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Inside Hokie Sports
return three of their top five rebounders,
including Cook (5.8 rpg) and Regan Magarity
(5.8 rpg).
Plus, the backcourt of talented point guard
Chanette Hicks and off guard Vanessa Panousis
returns. Hicks was snubbed for a spot on the
ACC’s All-Rookie Team, but certainly worth a
look after averaging 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds
and 4.1 assists per game in 2015-16.
In addition, this team knows how to defend.
The Hokies led the ACC in scoring defense (53.5
ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (34.8
percent) last season.
That fits within Brooks’ philosophy. He
earned the reputation for devising schemes
that put points on the board at JMU, but rest
assured, he values defense more.
“Four years ago, we went to a different
defensive scheme,” he said. “I slowly learned
that we were getting a lot of our offense from
our defense. We really concentrated on the
defensive end, and our offense never suffered.
“Defense travels. The ball may not always fall
in the basket, but you can always play defense.
We’ve bought into that, and we’ve been a very
good defensive team the past few years and our
offense still hasn’t suffered.”
Then he added, with a smile, “Offense ismore
fun to coach, but defense is more important.”
Tech’s problems a year ago—and really
for the past several years—have been on the
offensive end of the court. The Hokies simply
struggled to score.
A year ago, Tech ranked 14th out of 15 ACC
teams in scoring offense (58.4 ppg) and 14th in
field-goal percentage (37.4). Only two players
shot better than 45 percent from the floor—and
both Taijah Campbell and Dominique Powell
graduated.
Consider this: if Tech had scored 61 points in
each of its losses—and the league average was
67—it would have won six more games.
“I think part of the reason that they had
trouble scoring was because of the style of play
that they chose to play,” Brooks said. “They were
halfcourt oriented. We want to get out and get
easier baskets when we can. If we implement
our system, and they grasp it quickly, I think
we’ll score more points.”
Hicks and Panousis give the Hokies an
opportunityforbetteroffense.Brookshopesthat
Panousis and Rachel Camp can revert back to
the forms each displayed during her sophomore
and freshman seasons, respectively. Panousis
hit 77 3-pointers and averaged 13.5 points per
game as a sophomore, but last season, her
numbers dipped to 63 and 8.6. Camp averaged
11.4 points per game as a freshman, but just five
points per game last season.
Hicks figures to be a perfect fit in Brooks’
system. Her athleticism enables her to defend,
while also getting to the basket on offense.
“She has top-player abilities, but it’s just
a matter of getting her to make the right
decisions,” Brooks said. “If she buys in and
understands and wants to be the best point
guard she can be, physically, I don’t think there
is anyone who can match her athleticism.”
Brooks also spoke highly of Cook, who,
along with Panousis and Sami Hill, comprise
the senior class on this team. Cook led the
Hokies in scoring and tied for the team lead in
rebounding, and more importantly, gives the
team toughness in the post.
Hill played in all 32 games, but averaged
just 2.5 points per game. Brooks expects an
exponential increase in production from the
Canadian.
“Just looking at film last year, I thought she
was a little uncomfortable and not as confident
as she should be,” he said. “The player I’mseeing
right now and the player I watched on film from
last year are totally different people. I’m looking
forward to her stepping up because she’s as
athletic and fast as anyone I’ve ever coached.”
Brooks’ biggest concerns are in the post.
Campbell and Powell never scored much for the
Hokies, but they defended and rebounded. They
blocked shots and altered others. They gave the
squad an element of toughness. Makingmatters
worse, another post player, Tara Nahodil,
decided not to return to the program after
playing in 22 games last season.
Cook and the oft-injured Magarity were
the only post players returning before Brooks
added some bodies after his arrival. Michelle
Berry, a 6-foot-2 from Miami, spent a year at
Cal State Fullerton. While there, she averaged
14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Also,
Erin Garner, a 6-3 forward from Philadelphia,
played in eight games at Georgia Tech over the
course of two seasons before transferring to
Virginia Tech. The two of them give the roster
much-needed size.
“We’re not going to be a big team,” Brooks
NEW
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BEGINS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
2016
Continued
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