If you look at the FGCU roster, nearly everyone is listed as a guard.
- The two tallest players are 6'1" and those two players look more like small forwards but could just be in comparison to all of the small players. One only plays 6 minutes a game.
- FGCU has some other players who are 5'9" and another 6'0.
- They have 7 players who average 18+ minutes a game.
- One of the 6'1" players averages 23 points a game and nearly half of her shots are from the 3 pt line, so it isn't like she is a dominating inside presence. She averages 7.5 rebounds a game.
- There are 3 players with 62, 43, 35 offfensive rebounds respectively, but average 5.1, 4.2, 2.6 total rebounds per game
- Basically 3 players average more than 8 points a game.
- They committed 345 turnovers in 30 games. Their opponents committed 598

In contrast, Kitley is 6'6" and King is 6'. Shephard and Traylor are 5'9".
- 8 players average over 10 mins a game
- 4 players average over 10 pts a game
- Kitley averages 9.9 rebounds a game and has 79 offensive rebounds. I expect that to be high in this game. VT also has players with 53, 35, 23, 20 offensive rebounds
- This could be a game in which Kitley, Baines, King are strong around the basket but also have to potentially guard along the perimeter.
- VT committed 412 turnovers in 32 games. Opponents committed 426.

3-pt percentages.
FGCU:
Made 357 out of 1089 - 32.9%
11.9 per game

VT:
Made 257 out of 757- 36.4%
Made 8.8 per game

The total points each team scored and opponents are a bit different: FGCU scored 120 more in 2 fewer games. VT scoring margin is 12.9 per game. FGCU is 23

FGCU's schedule includes names like Ave Maria, Palm Beach Atlantic, Stetson, North Florida, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Bellarmie, Eastern KY, Liberty, Saint Louis, Tennesee Tech.AND LSU and Michigan State. They beat Michigan State, 85-84 in OT. Michigan State was 15-15, 8th in Big East.

Here is the big reason for concern. They beat LSU 88-74 early in the season. LSU is 25-5, 1st in SEC. FGCU shot 55% from 3 in that game. They built an 18-pt lead in the third quarter. They came out shooting in the second half (though did build a lead going into half-time. Here is an article on that game:

https://lsusports.net/news/2021/11/14/tigers-fall-to-fgcu-88-74/#:~:text=FGCU%20Uses%20Three%2DPoint%20Attack,Tigers%2C%2088%2D74%20%E2%80%93%20LSU

Kitley has to dominate inside. Get offensive reboubds, score at will, get opposing players in foul trouble. She also will have to guard on the perimeter while helping stop drives to the basket. There are going to be times her player is at the 3-pt line and she leaves that player to stop a drive. That situation is how FGCU has the potential to hurt VT If Amoore, Shephard, etc can keep people in front of them or deal with screens, then minimize the open 3 looks. It is going to be a contrast in style with VT hopefully having a more balanced attack that makes FGCU pay for playing small ball? LSU went on dry spells while FGSU was not. VT can't do that and can't turn the ball over.

I did not watch a video of style of player yet, so don't know if FGCU traps, hedges, or pressures on screensto see how much duress Amoore will be under. FGCU players are likely able to switch on most perimter screens. It may be about rolling Kitley to the basket. I need to see their preferred defensive approach. Do they go to a zone against Kitley or do they rely on their players to disrupt player movement and ball movement?







[Post edited by VAHokie89 at 03/14/2022 7:18PM]