#9o R.P.I. virginia @ #99 R.P.I. Virginia Tech: 

Virginia Tech men’s basketball remains at home on an Association quickie or ~48-hour turn to host you know… #25 (nationally rank) hoo!

The Hokies now turn their attention(s) to someone with whom they have a lot in… well, common. Or to their alpha Commonwealth Cup rival— well, not instate named @O.d.u. or @Liberity Eye mean, although Eye prescient. As things stand now… virginia stands in at 16 up and 9 down. And 1o-5 in All Championship Conference inter-league play. And both programs are making an upward bound move in the inter-league standings as getting a good post-season push goes. So, clearly, something or someone has to give, here. All That to say… what you wanna know is… who is gonna win and by how much, rights? So, read on… to finds, out!

Crooner: Anthony Dominick Benedetto: age=94, with 19 Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in 2001) and two Emmy Awards, and was named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree. Bennett has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
$200,000,000.oo (est. net worth)

This Tony, known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. He is also a painter and the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York.

Virginia Head Coach: Anthony Guy “Tony” Bennett: Age=52, 379–145 (.723) overall,
and 310–112 (.735) @uVa.
$4,150,000.oo

The other Tony Bennett is also a pretty fair to middling basketball coach up at uva. In point of fact, he is basically the Bud Foster of D-1 men’s hoops in defensive terms. His motion offense is about as efficacious as can be, albeit overshadowed a bit by his much-ballyhooed pack-line defense. Coach Bennett is the only A.c.c. coach to win 16 conference games in consecutive seasons, and one of three in A.c.c. history to enjoy back-to-back 30-win seasons overall.

Coach Bennett is known as a rapport annexing basketball player developer or the coaching (verb) in the truest sense. He has only won (an updated) 16 Coach of the Year Awards (national+conference) at Washington State and uVa combined, and yet curiously enough Coach Bennett only wears six conference crowns to show for it. He does own the single-season win records at both Virginia (35) and Washington State (26, twice). And he does sport a: FIBA Under-19 World Championship gold medal to boot. As a Christian, coach Bennett is known for the use of his father’s “Five Pillars”: humility, passion, unity, servanthood, and thankfulness.
Amen!

Baller Bennett, one (retired #25), was a 6′, 175 lb. lowercase shooting man’s Jeff Hornacek/Jonny Stockton hybrid type of player of a Green Bay Wisconsin Pt.Guard who balled for coach Dick Bennett (his pop’s); and oh yes… Tony Bennet the now elite coach, and formerly ex-baller, is merely the #1, as in first-best all-time in college basketball history for career three-point field goal accuracy, at 49.7%, peaking at 53.3% in 1990–91; wow! i.e. baller Bennett is the best shooter in college basketball history; all-time; ever! He was awarded the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award in 1992 as the nation’s top player under 6′ in height and was twice an Academic all-American in ’92 on top of all of that. While merely being the 2x M.c.c. (today’s Summit League) Player of the Year; mind yah! When Bennett left college, he was the Mid-Continent Conference’s all-time leader in both points and assists before being drafted 35th overall in the 1992 NBA draft.

Then playing three years for the Charlotte Hornets and several more in Australia and New Zealand, where he started coaching after foot and knee injuries forced the now highly esteemed coach Bennett to suit-n-tie, up.

And oui-oui oh by the way… he just won a National Championship on a magical 35-3 2019 maddening title run. Thereby thereafter Coach Bennett declined a raise when extending his contract before the season, leading hooVa President James Ryan to call him “one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met.” (As inside this hoo there is a Hokie screaming to get out!)

Daddy Bennett and his wife, Laurel, have two children
—a daughter, Anna, and a son, Eli.

Tutorial: The Pack–Line 1o1:
The “pack line”, is a defensive strategy that was actually convinced by his father (Dick). The pack line is designed to clog up potential driving lanes to the paint by forcing ball handlers to the middle of the floor where more “help” is concentrated. It forces opposing teams to pass and shoot well while limiting dribble-drive penetration and post play.

