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Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech First Half Thread

By Mike McDaniel

Jan 29, 2017; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Seth Allen (4) is hugged by forward Zach LeDay (32) following the victory against the Boston College Eagles at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Seth Allen (4) is hugged by forward Zach LeDay (32) following the victory against the Boston College Eagles at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Virginia Tech Hokies (21-8, 10-7 ACC) look to close out their regular season on a high note as they take on Wake Forest (17-12, 8-9 ACC) in front of a sold out crowd at Cassell Coliseum on Senior Day in Blacksburg.

Zach LeDay and Seth Allen, the Hokies’ two leading scorers who usually come off the bench, will start today in their final home game. They will be joined by Justin Robinson, Justin Bibbs, and the red-hot shooting Ty Outlaw in the starting lineup.

The full preview of the game can be found here.

Action Prior to Under 16 Media Timeout

  • Hokies with the hot three point hand early, as they have shown over the last handful of games. Outlaw with ANOTHER three after Allen’s layup from the tip, and Justin Robinson spots one from the corner.
  • LeDay going to work early on both the offensive and defensive glass, and has been aggressive looking for his shot as well.
  • As expected, both teams want to get out and run today. There won’t be any resting on the laurels on the defensive end, even after a made basket.
  • At the first media timeout, it’s 16-9 Tech. Allen has six quick points, and Austin Arians leads the way with six for the Demon Deacons.

Action Prior to Under 12 Media Timeout

  • Hokies might want to start getting a hand in the face of Austin Arians. He just hit his third three. The big man can shoot it a little bit.
  • Exciting sequence there after the steal by Robinson and fast break layup for Ty Outlaw. Hokies clearly are trying to get out and run today, with 20 points in the first six and a half minutes.
  • Hokies bring Ahmed Hill into the game with a little over 13 minutes to play in the half. With his appearance, along with Khadim Sy’s entrance into the game, the Hokies switched from man defense to their 3-2 zone.
  • Excellent defense underneath by Sy in his short time in the game. He has already contested two and cut off an entry pass on the block to force a Wake Forest turnover. On the following possession, Outlaw buries another wide open three.
  • Second media timeout has the Hokies ahead 23-16. Quick pace and few fouls thus far.

Action Prior to Under 8 Media Timeout

  • Rebound. Run. Repeat. Story of the half so far for the Hokies, as they’ve done a great job on the class. As a result, Wake’s John Collins, an ACC Player of the Year candidate, has only one shot attempt and no points with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
  • More on the Collins point, Hokies continue to front the post and rely on the help-side defense to make for a contested look for Collins. There have been no easy entry passes to him in this one so far.
  • Crawford got loose on the fast break layup for Wake Forest and Outlaw gets called for a push. He never touched Crawford…pretty brutal call there. It’s the second on Outlaw and he’ll take a seat.
  • Hokies turn a missed shot by Collins into a transition look on the other end. LeDay got fouled by Collins on the fast break. It was the second foul on Collins, but Danny Manning left him in the game. About 30 seconds later, Justin Robinson drove to the basket and was fouled by Collins, his THIRD already. That seemed like a desperation decision with the NCAA Tournament on the line for the Deacons by leaving Collins in with two fouls.
  • Let’s see if the Hokies can capitalize with Collins out of the game. They lead at the media timeout, 28-22.

Action Prior to Under 4 Media Timeout

  • Bibbs hits a three, the Hokies force a turnover, and get out in transition again on the other end where Ahmed Hill gets fouled. The Hokies are killing Wake Forest on the fast break, running the Demon Deacons into the ground. A+ effort by Tech on that end of the floor in the first half.
  • Bryant Crawford hits a deep three and gets fouled by Seth Allen. He makes the attempt to cut the Hokies’ lead to nine. That’s a big sequence there, as the Hokies looked to pull away. With that dead ball, Hokies bring in former walk-on Matt Galloway, one of four seniors on the roster playing in their final home game.
  • Wake’s Keyshawn Woods draws two fouls on Matt Galloway and Galloway will head to the bench. Woods was my player to watch in the preview, and he is beginning to look for his shot a bit more now with Collins on the bench for the remainder of the half.
  • With 3:11 to play in the half, the Hokies lead has been cut to six, 41-35.

Action Prior to Halftime

  • Wake Forest using the three-ball to stay in the game. Crawford just hit another one from the corner and he and Arians are lighting it up from downtown for Wake Forest.
  • All things considered, a good half offensively for the Hokies, but Wake Forest is doing what they need to do to stay in the game, sitting within striking distance at the half with John Collins on the bench with three fouls. Danny Manning has to be happy with his team’s effort to hang around in the first half despite fighting an uphill battle. Hokies lead 47-42 at the break.