I was there in Blacksburg last night (perfectly timed business trip to Roanoke), and need to thank the VT usher who kept shooing away the VT Students that tried to sneak down behind the GT bench but was kind enough to let me come down and sit right behind the GT bench with about 10 other Jacket fans (gold GT shirt probably told her who I was pulling for).
First - the effort of the kids was incredible. You could see that up close and hear it when they were in huddle for time outs.
A couple free throws or bounce and we win - I thought we outplayed VT for most of the game ... so did several VT fans I spoke with on way out.
-- I know we've been shooting them well .... just got the wrong people on the line last night,
Chemistry of the team from what I saw early (Shorter ...) is so much improved/better.
The depth is not there (recruits can't get here fast enough), but they do have a system that fits the players and have bought into it.
--- The movement has purpose (something we did not say often under CBG).
Fair to say CJP is getting more out of the talent than any of us thought, and except for the Duke game tremendous effort in every ACC game.
I can confirm CJP does not cuss - but he certainly can get his point across when they make mistakes ... I won't say who he got after, but I thought same thing more than once before he called someone over and he 'let him know'.
It was interesting hearing the assistants and what they told CJP - each has a role during the game .... Eric Reveno really impressed me ... made a lot of observations on matchups and what VT was doing during the game, suggesting counters on both ends - CJP listened and several times got players attention to adjust. For example, one time he noticed who was guarding Tardic and they ran sets to try to post him up several times (worked when they got it to him), and talked several times about how the off-side 3 was open when VT trapped in the corner - Q hit one or two three's off that cross court reversal with Lammers screening his man.
Second time I have been to a game at VT - it gets really LOUD in there, especially the students which are right on top of the basket GT shoots at in second half.
The place is old and large, but fun when there are a lot of people there (75-80 percent full last night).
Two comments/observations from some VT fans I talked to on the way out
- They really like Lammers - wish they had center that could alter shots and be force
- They liked how GT kept taking it to the basket instead of settling for jumpers (now we need to make more of those layups ...)