#116 R.P.I. Virginia Tech @ #176 R.P.I.  Dayton:  

Virginia Tech men’s basketball plays Dayton O.O.C. (out-of-conference), again. Just not in a made for telly Hawaiian Tourney this time.

The Hokies now sojourn 330-miles Nor-by-Nor-West to face a good and yet hard-to-figure set of Dayton Flyers by way of Atlantic-10 Conference fame. As you will read more on down below… That squarely struck, Dayton enters this scrum at 6 up and 4 down for 2021-2o22 so far. As these Flyers have mutually taken a couple of head dressing scalps every bit as much as they have been scalped a few times just the same. Including a couple of peculiar dandruff looking upsetting home runs. Nonetheless, you wanna know who is gonna win and by who much, rights? So, read on… to find, out!

Dayton Head Coach: Anthony Duvale Grant: age=55, 277–154 (.643) overall, 84–44 (.656) at Dayton. Has a rep’ for: some Recruiting, offensive and scoring, and free-flowing play.
(and for not looking his, age!)
$1,800,000.oo

After graduating from Miami Senior High School, Baller Grant became an All-City first-team selection and Player-of-the-Year. He played at the University of Dayton from 1983 to 1987 while guiding them to the Elite-8 of the NCAA Tournament before bowing out to eventual national champion Georgetown. As a sophomore, Grant averaged 10.7 points a game and 6.5 rebounds a game, and the Flyers again made it to the NCAA Tournament. As a junior, the 6′5″ Grant moved from power forward to small forward and averaged 7.1 points a game and 4.8 rebounds a contest while the team advanced to the National Invitation Tournament. As a senior, Grant was named a team captain, was awarded team MVP, and won the Sharpenter Memorial Rebounding Award after leading the squad in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.0 and 6.0 respectively. In his 105 appearances, Grant averaged 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds. In 1987, Grant spent a year playing for the Miami Tropics of the United States Basketball League.

After bouncing around a bit as an assistant coach from Miami High School(s) up through the: Stetson, Florida, and Marshall Jr.Whistle ranks, ass.coach Grant finally got his big-whistle big break. As Coach Grant went 76–25 on three straight conference championships at V.C.U. Then he posted a pretty decent 117–85 mark at Alabama before taking the reins two seasons ago over in Dayton, Oh. This after having been fired by Alabama.

Grant also coached a season (2015) with the N.b.a.’s OK.City Thunder. Grant -per se- only has one Conference Coach of the Year award to his credit (2007 @V.C.U.). Although he has made the post-season ten outta thirteen times so far.

Poppa Grant and his wife Christina have four children.

Dayton at a glance:

• 45th in FG percentage O!
• 55th in Rebounding Margin. (Better on the O-glass).
• 57th most fouls ‘whistled’ against.
• 70th most FT-makes.
• 94th in SWAT team work.
• 3o4th in steals, keeps the man in front, not the ball.
• NO injuries listed; (“THX” @Coach God).

Returning Starters=2

Dayton Strengths:

• Did I mention Dayton’s recruiting ranking(s), yet(s)? Better than I expected, in/out of the ESPN-35 most seasons.
• Likewise the roster jumper-cables of Transfering/Portalling 1o1. They done good, here.
• VERY athletic team as well… metrics/testing they gots, plural.
• 6′6″, 2o5 lb., r-third-year, Elijah Weaver, is your leading Flyer here. He of the big-ass wigged-out Fletch gone L.a.Laker ‘fro; or sometimes cornrolls. He of the big-ass bear-paw-sized hands and occasional seriously palming dribble per the same. He of the team pacing: 11.2 ppg. With 1.7 rpg and 1.9 apg. All on a likewise team-leading 53.2% from the floor, 87% from the FT-line, and a most useful 42.9% from 3-point-land. e.Weave’ is a So-Cal transfer off-G or lead-G if you will. Where he did not win that many games of: “H” “O” “R” “S” “E”. With just okay Trojan digits out in Tinseltown. In point of fact, his 2o7% betterment in scoring is not only an easy career-high, it scores fairly high on the surprise scale itself. Weaver did have some latent eligibility declaration thingys post-U.S.C., so that may have held him back a bit. This from a Tampa, FLA area baller who went through 3 high schools in 4 seasons and it is hard to take a shine to that. He did pocket an Oldsmar Christian Independent Athletic Association state title bling. So, there is that, as a Floridian senior he was named: the Florida AAAAAA or hexa-A Player of the Year. After which he was only ranked 37th in America via ESPN.com. When he averaged right at 25 ppg as a sunshine state senior. This is a talented kid, make no misQ; tho’ he needs to put it all together if he wants at least that fringe overseas work. Seems a bit perimeter-oriented on tape to me, and yet he prolly does have said export caliber hardwood talents, at least.
• Toumani Camara is a: Koufax or lefty 6′8″, 22o lb., P/F or stretch-F, imported Euro-F by way of:  Brussels, Belgium. He is also native to Georgia— the Bulldog school, not the Country. Where he netted you 13 and cleared the boards for 8 just last year (see: pic). This year Toumani is checking in at: a useful 10.0 ppg with 6.4 rpg on 1.9 apg. This with sociable 50.6% shooting from the floor and yet a cancel-culture of 17.6% from behind the arc. That said, Camara is a 3-year starter, and last year he only siphoned things for u.G.a. with: 28 of the team’s 64 blocks, 30 steals, and 2o5 deflections! Making this Belgium a pretty fair to middling defender; and a very active one from the Four to be sure. He also led the S.E.C. in double-doubles last season. Camara represented his home country of Belgium in the F.I.B.A. U16 European championships in 2o16 and then moved to the United States to attend high school. Was a four-year varsity player, four-star recruit, and team captain for Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Fla., and was named First Team 5A All-Florida State as a senior. When he got you right at 25 ppg and 11 rpg as well. Do like the lower shaved-top ‘fro, the sneakers are about as freaky as colors (most plural) can get, so there is that too. Fun player, hard-working player, not a dull player— or the kinda player every coach wishes they had one of.