(tho’ I do feel our Youngling version of the elbow-high-post Point-Forward set would work well here; if/when Coach Mike can find that very Point-F kinda playar…)

virginia at a glance:

• 11th best in Scoring D allowed!!! (VT is 24th FYI). (UPDATE: little better here, ⇑)
• 14th in Assist:Turnover Margin!!!
• 46th in S.W.A.T. team work!! (UPDATE: down a bit here, ⇓)
• was: 25th fewest personal fouls “whistled” against! now: even lower at 13th fewest “catcalls”, wow, (better here, ⇑)
• was: 67th in FG% allowed D. now: down to 149th wow! way ⇓ here!!)
• was: 310th fewest 3-point makes!!! now: 332nd!!! (⇓ here).
• was: 314th best in Defensive Rebounding!!! now: even worse at 34oth?!? (⇓ here)
• was: 318th best in Offensive Rebounding!!! now: decently improved to 266th best (⇑ here).
• (still): NO injuries listed. (“merci” @Entraîneur Dieu !!!)

Returning Starters=2

cavalier Strengths:

• Lindy’s preseason wrap rated virginia as the transferring/portaling A.c.c. winner this off-season; hard to say that would hurt.
• One #o, 5′9″, 175 lb. mighty-mite former caddying now starting and three years ago the former alpha-recruit, Pt.Guard, fourth-year Kihei Clark is a fun little bugger to watch and an instant fan-favorite for it. Ditto, any kid who refuses to sit and balls-out in a left-wrist cast/brace for it. That makes him a tough little bugger as well. Per his bio’, this hawt Cali’ recruit: “spent several hours at the Children’s Hunger Fund in Sylmar, Calif.” whatever that means though “yes” that is more hours than I spent there, admittingly. That “look@me” jab being rightfully placed… Lindy’s says Clark has: “extreme quickness” and is a dangerous open-court player for it. Kihei is your Pt.Guard du jour for the french here. Cali’ Private School (Taft, not the New England Kennedy one); as a scrapper who has willed/worked his way into some bonus A.c.c. play. Although the book reads that he must improve his shooting depth (9.8 ppg on 21.4% deep last year, up to a now a sporty 37.6% this season) and avoid 1-on-1 facebook type tête-à-tête battles for it. Although he did (somehow) find one-inch (1″) in height (allegedly); and he did grow in the weight-room by a much needed ∼15 lbs. So there is that, and the Senior-year Clark enjoys a good set-up or Qb tag’ to his Pt.Guard swagg and he did end up starting 20 games last year. Now mix in a nearly doubled since last year 3.2 rpg and a franchise-best 4.2 dimes-dropped (apg) with sharp-looking 81.6% FT-shooting and you get a well-rounded albeit sawed-off baller. Albeit again, one who has significantly improved in rebounding, assisting, and both 3-point & FT-shooting alike since we saw him last. So, this Clark kid is not shy about tasty development at this late/exiting career stage. And apparently, he has now recovered from the broken left wrist (his off-hand as an orthodox shooter) surgery; may St.Julia bless. That all said, this Clark bar has only taken 1 single solitary bite outta anyone in the last few weeks; and seems slumped and/or dinged-up 1o1. Finally, Clark is the only real perimeter penetrator that uva enjoys, as he did enjoy nearly 180% more FTA’s than anyone wahoo else backcourt does to this… point. (Get it?) Although that keying you up was last year… this year he is only 3rd in FTA’s or again, a bit contact adverse or trying to preserve what he still has physically left. His Old-Man (Malik), played Division II basketball at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; so that does not hurt. His resumé courts about as many goodwill or volunteerism thingys as you can count. That does not hurt, either. Really came on his final senior season in H.S. terms; may have been a bit overlooked for it. Said to be a fair-to-middling defender. And Lindy’s had him on their 2nd-string All-A.c.c. team pre-season. As this is a savvy, seasoned, gritty, gamey kinda One; and prolly one who is pretty close to being a fringe overseas Pro’. Plus he keeps mo‘ hairstyles than you!!! LOL… (UPDATE: …pretty much everything was down, shooting, in particular, has dropped, per a shopworn look here… ⇓).
