Stanford is in Virginia on the first of four cross-country ACC road trips - first stop Blacksburg. The Hokies are favored by 5.5 and the over/under is 144.5, making the implied score 75-69.5. VaTech is 12-3, 9-0 at home. They opened ACC play with a triple OT win over UVa, then lost to Wake Forest. Their other two losses were in the Bahamas at Thanksgiving vs. St. Mary's and Va. Commonwealth. So they are 1-3 in Quad 1 games along with 3-0, 2-0, & 6-0 in Quad 2,3, & 4 games.
They have three starters that have each missed several games. Two are still out - 7-foot freshman Antonio Dorn (out since December 14 with a back injury) and defensive stopper Tyler Johnson (out since December 20 with a foot injury). But Tobi Lawal (#1 6'8/215 Sr F) is expected back from a foot injury that has kept him out since November 26.
Lawal leads the team with 10.3 rebounds/game and scores 12.8 ppg. He is one of only four players returning from last years' team that lost 70-59 at Maples. He started that game (along with Johnson & Jaden Schutt) and scored 15 points. The roster includes 7 freshmen and 3 transfers.
Starters in their last game were:
#13 Amani Hansberry (6'8/240 Jr F) Transfer from WVa leads the team with 16.5ppg and pulls down 9.0 rpg. Averages more than 3 fouls/game, has 2 technical fouls, and has fouled out four times.
#17 Neoklis Avdalas (6'9/215 Fr G) Two-year pro from Greece's top tier league. Received one vote for ACC pre-season Rookie of the Year. Leads team with 5.1 apg and scores 14.3 ppg.
#0 Jailen Bedford (6'4/190 Gr G) At his 4th school - 2 yrs JC/ORU/UNLV. Scores 9.3 ppg.
#32 Christian Gurdak (6'10/260 Fr C)
#2 Jaden Schutt (6'3/200 RJr G) Led team last year in minutes and 3s. Scoring 10.0ppg and again leads team in 3s (39 on 42%shooting).
Ben Hammond (#3 5'11/170 So G) comes off the bench to score 11.7ppg.
I'm hoping Oskar gets another start - I think he earned it despite an unimpressive stat line. I'd like to see him match up with Gurdak, another freshman, after having to square off with Louisville's 4-year veteran of the German pro league.
Getting a win tonight would sure be nice before the the buzz saw of three upcoming games vs. Top 25 opponents.
They have three starters that have each missed several games. Two are still out - 7-foot freshman Antonio Dorn (out since December 14 with a back injury) and defensive stopper Tyler Johnson (out since December 20 with a foot injury). But Tobi Lawal (#1 6'8/215 Sr F) is expected back from a foot injury that has kept him out since November 26.
Lawal leads the team with 10.3 rebounds/game and scores 12.8 ppg. He is one of only four players returning from last years' team that lost 70-59 at Maples. He started that game (along with Johnson & Jaden Schutt) and scored 15 points. The roster includes 7 freshmen and 3 transfers.
Starters in their last game were:
#13 Amani Hansberry (6'8/240 Jr F) Transfer from WVa leads the team with 16.5ppg and pulls down 9.0 rpg. Averages more than 3 fouls/game, has 2 technical fouls, and has fouled out four times.
#17 Neoklis Avdalas (6'9/215 Fr G) Two-year pro from Greece's top tier league. Received one vote for ACC pre-season Rookie of the Year. Leads team with 5.1 apg and scores 14.3 ppg.
#0 Jailen Bedford (6'4/190 Gr G) At his 4th school - 2 yrs JC/ORU/UNLV. Scores 9.3 ppg.
#32 Christian Gurdak (6'10/260 Fr C)
#2 Jaden Schutt (6'3/200 RJr G) Led team last year in minutes and 3s. Scoring 10.0ppg and again leads team in 3s (39 on 42%shooting).
Ben Hammond (#3 5'11/170 So G) comes off the bench to score 11.7ppg.
I'm hoping Oskar gets another start - I think he earned it despite an unimpressive stat line. I'd like to see him match up with Gurdak, another freshman, after having to square off with Louisville's 4-year veteran of the German pro league.
Getting a win tonight would sure be nice before the the buzz saw of three upcoming games vs. Top 25 opponents.