  

• 6′1o″, 22o lb., Daron Holmes II and Malachi Smith G 6′, 17o lb., round out your Flyers starting major producers here. Holmes II is merely: the highest-ranked high school recruit to ever sign with the Flyers. A four-star prospect, he was a consensus top 50 recruit. The lowest ranking was 46th from ESPN.com; if that gives you any idea. Daron has some ‘tude in him, he will go hard in the paint and dunk on you if he can. In 2o19-2o, he was only the Arizona Gatorade High School Player of the Year after averaging 23.7 points, 1o.6 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.1 assists per game for the AIA 5A state finalists. He was also only the Regional Defensive Player of the Year! Then he transferred to an FLA hoops factory for the fall, and then back to ‘Zona post-Christmas break. Got to the AZ title tilt twice and went o fer 2 for it. Still yet, only a couple of handfuls of games into his collegiate career, and 10.4 ppg with 5.1 rpg is not too bad. Maybe only scratching the surface? As only 54% free-throwing needs to practice court throwdown. This is a pretty Gifted 1st-year kid in the air too, only question is… where is he a Pro’? As the team blue-ribbon at 2.5 bpg will come in handy be that export or domestic.
• Malachi Smith is also a rookie year baller same as Holmes II. Malachi Smith is by way of the Bronx, up in N.Y.C., N.Y. Where four-star recruit Smith led St. Raymond High School For Boys to the 2020 New York Catholic High School Athletic Association AA championship! That counts… as does being a: 19.2 points, 8.o assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game 3rd ranked NY baller overall (and the 1st ranked Pt.Guard). His older bro’ (Scoochie) was an All-Atlantic 10 guard in 2o17 for Dayton. So, the legacy vanguard (so to speak) is firmly in backcourting place. Right now, this debuting One is getting you: 9.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, with the team lead in 4.4 apg and in 2.0 spg alike. 54.0% from the floor and a league-leading 92.6% on FTA’s and a very sporing 45.5% from long tells you you’d better get Dayton now. As you won’t be getting them in a year or three… if they all remain in Ohio that is.

Dayton Weaknesses:

• A year gone is all-galaxy Empire 1st-string: Obi ‘wan’ Toppin. the Mandalorian of mid-majors.
• Last year gone is near 20 ppg scorer Jalen Crutcher, another near 16 ppg scorer, and their most experienced Big with a quality back-up… all gonzo here.
• …or, patience grasshoppers as Experience and Learning Curve effects go alike. This is a juvenile club.
• …as in… 75% of the squad is Freshmanic! (With only 1 end-of-bench senior who does not play).

Flyers Bench: (depth=)

Kobe Elvis (double grate name) is a Pt.Guard or One, who stands 6′2″, and tips the Toeldo’s at 17o lbs. A DePaul transfer baller in his second r-Fresh. season after the freebie last year. Pure scoring One in H.S. terms. High 20’s ppg and he turned that up to 37 ppg in the post-season whereby he went to the Brewery and pocked the Elsinøre Brampton, Ontario championship ring, ‘eh‘. The book says him to be a pure-shooting One, and right now Kobe Elvis is dropping you: 6.6 ppg with 2.0 rpg and 1.3 apg in relief. This is a pretty good N.A.F.T.A. One folks. The outburst scoring should lower-48 cook soon enough.