• t-Fr., Kadin Shedrick is a 6′11″, 217 lb. raily looking C-P/F from Raleigh, Nc. last year. hoo has now gone out and weight-room recruited all the way up to a useful-looking 231 lbs. this year. Po’ Kadin was out with an: “Illness“ for parts of last year, God Help.  (Tho’ one vibe did say nothing 2020-2021 or cv19 related). All-A.c.c. Honor Roll member does not uva.edu hurt. Propper’s a.c.c.ordingly. Now back this year would-be Kadin’s 7 ppg, his 5.2 rpg, and his 63.4% r-sophomoric season relief frontcourt pitching from the bullpen. Which has now morphed into starting minutes of late. Godspeed to 247Sports 68th nationally ranked rim-protecting rebounder here; as his 2o22 digits are flirting with being at or about ≈200% up since this time last year. And a 2:1 betterment per season really does put in work long-term. Said to be a pretty fair seamstress or baseballer in H.S. (albeit one with a Goliath type strike-zone). Seems to be developing and feeling his way out on tape to me. Tho’ again, doubling your previous years’ vitals is trending in the right direction. And for a kid with a finesse tag that’s “it” strategically speaking. And do recall, Mr. Shedrick only took up hoops (full-time) at age 16… so, hoo knows where he is come 2o24? As Lindy’s describes him as a very ‘skillful’ baller. (UPDATE: is better, more efficacious on the offensive end, in particular, a baller on the come… trending ⇑ here).
• Jayden David Darrel Gardner is a 6′6″, 246 lb., true-Sr., final year transfer whom uva Pirated from East Carolina University this off-season. Big ole, meaty-looking P/F trapped in more of an S/F’s body; at least height/reach wise. American Athletic Conference First Team last year for E.c.u., where he was averaging 18.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 35.2 minutes per game. This year for hooVa Mister Gardner is netting you a team pacing: 14.5 ppg on a mutual team pacing: 6.8 rpg with a nifty looking and also team pacing: 51.7% overall. Now mix in a decent enuff 8o% on free-throwing and a useful enuff 33.3% on 3-pointing and you have a pretty complete baller on your hands with no real weakness to his tradecraft. Did Eye mention the meatiness, yet? As Jayden is a Jay-Z or real overload for most any modern era Wings or Threes down-low. A.A.C. Player of the Year for the Pirates two years back. A.A.C. Conference All-Academic Team to boot, so his Buccaneer G.P.A. does not have to walk the… plank. Where he set several Fr. year rec’s for E.c.u. and frankly stayed pretty much on his Fr. year level for the duration. This is better than backtracking— and less than progressing as well. Big-time scholastic rebounder (nearly 15 rpg, with 24 ppg). Curiously has shrunk 2″ and found ≅25 lbs. since high school. Where he had good North Carolina numbers, on a not exactly good team. Takes contact very well, gets to the charity stripe often enough for it too. Did Eye mention the mini-me Anthony Mason look, yet? Has run a bit hawt-n-cold of late… what with single-digits or mid to uppercase 20’s as scoring output goes. Is a little bit foul-prone due to the use of said chunkiness. Willing, bulky guy, prolly a De in American football terms in another life. Prolly an overseas Pro’ too… as his heft will give their finesse/Euro looks a hard way to go. (UPDATE: everything less free-throwing was off, some of it a bit more obvious as well, ⇓ moving or tired-looking baller here).
  

