#3o8 R.P.I.  AmericanU @ #9o R.P.I. Virginia Tech: 

Virginia Tech men’s hoops— drowning Vermont in maple syrup itself.

The Hokies are sizzurp. The piney Catamounts. tapped. Now we catch the U.S.A. of colleges who catches up at a respectable looking 5 up vs. 6 down from the unsurprisingly and appropriately enuff named… Patriot Conference itself. American University just snapped a 3-game L-streak vs. fellow in-state Virginia Military Institute. The Eagles were +2 on breaking even last year. Their 2nd winning tally in seasonal terms since they had a pretty fair-to-middling run-up through 2o14. However, the Patriot itself is ranked penultimate to last outta 33 D-1 conferences, 34 if you count the few remaining Indys. And that could/should be a hint here… Nevertheless, what you wanna know is… who is gonna win and by how much, rights? So, reads on… to find, out!

American Head Coach: Duane Simpkins: age=49, 5-6 overall, and at American.
Has a rep’ for: backcourting, management, and recruiting.
$173,056.oo (with bonus/incentives as well).

Ballar Simpkins played high school basketball at the famed sport(s) factory of: DeMatha Catholic High School under Hall of Fame head coach Morgan Wootten and was a McDonald’s High School All-American selection in 1992. He played his college basketball at Maryland under Gary Williams where he was a three-time honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection at the University of Maryland, helping the Terrapins to three NC2A appearances, including a pair of Sweet 16 showings. A three-year starter and captain under coach Gary Williams from 1992-96, Simpkins finished his career with 1,123 points over 119 games. He was a career 81 percent free-throw shooter and his 483 career assists still rank him 8th on the Terrapins’ all-time list.

Level Up Simpkins’ professional playing career took him to China, Italy, the Dominican, France, and Belgium; as well as the United States. Simpkins, who concluded his professional career with the Shandong Tigers in Shandong, China, played in the USBL and the ABA in the U.S. from 2ooo-o2. He also played with the Memphis Grizzlies in the Summer Pro League.

Between his playing career, Simpkins served as an assistant coach at Bishop O’Connell High School from 1999 to 2oo0. After his playing career, Simpkins was hired as the head boys’ basketball coach at Sidwell Friends School in 2oo5 and served there before becoming the head coach of the boys’ basketball team at St. Albans School in 2oo7.

His first coaching opportunity in the college ranks came with Towson, where he was hired as the coordinator of basketball operations under Pat Skerry in 2o11. After a single season with the Tigers, Simpkins became an assistant coach at UNC Greensboro where he worked under Wes Miller from 2012 to 2o15. He’d return closer to the DMV area and join the staff at George Mason where he’d serve under both Dave Paulsen and Kim English from 2015 until 2o23.

On April 1, 2o23, Simpkins was hired to be the next head coach for the American Eagles.

The owner and director of “Power Through Sports” camps and clinics in Washington, Simpkins also has served as a basketball analyst for Comcast SportsNet.

Simpkins and his wife Kirsten have three kids: Kai, Darian, and Elijah.

Am.U. at a glance:

• 23rd most 3-point-attempts/game!! (3-ball happy here).
• 296th best in D-rebounding.
• 3o3rd most in Turnovers forcer/game! (Play the man, not the ball).
• 323rd best in FG-percentage D allowed!!!
• 325th best in 3-point-percentage D allowed!!!
• 336th best in Swats!!!
• Ungood team… as most are who tally nearly nothing superlative whatsoever; with nearly everything dull-poor -though not atrocious- after ^^^that^^^. Nearly half of the 32 D-1 team metrics I track are D+++ to D—. Not quite F’s… tho’ they seem on the brink of letting, go.
• NO Injuries listed. ‘thx’ @Coach God.

Returning Starters=4*. (Or, 5, if you count sat last year out former ’22 starter: Colin Smalls).

