going for another dub 📈👀🆚 NC State⚪️ White Effect (wear white)🕖 7PM📺 ESPNU🔗 https://t.co/Fs1Y6Xt3KB🤝 Member One pic.twitter.com/AWJpe7sb8I— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 15, 2025
NC State (9-7)
at
Virginia Tech (7-9)
Cassell Coliseum
7pm ESPNU
TV | ESPNU
Jay Alter, PxP
Randolph Childress, Analyst
RADIO | VT Sports Network
Zach Mackey, PxP
Mike Burnop, Analyst
VIDEO STREAM
@HokiesMBB ESPN.com and ESPN app
LIVE STATS
stats.hokiesports.com
WHITE OUT GAME
The Hokies held on after blowing a 21 point lead at Cal to get a 71-68 win. It showed the very highs and very lows of this team. The first half they executed perfectly. The second half they dribbled into traps, made sloppy passes, couldn't get the ball inside the paint and had several of their patented scoring droughts. It's a very frustrating group to watch.
As for their opponent, the Wolfpack come in 9-7. They are 2-3 in ACC play but it's a sporadic result similar to the Hokies. They lost by two to UNC but lost to Wake by 18. They had a seven point come back in the final two minutes against Notre Dame to win 66-65. They beat FSU by 10 but lost to UVA, as the Wahoos only ACC victory so far. They lost to the three other P4 teams they played in Texas, BYU and Purdue and beat all the buy game opponents they were expected to.
They are a very Senior team led by the guard duo of Marcus Hill and Jayden Taylor. NC State's top seven scorers are Seniors. Five of them are ACC transfers so faces we have seen before such asDontrez Styles, Ben Middlebrooks, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. This team will probably eke it's way into the NCAA but be the team no one wants to see.
They seem to always have 3 guards on the floor, but alternate the two other spots with Styles and one of either Middlebrooks/Huntley-Hatfield or both Middlebrooks/Huntley-Hatfield on with Styles or another guard on the bench. This will be interesting to see how Young matches up when the two bigs are on together.
Keatts defensively has the Wolfpack back to its extended defense, a mix of full court press and aggressive at mid-court. This is a two-edged sword. It could force the Hokies into turnovers and get them out of rhythm. It also has run the Wolfpack ragged late in games since they rely heavily on a 7 man rotation. The question will be can the Hokies weather the storm?
One area NC State has really struggled is ball screen switches leading to easy baskets by bigs underneath which could mean big games for Lawal and Poteat.
Offensively, NC State does nothing that jumps out at you as a major difference maker. They don't have great shooting statistics inside or out, they are pretty good at shooting free throws and get to the line almost 20 times a game. They attempt about 19 three-point shots but only hit 31%. They are surprisingly poor at rebounding on both ends. It's a free flowing motion offense but it hasn't really clicked this season.
Poteat will be seeing Breon Pass, who played together early in high school. Jaydon Young and Wessler will see familiar foes from high school in Styles, Keatts and Snell.
Hammond is expected back in the starting lineup but as with any injury we will see at game time.
Hopefully the Hokies decide to play both halves in this one.
Need more games like this from Jaydon Young.
career-high 14 pts from JYoung in the win at Cal 📈📈 pic.twitter.com/TqCaztXjSg— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 12, 2025
Hokies Starting Five
Toibu Lawal
1 JR F 6-8 200
12.0 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 0.6 Ast
Mylyjael Poteat
34 SR F 6-9 260
11.0 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 1.0 Ast
Jaden Schutt
2 SO G 6-5 185
7.7 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Ben Hammond
11 FR G 5-11 170
5.0 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Tyler Johnson
10 FR G 6-5 215
5.7 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Key Bench Players
Ben Burnham
13 SR F 6-7 200
7.5 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Brandon Rechsteiner
7 SO G 6-1 185
7.3 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 3.4 Ast
Jaydon Young
3 SO G 6-4 205
6.8 Pts, 1.8 Reb, 1.3 Ast
Patrick Wessler
5 SO C 7-0 245
4.6 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 0.1 Ast
Rodney Brown
4 SO G 6-6 180
4.4 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 2.3 Ast
T made history on Saturday 🫡📈 @tj_2103 pic.twitter.com/Ubw2giybLE— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) January 13, 2025
Wolfpack Starting Five
Marcus Hill
10 SR G 6-4 185
Rockford, IL Rockford Christian (IL)
13.3 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 2.2 Ast
Jayden Taylor
8 SR G 6-4 190
Indianapolis, IN Perry Meridian HS
12.2 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Dontrez Styles
3 SR G 6-6 210
Kinston, NC Kinston HS 60 (2021)
9.4 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Michael O'Connell
12 SR G 6-2 180
Mineola, NY Blair Academy
6.8 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 3.8 Ast
Ben Middlebrooks
34 SR F 6-10 225
Fort Lauderdale, FL Westminster Academy
9.1 Pts, 4.9 Reb, 1.1 Ast
Key Bench Players
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield
1 SR F 6-10 235
Clarksville, TN Scotland Campus Prep HS 23 (2021)
8.9 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 0.9 Ast
Breon Pass
4 SR G 6-0 175
Reidsville, NC Reidsville (NC)
5.1 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 1.3 Ast
HokieClub and HokieSports are hinting at some "big" announcement for students that dropping Friday. They have a running clock up on HokieSports.com.
