The Upside- Virginia Tech | Syracusefan.com

The Upside- Virginia Tech

SWC75

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- This game was the basketball version of fracking: we had to dig down deep to get the last bit of energy to win this and it’s to the team’s credit that they were able to do that.

- We couldn’t throw it in the ocean at the beginning of the game but made the big shots at the end to win it. If you’ve got a choice of one or the other….we got the best of that deal.

- Rebounding was key and we won that battle 44-37. Tyler Roberson had another huge game on the boards and another double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. JB made a great point in his presser: Roberson is allowed to have a game like that because the other team is doubling our guards, leaving him to dominate inside. One of many ways that the presence of our senior guards has an effect on the game that won’t show up in their own numbers.

- I wouldn’t have said that Michael Gbinije had a big game but he wound up with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. And he faced tough defensive pressure the whole game but had only 3 turnovers in 43 minutes. And he hit that you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me straight-on 25 footer with 34 seconds left, (and only 12 seconds into the shot clock) that tied it up so we could win it in overtime. Can you imagine the amount of confidence that requires? And the amount of work it takes to gain that confidence?

- Mal Richardson got off to as bad a start as Trevor Cooney, (but will not be as criticized for it) but wound up 13 points, including 3 three pointers. He hit the one in overtime that sealed the deal.

- Ah, yes, Trevor Cooney. After his so-bad-you-can’t-believe-it first half, he hit some key free throws down the stretch to help us tie it, then hit the three that have us the lead we never surrendered in overtime. He also did something impressive that I haven’t seen from him before: when he realized it wasn’t hit night to make shots, he deferred to his teammates and only attempted three of them in the second half, making a three that sat us down and then letting his teammates carry the load while he re-grouped for the big effort at the end. He didn’t try to shoot his way out of it. Meanwhile, he kept the ball moving and continued to paly excellent defense. And see above for the impact of his presence on Roberson.

- Tyler Lydon struggled mightily on defense and fouled out but still had a productive game with 13 points and 6 rebounds. He was 4 for 4 from the foul line while some of this teammates couldn’t find the basket.

- Speaking of foul shooting, Mike Gbinije got a reputation as an unreliable free throw shooter early in the season but slowed down his routine a bit and has gotten pretty good at the line: 24 for 30 (80%) over his last 8 games. Again, the product of hard work.

- I couldn’t figure out why JB left Lydon in there to get knocked around by Tech’s big guys as long as he did. When DaJuan Coleman went in, the game turned around. Suddenly they had a harder time scoring inside and we had an easier time getting the rebound. DC had 6 rebounds and a block in 16 minutes of play. He also showed ‘em how by hitting 3 of 4 from the line. Every point counted in this one.

- Happiness is being one of the ones who stayed when your team make a great comeback.

16-8 (6-5) with 7+ to go…and only 1 more win needed to guarantee our 46th consecutive winning season!

LET’S GO ORANGE!
 
- This game was the basketball version of fracking: we had to dig down deep to get the last bit of energy to win this and it’s to the team’s credit that they were able to do that.

- We couldn’t throw it in the ocean at the beginning of the game but made the big shots at the end to win it. If you’ve got a choice of one or the other….we got the best of that deal.

- Rebounding was key and we won that battle 44-37. Tyler Roberson had another huge game on the boards and another double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. JB made a great point in his presser: Roberson is allowed to have a game like that because the other team is doubling our guards, leaving him to dominate inside. One of many ways that the presence of our senior guards has an effect on the game that won’t show up in their own numbers.

- I wouldn’t have said that Michael Gbinije had a big game but he wound up with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. And he faced tough defensive pressure the whole game but had only 3 turnovers in 43 minutes. And he hit that you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me straight-on 25 footer with 34 seconds left, (and only 12 seconds into the shot clock) that tied it up so we could win it in overtime. Can you imagine the amount of confidence that requires? And the amount of work it takes to gain that confidence?

- Mal Richardson got off to as bad a start as Trevor Cooney, (but will not be as criticized for it) but wound up 13 points, including 3 three pointers. He hit the one in overtime that sealed the deal.

- Ah, yes, Trevor Cooney. After his so-bad-you-can’t-believe-it first half, he hit some key free throws down the stretch to help us tie it, then hit the three that have us the lead we never surrendered in overtime. He also did something impressive that I haven’t seen from him before: when he realized it wasn’t hit night to make shots, he deferred to his teammates and only attempted three of them in the second half, making a three that sat us down and then letting his teammates carry the load while he re-grouped for the big effort at the end. He didn’t try to shoot his way out of it. Meanwhile, he kept the ball moving and continued to paly excellent defense. And see above for the impact of his presence on Roberson.

- Tyler Lydon struggled mightily on defense and fouled out but still had a productive game with 13 points and 6 rebounds. He was 4 for 4 from the foul line while some of this teammates couldn’t find the basket.

- Speaking of foul shooting, Mike Gbinije got a reputation as an unreliable free throw shooter early in the season but slowed down his routine a bit and has gotten pretty good at the line: 24 for 30 (80%) over his last 8 games. Again, the product of hard work.

- I couldn’t figure out why JB left Lydon in there to get knocked around by Tech’s big guys as long as he did. When DaJuan Coleman went in, the game turned around. Suddenly they had a harder time scoring inside and we had an easier time getting the rebound. DC had 6 rebounds and a block in 16 minutes of play. He also showed ‘em how by hitting 3 of 4 from the line. Every point counted in this one.

- Happiness is being one of the ones who stayed when your team make a great comeback.

16-8 (6-5) with 7+ to go…and only 1 more win needed to guarantee our 46th consecutive winning season!

LET’S GO ORANGE!

"This game was the basketball version of fracking: we had to dig down deep to get the last bit of energy to win this"

An accurate summary of the game.
 
I think Lydon got the extra time because he may have been the first SU player to hit a 3 in the game. Maybe that stuck with JB after so many misses.
 

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