Virginia Tech Hammers Coppin State 97-57

Virginia Tech
Jalen Cone had 18 points for Virginia Tech against Coppin State. (AP Photo / MATT GENRTY, The Roanoke Times, Pool)

After starting 0-6 from beyond the three-point line, Virginia Tech (6-1) made 20 of its last 31 from long range on the way to a 97-57 rout of Coppin State (1-6).

“Our team needed to see some things go in the basket,” Head Coach Mike Young said. “I don’t think it’s anything deep-seeded with what we’re doing offensively. Clemson is pretty good on that end, as is Penn State. We just got some opportunities that we hadn’t had in the last couple of weeks and it was good to see the skies open up.”

Outside of the Hokies’ upset win against Villanova, when they shot 10 of 20 from three-point-range, Tech entered Saturday night’s game against the Eagles shooting just 29% from outside. The explosion from three-point range is a much-needed development as the Hokies gear up for ACC competition.

Tech was led by sophomores Jalen Cone and Nahiem Alleyne who each canned five three-pointers on their way to 18 points. Alleyne is now second on the team with 12.3 points per game.

“He’s good, he’s a really good basketball player. On the ball and off of the ball, he’s probably the most responsible defender that we have,” Young said. “I think for him it’s just being consistent and doing it day-in and day-out. That’s what really good players do.”

The freshmen also got involved as the game began to get out of hand, including the first real action for sharp-shooter Darius Maddox. He lived up to his billing as the former four-star recruit was 3-of-3 from deep, scoring the first nine points of his collegiate career.

Top recruit Joe Bamisile also contributed with nine points on 3-4 shooting. Bamisile entered Saturday shooting 1-13 from the field in his limited action early in the season.

“I have strong opinions about Bamisile and Maddox,” Young said. “Maddox played a little bit more, and he’s just so much further along defensively. He comes in and bangs his first three that he took. Bamisile is an ultra-talented person who scores easily. He’s a good basketball player. Those guys are going to stay the course and hang in there.”

Leading scorer Keve Aluma also stayed consistent with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Hokies. He went 2-of-2 from deep after missing his last seven since arriving home from Connecticut.

Tech got a boost from some poor discipline by Coppin State as well. Tech led 39-22 at the halftime break, but put its first points of the second half on the board before a single second ticked off of the clock.

The Eagles had received their first of three second half technical fouls heading into the locker room, and the Hokies took advantage by making 12 of 15 free throws in the second frame.

The score could have been much more lop-sided for the Hokies had it not been for the performance of CSU’s Anthony Tarke. He led all scorers with 19 points and was the only Eagle to make more than three shots from the floor.

Despite the great shooting, Tech had 18 turnovers against the Eagles. Over the last three games, the Hokies are averaging 16 turnovers per contest, something that won’t be as easy to overcome against ACC competition.

“If somebody watches you practice, they should be able to tell you what’s important to the team, and that’s really important to me,” Young said. “I don’t think you can turn the ball over and expect to be really successful. It’s an emphasis, and the team is aware of it; we’re going to do a better job of it.”

The Hokies have one more non-conference match-up before ACC play takes center-stage after the holidays. Tech will welcome Longwood to Cassell Coliseum on Monday night at 8:00 p.m.

Virginia Tech-Coppin State Box Score

16 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. “I don’t think it’s anything deep-seeded with what we’re doing offensively.”

    You mean “deep-seated.”

  2. Sure, it was Coppin State, but you need a few games like that just to let it air out. Hammer time.

  3. Why has this coach not been courted by big time basket ball years before this? What a wonderful guy with a great outlook on life and some wonderful fresh air in Tech basketball Fabulous recruiting of talented team players…… Who knows what might happen

    1. I would encourage you to go back into he archives and re-read the articles TSL put out on him but the top two concerns were his ability to assemble an ACC quality staff that can recruit at an ACC level and his ability to run a large program with way more moving pieces/staff members vs. a school like Wofford.

      I would say those concerns have been more than adequately addressed.

      1. So far, yep. We had our concerns and Mike Young has done a great job excelling in those areas.

    2. Coach Young’s wife is an executive with PWC or Deloitte or something in the upstate SC / Charlotte region. My understanding is that to facilitate her career progression, he was not looking to hop coaching jobs and drag her around the country..

  4. Nice to see a good shooting game. Don’t know what the deal is with the TOs this year. I wonder if it’s because we are doing a lot more interior passing and just not being careful enough with the ball inside. Nice to see Bamisille and Maddox play some good minutes.

  5. Mike Young’s post-game comments are so much more forthcoming than Fu’s. Torrid shooting tonight. Love the trajectory of Hokie BB!

    1. I’d agree with your comments, but not sure what you expect. They are very different people with different personalities. Coach Young’s comments are very different than Buzz’s as well.
      I am also really happy with how the MBB team is doing, they seem to play hard and I suspect will surprise a few in ACC play this year. One thing for sure, they can’t afford too many 16 TO’s a game and a cold shooting night in league play and expect to succeed.

      1. Fan engagement, I don’t care what his personality is. He is getting $4 million a year and the job is more than just X’s and O’s. Even Buzz’s press conferences were painful though entertaining.

        1. 4.2 million dollars doesn’t mean you change who you are as a person to fit your idea of who you want him to be WAFR. They both have differently personalities period and 10.2 million isn’t going to change that. Maybe time for you to change your attitude. This stuff gets old and this is a post about VT MBB not a football article.

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