6′9″, 22o lb., Mustapha Amzil is a substitute P/F (actual Pasty) from: Helsinki, Finland. This flavor of Mustapha finds his way to: 6.5 ppg with 3.6 rpg and 1 apg on 31% from trifectaville. Amzil is an r-Fr., who sat a year after finally getting into the U.S.of.A. So, he is older than listed here. Amzil had a strong showing in 2019 playing for Finland at the U18 European Championships in Latvia, where he was the Finnish U18 team captain and averaged 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in seven games. He also helped the Finnish U18 team win the All-Nordic and Baltic Sea Cup championships. in 2o19. At the All-Nordic tournament, he averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Mustapha has played in 86 international games for the Finnish junior national team. So, experience and matriculation curve effects are very much right-tailed here. Also, a seven-season soccer acclaim honoree, so the Olajuwon footwork should be tight here. Interesting kid, with a bit more development and P.T., come 2o23 or so…

r-Fresh. year, Moulaye Sissoko, is a true-C from: Bamako, Mali! He goes: 6′9″ and 242 lbs. Burly, stout kid upon film study. Coming off of knee surgery (St.Culbreth bless). Has the physical tools to be a very strapping good-looking specimen kinda kid. A bit West African basketball circuit undercooked or raw on O at the moment. Tho’ 2.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, a send back all on 65% do lend themselves to developing future tense hope here. ’cause if this kid finds any O moves he’s gonna be a 220v load down-low.

Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:

Number of Flyers who could soar @Tech=4 maybe even 5.

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is...

…we did NOT get cross-sport Cornfucious cross-pollinated; thankfully.

We treated the little man {sic: Cornell} ‘de plane de plane‘ jus’ like dat, thankfully.

Our defense looked better (i.e., mo’ intense) early on even when the Big Red Bears did hang around for a little minute or three. Why that slackened nobody seems to know? Tho’ and nevertheless, it did O&M buck back up and there is that.

---

Now we face a super-medium-man+++. Some might even say a 1970’s sized Heavyweight.

Or in other words, even our improved Cornell efforting might not be enough here.

This is a surprisingly good Dayton program as the Brit’s say: “on the come.”

 ***

Our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is calling for an Atlantic Coast Conference call in another week or so.

The annualized year-to-date vitals say that… nobody is up much of anything in shooting percentage margin (Dayton +2% O canceled by VT –2% allowed on D); yet VeeTee is up a whopping +17% in 3-point percentage margin (little mo’ on D, tho’ both pretty sprites here), and Dayton is up +4 Windex Wipes in rebounding margin year-to-date.

The most recent 5-game metrics say that… Dayton is now up nearly +11% in shooting percentage margin (hot shooting high-flying O, with VT’s O cooling off); with the Hokies up 1% in 3-point percentage margin (as the Dayton 3-point D has been on lockdown of late), and Dayton is up +9 carroms of Fiberglass in rebounding margin in the last fortnight. (With the Gobblers close to breaking even and the Flyers backboard breaking out).

Armchair Pt.Guard’s:

PASSING FOR POINTS: The Flyers have recently used assists to create buckets more often than the Hokies. Dayton has 51 assists on 87 field goals (58.6 percent) across its past three outings while Virginia Tech has assisted on 45 of 80 field goals (56.3 percent) during its past three games.

TOUGH TECH D: Virginia Tech has held opposing teams to 56.7 points per game this year, the ninth-lowest figure among all Division I teams.

SAVVY SENIORS: Virginia Tech’s Keve Aluma, Justyn Mutts and Storm Murphy have combined to account for 45 percent of the team’s scoring this season and have scored 46 percent of all Hokies points over the last five games.

Nobody is up any% at the charity stripe for the year; only a couple of tenths separation here.
Nobody is up anything in R&R in the last fortnight of runs; same scheduling here.
Dayton is only a .5oo host; whereas VeeTee is 1.oo as a guest.

The Call...

No.34 Net Ranking Virginia Tech @ no.1o5 Net Ranking Dayton:

Well, suffice it to say that this is one flighty set of Flyers of Dayton, Ohio fame.

• Sometimes they score and soar; (Ask: #4 got upset by a single-shot: 74-73 Kansas or ask fellow: A.c.c. and got totally shook Miami of FLA, 76-6o).
• Sometimes they stall and succor; (ask: UMass Lowell 58-59, Lipscomb 59-78, and ask: Austin Peay 81-87).

  

• Go fig’, rights?

With the only thing, I could find being… a couple of Dayton individual starters individually missed each of those outta kilter L’s. Tho’ still yet… you’d have to think they had enough left in the tank @home to punch downhill, rights?

As the better version of Dayton can and has proved to be bad news.
The lesser version of Dayton is not so hard a target.

–oOo–

…and that is the R.A.T.T. conundrum right ^^^there^^^.

As this one is all about Dayton @home men.

Their better version will give us a real live roadie fit.
Their lesser version we should take mo’ often than not, even when visiting.

…let whichever version you expect master your, pick.

 

(57% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=73, Dayton=69

please support the VT F.C.A.!

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**