  

• Armaan Franklin is a 6′4″, 2o4 lb., third-year off-G by way of home-spun Indiana U. Where Franky was named to Academic All-Big Ten honors. And said to be a 3-n-D baller (3-point range married to good defensive looks). Before that, he was the 151st or a rummy of a baller nationally per 247Sports.com. Stayed dinged-up at Eye-U off/on and missed multi-week span(s) of time. 12.2 ppg with 2.8 rpg on 1.8 apg and an orange-paint chippy looking 26.6% from behind the arc is prolly not overachieving here. In particular, after netting just under 43% from deep for Indiana the last term. Has been better or more consistent of late… could be rounding into 2o22 forum after a chilly-looking 2o21 start. Pretty good defensive baller though (1.3 spg). Seems to play to his level of competition some nites (pro or con) as well. (UPDATE: has improved his 3-point-eye a bit of late, tho’ everything is basically on the level since we saw him last… ⇔ or flat here).
• NOT including previously… Reece Beekman, who is a 6′3″, 181 lb., super-Sophomoric year Pt.Guard who has the look-n-feel of more of a Lead-G; or of an outright leader his ownself. He has added some Joe Burrow -esque swagg to this team of late. Helping hooVa actually cop a bit of a ‘tude. Netting game-winners this year could be a sign; here, as well… the: 7.7 ppg with 3.4 rpg on a team pacing 4.9 apg could also be a clue. 34% long and 44% from da floor do not paint the total picture for this kid. As the 2.1 Swipes or 5-finger-discounts count enough to be ranked #1 in spg for the entire A.c.c. This from a kid that the only incoming (2o21-2o22) knock from my preseason magazines was: ‘range’ on his J. Although the fact that Mr. Beekman only pocked four, that’s (4)  Louisiana High School Athletic Associate (LHSAA) AAAAA or penta-A state championship blings in a row-row-row-row, mighta been a can ride clutch hint as well. Ditto Reecey being named the: 2o19-2o Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. This from an: Afro-American who lists: Game of Thrones as his favorite show… don’t read that too much. Tho’ does also list an already reposed older bro (Bryce), do read that (sadly) from time to time (may St.Julia (momma-bears name) bless!). uva.edu Dean’s List honoree, that counts too. 51st ranked recruit nationally with improving high school digits each and every year counts as well. Ergo, therefore, to Whit; I fear this kid is a keeper… he has that *it* factor to his courtship look-n-feel.

wahoo Weaknesses:

• Lotta Talent(s) and experience went Exit Stage Left here. And uVa does better at retention under TeeBee than most— to their credit.
• Break-ups are hard here; Rebounding is even harder… as this is a surprisingly un-spry team on the ‘Glass.
• ONLY eight, that’s (8) guys were listed by Lindy’s pre-season Roster count. Ergo, therefore, to wit, this is NOT an exceptionally deep Jacqueline Bisset club. Nor is it deep on experience itself.

french Bench: (depth=5 sometimes 6 deep)

Taine Murray, is a chalky-looking Shooting-G, from Auckland, New Zealand. (Some of the most U.S.M.C. grateful peeps in the World you will ever meet).  6′7″, 2o7 lb., rookie or nugget-year voter. Well, not here of course, though Eye tangent. Steinlagers for all… oh wait, back to the preview… Anyhoo… this hoo only fields two, that’s (2) National Championship blings, by way of Kiwi clubbing itself. Played for the: New Zealand Tall Blacks (hilarious rugby satire), in 2019-20 and was selected for the 2020 FIBA Asia Cup team. Competed for the Auckland Huskies of the New Zealand National Basketball League in 2019-20. Also, a member of the New Zealand Breakers on the Australian National Basketball League in 2021 So, experience and/or matriculation are not wanting here. T.Mur’ was only named College Sport Male Sports Person of the Year in 2o19 and only won the Earned Rosmini College Sports Person of the Year honors in 2o19. I may not know what that means… tho’ I do know you and I have combined to win that not, once. Said to have been discovered (of sorts) at the Nike Asian Basketball Camp. 4.o G.P.A. in high school and his poppa-bear (Carl), played professional rugby in New Zealand for Counties and Waikato (1987-95) and the All Blacks. Dang, mo’ Steinlagers here we comes. Said to be a marksman from 3-point-land (∼38.1% already) good for right at 2.3 ppg and .9 rpg in backcourt relief. A curious kid who has lived a neat-O life Globetrotting wise (born in: Hong Kong) already. (UPDATE: not much movement here, just a scosche downward tho’ nothing all that bad… ⇔ or even for it).

