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This game was not pretty. Virginia Tech didn’t play horrible, but they didn’t play well either. Louisville built a double digit lead early on and Tech made a couple runs to get it close, but then the cycle would repeat. Nobody could grasp momentum and run away with this one. but the Cardinals made the plays at the end to win the game.
Louisville’s biggest game changer Monday night was their shooting. This Cardinals team is not good at shooting, but they were lights out against us. All season they’ve struggled to knock down threes, but Sutton and Nwora hit three and McMahon hit 4 for Louisville. Hats off to their shooting, but it’s likely we don’t see that performance from them again.
On the other side of the ball, Virginia Tech started out ice cold, but managed to make the night have a solid shooting percentage. Our biggest issues on offense were that players that couldn’t buy a basket kept shooting, and we missed six free throws. If Hill knocks down two or three of the wide open shots he has and we make all of our free throws, it’s a different game.
Defensively it was simple. We had too many mental errors that left people open. Probably 4 threes and 4 layups were given up because of mental breakdowns. That to me is where Robinson is missed the most: on communication. He gets guys where they need to be and not having that hurt the Hokies.
In this game, Virginia Tech grew in my opinion. This loss will help them get better without Robinson. The simple, fundamental things cost them that game. This was a winnable game at home and they will have some more winnable games moving forward. If Virginia Tech can get better communicating and polish their fundamentals, they can compete win anyone and be a better team for when Robinson returns.
Poll
Let’s say Justin Robinson is on the bench until the NCAA Tournament, at least. How is the rest of the eight games in the rest of the season going to go?
This poll is closed
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39%
Tech is just ‘ok’ without Robinson and has a thin bench. There is no way it’s better than 4 and 4.
(42 votes) -
17%
The team will rally and go at least 5 and 3 Duke, Carolina, and UVA will just be too much to handle.
(19 votes) -
28%
The rest of the season will be like a ball out of round. It’ll bounce, but no one really knows where. Maybe 3-5 but probably not 5-3 or better.
(30 votes) -
14%
PJ Gets back, the bench gets a bit stronger, and the rest of the team rallies to make up the difference. Hokies beat who their supposed to and grab one or more of the big boys’ Ws from them.
(15 votes)