Thursday, November 7, 2013 Print Edition

Page 1

Thursday, November 7, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

BASKETBALL

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

PREVIEW No Green means others must score RACHEL FRANKS sports staff writer

With the season starting on Saturday, one of the biggest questions for Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team remains how can they possibly replace Erick Green? Green led the nation in scoring last year, averaging 25 points a game. The 13 games that Tech won last season were mainly due to his heroic performances. “I don’t know if we have a guy that’s going to average 25 or lead the nation in scoring,” said head coach James Johnson. “We got a couple guys that can score 25 on a given night, but we need to have those guys be consistent.” The returning starters for the Hokies who could take over Green’s role will be Jarrell Eddie, Cadarian Raines and C.J. Barksdale. As a senior guard, Eddie would be the main candidate to replace Green’s scoring. He was second in scoring last season, averaging 12.3 points per game. Eddie’s main problem is consistency. The Hokies will need him to show up every night the way Green did last season. Eddie will also need to step up as a leader of the team. “As far as leadership, I really tried to emphasize that in the offseason with the team and tried to show that I want to be a leader for those guys,” Eddie said. “I met with coach and he told me he needed me to be that leader for him.” The team’s other senior, Raines, will also need to help fi ll Green’s shoes. Last season, Raines showed flashes of brilliant post moves, but often had trouble finishing. He looks to improve on all aspects of his game this season in hopes of getting drafted. “I’m trying to get in the NBA,” Raines said. “I’m trying to work hard for that and prepare for the next level… shooting the midrange jumper, being able to rebound a lot more, being able to run, a lot stronger. Everything to get to the NBA.” Barksdale was able to turn his season around last year after being benched in the Maryland game. He could be a player to come out and have a big season if he can continue to play the way he did toward the end of last year. Johnson has been impressed with the players’ efforts so far, and hopes to see consistency from returning players. “Jarrell Eddie is in the best condi-

Freshmen ready to play large role on young team

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

Malik Mueller (left) guards Devin Wilson in a preseason scrimmage.

With 5 of Tech’s 15 players being freshmen, new faces factor to play serious minutes this winter. WILL GROOMS sports staff writer

FILE 2012 / SPPS

Jarrell Eddie (31) looks to be one of the top scorers on this year’s Erick Green-less team. tion of his career,” Johnson said. “He is shooting the ball as well as I’ve seen him shoot in his career. Cadarian Raines is playing with more confidence than I’ve seen in his career. C.J. Barksdale is even (better) from the end of last ACC season until now. He’s playing at a high level. Now those guys, I’ve got to see them carry it to a game situation on a consistent basis.” Sophomore forward Marshall Wood did not start last year, but looks to make a big impact this season. In the intersquad Maroon and Orange scrimmage Tech held on Oct. 11, he was the leading scorer with 22 points. However, Wood doesn’t feel pressured to score 20 every night.

“I think I just need to go out there and do what I can,” Wood said. “I think some games I might be able to score a lot of points and some games I’m not. That is part of the game.” Sophomore Adam Smith is another player who could have a big season. Smith sat out last season after transferring from UNC-Wilmington. Coming to Tech, Smith is expected to be a big time scorer, but he says he wants to do more then get buckets. “I will be able to score the ball, but I want to add more than just scoring,” Smith said. “I want to average a certain number of assists, steals and rebounds see POINTS / page two

Standing at 6-foot-11, freshman forward Trevor Thompson looks down at just about everybody. The only thing bigger than him at the moment is the date that’s been circled on his calendar since his arrival in Blacksburg: Nov. 9 — Virginia Tech men’s basketball’s home opener against University of South Carolina Upstate. Though a daunting task, the Indiana native welcomes the big stage with long, open arms. “I’m just looking forward to running out of the tunnel with my team,” Thompson said. “This is a hard-working group of guys, and we’re all just excited and ready for Saturday.” Thompson acknowledges the early pressures that have come with being a Division

I athlete. “Everything is at a higherpaced level and there’s a lot more expected out of you,” Thompson said. “Everybody is just as good as you are or better, and you have to come out ready to play every time.” The freshman finds himself in a favorable role. With the recent three game suspension of would-be starting power forward C.J. Barksdale, head coach James Johnson is at a loss for who will comprise the starting frontcourt. “We’ll do different things, but we may be looking to play big,” Johnson said. “We may be looking to play Cadarian Raines and Joey Van Zegeren together and maybe slide in Trevor Thompson at the four.” Thompson looks to seize any opportunity he gets, mindful of what it took to get where he is and what it’ll take see YOUTH / page two


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