Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Virginia Tech

 NC STATE (14-7, 3-4) vs. VIRGINIA TECH (14-8, 5-3)

DATE: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 @ RBC Center, Raleigh, NC (19,722)

TIME: Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. EST

RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network. 

AIRTIME: 6:30 p.m. EST

TELEVISION: ESPNU

OPPONENT Virginia Tech and NC State have at least one thing in common. They play some close games. The Hokies went to overtime for the fourth time this season on Saturday to beat Virginia 72-65 at home.

Tech outscored the Cavaliers 18-11 in the extra period, including a 10-of-16 performance from the free-throw line.

Trailing by seven with less than six minutes to go, the Hokies rallied down the stretch and grabbed a 54-52 lead on two outstanding plays by Deron Washington. The senior forward ripped away a rebound on a missed shot by Virginia’s Sean Singletary. A few seconds later after by A.D. Vassalo missed a difficult layup, Washington jammed in the miss to give Tech a two-point lead with 13.9 seconds left.

Singletary tied the game at 54 on two free throws with 7.9 seconds remaining. Tech had a chance to win it in regulation, but J.T. Thompson and Malcom Delaney both missed point-blank attempts at the buzzer following a shot by Hank Thorns.

The Hokies dominated the overtime session, opening with a 10-2 run and then held off any hopes of a Virginia comeback by making free throws.

Tech’s victory was its third in-a-row, third in overtime and kept the surprising Hokies on the fringe in the race for the ACC regular season title at the halfway mark.

Who says you need an experienced team with veteran guards to win in the ACC? Virginia Tech is doing quite well without those key components.  Thorns and Delaney, two freshmen guards, are combining for 14.1 points, 5 rebounds and 6.3 assist a game this season. Both are among the ACC rookie assist leaders.

Delaney is shooting a respectable .379 from 3-point range and is second on the team in 3-point field goals and attempts (25-66) while Thorns continues to improve. In his last 19 games, Thorns has 60 assists against 35 turnovers. 

Another freshman, Jeff Allen, has been a major factor up front. The two-time ACC Rookie of the Week is averaging nearly 13 points and 7 rebounds in league games while shooting .528 from the field.  He has scored in double-figures in 16 of his 20 appearances this season and has 249 points. Last season’s top freshman scorer for the Hokies was Nigel Munson with only 97 points.

When Allen was suspended for two games for bumping referee Zelton Steed during a loss at Georgia Tech on Jan. 19, Thompson stepped up. The freshman started the next 3 games and averaged 12.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and shot 68 percent from the field.

The veterans have also performed well.

Vassallo is sixth in the league in scoring in ACC games (16.6). He’s the Hokies top long-range threat and has accounted for 47 percent of the team’s 3-point field goals. Vassallo leads the team in 3-point attempts (135), makes (54) and percentage (.400). The junior small forward can also drive the ball effectively which makes him tough to defend.

Washington is possibly the most athletic player in the ACC and has improved every season. His leaping ability is extraordinary. Plus, he rebounding and attacking the basket better than at any time in his career. Against ACC teams, Washington is sixth in the league in rebounding (8.8).

In his last 3 games, Washington has averaged 19.3 points, 10 rebounds and nearly 10 free throw attempts.

Cheick Diakite, the Hokies veteran big man, knows his role as a rebounder and screener. He’s also a very good shot blocker (1.6) and must be respected for his interior defense.

The Hokies have struggled at times shooting and scoring. In ACC games they’re shooting only .409 from the field and .272 from the 3-point line while averaging 73.5 points, but they defend very well.

Virginia Tech is holding ACC opponents to only 74 points and 42 percent shooting from the field. Those numbers are among the best in the league.

Good rebounding is another of the Hokies strong points. They get back 40 percent of their missed shots in ACC games and have a +6.4 rebounding margin. Only UNC grabs more rebounds per league game than Virginia Tech.

There’s also an intangible to add to the Hokies depth and athleticism. They play VERY hard. They’re not afraid to make plays, good or bad, and they won’t be intimidated. Tech was extremely physical in an 81-64 loss at home to Duke on Jan. 24.

Virginia Tech is 3-5 (2-2 ACC) away from home this season. Both of the Hokies’ ACC road wins have come in overtime. NC State has won the last five meetings in the series, including a 72-64 victory in last year’s ACC Tournament.

PROBABLE VIRGINIA TECH STARTERS

No.  Name               Pos.  Ht.   Class PPG   RPG   APG

00    Jeff Allen        F     6'7   Fr.   12.5  7.8   1.0*

13    Deron Washington F     6'7   Sr.   12.9  6.8   2.3

40    A.D. Vassallo     F     6’6   Jr.   15.9  5.0   1.6

23    Malcolm Delaney   G     6’2   Fr.   8.5   2.8   3.2

10    Hank Thorns       G     5’9   Fr.   5.6   2.2   3.1

 

TOP RESERVES:

33    J.T Thompson      F     6’6   Fr.   4.5   3.3   --

21    Louis Witcher     G     6'9   So.   2.4   2.0   --

02    Dorenzo Hudson    G     6'5   Fr.   4.2   1.1   --

34    Cheick Diakite    F     6'9   Jr.   2.5   3.3   1.6*

 A WIN--Would be State’s second in-a-row and fourth in the last six games. The Pack would pull even in the ACC with a 4-4 record and improve to 15-7 overall. State would beat the Hokies for the sixth straight time in the series and for the third straight time in Raleigh. The Wolfpack would improve to 10-2 at home and 3-1 in home ACC games and snap Virginia Tech’s 3-game winning streak. The Hokies would drop to 14-9 overall and 5-4 in the ACC. Duke to ACC expansion, this will be the only meeting between Virginia Tech and NC State during the regular season.