American Strengths:

• This is a pretty dang Experienced team. Learning Curve should be catching up to the new coach sooner than not.
• The @Italy off-season trip prolly helped speed any/all of ^that^ up as well.
• * One, #15, Lindy’s 1st-string All-Patriot, Matt Rogers, F1, and their best hooper to be sure. Nearly by far at that. 6′9″, 220 lb., final-year, Four. Who the Am.U. website listed at a whopping: 6′11″ in height. So, take thy pick here… tho’ seemed mo’ parts Bristol’s digits to me upon breaking tape. Anywho… Matty leads Am.U. in scoring at: 15.8 ppg. He also paces the Eagles with: 6.4 rpg, 1.3 spg, and with o.8 bpg. The 1.3 apg is supplemental income here as dimes dropped go. Tho’ this kid is surely your quadratic leadership M.V.P. Kinda has a ‘mad-dog’ m.Madsen look-n-feel t0 him at times. Known for several game-saving (blocks) defensive plays. Which I suppose is good for ~1% ‘bron’bron or William Russell status.  That neat-o all-’round roundball lore rightfully bestowed, Mister Rogers neighborhood is down a mite this year. Needs gentrification in shooting percentage (–11%) and in three-pointing percentage (–6%). As Mark is better than that ’cause Mark has balled better than that. Almost like he is carrying some kinda ding/dent. A 4-year Honor Roll student. His momma-bear played volleyball at Illinois State, while his poppa-bear played basketball at Maryville-U. So, the Sporting Genome Project projects well indeed here. Volunteers 2oo+ hrs./year at the local Maryland Age Center. May St.Methuselah bless anyone on dat. Again, this kid is better than his current markers of: 5o.8% floor, 66.7% FT’s, and 35% from range. Those are problems a lotta other D-1 P/F’s would like to have, tho’ they are also problems that Rodgers has never had, b4. The only thingy Eye could see was… Matty has just been plum off -if not slumped- out on the road for whatever reason or reasons, plural. Having logged 6 & 8 points when visiting against four games between 19 and 28 pointings when hosting. Go fig’ on that from a real well-seasoned kid? That said, 3 of those 4 better games have been in the last 2-weeks of runs… so, maybe Matt is figuring it out as I type. As he is their Star Wars baller… or, their “…only hope”.
  p.s. NO relation to the actor/webber/streamer-famed guy that Eye could see… HTH’s.
• …then a bit of a, gap…

  

• * Lindy’s Best Playmaker for the Patriot Conference; Elijah Stephens, is your Qb1. Pt.Guard1. A Koufax or lefty Pt.G.1 mind yah. This southpaw gets you: 11.6 ppg with 2.2 rpg and a very sprite and team pacing 6.4 apg. Nice/tight Qb1, what with his mere and near 2.5:1 dimes to shortchanged (tpg) ratio. That’s pretty crispy ballhandling, wimminz species rejoice. Steph’s shooting metrics all check out: 48% floor, on 77.4% FT’s, and an okay 3o.3% long. It’s hard to find/poke holes in his game here. In particular on a lb. for lb. Manny Pacquaio or inch-for-inch basis. At: 5′ 9″, and a buck sixty-four (164 lbs.) this mighty mite is playing Mister Scott basketball and giving you all she’s got. Although not a pure shooter per se, Elijah has testified with betterments in shooting percentage (overall) and in his pointing each and every year. Not every One or Pt.G1 can say that. Though this One can say he dropped a smooth 27.1 ppg out in Waco, Tx. Where he was mo’ of a lead-G/scorer of some measure. Older bro’ (Antwan), played basketball at Concordia. Does have a tag that seems to read: late-game closer, and ups his Tourney or post-season limelight game. Again, hard to poke holes in this kid here. Prolly give everyone hell at the local Y.M.C.A. in two more years. (true-Jr.).
• * Geoff Sprouse, is a: 5′12″, ??? lbs. second-season (other) Pt.Guard1b. Lindy’s says 17o lbs. F.Y.I. This Geoffry nets you: a 3rd-best: ten/game tho’ he is #1 on-team and in-League alike at a burying 93.8% from the charity stripe. That counts. As do his back-to-back Miami (city) Player of the Year Awards down in the Sunshine State. true-Sophomore, with a very tall/jumpy release point on his J. Was plum tearing it up earlier this year, tho’ has gone frosty of late. More is expected and likewise needed here. As this kid was said to be something of a sleeper get/pick by American U. Time=tell on that… …though I can tell you this kid has been showing signs of a warming trend recently.
• 6′4″, 19o lb., imported baller: (Rome, I-tie), Lorenzo Donadio: your Off-G1… …gets you: 9.2 ppg with 4.5 rpg and 2.5 apg on 36.5% long is decent as your 4th-option on O go. Brings experience playing on the international stage, excelling in the 2o19 FIBA U18 European Championships. Where he only averaged 28-n-change on O. So, (apparently) Lo’ can uppercase tally points. Lindy’s is high on this kid too… tho’ the 39.1% floor and 36.% deep seem low to me based on the rest of his Mediterranean résumé. Si, you have to think they were expecting mo’ here.

