There aren’t many basketball teams that could lose their leading scorer in the middle of the season and be OK. But the Virginia Military Institute team that employees a five-man platooning system seems to be in good shape.
The Keydets (7-12, 3-5) lost sophomore Q.J. Peterson, who left school for a medical furlough and is no longer on campus. Peterson averaged 19.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and four assists per game but left the team before the 85-79 win over East Tennessee State last Saturday.
Earning his first start of the season, freshman Fred Iruafemi had 16 points and nine rebounds in Peterson’s place. His point production will be missed, but for a team that is fifth in the nation, averaging 82.9 points per game, it can be replaced. The Keydets lead the nation in 3-pointers made (216), attempted (706) and made per game (11.4).
As a team, they take 71.3 shots per game.
“Today started with Fred. He did an amazing job of securing traps, getting deflections and making things happen, and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” VMI coach Duggar Baucom said after the win over ETSU. “Everybody that took the floor did some good things; they now know what they can do.