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

Center

Minutes Allocation (40 total): Khadim Sy (20) and Kerry Blackshear Jr. (20)

*Editor’s note as of 8/13: With Khadim Sy now gone, look for Blackshear to start at the center position while Alexander-Walker, Clarke, and even Nolley get some starts at power forward. If capable, look for Blackshear to get 32-35 minutes a night.

In most circumstances, Clarke would normally start somewhere on the court. He was the team’s leading rebounder despite being 6’6 and his 3.0 apg was second only to the point guard Robinson. What will be fascinating to watch is the lineups with him on the court.

If Clarke plays at the power forward position, it slides Blackshear to the center spot which is a bad defensive lineup. If it’s Sy instead, then that frontcourt becomes an offensive liability. If Clarke slides to the small forward and plays with both Blackshear and Sy, then the team’s best athletes (Nolley and Alexander-Walker) are both on the bench.

Clarke is a fantastic player and has to be on the court but how the coaching staff utilizes him will be key to winning. That’s why it’s best for him to come off the bench, similar to how Zach LeDay and Seth Allen did the season prior.

Part of the reason why I think Blackshear will do so well is that of Sy’s presence. The 6’10 and 240-pound center started as a freshman in 2016-17, averaging 14.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 2.2 bpg per 40 minutes. He’s another big body for the Hokies to use, which hopefully creates a domino effect that helps out the perimeter defense. Blackshear can play the five in order to spread the floor, by the best defensive lineup will include Sy.

Next: Preseason ACC Rankings for 2018-19

This might be the most talented Virginia Tech roster in recent memory. But as I explained earlier, there are still questions as to which rotations will be best for the team in the long run. Looks like we’ll have to see the Hokies live to see how it works.