2008-09 Basketball Game Preview: Longwood

Coming off yet another tough loss, the Hokies will be back in Cassell
Coliseum on Sunday to take on the Longwood Lancers. Longwood is a second year
Division I program who on paper will not give Tech any trouble. However, they
are probably more advanced for a second year program than anyone could
reasonably expect.

Longwood is 5-4 on the year, with wins over UVA-Wise, Gardner-Webb,
Maryland-Eastern Shore, Delaware State and James Madison. Their losses have come
against Norfolk State, West Virginia, Kentucky and Southeast Missouri State.
Here is a look at their projected starting lineup.

The Lancers have a couple of quality players in that lineup. Dana Smith isn’t a
great shooter, only hitting 11.8% of his three-point attempts this year.
However, he has a very strong build and can put the ball on the floor and get to
the basket. He is Longwood’s top player this year, though Ryan Bogan isn’t far
behind.

Bogan
is Longwood’s top three-point shooter. He is 20-of-54 (37%) on the year, and he
isn’t afraid to put them up from the outside. Bogan is a junior college transfer
in his second year in the program.

The third starting guard, Kevin Swecker, has played well for Longwood this
year. He’s a solid spot-up shooter, though he’s not going to wow anyone with
this athleticism.

Longwood uses two players at their center spot, which is basically just a
small forward. Billy Robinson gets the start there on most occasions, but Antwan
Williams has been impressive there as a freshman thus far, averaging 5.4 points
and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Hokies should be able to dominate on the inside
against Longwood. This is easily the smallest team they’ve faced this season.

The Lancers could potentially have some major help back for this game. Last
season’s leading scorer, Kirk Williams, has missed every game thus far due to
academics. Longwood’s first semester is now over, so Williams could be eligible
as soon as Sunday’s game at Virginia Tech. We’ll have to wait and see whether or
not he takes the court.

Williams averaged 16.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists last year. Over
the final 13 games of the season, he raised his game even more, averaging 17.9
points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Williams is long and athletic, and though
he’s not a great shooter, he is Longwood’s best player when he is on the court.

Longwood is not a great shooting team overall. Through nine games, they are
shooting just 40.4% from the field and 27.9% from three-point range.

The Lancers have committed 129 turnovers this year. However, their opponents
have turned the ball over 177 times. Longwood is forcing nearly 20 turnovers per
game. They have a small, quick lineup that can get in the passing lanes.

Despite how well they force turnovers, Longwood doesn’t appear to have the
horses on the inside to be able to knock off the Hokies. Players like Jeff Allen
and Victor Davila should be able to have big games on the inside, and none of
the Lancers’ perimeter defenders can matchup with the size and strength of A.D.
Vassallo.