There is a basketball game tonight. I will be there, as will Jeff. Feel free to use this as a game thread. I will have my blackberry, and might post in the comments from the arena.
I am nervous Delaware State could beat us – they are supposedly in contention in the MEAC, and the good MEAC team has been a pesky NCAAT out in recent years. Regardless, I look forward to seeing Gavin Grant’s one-man show!
UPDATE: VTPackfan sent in the following fantastic game preview, for which we thank him profusely:
Pace and Points needed vs. Deleware St.
In a good tune up for friday nights game vs. the Wolfpack of NC State, the Hornets of Delaware State saw first hand what points in the paint and a quality big man can do to their winning ambitions. The MEAC regular season champions come into this season with hopes of erasing last years conference tourney upset loss to Hampton, and a chance to play in the NCAA’s after last years NIT run. With all but one starter back and a 6′ 6″ swingman transfer for Univ. of Cincinnati, their chances will rest in the balance of attack their back court can churn out. With only one starter over 6’6″, problems will arise in the battles in the paint. Take tuesday nights loss to #4 Pitt as exhibit A. They had their hands full of seven foot Pitt center Aaron Gray all night and it still wasn’t enough to slow him down, though they were able to cut the lead to single digits early in the second half. Pitts 57% percent shooting, mostly done in and around the paint allowed this game to never become in jeopardy. The Hornets have what it takes due to transfer Blunt, who averaged 5 points a game his freshman year for Cincinatti, and the stellar play of a PG named Shine.
New Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe will have his hands full getting his men to play tight defense on the Hornet perimeter play and should expect the Hornets to put up a pretty big number against his work in progress team, especially if they hit their threes at a more consitent rate then they did at Pitt (7-37, ouch!). Also look for Lowes squad to try and wipe the glass clean with Mcauley and Costeners size edge, especially on the defensive end. One of Lowes first arrangements with his new team was to pick up the tempo over what they had experienced over the past years, and theres no better way to implement that policy then off a defensive rebound. It will be a true test of whether Lowe wants to play up tempo against a guard oriented team of if he trys to slow it down to use the size mis-match down low and rest his short bench. We will see.
