This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/zach-ledays-surprising-emergence-bolsters-virginia-techs-reconstruction/2016/01/15/64cb6990-bb97-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Zach LeDay’s surprising emergence bolsters Virginia Tech’s reconstruction Zach LeDay’s surprising emergence bolsters Virginia Tech’s reconstruction
(about 3 hours later)
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Each of the three times Virginia Tech trailed in the second half of Wednesday’s men’s basketball game against visiting Wake Forest, Zach LeDay put the Hokies back on top. The first time, he did it with consecutive three-pointers — reminiscent of his breakthrough shooting performance in a 70-68 upset of Virginia the week before — that helped squash the Demon Deacons’ hot streak coming out of intermission. The second time, LeDay took a feed from Justin Bibbs, juked his defender and drove through two more in traffic for a layup to put the Hokies up by two with six minutes left.BLACKSBURG, Va. — Each of the three times Virginia Tech trailed in the second half of Wednesday’s men’s basketball game against visiting Wake Forest, Zach LeDay put the Hokies back on top. The first time, he did it with consecutive three-pointers — reminiscent of his breakthrough shooting performance in a 70-68 upset of Virginia the week before — that helped squash the Demon Deacons’ hot streak coming out of intermission. The second time, LeDay took a feed from Justin Bibbs, juked his defender and drove through two more in traffic for a layup to put the Hokies up by two with six minutes left.
The last time, he made two free throws with two minutes to play, and the Hokies held on for a 93-91 victory to improve to 3-1 in the ACC, their best conference start since the 2008-2009 season.The last time, he made two free throws with two minutes to play, and the Hokies held on for a 93-91 victory to improve to 3-1 in the ACC, their best conference start since the 2008-2009 season.
“I don’t really feel any pressure,” said LeDay, who totaled 20 points against Wake Forest. “I mean, I’ve been waiting for two years to play minutes like this. If you’re gonna play me, I’m gonna go out there and play as hard as I can.”“I don’t really feel any pressure,” said LeDay, who totaled 20 points against Wake Forest. “I mean, I’ve been waiting for two years to play minutes like this. If you’re gonna play me, I’m gonna go out there and play as hard as I can.”
LeDay’s revitalization mirrors the Hokies, who have opened 11-6 after three consecutive seasons of 13 wins or fewer. They have a chance to exceed last season’s win total on Saturday at Georgia Tech, which will be followed by a trip to Notre Dame and then three consecutive ranked opponents in North Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburgh.LeDay’s revitalization mirrors the Hokies, who have opened 11-6 after three consecutive seasons of 13 wins or fewer. They have a chance to exceed last season’s win total on Saturday at Georgia Tech, which will be followed by a trip to Notre Dame and then three consecutive ranked opponents in North Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburgh.
LeDay, one of two players — along with former Maryland guard Seth Allen — who transferred to Virginia Tech after Coach Buzz Williams was hired in 2014 and sat out last season, leads the 11-6 Hokies with 15.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. This after the 6-foot-7 redshirt junior averaged 4.8 points per game as a freshman and 3.5 his sophomore season, both with South Florida teams that finished each season with 12 wins. LeDay, one of two players — along with former Maryland guard Seth Allen — who transferred to Virginia Tech after Coach Buzz Williams was hired in 2014 and sat out last season, leads the Hokies with 15.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. This after the 6-foot-7 redshirt junior averaged 4.8 points per game as a freshman and 3.5 his sophomore season, both with South Florida teams that finished each season with 12 wins.
He’s taken to Williams’s more free-form offensive system, and though he’s commonly outmatched on defense LeDay has become a threat heading into the second half of the season, averaging 20 points in the past three games and seeing his minutes spike to 35.3 per game in league play.He’s taken to Williams’s more free-form offensive system, and though he’s commonly outmatched on defense LeDay has become a threat heading into the second half of the season, averaging 20 points in the past three games and seeing his minutes spike to 35.3 per game in league play.
[Feinstein: Williams is an underdog in the right place][Feinstein: Williams is an underdog in the right place]
“I don’t know that anybody could have anticipated that, in essence, he’s close to a double-double for us in terms of what he averages,” Williams said. “It’s kind of gotten to the point now, halfway through the year, where we’re somewhat relying on that. Part of that is due to the changes within our roster — we need him to be a double-double guy. . . . Rarely are we even in a position to take him out of the game.”“I don’t know that anybody could have anticipated that, in essence, he’s close to a double-double for us in terms of what he averages,” Williams said. “It’s kind of gotten to the point now, halfway through the year, where we’re somewhat relying on that. Part of that is due to the changes within our roster — we need him to be a double-double guy. . . . Rarely are we even in a position to take him out of the game.”
LeDay had never set foot in Virginia before he decided to transfer to Virginia Tech. In the summer of 2014 the Dallas native had just finished his sophomore season at South Florida, which posted a 3-15 conference record after switching from the Big East to the American Athletic Conference.LeDay had never set foot in Virginia before he decided to transfer to Virginia Tech. In the summer of 2014 the Dallas native had just finished his sophomore season at South Florida, which posted a 3-15 conference record after switching from the Big East to the American Athletic Conference.
So when Williams hired former South Florida assistant coach Steve Roccaforte, who had recruited LeDay out of high school and formed a fierce bond with the forward and his family, LeDay knew he was going to Blacksburg.So when Williams hired former South Florida assistant coach Steve Roccaforte, who had recruited LeDay out of high school and formed a fierce bond with the forward and his family, LeDay knew he was going to Blacksburg.
“I just knew I was going wherever Roc was going,” LeDay said. “It was important for me to stay with him, so when he called me and told me I was good to come with him, that was it.”“I just knew I was going wherever Roc was going,” LeDay said. “It was important for me to stay with him, so when he called me and told me I was good to come with him, that was it.”
LeDay spent his year sitting out working on his body and listening to Allen talk about what it was like to play in the ACC. LeDay was preparing to play in his third league in as many years and soaked up all he could from his teammate on how to stay poised in big games, how to go about beating bigger opponents, and how to act when the Hokies started winning.LeDay spent his year sitting out working on his body and listening to Allen talk about what it was like to play in the ACC. LeDay was preparing to play in his third league in as many years and soaked up all he could from his teammate on how to stay poised in big games, how to go about beating bigger opponents, and how to act when the Hokies started winning.
[At Virginia Tech, Allen has a second chance at revival][At Virginia Tech, Allen has a second chance at revival]
He worked out with the team and also on his own, spending more time in the practice gym than any of his teammates. LeDay bulked up and then lost about 10 bounds to retain both the muscle he had gained and his natural mobility.He worked out with the team and also on his own, spending more time in the practice gym than any of his teammates. LeDay bulked up and then lost about 10 bounds to retain both the muscle he had gained and his natural mobility.
He didn’t have to worry about confidence. Going from 15 minutes a game in South Florida to a shot to play in the ACC was freeing to LeDay, not burdensome – he had little to prove and a lot to gain – and it shows on the floor. The junior has the second-most field goal attempts on the team, after Allen, and is shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three-point range.He didn’t have to worry about confidence. Going from 15 minutes a game in South Florida to a shot to play in the ACC was freeing to LeDay, not burdensome – he had little to prove and a lot to gain – and it shows on the floor. The junior has the second-most field goal attempts on the team, after Allen, and is shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three-point range.
“He kind of has that audacity,” Williams said, “ ‘I think I can shoot, so I’ll shoot.’ ”“He kind of has that audacity,” Williams said, “ ‘I think I can shoot, so I’ll shoot.’ ”