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Hokies Basketball: The Impressive Work Ethic of Christian Beyer

By Tim Thomas

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Dec 14, 2014; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ahmed Hill (13) reacts after forward Christian Beyer (22) draws a charging violation against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Virginia Tech defeated Alabama A&M 65-55. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Hokies needed a bounce-back win against Radford and got the job done against Alabama A&M with a 65-55 victory. The lineups and amount of playing time certain players received from Buzz Williams in this game was surprising but worked in this game.

Williams knows that this a multi-year rebuild, and his focus for this season is building a winning, hard working culture for Virginia Tech basketball that can really start to turn around the program beginning next season. One player that represents the hard working style that Williams wants is forward Christian Beyer.

It was a major surprise to see Beyer in the starting lineup against Alabama A&M due to the fact that Beyer had only played 4 minutes in three games all season long before this game. Beyer is definitely not the most talented player on the roster but he is probably the hardest worker on the team, and it showed on the court in this game.

Beyer had the best game of his career with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steals in 27 minutes against the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M. Beyer played the whole first half and was a part of the group that led the Hokies on a 17-0 run to end the first half.

The secret to Beyer’s success in this game was the fact that he played harder than any player that was on the floor. The consistent effort that Beyer showed in this game is exactly what Buzz Williams wants to see in all of his players.

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Beyer proved in that game that he deserves to get a few minutes of regular playing time but the senior forward will be used as an example for the type of effort Williams wants to see from every Hokie basketball player.

During the Hokies 17-0 run, Virginia Tech was absolutely ferocious on defense and Alabama A&M struggled to find any good shots. Beyer was arguably the hardest worker on the floor and his effort rubbed off on his teammates including freshmen Justin Bibbs and Ahmed Hill. This type of effort is something that can make the Hokies a team that can surprise some this season and avoid finishing in the basement of the ACC.

Christian Beyer is exactly the type of high effort, hard working player that Buzz Williams enjoys having on the floor. Beyer is an example of the hard working culture that Williams is building in Blacksburg knowing that having a team full of high energy, hard working players will make Virginia Tech a very good team and consistent threat in the ACC, especially as the talent level improves.