News: Justin Matz is out for Monday’s season opener.
Looking forward to the return of El Niño Thursday vs. Lehi! pic.twitter.com/bpjQc0d5UB
— Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 4, 2022
The Mats are expected to return to the lineup for Thursday night’s game against Lehi.
“We knew he could be out of a game, maybe two,” Hokies manager Mike Young said in a text message. Justin and I collaborated on this sort of thing throughout the process.”
Mats led the Hokies last season in rebounds (7.4), assists (123) and steals (43) and finished second on the team in scoring (10.1). I have accepted the task of defending my opponent’s top scoring threat on many occasions, including during tournament championship games.
The No. 7-seeded upstart Hawkeyes defeated No. 1-seeded Duke, 82-67, to clinch their first conference tournament title in show history. Thanks to that, the Blue Devils limited him to 9-of-23 shooting (39.1%) in the second half. Aside from Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, no Blue Devils starter has scored 11 or more points.
Mats was not immediately available to comment on the suspension. He was the only remaining starter at Virginia Tech last season, with guard Hunter his cattle available as an opener.・Team All ACC Selection.
Other starters include point guard Storm Murphy, who graduated last season, and senior guard Nahiem Alleyne, who left for Connecticut via the transfer portal.
However, Portal also provided reinforcements such as 6-9 forward Grant Basil. After averaging 18.4 points in his league for Horizon last season, the alumni transfer from Wright State is set to start in Matts’ place.
A two-time All-Conference Second Team selection, Basile chose Virginia Tech over the likes of Notre Dame and Wisconsin.
“He’s a very accomplished player,” Young said. “Now he’s been playing college basketball for three or four years and still needs progress on defense and on the grass. He’s got to do the work for us on the glass. we can’t bear that burden [Mutts] And our guards, night and night. “
Rice’s Michaelael Poteet (6-9) and Memphis’ John Camden (6-9) are also in the frontcourt rotation, and are still playing as Young tinkers with the lineup early in the season. remains unstable.
In the backcourt anchored by Cattoor, there is much more certainty. The senior was named the ACC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring his 31 points in his game, including 7 of 9 in 3-pointers for the championship.
The group also includes Sean Pedula, who will take over as point guard, and Darius Maddox, Bowie’s junior, who scored a 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left in overtime to beat Clemson 76-75 in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Speaking at the ACC Men’s Basketball Media Day in Charlotte last month, Young said: “Justin wasn’t on the first session of Summer School, but 10 of them were with him. During the second semester of Summer School, the whole team got together. They were on the floor.” There are so many things we can do together.”
