VT is an old, weird, interesting, kinda terrifying team if you’re the favorite. Looking at the stats, they don’t really use a point guard or a center, assuming they go with a shortened 7-man rotation in close games. They have a traditional big man from Nigeria but he’s a distant 8th/9th in the rotation with 8 minutes per game. Here’s their rotation:
Starters
Storm Murphy - 6-0 180, 5th year, transfer from Wofford, career 41% 3pt and 84% ft, isn’t very good at anything other than shooting
Hunter Cattoor - 6-3 200, junior, career 42% 3pt and 75% ft, doesn’t do much of anything other than shoot 3s
Nahiem Alleyne - 6-4 195, junior, career 39% 3pt and 81% ft, another guy who just shoots well
Keve Aluma - 6-9 235, 5th year, transfer from Wofford, if VT has a star player, he would be it, but he’s not that great, 26% usage dwarfs the next highest in the rotation (21%), has improved his range dramatically since sophomore year, shot 35% 3pt last season, which I assume is more indicative of his shooting ability than his 21% 3pt in a small sample size this season, good rebounder, not much passing
Justyn Mutts - 6-7 230, 5th year, transfer from Delaware, having a breakout season but still not great, just a filler body to mostly rebound, with decent passing for a forward, can shoot a little bit but he’s right at the point where you could rationally test your luck by leaving him wide open, 33% 3pt both last season and this season, career 63% ft
Bench
Darius Maddox, 6-5 185, sophomore, career 52% 3pt and 81% ft, all he does well is shoot
David N’Guessan, 6-9 205, sophomore, rebounds and blocks shots, has developed a little range this season (3/6 3pt)
VT can challenge Duke in the two ways everyone is curious to see: (1) This is a super old lineup that probably believes they should win a game anywhere against a bunch of kids; and (2) This is the closest thing Duke will see all season to a team that can do what NBA teams do to impose versatile smallball and destroy bigger lineups.
VT would be wise to run Maddox out there instead of Mutts for most of the game. Mark would have to match up with Aluma. Griffin should play a prominent role for Duke.