American Weaknesses:

• Their hoops website; which does not disclose… weight(s). LOL… I’ma blue and I am telling you that that is a pretty pink or non-non-Purely Chicken, move. Not any every girl is: ‘pretty’ or ‘beautiful’ one to boot.
• Am.U. departed their best frontcourter: Johnny O’Neil and his near 13 & 7 are both gone. That does hurt a smaller team mo’ than a little bit in the paint.

Eagles Nest: (depth=4’ish)

* Lincoln Ball G3, is/was your other starter… …tho’ he comes off the bench or starts situationally these days. ex of: George Washington, as a 6′6″, 215 lb., senior season hoopster. 9.2 ppg with 4.5 rpg and 2.5 apg is not the worst bullpen support. Steady guy, ceiling guy… everyone needs at least one of this kinda far right-tailed Experience Curve guy. Though just not a shooter…  32.3% floor and a mere 22.6% on 3’s say so. However, the team prestidigitation or sleight-of-hand (magician) makes you wonder if he could be doin’, mo’?

6′7″, 191 lb., Matt Mayock is your 2’s unit 3 or: S/F. Matty gets you: 7.1 ppg with 2.2 rpg on .8 apg; which is okay enuff as a nugget or rookie-year sub’.  Has plenty of Phys.Ed.edu D.n.a. downloaded and onboard… what with… his pops, Mark, played football at Boston College…his mum, Alix, played basketball at Saint Joseph’s University… his sis’, Katie, played basketball at Saint Joseph’s University…and his big-bro’, Angus, played baseball at the University of Connecticut and Southern New Hampshire University. Yes, that counts. Mayock also pocketed the: Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association State Championship as a junior. So, that counts too… a bit of a prospect here… could be an interesting one on his ’23 team-leading 4o.7% long come ’27.

Jermaine Ballisager Webb, is your de facto Post or true-C; by way of: Stjaer, Denmark Monteverde. 7′, ??? lbs., soph’. Lindy’s says 25o lbs. F.Y.I. 6.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg on 65.9% tells you where he shoots from if nothing else. His bio’ tells you he carries all kinda Danish National Team, Euro, and pro’  Bakken Bears experience(s). A Jimi ‘are you… experienced’ baller to be sure. Was a lot better in November and seems to have tailed off a bit of late. Time=tell… tho’ the metrics/mechanics seemed willing enuff.

* 6′2″, 184 lb., final-year, Qb2: Colin Smalls. Is your caddying Pt.Guard here for AmericanU. Played up north at St. Andrew’s (‘eh’) prior to coming down to the lower 48. Has a shoe fetish… says he owns hundreds and hundreds of pairs of sneakers. A sneaky Pt.G.2 to be sure. 5.9 ppg with 2.3 rpg and .6 apg is modest enuff and the range is commiserated with that at: 28.1% from behind the arc.  Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member… and a degree from Am.U.edu, seems cool enuff to me. +3.o there.

Mason Whittaker merits mention jus’ fo’ rocking the entirely 7o’s p0rnstache. Seriously girls, watch your undergear, here. As the o.o ppg does not matter with a double-double upper, lip.

Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:

Number of Eagles who could fly-guy @Tech=1, 2 max'.

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is…

…not to be too taken with too much of anything Hurryin’ Hokie wise. At least not until All Coaching Conference play really cranks up or ranks up on us.

As we open A.c.c. play at two aways; get home, and then we catch two different Top-22s in one week of running ball. So, the proof or reproof is coming.

Are we mo’ parts FLA=Atlantic /Auburn or less parts Valpo’/Vermont?

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As for AmericanU, they may have improved a mite of late… tho’ as said in the header up above… they have been down and out for a while. So, the Eagles (nearly) only had one way to go. Up.

However, if we get beat here that one is on us… not on them. As here is Mr. Popcorn’s very final chance to tinker-n-putter and mess around with his line-up and/or rotation(s). As it really should matter nil vs. such a user-friendly defensive sieve club.

That, and here is his final chance to empty the end of the bench with any outcome certainty for a spell.

