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Virginia Tech Basketball: Analyzing the Hokies’ rotation for 2018-19

By Tristan Freeman

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 14: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 14, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 74-52. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 14: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 14, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 74-52. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Ahmed Hill #13 of the Virginia Tech Hokies drives to the basket against Galin Smith #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Ahmed Hill #13 of the Virginia Tech Hokies drives to the basket against Galin Smith #30 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Shooting Guard

Minutes Allocation (40 total): Ahmed Hill (27) and Ty Outlaw (13)

One of the biggest mysteries this past season was Hill’s second-half individual collapse. He started out as arguably the team’s best player in the non-conference, scoring nearly 20 ppg a night. But the teams in the ACC must have figured him out, as he went scoreless in several games and ultimately ended up benched. As a three-year starter who still put up efficient numbers overall his junior, Hill deserves the benefit of the doubt to be on the court to start the game.

He’ll have a legit backup who can easily start in his place in Outlaw though. After transferring in from UNC Greensboro several years ago, the 6’6 guard shot around 50% from both the field and from deep in 19 mpg, 14 of those games starting. He’s slightly bigger than Hill and will be needed against the larger perimeter players on teams like Duke and UNC.

One area that all guards already mentioned will need to do a good job at is preventing three-point attempts. While the overall defensive percentage was ranked in the middle, the Hokies were in the 300’s overall in giving up shots from deep. For a team looking to go deep in March, giving up a barrage of three-pointers in a given game is a death sentence.

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