A LOSS--Would be State’s third in the last five games and would drop the Pack to 14-8 overall and 3-5 in the ACC. The Wolfpack would lose for the third time at home this season and for the second time in ACC competition at the RBC Center. Virginia Tech would win its fourth straight game, snap a five game losing streak to State in the series and beat the Pack for the first time in Raleigh. The Hokies would improve to 15-8 overall and 6-3 in the ACC to stay in third place in the league. Duke to ACC expansion, this will be the only meeting between Virginia Tech and NC State during the regular season.

START WITH THIS State’s first half performance against Wake Forest on Sunday was unlike its recent mode of operation. The Deacons held the Pack to 30 percent shooting and only 24 points. In the pervious four games, State combined to average 37.8 first half points (151) and shot 18-34 from three-point range (.529). Slow starts were a major problem prior to that stretch.  In four games from January 5^th through January 15^th, State averaged only 20.3 points (81) and shot 3-of-32 from the 3-point arc (.093).

GRANT HAS BEEN GREATGavin Grant has had some ups and downs this season, but lately he has been outstanding. In his last five games, the senior forward has averaged 17.4 points (87) while shooting .532 from the field (25-47). That includes a 26-point outing at Duke on Jan. 31. In ACC games, Grant leads the Pack in scoring (14.9) and 3-point percentage (.550). Three times this season, Grant’s heroics in the final seconds have won games for the Wolfpack. His steal and layup with 2.1 seconds left in overtime gave State a 79-77 victory over Miami on Jan 19. Grant’s free throws in the final seconds against Villanova and Davidson were also game-winners.

BIG BEN Ben McCauley’s one-handed slam at the buzzer was the game-winner in State’s thrilling 67-65 win over Wake Forest on Sunday. With the clock running down, Gavin Grant launched a 3-point shot from the right wing. It missed, but McCauley timed his leap and slammed it through left-handed. McCauley finished the game with 11 points all in the second half. With Brandon Costner struggling, McCauley has started the last 3 games at power forward while averaging 8.0 points (24), 3 rebounds (9) 2 assist (6) while playing an average of 29.3 minutes (88).

 

BIG TIME ROOKIEJ.J. Hickson was chosen as the ACC Rookie of the Week for the third time on Jan. 28^th after he averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds in games against Georgia Tech and FSU. The freshman center, who leads all ACC rookies in scoring, recorded his fourth consecutive double-double and seventh of the season against Wake Forest on Sunday with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Hickson continues to lead the ACC in field goal percentage (.604) and tops the Pack in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots.

 

DOUBLE-FIGURE FELLS Courtney Fells has scored in double-figures in 6-of-7 ACC games this season and is averaging 14.7 points in league play while shooting 39-70 from the field (.557) and 19-38 from the 3-point arc (.500). His clutch 3-pointer with 18-seconds to play in overtime was a big part of State’s come-from-behind victory over Miami on Jan. 19. He scored a career-high 23 points vs. Georgia Tech on Jan. 23. Three days later at FSU, Fells hit two game-tying 3-pointers down the stretch to help fuel State’s victory. The junior guard is also State’s best perimeter defender.

DIALED IN FROM DOWNTOWN After shooting only 9-of-27 (.333) from the 3-point arc in its first two ACC games, State has the range. In its last 5 outings, the Pack has shot .430 from 3-point land (37-86).

ENEMY BOMBING ACC opponents have combined to shoot 40 percent from the 3-point arc against the Wolfpack this season (46-115). UNC shot the best long-range percentage against the Pack (.545) on 6-11 from the bonusphere. Overall, State is giving up 77.1 points and .470 field goal shooting in ACC games.

A VERY IMPORTANT POINT Due to a season-ending knee injury to Farnold Degand on December 23rd, the Wolfpack has been forced to rotate two inexperienced point guards. Freshman Javier Gonzalez and sophomore transfer Marques Johnson are learning the hard wayon the job. In the last 5 games, all of Gonzalez’s numbers have improved. During that stretch, he’s averaged 6.6 points (33), 3.2 rebounds (16), 3.6 assist (18) and only 1.8 turnovers (9) while coming off the bench.

HOLD THAT LINE Free throw shooting has been a big weapon for the Wolfpack. State has made more free throws this season than its opponents have attempted (371-to-294). Overall, State is shooting 70 percent from the stripe. The Pack has outscored its opponents 354-to-197 at the foul line this season but only 109-92 in ACC games.

REBOUNDING REPORT State has struggled with rebounding this season. In ACC games, the Pack is 10^thin the league in rebounding margin (-4.1) and has outrebounded only two ACC opponents (Georgia Tech and Clemson). Oddly enough, Wake Forest held a 17-13 offensive rebounding edge over the Pack, but State outscored in the Deacons 13-9 in second-chance points on Sunday.

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North Carolina State University Athletics

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