Yet another skyscraping pack-line jamming C, although may St.Nikhon bless this one’s, left-knee and get it all right. As Francisco Caffaro was done for the year last season. Thus, making this his r-Jr. debut at 6′13″, 242 lbs. of him— as ‘cisco has thoughtfully cut right at a 10-plate and a cuff as sinew or right-mass goes. And yet somehow found 1″ of verticality? As the second-third year El Trebo, Santa Fe, Argentina imported native baller has a wealth of F.I.B.A. international hoops experience having balled for his nation since before he could drive (legally) in the states or since age 15! Averaging 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest in doing so and that makes this 2020 big-man addition no small measure indeed. Although his numbers (4.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg alike on 57.1% for his career) have yet to emerge as some had expected from this skilled-big who is supposed to be able to score in close and crash the boards. Time=tell here… and so will leg-health. As f.Caffaro actually, is just starting to contribute this term, as all his numbers are up, nicely on a percentage basis recently… maybe he will make a springtime forward-facing move? (UPDATE: …has actually made an ⇑ move of late, good on him).

Kody Stattmann (6′8″ and 2oo lb., Seniorfic Swing). Kody is said to be inconsistent and in need of improving the range on his J (25% to start 2020 now all the way ZOOM chatting you up to a nifty 38.5% thus far from 3-point-land) Although this Aussie Wing (Bentley Park, Queensland) has a Greg Brady’s pasty ‘fro met some straightener mop-haircut, he is reported to be a pure scorer and he does dangle a gold medal from the 2017 FIBA Oceania Championships. Tho’ Kody had been sick/illness off/on last year, Godspeed on that. So, his development or percolation has trickled or been cupped for it. As Stattmann is an interesting kid to watch come latent 2022; as some say he has the potential to weaponize the Wing position for Tee.Bee. We will see here… as I’m not seeing a metric ton at: 3.1 ppg and 1.1 rpg subbin’ in thus far. (UPDATE: has moved northward a bit less shooting-overall, which is a strange brew or shot-selection mix (now only 34.2% overall) … Incomplete or “I” grade for it).

Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:

Number of french who could gay paris @Tech=mé·nage à trois, +1 or so...

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is…

…that it is best not to get too taken with you know hoo, or even you localized know whom.

This is not an elite fighting trim-looking hooVa menz hoops caliber squad. Kinda has a wimminz look-n-feel to it as well.

---

That said, if you were on the burnt-orange and Chicago-Maroon outside looking in, would you not be inclined to label our shooters as… “finesse“?

Or in other words… these are two kinda good to pretty good basketball clubs. And “same, as, foot-ball” (clap-clap-clapclapclap); if you put these two semi-goods together you might just get pretty dang close to striking one, great.

And yet neither of these sorta good squads has many straight goons who would truly club you to death to net the individual win.

That means one of these B— to B+++ caliber guys needs to go A+++ rivalry off.

(Or, it means, someone of a lesser letter-grade ilk will rise to the, occasion).

