Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech basketball preview:

# R.P.I. Virginia Tech @ # R.P.I. Georgia Tech:

To anyone still reading this…………………THANKS!

No really!

As I realize that there is not much copy to cover on a 9 wins downtrodden Virginia Tech hoops team folks. So my humility and I would like to thank you for being adhesive to my work and sticking it out.

Georgia Tech is sticking it out as well, at 14-16 overall and 9-7 at home. This will be senior day for the Yellow-Jackets and unless these bees win the A.c.c. men’s basketball tourney, they -same as coach J’s and Vah.Tech- will be spring broke this time next week.

So there may or may not be a whole helluva a lot for either Tech left to play for in this one. Though this is precisely where you learn about what a kid is all about. When nobody is watching (or reading); or caring and it may seem like what happens next matters nil; that’s when you find out who you really are, “…that’s what it’s all about.”

Georgia Tech Backcourt: (returning starters=2 of 3)

  1. Trae Golden: cool first name for a kid who has prolly not been carded in years, quite plural. Trae is a Tennessee Volunteer transfer for what is only listed as “persona reasons” in his biography; and is eligible right-away thanks to a benevolent NC2A residence wavier. Had a solid if unspectacular career at UT, and is now leading his new team with 12.9 ppg and likewise leading the Jackets in dimes (assists) with 2.9 per contest. Does get to the FT line as Trae leads Georgia Tech in FTA’s at 138 on 78%. Has a history of tight hamstrings and some cartilage work as well; so he tends to play (and look) kinda stiff or robotic at times. Has been battling a groin injury of late and has gone o-for in two of his last five games accordingly. Has serviceable range on his 3-ball (31%) and is known to be a clutch performer. The book does read that his handles need work (leads GT in turnovers) and yet this kid has prolly given you about all he’s got –gotta respect an overcomer such as this.
  2. Corey Heyward: Mr. Heyward is one of those if not for tough luck he’d have no luck at all cases. This kid is a tough, hard-nosed, grinding competitor who is also –and sadly- a twice A.c.l. teariee; God Bless (twice) on that. Though he is also on course (pun intended) to become a twice all-A.c.c. Academic team member so there is that post-basketball. At this state of the season Corey gets you 1 ppg and 1.6 rpg though he has been recently inserted into the Georgia Tech starting line-up after having been a 15 mpg baller for much of the year. Corey does however bring the team leading stroke from range at 41% from beyond the arc; so there is that as increased perimeter marksmanship goes. Has a brother (Cameron) who balls for the Pittsburgh Stillers, and his father is Craig “Ironhead” Hayward of Pitt Panther and later N.f.l. fame! So you know he has the sporting family tree in his favor.
  3. Marcus Georges-Hunt: M.G.H. is second in scoring at 11.1 ppg and runs down 4.2 rpg to go along with 2.1 apg. Decent numbers, though not exactly starting ‘tweener number unless you are only a FT behind the leading scorer in the first place. Georges-Hunt has serviceable 3-point range at precisely one outta every three from distance. Does have a bit of strength at 222 lbs. and he was the only A.c.c. freshman to lead his team in scoring just a year ago. Likewise has a slashing good element to his game, and will explode to the rim at times with 121 FTA’s on the season thus far. Member of the A.c.c.’s All-Academic Team, propers on that. Was on a few pre-season all-A.c.c. on-court watch-lists as well. Left high school as more of a true S/F, and is now become (with increased ranginess) more of a ‘tweener. Does employ a knack of late game theatrics and is cool under fire; so be mindful of that if this one stays close; late.

Georgia Tech Frontcourt: (starters back=1 of 2)

  1. Daniel Miller, Miller is a big boy, just ask his 6’11.5’’ 275 lb. metrics if you don’t believe me; and he looks bigger than that on film. Basically an all-A.c.c. defensive team kinda guy with 2.5 bpg, to go with a lotta dunking and put-backs worth of 11.2 ppg and 7.8 rebounds on a lofty 59% from the field. Excellent block-out specialists that eats sleeps and drinks fundamentals. Soft-hands for a legit Big, and does have range out to about 10-12’. Daniel has started an amazing streak of 123 consecutive starts coming into this one, so durability is not a question mark for this Atlantic Coast ironman, nor is experience by the way. Has an uncle who was a former World Record Holder in track-n-field hurdlers in the 1930’s and is a honor roll student. Miller is a bit foul prone at times due to antagonistic defense of the Georgia Tech hoop; so watch for that to potentially unfold; as this Yellow-Jacket front-line does have some credible venom to it.
  2. Robert Carter, Jr., unselfish player who is said to have a complete skill-set as a Big. Has been hampered by a history of cartilage (meniscus tear) in his left-knee. Including a tear right at the end of December this very season; God bless on that. Was the 7th ranked P/F outta high school according to ESPN.com. Has the rep’ for being an aggressive scorer and finisher on the low-blocks, seems to have a certifiable edge to his game on film; unlike most dogs today that are all bark and no bite. Not the most athletic guy in the world, and this hampers his lateral movement in terms of his defensive presence (1.1 bpg). Though Carter does accumulate –and methinks that is a good word- 10.4 ppg and a pretty sizey and team leading 8.4 boards a night. Does have just a little bit of 3-point range (28%) and yet his overall shooting (47%) seems like it could be a few tics better. Carter is very possibly some measure of all-A.c.c. before he is all said and done at Gah.Tech with two years left to go.

