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Virginia Tech Basketball: Hokies’ new defensive identity makes them a contender

By Jacob Zinkula

BLACKSBURG, VA - DECEMBER 01: Ahmed Hill #13 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs past Tyson Batiste #13 of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils during the game at Cassell Coliseum on December 1, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - DECEMBER 01: Ahmed Hill #13 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs past Tyson Batiste #13 of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils during the game at Cassell Coliseum on December 1, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images) /
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Virginia Tech Basketball has been known as an offensive juggernaut. But it may be the Hokies’ defense that puts them in a position for a run in March.

After losing back to back first round NCAA tournament games, (as a 9 seed to Wisconsin and an 8 seed to Alabama) Buzz Williams and the Hokies look poised to end this season on a better note.

Ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 9th in KenPom, Virginia Tech is 10-1, with neutral court wins over Purdue and Washington and a lone loss by a point at Penn State.

The Hokies haven’t had the toughest of schedules, and the ACC gauntlet will obviously bring some bumps in the road. But beyond their favorable rankings in the AP Poll and KenPom, there’s reason to believe this is a different Hokies team than prior seasons.

(All statistics used in this article were found via KenPom and are up to date through the games completed on Dec. 27.).

Offensive Identity

Offense hasn’t been a problem for the Hokies under Buzz Williams. Since Williams took over beginning the 2014-15 season, he’s had teams that both shoot threes at a high rate AND make threes at a high rate. Unsurprisingly, teams that are able to pull this off fare pretty well on the offensive end.

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This season, the Hokies are both attempting the most threes they have under Williams and also making the highest percentage of them. Only 9 other teams in college basketball can currently boast the deadly combination of taking >=40% of their shots from 3 and making >=40% of them (Creighton, Oakland, Louisiana Monroe, Idaho St., Dartmouth, Liberty, St. John’s, San Diego St., and Toledo). These percentages could regress a bit, but VA Tech should remain one of the better shooting teams in the sport. /

Defensive Identity

The real difference for Virginia Tech this season has been on the defensive side of the ball. The Hokies didn’t do anything particularly well on the defensive end of the floor the first four seasons under Buzz Williams, (except not foul much) and the results weren’t good. This has changed thus far this season, however, as Virginia Tech may have stumbled upon a successful and seemingly improbable defensive identity: not fouling AND turning teams over.

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Virginia Tech has continued to minimize fouling on defense but has taken it to another level this season, allowing free throw attempts at the lowest rate in the country. /

The more surprising development is in the rate at which the Hokies are turning teams over (2nd in the country). Logically, it seems a team that forces turnovers would be more aggressive on defense and consequently foul at a high rate. But the Hokies have thus far defied this logic, and it’s resulted in the 27th ranked defense in the nation (significant jump from prior season).

This improvement has largely been driven by guards Justin Robinson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Both have defensive steal rates greater than their foul rates (something quite difficult to pull off).

Robinson: Steal Rate 3.3%, Foul Rate 1.6%

Alexander-Walker: Steal Rate 4.6%, Foul Rate 2.5%

Credit to ACC Digital Network

Just as the shooting may regress a bit as competition improves, the Hokies likely won’t turn teams over at such a high rate either. But there’s still plenty of reason to believe these will remain strengths of this team moving forward.

dark. Next. Week 8 Power Rankings

The Hokies don’t have the big-time freshman, the recent tournament success, or the storied program to generate much national buzz. With a high-powered offense and the defensive improvement, Virginia Tech is likely a bit underrated.

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