There are plenty of quality players across the country who are not officially starters but when the biggest moments come in a game, they are certainly on the floor as part of a team's best five.
That is the case with Samyha Suffren, the junior guard who has embraced her role as Virginia Tech's super sixth woman and helped make the Hokies almost a lock to return to the NCAA Tournament this season.
Despite not being a starter, Samyha Suffren is one of only five Hokies averaging over 22 minutes per game, more than Mel Daley and Leila Wells who have combined for 17 starts during conference play. Suffren has seized her opportunities well, averaging 10.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 22.2 minutes per game during conference play while shooting 42.9% from the field and 84.1% from the free-throw line during conference play. On the season, Suffren is averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 assists in in 20.8 minutes per game.
Among ACC players who primarily have come off the bench this season, Suffren is third in points per game behind Stanford's Chloe Cardy (12.8) who has made eight starts this season, and Louisville's Imari Berry (10.6) who has made two starts this season. Her 1.6 steals per game also is tied for third among ACC backups behind Clardy (2.0) and Louisville's Skylar Jones (1.7) who has made one start.
Suffren's best play has come on the defensive end as she is averaging a 5.2 defensive box plus/minus and has 1.5 defensive win shares this season overall. Suffren has 2.8 win shares overall and a 7.0 box score plus/minus that is further proof of the immense value she is bringing off the bench on both ends of the floor.
Her advanced numbers also rank highly among ACC players as she is third in steal percentage at 4.1%, sixth in defensive rating at 80.1, and ninth in defensive box plus/minus at an aforementioned 5.2. Her defensive box plus/minus and defensive rating are actually third and fourth respectively on the team, though Aniya Trent and Amani Jenkins (who are in front of her in both) have not played enough to count towards the ACC statistical standings per Sports Reference.
It's also clear that when it comes time to go win games, Suffren is someone who Megan Duffy wants on the floor and trusts to deliver results.
Here's a rundown of the last ten games and how many minutes Suffren has played to close out games, or when she last checked out of a game.
- 71-68 win vs Clemson (Jan 22): Played the final 11:05 (subbed in at 1:05 in Q3)
- 85-57 win at Wake Forest (Jan 24): Subbed out with 3:32 left and VT up 20
- 67-50 win vs Pittsburgh (Jan 29): Played the final 15:58 (subbed in at 5:58 in Q3)
- 76-64 win vs Virginia (Feb 1): Played the final 13:31 (subbed in at 3:31 in Q3)
- 80-70 loss at Notre Dame (Feb 5): Played the final 16:28 (subbed in at 6:28 in Q3)
- 82-62 loss vs NC State (Feb 8): Played the final 7:35 (subbed in at 7:35 in Q4)
- 79-67 win at Stanford (Feb 12): Did not play in fourth quarter
- 68-58 win at California (Feb 15): Played final 4:57 (subbed in at 4:57 in Q4)
- 66-63 OT loss vs UNC (Feb 19): Played final 12:22 (subbed in at 7:22 in Q4)
- 62-51 win vs Georgia Tech (Feb 22): Played final 10:00 (subbed in at 10:00 in Q4)
The fact that Suffren is not just coming in for brief stretches but closing out games and playing the entire fourth quarter in six of the past ten games is a great indication of the trust Duffy has in her.
Samyha Suffren is absolutely a problem that teams have to prepare for as a defensive stopper and slasher who can get to the rim and create points for herself. While she may not be a starter, she is clearly part of Megan Duffy's best five who the Hokies trust to be on the floor when it's time to close out victories or make a comeback.
