I've acknowledged the Cavs are an elite team this year. They are a well balanced and well drilled team that does everything well. Bennett is a really sharp coach.They truly look like a Final 4 team with a decent shot at the Championship.
Even the great Ken Pomeroy thinks so. #2 team, #5 offense, #3 defense.
I've also pointed out the Hokies are a thin team as far as depth goes and now playing their 6th game without their floor leader Robinson who was a great defender and scorer who could really shoot it from deep. Every team feels a loss of that magnitude and has to adjust. That takes some time for players to acclimate to their new roles.
I just wanted everyone to know I'm aware of the situation at stake tonight.
The main reason I played VPI is because it is a situational spot that has been good to me. No different than continuing to fade the Mountaineers or playing Duke, Nevada, Zaga and under, or playing against the Cal Gummy Bears and the Xavier Mousekateers on a regular basis.
Buzz Williams, and the Hokies in revenge spots has been golden.
VT is 13-7 su and 15-5 ats their last 20 games at Cassell Coliseum in revenge mode.
VT is 8-1 ats at home vs the Cavs in revenge.
VT is 11-2 su and 13-0 ats as a HOME REVENGE DOG
VT is 12-1 su this year at home. Losing to a good Louavul team after Robinson had went down.
Last 3 years these two have split the series.
These are just trends, history. Players have moved on that were part of these. But the trends do point out a pattern of behavior. They show Buzz Williams is not only a good coach but a great motivator. It's still my belief the fundamental matchups on the floor will decide the game.
The Hokies are still #12KP, #9 offense, #32 defense. They've held 11 teams to 60 points or less only giving up 61.1 ppg.
Offensively, they shoot at 49%, 42% from 3. Granted Robinson was a factor in accumulating these lofty stats. But the Hokies still remain a capable and dangerous team.
What do the Hokies have to do to win here tonight? Well, they have to do everything better than they have so far since Robinson departed.
Blackshear has to have a big game. Everything goes thru him. He's their best defender, scorer, passer, and playmaker. If he gets in foul trouble I'm in trouble here and so are the Hokies.
Alexander-Walker is also key on the ball tonight at point guard. Him and Bede have to step up and play well tonight. They've been improving over the last 5 games adjusting to their new roles on the team. All 5 starters-Blackshear, Alexander-Walker, Bede, Outlaw, and Hill will have to be iron men tonight and play about the whole 40 minutes.
Make no mistake this is a heated rivalry. The 81 points the Cavs dropped on VT in JPJ was the most since 2006. Believe me the bitterness of that has lingered in the Hokies. They come out fighting tonight. Is it enough that the shorthanded Hokies take down the hated Cavs? I can't say that's a defenite. I can't even say it's a high probability. Just a gamblers instinct, a hunch, a feeling I have with some historical evidence to support it and a game bunch of Hokies playing for pride tonight, as well as a boost in their Madness status.
Maybe it's just indigestion.
If Robinson was playing I'd be going in Large in this spot tonight. He's not. So just a small play for me. I'm willing to pay to see if the Cavs can sweep them. UVA has some real advantages here tonight.
I love games like this. I'm sure all you real Hoops junkies do.
Live home dog. Takin' the points.
The only people playing on the Hokies tonight are Pyrats,degenerates, drunks, questionably shady people that think they're sharp and the even shadier PEOPLE HOLDING ALL THAT ACTION TONIGHT.
Bolta
If you can't close you can't cover.