how much more difficult is it for a team to game plan and practice with uncertainty around the availability of a player like Zion? Duke will have much different schemes depending on his availability. Do the Tech coaches draw up and coach 2 different game plans in preparation, or is it not a huge factor?
VTech Preparing for (no?) Zion
- Thread starter dukegrad02
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They think they are in trouble either way. I predict a game that will be very ugly and there will be bleeding eyes. But Duke should still win.
I would be surprised if we see Zion before the weekend and maybe not before UNC.
I always assumed the main reason K played injuries close to the vest is for exactly this situation. Why tell your opponent ahead of time exactly what lineup to expect? In the case of Zion it's a HUGE variable. I cannot think of a single player in the country that changes the dynamic of a team if he plays or doesn't play.
So yes, I think Buzz has his hands full preparing for this game, and yes, I think he either needs to make a guess one way or the other or come up with two game plans.
My son is a VT grad, and I do like Buzz. I saw them play GT live and have watched a few of their games. They are gritty. But I do think it will be messy game, and unless Blackshear can somehow dominate with a Maye-like performance or one of their guards goes ballistic from 3 I think we cruise to 12-15 point win.
I always assumed the main reason K played injuries close to the vest is for exactly this situation. Why tell your opponent ahead of time exactly what lineup to expect? In the case of Zion it's a HUGE variable. I cannot think of a single player in the country that changes the dynamic of a team if he plays or doesn't play.
So yes, I think Buzz has his hands full preparing for this game, and yes, I think he either needs to make a guess one way or the other or come up with two game plans.
My son is a VT grad, and I do like Buzz. I saw them play GT live and have watched a few of their games. They are gritty. But I do think it will be messy game, and unless Blackshear can somehow dominate with a Maye-like performance or one of their guards goes ballistic from 3 I think we cruise to 12-15 point win.
Bet the under in this one. Buzz will be trying to slow this game down for multiple reasons. Pace and if Tech loses, he’s playing the game of “with the committee, a 5-7 point loss is better than a 12-15 point loss.” Which is actually true. So it’ll be a scrum and they’re going to shoot a lot of threes. They will play zone and Duke will have to manufacture points.
No Robinson for them means the ball won’t move quite as well, which works in Duke’s favor. Duke can’t sit out have a 3 point shooting contest with them though. That won’t end well.
I'd rather keep him rested for at least another game. VT is not a worry IMO as the tourney matters more than one game.
They are somewhat of a worry. They are always ready when Duke comes to town. You are right that the tournament matters more than one game. But Duke needs to win these last four games in order to avoid having to play unc and Virginia on consecutive nights in the ACCT to win it.
If Zion is healthy he should play. We have some of the best training staff/facilities in the country. When he is cleared he should play. We take no games off, take nothing for granted.
I want a 100 point duke win to shut these clowns up at least for a day...God I despise them so much
I get the point of it being tough to gameplan against a team if you dont know if "X" guy will play or not.
But this is ZION. I can assure you they are gameplanning as if he will play, knowing the game just got 100 times easier if he doesn't play.
Imagine gameplanning for no Zion and then this 285 lb machine comes out on onto the court? Scary.
But this is ZION. I can assure you they are gameplanning as if he will play, knowing the game just got 100 times easier if he doesn't play.
Imagine gameplanning for no Zion and then this 285 lb machine comes out on onto the court? Scary.
We get through the Va Tech game with a win, then I like our chances the rest of the regular season. It’s always tricky at Va Tech. When we should have beaten them, we’ve lost. I would rest better about this game if Zion was playing. Without him it will be close.
Also, props to Buzz Williams. After losing their best player Robinson, Va Tech hasn’t had a significant drop off. I expect them to compete and their fans will be nuts.
I just hope we didn’t expend to much energy at Syracuse with everything that was surrounding that game.
Like others, I expect this game to be close. Maybe a 4-5 point Duke win.
Here are Va Tech’s KenPom Numbers:
13th offense and 28th defense
Compare that to Syracuse’s:
92nd offense and 16th defense
So, expect Tech to score 70+ based on their offense. They shoot .478 from the field; .401 from 3 and .754 from the FT line. Now, we only allow opponents to shoot .287 from 3 against us. So, we will see.
Also, props to Buzz Williams. After losing their best player Robinson, Va Tech hasn’t had a significant drop off. I expect them to compete and their fans will be nuts.
I just hope we didn’t expend to much energy at Syracuse with everything that was surrounding that game.
Like others, I expect this game to be close. Maybe a 4-5 point Duke win.
Here are Va Tech’s KenPom Numbers:
13th offense and 28th defense
Compare that to Syracuse’s:
92nd offense and 16th defense
So, expect Tech to score 70+ based on their offense. They shoot .478 from the field; .401 from 3 and .754 from the FT line. Now, we only allow opponents to shoot .287 from 3 against us. So, we will see.
But if he can’t play, I would at least like to have him back by Miami this weekend. Miami and Wake aren’t very good, so having him back for those two games and getting him adjusted back in would be beneficial before the round 2 vs the holes.
I don't think we see Zion vs. VT but I think we win. Want to know what is up with Jack. Is he hurt? Resting? We need a healthy and confident Jack next year. Hang in there Jack!
I think we'll see Zion before the UNC game. He's day-to-day which is a good sign, and I gotta think he's going to want to play at least once more at Cameron. So either the Miami or Wake game.
I’m not from Virginia so I don’t know so I ask who is worse UVA fans or Tech fans?
VT fans just think they are the best at everything when I'm fact they are average..this year better than average but still...always have an excuse when they lose...mostly refs
UVA fans are just arrogant snobs for the most part
Hard to choose but if I had to choose worst fans i'd probably go with the wahoos