Story and Photos by Brianna Adams
BLACKSBURG, VA. - The Virginia Tech Hokies ended their two-game losing streak and the Syracuse Orange men's two-game win streak and made it look easy, winning 83-73 on Tuesday night at Casell Coliseum. The Hokies repeatedly got behind the Syracuse zone for dunks, and got enough open looks to hit eight three-point shots in 20 tries, while turning the ball over just six times.
“I thought we were much more connected,” Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams said. “Obviously, we executed the scheme of what we wanted to do. That’s why we won.”
Take the Lead and Run
Following two major losses at No. 9 Florida State and NC State, Virginia Tech returned home with one goal in mind: redemption.
BLACKSBURG, VA. - The Virginia Tech Hokies ended their two-game losing streak and the Syracuse Orange men's two-game win streak and made it look easy, winning 83-73 on Tuesday night at Casell Coliseum. The Hokies repeatedly got behind the Syracuse zone for dunks, and got enough open looks to hit eight three-point shots in 20 tries, while turning the ball over just six times.
“I thought we were much more connected,” Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams said. “Obviously, we executed the scheme of what we wanted to do. That’s why we won.”
Take the Lead and Run
Following two major losses at No. 9 Florida State and NC State, Virginia Tech returned home with one goal in mind: redemption.
The Hokies (13-3, 2-2 ACC) dominated the court from the
beginning to end of the ACC matchup. After taking a 6-5 lead on a free throw
from Chris Clarke, they ran with it to the finish line. While Syracuse (10-7, 2-2) tied the game more than once it never managed to get ahead.
In the second half, the gap got wider as Syracuse struggled to score. Virginia Tech took a 15-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game. Syracuse pressed and cut the lead to 74-68 with 1:33 left but could get no closer and Virginia Tech finished with the ten-point margin.
"Our interior defense was not good in either half and I thought that was a big key," Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. "Offensively we didn't really get anything accomplished that we wanted to and part of that was their defense was very good."
In the second half, the gap got wider as Syracuse struggled to score. Virginia Tech took a 15-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game. Syracuse pressed and cut the lead to 74-68 with 1:33 left but could get no closer and Virginia Tech finished with the ten-point margin.
"Our interior defense was not good in either half and I thought that was a big key," Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. "Offensively we didn't really get anything accomplished that we wanted to and part of that was their defense was very good."
Hokies’
Offensive Powerhouses
Virginia Tech showed strength early on,
especially in starters Justin Bibbs and Zach LeDay. Redshirt senior forward LeDay was crucial in giving the Hokies that early lead. Five minutes into
the game, LeDay put up back-to-back dunks to boost the Hokies lead to three.
LeDay led all scorers with 22 points. Junior guard Bibbs gave the Hokies a strong finish, scoring 11 points in the last seven minutes of the game. Five Virginia Tech players finished in double figures including redshirt senior guard Seth Allen who returned after missing two games due to a head injury against NC State.
LeDay led all scorers with 22 points. Junior guard Bibbs gave the Hokies a strong finish, scoring 11 points in the last seven minutes of the game. Five Virginia Tech players finished in double figures including redshirt senior guard Seth Allen who returned after missing two games due to a head injury against NC State.
Defensive
Struggles for Syracuse
Syracuse had come off of two
great defensive showings in Miami and Pitt, holding Miami to 55 points and Pitt
to 66.Yet the Hokies sliced through Syracuse’s zone to outscore the Orange
easily.
LeDay hit 18 of his points from the field and Clarke was 5-for-6 in the paint.
6'10" freshman Taurean Thompson lead all Syracuse scorers with 18, Andrew White III had 15, Tyler Roberson 14 and freshman Tyus Battle 13.
But while Thompson put up the points, had eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Boeheim said he remains a liability on defense.
LeDay hit 18 of his points from the field and Clarke was 5-for-6 in the paint.
6'10" freshman Taurean Thompson lead all Syracuse scorers with 18, Andrew White III had 15, Tyler Roberson 14 and freshman Tyus Battle 13.
But while Thompson put up the points, had eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Boeheim said he remains a liability on defense.
“He’s just not good on the defensive end of the
zone; that’s why he didn’t play the last two games,” Boeheim
said.
Syracuse
Starting Lineup
Syracuse has struggled with its lineup this season. Last season, the same lineup was used in 30+ games. For the
past three games though, Boeheim has kept the starters the same showing success
against Miami and Pitt.
The starters, Tyler Lydon, White III, Thompson, John Gillon and Battle have proved to act more connected than earlier lineups. Yet individually in this game, they struggled.
Gillon had nine points on 2-9 shooting and just three assists to go with two turnovers. Frank Howard, who got 13 minutes at guard had a single basket and four assists.
"Our point guard play has been really good and it was as bad as it's ever been tonight," Boeheim said.
“[Virginia Tech] made good adjustments for the second half,” graduate guard White said. “[It] kind of discouraged our movement from side to side, the ball stuck a little bit and you know we all took some bad shots at times.
Lydon had had eight straight games in double digits but only scored a basket in the loss. Near the end of the first half, Lydon missed a three and fell on the way down limping off the court. Despite claiming he was fine to Boeheim, the struggle was there as the forward finished 1-for-5 from the field and 0-for-2 in threes-point attempts.
"I probably should have just not played him," Boeheim said. "He said he was fine but players are going to say that."
The starters, Tyler Lydon, White III, Thompson, John Gillon and Battle have proved to act more connected than earlier lineups. Yet individually in this game, they struggled.
Gillon had nine points on 2-9 shooting and just three assists to go with two turnovers. Frank Howard, who got 13 minutes at guard had a single basket and four assists.
"Our point guard play has been really good and it was as bad as it's ever been tonight," Boeheim said.
“[Virginia Tech] made good adjustments for the second half,” graduate guard White said. “[It] kind of discouraged our movement from side to side, the ball stuck a little bit and you know we all took some bad shots at times.
Lydon had had eight straight games in double digits but only scored a basket in the loss. Near the end of the first half, Lydon missed a three and fell on the way down limping off the court. Despite claiming he was fine to Boeheim, the struggle was there as the forward finished 1-for-5 from the field and 0-for-2 in threes-point attempts.
"I probably should have just not played him," Boeheim said. "He said he was fine but players are going to say that."
”
What’s
Next
Virginia Tech will next host ACC foe No. 20
Notre Dame on Jan. 14 in search of its fourteenth win and eighth
straight home victory.
Syracuse looks for redemption against Boston College at the Carrier Dome on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., following the blowout by the Eagles at Conte Forum on New Year's Day.
Syracuse looks for redemption against Boston College at the Carrier Dome on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., following the blowout by the Eagles at Conte Forum on New Year's Day.
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