The Hokies played their worst game of the season and got blown out by Colorado State 88-52 in Las Vegas on Sunday night. Tech dropped to 9-3 on the season with the loss, while the Rams improved to 10-2.
Erick Green was Virginia Tech’s offense, scoring 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting. Of Tech’s four assists during the game, Green had three of them. He has now scored 20 or more points in all 12 games this season, and currently leads the nation in scoring.
Jarell Eddie chipped in with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, but he was the only other Hokie to reach double figures. Robert Brown suffered through a miserable trip to Las Vegas. He failed to score in both games this weekend, and even managed to airball a free throw on Sunday night.
Cadarian Raines failed to score in two games last week against Mississippi Valley State and Georgia Southern, but rebounded with a big 16-point, 9-rebound effort on Saturday night against Bradley. However, he was a no-show again on Sunday night, finishing with just two points.
Colorado State continuously beat Virginia Tech’s traps and double teams and shot the lights out from the outside, going 11-of-24 from three-point range. They turned what was a six-point game at halftime into a complete blowout.
Virginia Tech returns to action on Saturday, December 29 when they travel to Salt Lake City to take on BYU. Tipoff is scheduled for 2pm, and the game will be televised by ESPNU.
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This is Seth’ s offense all over again. But, what is worse, is that CSU pushed Tech around the court. Not your typical touchy ACC officiating, but Not unfair. Big tough team that passed well and took it to us. Tech looked intimidated. J J NEEDS to scrap the trap defense. We give up too many easy 3s. Tech has .morphed into last years team without the toughness. It drives me crazy to watch Tech bring the ball upcourt and then stand around for ten seconds clearing out for Green. The problems go beyond just having cold shooting nights. The trap has to go and run an offense that Tech ran earlier. Tech also needs to toughen up.
“Of Tech’s 4 assists during the game, Green had three of them”. Um, I didn’t see the game, but James Johnson better get back to the idealistic view of this team that won them 7 games in a row. That is: Fast paced teamwork. Looks like it’s Greenberg’s offense again, where nobody really moves without the ball, nobody moves the ball quickly, and everyone just looks to shoot one on one against someone. Sure, they aren’t deep at all, but c’mon. Fearful much? 4 assists? In the first 7 games, everyone was involved and it was team play. Now it seems that’s over. If they want to recapture what they were doing, I don’t care who is playing, they have got to re-commit themselves to the style of play they started the season with. Defensively? Obviously not very good. But their defense hasn’t really been good all year anyways. It’s their offense that they depend on. Move the ball quickly and don’t be afraid to shoot, but don’t force it either. They have to get that back or we’re headed south for good.
Ouch!! That’s beyond the woodshed. 36 points is a spanking.
Back to the drawing board.
one thing about getting on players for not scoring. at some point it is a game of +/-. Raines can’t be criticized for not scoring if Green is shooting. yes, there are offensive rebounds to be had. But basically the more than some players touch the ball, the less than others touch the ball. Basic math. So i won’t get on certain players as being no-shows when we all know that Green, Brown, and Eddie are going to take the majority of the shots and the expetation for Raines, Barksdale and company are simply to screen and try to figure out when the guards will shoot so they might be in position to get an offensive rebound.
Some players are not going to produce numbers when other players are going to dominate the ball.
Eric seems to be pressing himself too much. Taking too many quick off balanced shots
Eric leads the nation in scoring….the Hokies have much larger concerns.
It’s more important to lead the nation in scoring % and turnover/assist ratio than to lead in ppg.
Exactly. Green wasn’t working as hard the first 7 games. He was sharing it and being a play-maker for others. That rubbed off and everyone else was playing better. Green seems to have become Delaney. He HAS to trust his team again and get everyone playing fast. That doesn’t mean “shoot fast” it means playing fast and together. Green is a great asset but he’s starting to become a big part of the reason this team is regressing and neither Johnson or Green see it at this point.
So what about JJ’s assertion early in the season about how nice it is to have a starting lineup where everyone is a good shooter and the team can have balanced scoring, so opposition can’t key on one 1 guy? Turns out the outside shooting has been horrendous now that they are playing REAL Div 1 teams. What gives?
These guys weren’t going to suddenly become shooters. There is only one true shooter that gets PT and that is Eddie. teh rest are/were scorers, i.e. they manufacture thier points in a variety of ways but typically not thru pure shooting ability.
Everyone knew going into thsi season that scoring points (and figuring where those points were going to come from) was one of the 3 big issues facing this team. I’m certainly not surprised that Brown isn’t shooting well and that the bigs can’t score around the basket.
Brown’s issues are mental…he’s shown through prep school and during his career that he CAN shoot the ball very well…but he’s a true streak shooter, and right now his confidence has COMPLETELY bottomed out.
Embarrassing for the team. Too bad that it was televised.
Did you note the very crisp passing of CSU? Wow! They really moved the ball around. Tech’s shot selection was as bad as it gets … just throw it up from anywhere under any circumstance. Geez.
I hope that the coach and team learn something from watching the film.
You are what you are, a not very talented undermanned team.