 ***

Our handy-dandy friend the so-called Forum Guide of Graham Houston fame is obscenely enuff only calling for a 22-point VomiT in this Monday Night Basketball match. When taken pro-rata this works out to a much more manageable looking –1.8333 deficit or about a single shot of separation in hooVa’s favor to overcome. The strangeling would be… that this Fourm Guide was never any closer than 3-full-shots (less the one head-to-head meeting earlier over in C’ville, Va.). Additionally, it was recently noticeably in hooVa favor, prior to that it was noticeably in VeeTee’s favor, and to begin it the year it was again noticeably in the boo-hoo’s favor. So, you will notice that the Fourm Guide might just be hinting that a wider margin -than is expected by most other members of the roundball prognosticenti- is more favorable than you think.

The annualized year-to-date vitals say that… VeeTee is up ~+2% in shooting percentage margin (all of this was on O); with V.P.I. up another kinda lucrative looking +11% in 3-point percentage margin (9% of which were courtesy of the O&M sharpshooting O), and Vah.Tech is up right at +2 in rebounding margin on Windex Wipes year-to-date. (hooVa is at the break-even point, so not a metric ton of separation fibrously exists here).

The most recent 5-game metrics say that… the Hokies are not up a noticeable +7% in shooting percentage margin (5/7ths was on O, tho’ D is a little better as well); in the whacky world (again), the Gobblers are now up +9% in 3-point percentage margin (at a backbreaking +19% better on O and yet –10% softer in 3-point halting on D!), and the Techmen are up +1 carom of backboarding in rebounding margin in the last couple of weeks. (Both teams are now positive in their margins, +3 for VeeTee and +2 from hooVa).

Armchair Pt.Guard’s:

O&M HOT HOT HOT!
Virginia Tech’s run has been fueled by an offense in high gear. During the surge, the Hokies have shot 52.1 percent from the field, including 48.8 percent (61 of 125) from beyond the arc!

BEING REGULAR… 1o1…
Ball movement has helped Tech get quality shots. In Saturday’s 71-59 win over Syracuse, the Hokies had 2o assists on 23 made baskets with just four turnovers. With really sharp high-post feeds to the rack last time out. Sweet hoops to watch…

HISTORICALLY TYPING…
virginia leads the series with Tech, 96-57, and has won five of the last six meetings, including a 54-52 on Jan. 12 when the cavs scored the final six points to seal the rivalry deal.

VeeTee is a .75 host; whereas france is .444 as a guest.
VeeTee is up ≈5% at the charity stripe for the year.
Veetee is +1 in R&R in the last fortnight of runs.

The Call...

No.77 Net Ranking virginia @ no.39 Net Ranking Virginia Tech:

Right now on Saturday afternoon scouting GeeTee getting back into this one here… and frankly the highly respectable Tony B still looks: “… a few bricks shy of a (Monticello) load” to me. (There are also a few ‘whispers’ of some hoo’ish practice yacked-up moments to boot).

Kinda like my hometown 1973 Stillers. Before the 1974 Draft loaded up with:  80% Hall of Famers in their 1st 5 picks.

As Tony B could use a Swann, Lambert, Swallworth, or Webster if he wants to be truly “Super” again any time soon.

–oOo–

That personnel squarely struck, this is a squirrely uva-hoops-team to me.

As just when I thought they were topped Tony went coaching the verb and they climbed back into the National Rankings. What with having won five of their last six, including clipping National Power departing Coach-K Duke in Durham and a very solid Miami Heatles @home.

That’s some verbiage indeed.
A mouf full as this Big Whistle goes.
Tony is good; better than his team to be, Frankly.
As in you do not do that as a hoover or as a… suck.

That means that an improved hooVa is an uncommon challenge, even in our very own Cassell. And as you saw above, it is their benching that is the home improvement here.

Nevertheless, this one is @away for the boo-hoo’s and Eye hopes that’s enuff to pass them the O&M crying towel on the Revenue Sports (2-1) VicTory Dance.

As frankly… Eye am expecting a ‘Super’ rivalry contest to erupt, here.

🦃 >>> 🏀 >>> 🇫🇷

 

(57% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=63, virginia=61

please support the VT F.C.A.!

“LETS GO!”

“Hokies!”

 bourbonstreet**