50 hours 'til launch 🚀🔗: https://t.co/JHGXRJJqn2#ScanAThon | @HokiesMBB | @HokiesWBB | @CassellGuardVT | @HokiesSHC pic.twitter.com/EdQ1MvAsqW— HokieSports (@hokiesports) January 15, 2025
Comments
LET'S GO!!!
Hokies!
Hmm no Hammond tonight. Bummer!
Yeah considering he was still in the boot at Cal I was kind of surprised when Young predicted he would play tonight
Jeez...this is a Shootout so far!
Missing some easy shots.
We're over 53% from the floor and 80% on threes....
Thanks for pointing that out. Just noting we've missed more than a few easy put backs.
I'm sorry...I didn't mean anything mean toward you...
Burnham has definitely missed a couple bunnies
That was a bullshit call on Poteat
That's the second game in a row the announcers have referred to Jaydon Young as a freshman, but he is definitely a Sophomore
No one gives up more open corner threes than us. It's so frustrating.
Our perimeter defense has been dogshit so far. Too much overcommitting
6 for 9 and five of those makes not a defender in sight
70 f-ing percent now from a team that had averaged 31%...just can't make that shit up.
And 1!
Middlebrooks definitely just hit Brown way harder near mid court then the one they whistled Poteat for
We have patented scoring droughts every game. Insane how we can't just run a set play to get an easy basket.
So many times our guys have gone to the rim and try stupid passes rather than make contact and draw a foul. Turned it over 4 times that way this half.
Schutt with ZERO situational awareness
Played 15 minutes of basketball
I would love to see some Ryan Jones here.
Not sure we are going to see him again barring injury
Halftime...ESPN spends all the time talking SEC Basketball...previewing the legaue they actually care about
I don't know if I can stand to watch the second half. The dumb turnovers make me irrationally angry.
Hey you aren't alone. I screamed at the TV several times.
Attendance is awful tonight
Umm... school is not in session, it is 20 degrees out and we have a losing record. The fact anybody showed at all is a win.
I blame my wife. She gave me an ultimatum. Pick 2. Football, MBB, or WBB. I kept the football and WBB.
First basket after 6 minutes. That ain't gonna win many games.
It's definitely a one way whistle this half so far
What Jaydon Young just did is what they need to do every time
That's weak sauce
Letting them get to the rim at will
Cut it to 6 and then........JFC
This defense is basketball terrorism.
This is gold...wish I could leg it more
Just when I think I'm out.....THEY SUCK ME BACK IN !
Almost got too cute there ......settle down
Holy shit.
2 freebies to take the lead.
TIED. 1 FREE THROW SHOT LEFT AFTER TIME OUT! 2.3 SECS LEFT!
Can't believe we are here...unreal comeback
WHERE THE HELL DID EVERYBODY GO???
Too stunned to type
HOKIES BY 1 WITH 2.3 LEFT GUYS!
LETS FUCKING GO!
FAM
DAMN! FAM!
Holy Fucking Slam Fam
Happy 100th win CMY
Holy shit I'll take it.
Lawal FAM!
Schutt FAM!
HOKIES!!!! FAM!!!
Never gave up!!
LET'S GO!!!
Fam! Now where is that all game??
Lawal was the difference tonight... much more agile on defense / poteat shpuld not be allowed to double team at the logo ever again
I can't believe what I just watched. The fight from these guys is nuts. Obviously, the talent isn't there, but they do not quit. Hats off. Lawal with a great performance, Schutt catching fire is hopefully a good omen moving forward.
This team is getting better. They never give up. I have to give the Coach and the Team all the credit.
I am shocked that we are .500 in the conference but so glad to see it!
Unless we continue to gel, get better, and healthier enjoy it while it lasts.
Random question:
I haven't tuned in on the radio for Hokie Hoops this year, until last night - when did Roth stop doing the PxP?
Pretty sure Mackey has been in this entire season. Not sure why the handover.
Doesn't seem like his Learfield deal included basketball. Football pxp, podcasts, Professor of Practice in the Sports Media and Analytics department and a regular contribution to Inside Hokie Sports magazine.
Article Here
Got it, thanks for the info.
Zach was fine, had a few slip-ups toward the end of the game but things were hectic. I'm just a big fan of Bill Roth and love the camaraderie between him & Burnop so it's a bummer to have them separated.
Fairly positive that Bill has not done any BB games since his return. Only football and other odds and ends.