Possibly even until next season.

🍿

 ***

Our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is calling for an A.c.c. hit-back in ’bout 2-3 weeks.

The annualized year-to-date vitals say that… VeeTee is up close to a nice-looking ~+5% in shooting percentage margin (AU nets just a scosche better; tho’ VT is even better than that on the halt-unit end); with VeeTee up close to a useful-looking ~+7% in 3-point percentage margin (due to: these two being precisely knotted in 3-O; although, VT was nearly 7% superior in 3-D), and that nearly nobody us up much of anything in rebounding margin year-to-date. As both squadrons are only separated by three-tenths (.3 rpg) here. VeeTee is better battling off the defensive-backboard though that was almost precisely canceled out by American being better battling off the offensive-backboard. Equilibrium or a split vote thus far.

The most recent 5-game metrics say that… the Eagles are now up a surprising +6% in shooting percentage margin (the Gobblers defend a bit better; although, the Eagles net better and the Hokies are chilling out of late on O); and yet the Hokies are now up a stunning +11% in 3-point percentage margin (mind that VeeTee is cooling off on 3-O of late and yet our 3-D has been a damn vice lock at the arc, stifling vs. trifectas recently), and that the Eagles are flying a little bit of late off the fiberglass with a +3 misses’ collected edge in rebounding margin. (VeeTee is positive here recently off the ‘glass; it is rather that these Eagles be soaring and talon snagging any errant shots in the last fortnight of Windex wipes).

Deca-gones:
LAST 10 GAMES: Hokies: 7-3, averaging 71.4 points, 34.4 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.3 points per game.

LAST 10 GAMES: Eagles: 5-5, averaging 75.3 points, 35.4 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 6.4 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.6 points.

V.P.I. is up a nifty +8% at the charity stripe for the year.
VeeTee is a 1.oo host; whereas AU is .167 as a guest.
America is up a whopping +11 in R&R.

The Call...

No.294 Net Ranking AmericanU @ no.52 Net Ranking Vah.Tech:

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The VerdicT:

So, all of my preview magazines have American-U tabbed as 2nd or 3rd best in Patriot League terms for 2o23-2o24.

That’s the score there…

Though in all candor here… I’ma not tallying it.
However, as the Brits say: “When 10 men tell you you’re dunk you had better lie down.”
So, maybe I am a bit tipsy and just not seeing whatever all these wraps are seeing? Or, they are lying.

Take thy pick— though if you pick the magazine(s) take(s) you should pick a closer game than me, here.

The digits:

If you ask me -and you did via reading these very words- if you ask me… VeeTee should win here.
And this just in… snow is rumored to be, white.

As only a total flake would take A.U. to upset you know who.

That attempt at E.A. Poe end-rhyme satire aside, either I missed it… or, America-U is just not that much; or anti-Gestalt Theory thus ’23 far. As no.22 ‘Nova worked these Eagles by nearly 3o, Bill & Mary by nearly 2o, and some dippy 2-win place called: NJIT Highlanders women’s basketball (a damn girls school) had their way with American by: 14!

🚌

LOL… you do the 269-mile So-by-So-West bus ride, maths…

🎄🏀🎄

As Eye’ve got a Militant preview to go’on and finish and to me it would take a decent -if not a good deal- of Hokie help to go Goodwill and gift-wrap this one as a 19-point homesteading favorite on a still a bit chilly New River Valley early evening tip-off contest.

That writefully said… what if this one is a ho-ho-ho, hum, one?
Pedulla is still a bit gimpy (St.Philip bless, ankle) and Collins is downright wobbly (St.Nikon help, knee).

–oOo–

Kinda does have that get outta Holiday town V.P.I. A.S.A.P. vibe to it— as our guys are already packed.

Nonetheless, VeeTee should roll this one is my best take here…

…as we just held two straight opponents to their ’23 season, lows. Allowing: 40% & 12% v. Valpo’. Then allowing: 36% & 20% v. Vermont. We also just out-rebounded two straight opponents by a collective +35 in Σ {sic: total}.

i.e., Defending and Rebouding… 2 heart-fueled metrics that should never ever go, cold.

Even in the twilight of Fall ’23 as: “Winter is Coming.”

That… and… Merry Christmas @TSL too❗️

 

(86% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=77, American=55

please support the VT F.C.A.!

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**