Hofstra/VA Tech Preivew

I will be spending the night out without my laptop so I won't be able to update before tomorrow morning so here is Garrett Knieste's previews for these two teams. He thinks Hofstra edges VA Tech to face us in the finals. St. John's finally beating Hofstra and DJ Kennedy winning MVP of the tourney.


Hofstra (2-6, 0-1 CAA)

Tom Pecora’s team is off to an unusual rough start to the 2007-2008 season. Losing two-thirds of the Big 3 has clearly affected Hofstra where it counts most, in the win column. The graduation of Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera (combined 34 ppg) has the Pride off to a woeful 2-6 start, which includes losses to St. Francis, Fordham, and Stony Brook. Although the defending Holiday Festival Champions are having trouble getting wins so far this season, the remaining one-third of that big 3 is making some serious noise. Senior guard Antoine Agudio currently ranks 2nd in the nation in scoring (26.8 ppg), behind only Charron Fisher of Niagara (27.3 ppg). Personally, I have been watching Antoine torch my teams since high school. Playing for Walt Whitman High School on Long Island, my school (Northport) was league rivals with Whitman. So I had the privilege of witnessing Agudio light up the gym 2 times a year for 3 years. Then he goes to Hofstra and continues to torture St. John’s, including dropping 24 points and earning MVP of the Holiday Festival last season. I would love my team to beat this guy for once, so I am rooting for Hofstra to get past Virginia Tech on Friday to set up a rematch of last year’s championship game.
PG - #22 Charles Jenkins   Freshman / 6-3 220lbs / 12.4 points, 2.5 assists
SG - #13 Antoine Agudio   Senior / 6-3 190lbs / 26.8 points, 4.1 rebounds
SF - #1 Nathaniel Lester    Freshman / 6-4 190lbs / 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds
PF - #21 Darren Townes   Junior / 6-7 210lbs / 5.1 points, 5.8 rebounds
C - #32 Greg Washington    Freshman / 6-10 200lbs / 1.5 points, 4.0 rebounds

Virginia Tech (6-5, 0-1 ACC)

The Hokies could possibly become our second ACC opponent so far this season, plus a trip to Cameron Indoor looming in February. Virginia Tech finished 21-11 last season and went to the NCAA Tournament before losing to Southern Illinois in 2nd round. This year they are off to a shaky 6-5 start, including a loss in a close game to Wake Forest (77-75) in their ACC opener. Fifth year Head Coach Seth Greenberg has done a tremendous job with this team thus far, and I count on the Hokies to get their act together and contend in the ACC all season long. Senior swingman Deron Washington is the vocow bell man leader of this very young Virginia Tech team (7 freshmen, 3 sophomores).

PG - #10 Hank Thorns   Freshman / 5-9 175lbs / 5.4 points, 3.3 assists
SG - #40 A.D. Vassallo   Junior / 6-6 215lbs / 15.8 points, 3.8 rebounds
SF - #13 Deron Washington   Senior / 6-7 210lbs / 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds
PF - #0 Jeff Allen      Freshman / 6-7 255lbs / 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds
C - #34 Cheick Diakite   Junior / 6-9 220lbs / 2.1 points, 1.4 blocks

Va Tech should win easily, Deron Washington will have a big game.

with agudio out. it may not even be worth watching

with agudio out. it may not even be worth watching

Lets see how Pecora does without his top player, Norm without Mason comes to mind. But the Norm haters who praise Pecora will be quiet

i'm also a bit intrested in seeing the freshman on this team.   see how well of a recruiter he is.

i'm also a bit intrested in seeing the freshman on this team.   see how well of a recruiter he is.

Apparently, not so good this time around.
Still, injuries hurt every program, but if they aren't an excuse for us, then they aren't an excuse.

From what I can see so far:

Charles Jenkins:
He reminds me of Colin Charles.
He's quick but totally out of control, and he can't finish.
He is getting embarrassed, again and again.
Sit him down.

Nathaniel Lester:
I haven't even heard his name yet.
Big talk for a guy who isn't ready to compete at this level.

Townes and Johnson are solid role players.
They get to the glass, and both have a decent touch.

Pecora is going to have his work cut out for him next year.

Quote from: Randomhero423 on December 28, 2007, 06:24:39 PM

i'm also a bit intrested in seeing the freshman on this team.   see how well of a recruiter he is.

Apparently, not so good this time around.
Still, injuries hurt every program, but if they aren't an excuse for us, then they aren't an excuse.

From what I can see so far:

Charles Jenkins:
He reminds me of Colin Charles.
He's quick but totally out of control, and he can't finish.
He is getting embarrassed, again and again.
Sit him down.

Nathaniel Lester:
I haven't even heard his name yet.
Big talk for a guy who isn't ready to compete at this level.

Townes and Johnson are solid role players.
They get to the glass, and both have a decent touch.

Pecora is going to have his work cut out for him next year.

Posion, refresh my memory-what did Lester say?

not impressed at all about hofstra.  even though they lost a 27 ppg scorer, they can't lose be getting killed like this.  that's just embarrassing. 

Spoke with a number of Hofstra fans...they do not like Pecora at all!  They acknowledge he's a great recruiter, but think that his in-game X's and O's are poor.

Sounds like someone else that we know!

i'd only take pecora on STJ is if he'd be a assistent. and i highly doubt he'd do that.

Quote from: Poison on December 28, 2007, 07:13:39 PM

Quote from: Randomhero423 on December 28, 2007, 06:24:39 PM

i'm also a bit intrested in seeing the freshman on this team.   see how well of a recruiter he is.

Apparently, not so good this time around.
Still, injuries hurt every program, but if they aren't an excuse for us, then they aren't an excuse.

From what I can see so far:

Charles Jenkins:
He reminds me of Colin Charles.
He's quick but totally out of control, and he can't finish.
He is getting embarrassed, again and again.
Sit him down.

Nathaniel Lester:
I haven't even heard his name yet.
Big talk for a guy who isn't ready to compete at this level.

Townes and Johnson are solid role players.
They get to the glass, and both have a decent touch.

Pecora is going to have his work cut out for him next year.

Posion, refresh my memory-what did Lester say?

Lester basically said that he was going to play for the best New York City team.