Virginia Tech missed Hunter Cattoor ‘a lot’ in their defeat to Miami.
Blacksburg — The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team’s most recent setback proved one again how important Hunter Cattoor is to the Hokies.
Cattoor missed the Hokies’ 75-71 home loss to Miami on Saturday night after being booted on the left side of his face during Tech’s victory over Clemson three nights prior. Following Saturday’s game, Tech coach Mike Young stated that Cattoor is day-to-day due to a head injury.
Cattoor is Tech’s career 3-point leader and the team’s best perimeter defender.
How much did the Hokies (10-6, 2-3 ACC) miss him Saturday?
“A lot,” point guard Sean Pedulla replied.
“We missed him a lot, offensively and especially defensively,” guard MJ Collins said.
Young said on the ACC’s weekly video conference Monday that Cattoor was feeling a lot better Monday but that there are still “some tests and some markers he’s got to achieve” in order to be cleared to play at Virginia on Wednesday.
Cattoor would have provided Tech another three-point threat on Saturday. Tech made ten three-pointers but only shot 30.3% from that distance. Collins hit one of five three-pointers, while Tyler Nickel made two of eight.
After Saturday’s game, Young praised Cattoor as “one of the top five, if not the best, perimeter shooters in our league.” “So, his absence was crucial. But I am proud of MJ Collins. I’m proud of Tyler.
“We’re a man down, and that’s a part of the game.”
Cattoor may have aided Tech in the closing minute.
After Pedulla hit a 3-pointer to trim the score to 74-71 with 21 seconds left, Miami threw the ball over a second later on a terrible inbounds pass.
Pedulla dribbled the ball upcourt. He wanted to be the one to attempt the game-tying three-pointer. Pedulla, however, was double-teamed by Nijel Pack and the 6-foot-7 Matthew Cleveland, so he passed to an open Collins.
“Once Cleveland kind of stayed right on me, I knew MJ would have a better shot than pulling it from however far away I would’ve been,” he added.
Collins did not immediately take the shot. He hesitated, moved to his right and took a dribble.
“He didn’t take the better look he had,” Young said. “He gathered himself, which allowed the defender to get a better ability to contest the shot.”
As Cleveland flew toward him, Collins missed a 3-point attempt with seven seconds left. The ball bounced off the back rim.
“I had a great look. It just didn’t fall,” Collins said. “Sean threw it to me; nobody else was open. Better to take the shot than the clock run out. Hit the back of the rim. In my eyes, I’ll take that shot anytime. … I thought it was going in.
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