil down? uva is pretty damn good men. Perhaps even coach Tony Bennett’s (no relation) best incarnation yet.

And if there ever was a Bud Foster of men’s hoops, Tony Bennett and his much vaunted pack-line defense are surely it! As virginia just held Georgia Tech to 28 points. For, the, game!

Not for a given half of play –for the enter 40 minute men’s hoops contest.

oui-oui, me neither, as this one is not looking favorable indeed, although at least we still have football. As beating virginia in men’s hoops is prolly gonna have to wait.

wahoos at a glance:

• #1 in scoring defense allowed! (50.5 ppg)
• 1st in defensive rebounding!
• 2nd in FG percentage defense allowed (34.2%)
• 3rd in Rebounding Margin (+11.2 rpg)
• 7th in assist:turnover ratio (+1.53)
• 24th in FG percentage offense (48.1%)
• 310th in steals (5 spg)

virginia Backcourt: (returning starters=2 of 3)
#1 Justin Anderson: if there is a star of the team, this “Mister Anderson” is it. From 6th man of the year for the whole darn A.c.c. to leading man this year for the uva Cavs. A 6’6” 220 lb. former 2012 Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year in high school now gone 14.1 ppg leading scorer for uva. Now mix in 4.6 rpg a couple of assists on an absurd 53% from 3-point range and you suddenly have a long-shot player of the year –pun somewhat intended. Anderson did post good though not quite epic or off the chat numbers in high school. Nevertheless, this Mister Anderson has a knack for blocking game winning clutch opposing shots; and he 50% from the floor and 80% from the FT-line. He’s one of those rare guys you might just wish to become just a little more selfish and take more of the game over with his  very tough to cover 6’6” 228 lb. third-year physique. As this kid is likely a Pro just on shooting alone, be that home or abroad.

London Perrantes Jr.: 6/2 191 lb. sophomoric Los Angeles native true Point-G with Mike’s favorite first-name. A pass-first throwback flavored Pt.G who has started for uva almost from the very first day he arrived. Won the high school John Wooden Award and was 86th in ESPN’s top-100; was also a pretty fair to middling Qb in high school so he does get leading an O up-court or down-field. 5 ppg with 2 boards and a team leading 4.3 dimes or apg. Also leads uva in FT-shooting at 88% and has enough range to keep you honest at 34% from the arc. Does not however employ the greatest overall FG percentage at 30.8% in total! A solid player who appears to need another year or so to fill out his all-’round offensive game.

Malcolm Brogdon: a 6-5 215 lb. r-junior off-Guard from the ATL. All-A.c.c. caliber guy who is prolly now all the way back from a broken bone in his left-foot to close out action two campaigns ago; (Godspeed on that). A good shooter, who is a steady and reliable scorer, if not quite an outburst or explosion based baller. Mr. Basketball down in Georgia with 27 and 13 as a Guard in high school does not suck; and it almost makes you wonder what kinda numbers Brogdon would tally in a more offensively free-flowing system? Honor Roll student who nets you 13.6 ppg on 38% from downtown and 84% from the charity-stripe. Runs down 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists on 47% overall. Might just be a sleeper overseas pro as he sure seems like he could be doing more on O to me.

hooVa Frontcourt: (starters back=1 of 2)
Anthony Gill: 6’8” 233 lb. r-junior Power-Forward from Charlotte N.C. A former Gamecock who transferred in from South Carolina after 2011-2012. Top-100 ESPN.com recruit who has started basically since he got to college –be that at U.S.C.-East or at uva. Leading rebounder for hooVa at 6.8 boards and third in scoring at 11.4 ppg. Efficacious as opposed to rangy at 58% overall with no 3-point range whatsoever. Smart, heady guy who plays within himself and does not step outside of his range nor outside his coach’s prescribed game. Does seem to embrace the bigger stage with bigger numbers his ownself, enjoys a few post-season honors accordingly. Best offensive rebounder at uva.

Darion Atkins: 6-8 241 lb. final year P/F. Darion gets you 6.9 ppg with nearly as many rebounds at 6.5 rpg and then he mixes in a team lead in swats at 1.1 bpg. Those may not be epic numbers, they may not be eye popping, however at a nifty 54% from the floor, they get the pack-line job done. Atkins is not a sexxy player, he’s a workhorse, or a glue guy that does the dirty work. This from a kid who went Smith Barney and earned his way into B.C.S. power-conference men’s hoops the old-fashioned way. Off of scholastic rebounding and defensive shot-blocking career which fit the Bennett stop-unit scheme to the proverbial Tee. Honor student who is a highly experienced baller who does all of the little things right. Not the worst guy to have around.

french Bench: (depth ~4)

• Isaiah Wilkins: 6’7” 224 lb. well built Fr. year S/F who can check Fours as well. Twice AA state titlist in Georgia; Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014. Just outside national top-100 lists, big time shot blocker and dunker who can and will soar on you. Step-son of none other than Dominique Wilkins of N.b.a. ATL.Hawks super-fame. Gets you 2.3 ppg and 3 caroms on a somewhat unrefined 41%.
• Mike Tobey: 7′ 253 lb. signature pack-line baseline anchoring defender as a PF/C in his junior year. 8 ppg, 6 rpg and a block in relief does not suck, as this is a kid who could prolly start at some other schools. Enjoys a FIBA gold-medal, did not enjoy mononucleosis. Runs his own youth summer basketball clinic. +1 just for that.
• Evan Nolte: 6/8 228 lb. Power-Forward third-year baller, who same as Tobey, could prolly start somewhere else. Seems to have a knack for playing very well vs. Vah.Tech, keep an eye on #11 this Sunday. High experience guy, with very good hands for a big, who will deflect some passes as well as some shots. ‘nother Honor Roll guy who was also Georgia AAAAA Player of the Year.
• Marial Shayok: 6.5 209 lb. off-G true freshman outta Ottawa, eh. Migrated to Jersey where he won Jersey single-A player of the year and and a state title this time last year. Has the look and feel of a scorer and does have me curious come 2018. Almost 5 ppg and a couple of boards in a substitute role; does already lead uva in steals (.9 spg). Could stand a little collegiate work on his range however.

Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
This one is just not gonna be a fun one, men. So I’ma not gonna blow any smoke up your burnt orange and Chicago maroon skirts here. We simply can not take uva’s A+ punch “bang” on the chin; at least not and live to tell the tale. As this may actually be coach Bennett’s best team ever up at hooVa.

As oddly enough, the cavs shoot better by 4% from the floor and a inexplicable 6% from range, as the Visitor in your house out on the road. Go fig’ on that? As I have no answer for that one, either.

---

The best possible news I could find, is to opine that uva and Virginia Tech are only separated by 1.2 ppg of scoring offense in their last five respective contests. In point of fact, it is actually our beloved Hokies that are 1.2 ppg on average better than uva in each squads most recent five. However, after that, it was ALL downhill from there… check it…

• +19% aggregate shooting/defensing advantage from the floor in favor of uva!
• +12% from beyond the arc for the hoos.
• +24% from the FT-line
• and +20 in terms of Rebounding Margin for the very same most recent five!

WOW!
Putatively speaking, this one will be actually be close, right up until this one actually tips off.

***

After that, this one forecasts to be all french fries, french toast, french roast and all hooVa.
Sorry folks.

(91% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=44, u.va. =69

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**