Providence is challenging itself early in the season this year, taking a step up from Holy Cross to play an ACC foe in Virginia Tech at a neutral site location. Both teams are 1-0 on the season, with the Hokies beating Charleston Southern 98-67 in their season opener.
Mohegan Sun was a house of horrors for the Friars last year, losing to St. Bonaventure 74-70. At that game, we found out hours before tip that Bryce Hopkins wouldn’t be playing, and that was the first sign that he probably wasn’t going to be playing again for the Friars. After our live show concluded at Mohegan, it was like a black cloud descended upon us immediately after turning off the mics as rumors spread like wildfire Hopkins was out. Hopefully, a new season will lead to a different outcome at Mohegan for the Friars.
While this is a neutral site, it should be considered a quasi-home game for the Friars. Mohegan is driving distance from Providence and the vast majority of its fanbase. The split of Providence – VaTech fans should be 80-20%, if I had to guess. If Providence wants to make a run at the NCAA tournament, these are the type of games they should be winning with regularity.
Below, we provide an overview of this Virginia Tech team and what Providence needs to do to secure a victory.
Virginia Tech Overview
1-0 on Season, Preseason selected 12th (of 18) in ACC.
Tobi Lawal – 6’8 PF who averaged 12 and 7 last year with 37% from 3. Scored 20 in first game. This will be a great test for Duncan Powell and Oswin.
Amani Hansberry – 6’8 PF who averaged 10 and 7 last year at West Virginia. Scored 19 in first game and attempted 9 three’s (made 3). Interesting given he’s a career 30% three point shooter. See note above on Powell and Oswin.
Neoklis Avdalas – Greek freshman at 6’9. 8 points and 9 assists in first game. 1-6 from 3. Point forward. I’d like to see the full court press on this guy to speed him up and see if he’s truly acclimated to the college game.
Bedford and Johnson – Two 6’4+ guards in starting line-up. Hokies have a lot of size on the court.
They return 4 of their top 8 players from last year in terms of average minutes played.
Keys to Game
Who is the more physical team?
When you watch the VaTech tape from the first game, you see they have size all over the court. They don’t necessarily have a big frontcourt, which I want to see Providence exploit, but their starting line-up is all guys 6’4 – 6’8. It allows them to play interchangeably on defense. I’ve been building up the physical potential of Floyd Jr. and Sellers together. It’s time to put this theory to the test. This will be a rough and scrappy game I’d imagine. Look for Daquan to have an impact in this area too.
The physical aspect is going to show itself on the glass. Can Providence win the battle on the glass? The Hokies will attack ferociously, and it is up to the guards to team rebound.
How does the defense look?
Yes, it is only Charleston Southern, but 98 points scored is impressive no matter who you play against. Providence has played one good and one terrible half of defensive basketball this year. Which defense shows up? This game may be a “first to 80” wins.
Virginia Tech is not perceived as a great shooting team, so it’s imperative that PC doesn’t fall asleep on defense and bail out the Hokies with easy looks. Make everything difficult because I don’t see them making a lot of contested perimeter looks.
Oswin Being Assertive
Oswin should have an explosive game against this Virginia Tech frontcourt. They aren’t big (6’8), and Oswin needs to be aggressive in attacking the glass and trying to force the issue offensively.
Defensively, he needs to be an eraser like he was in Game 1. I’d expect another game where he blocks 3+ shots and alters a handful more. He needs to have his fingerprints all over this game, as I think he may be the biggest advantage in this game that Providence has. He needs to stay on the court and not get into foul trouble. This game shifts significantly depending on if Oswin can stay out of foul trouble.
More broadly, I’d love to see English run the offense through Powell and Oswin early. I want to see if they can get their frontcourt in foul trouble early. Settling for perimeter looks plays into the hands of the lengthy backcourt of the Hokies. Play downhill, boys!
Freshmen Encore
How do Vaaks and Jamier show up after their explosive first collegiate game? Remember they are freshmen, but I have a feeling the first game was anything but a fluke. They may just be advanced freshmen who have a big role on this team. The game against Virginia Tech will be telling.
Can Edwards Get on Track?
Edwards will be guarded by guys a few inches bigger than him, but he should be able to get a step or two on them with his quickness. Let’s hope he just had first game jitters and comes out ready to go against the Hokies. I could see him scoring 15+ in this one.
Prediction
BOC: Nail-biter, but Providence wins 81-78. The nightmares of Mohegan Sun from last year are washed away as PC improves to 2-0. The core of transfers lead the way in this one.
This win will look better in February than it does in November.
Thanks for insight..Edward’s needs to be more of a team player..no egos here..stop running into towers..no shot then pass..jones and vaaks are for real..gonna be an early test for this team..go friars