Georgia Tech Bench: (depth=3)

  1. Quinton Stephens, tall, lanky, beanpole Forward (6’9’’ and 184 lbs.!) who simply must get stronger. Now that being said, it is also said that Quinton is legit. A legitimate mult-spot player (2 through 4 if need be); a legitimate Wing with legitimate length, athleticism, and basketball I.Q. That’s no bad combo, if someone can only help this kid mix in a Big Mac or three. Congruently, Lindy’s magazine yet so far as to label the ceiling on this kid “as stratospheric”, providing he can find a solid 30 lbs. of muscle. Kinda looks just a bit like President Obama in the face, although his whispy slender build has not left him the CinC of anything D-1 just yet. Right now Q’ checks in with 3.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg on a relatively low 39% from the floor as a rook’. Nevertheless, that “stratospheric’ tag on Mr. Stephens sure is a large one, and you might wanna check back in a couple of years or after a few thousand calories.
  2. Kammeon Holsey, good looking frontcourter with that signature lean-muscle mass that is naturally all jacked-up. Kammeron antes up with 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in relief and that’s not half bad from an Atlantic Coast post substitute. Not much of a vertical defender (o.2 bpg) and has slightly regressed after having been a pretty nifty sixth-man last year for Coach Gregory. Does not appear to be the same player post A.c.l. surgery; Godspeed here! Extremely rarefied single A high school player of the year back in 2009. Nice shooter from the field, nearly always at or above .55% at Georgia Tech.
  3. Chris Bolden: Chris is an aggressive scoring lead-G with a scholastic rep’ as being one of the best prep shooters in the nation coming outta high school. Said to possess a worker-bee (if you will pardon the pun) mentality and is therefore something of a gym rat –as most great shooter are by trade. Football star in high school who wants to be known as Coach Bolden when his playing day are finished; which tells you a lot about his mental approach right there. That said, Chris is reputing for having never meet a shot he did not like, or would not take. So shot selection could have something to do with his 29% overall mark this campaign. Right now Chris nets you 5.8 ppg and scrapes up 2.4 rpg as well; though he goes though a lot to produce that little, as confidence is not a concern in this one.

This Georgia Tech game means what?

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CBS late night host anyone?

Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
So I just looked at our Injury Report for Saturday, one could argue that we’ve got a starting-5 of sorts, listed as “QUESTIOABLE” or less for this tip-off vs. the Yellow Jackets down in the ATL. Smitty, C.J.,  medium-Ben, Raines and our yet to ball German import-G, all likely to not play all things being equal on a 9 up 2o down men’s hoops team.


As untenable as this will read; the Forum Guide is actually predicting a Virginia Tech victory; as our Hokies have done better vs. recent in-common head-to-head opponents. In point of fact, is say our Tech will win by 5.3 points! And yes, I realize that reads absurd. Although this is also a sloppy Wreck team in terms of handles (at #311th worst in the nation at turnovers, with -2.2); that and the science-fact that J’s boys are 5.1% thriftier in FG percentage defense allowed in these two team’s last five games gives our Tech a chance.

***

Though something happened along the way to the candy-store up a College Park last time out to upset the O&M flavored apple-cart. Our Hokies were right there with the Terps, toe-to-toe, in the proverbial phone booth; even landing a counter-punch or three. Or so it seemed for the opening stanza of play. Then halftime set and in we came charging out as a lame-ass quarter-horse gone gelding, or less. A 36-18 football score beat down in the second-half says so, as it sure looks to me like we are the Tech who has spit the bit.

(68% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech
=44, Georgia Tech=65

LETS GO!

Hokies!

 bourbonstreet**