Virginia Tech basketball gives #2 UNC a scare

The Tar Heels of Carolina came to town, and were shown a fight by our Virginia Tech basketball team. 75-70 was the final score.

The bottom line of ESPN on Sunday read “(2) UNC survives scare at Virginia Tech”. That’s a pretty accurate description of the game, as UNC lead almost the entire game, but the Hokies wouldn’t ever go away. After a Blackshear layup with 8 minutes to go, Virginia Tech would take it’s only lead of the game, and boy was Cassell Coliseum rocking. I tell you what, the Virginia Tech basketball team is starting to make a buzz and it showed with the electricity that was in the stands on Sunday, especially amongst the students. You can tell that they can tell that Buzz Williams has started something that could be special.

Jan 24, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Devin Wilson (11) is defended by North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) in the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /

The leading scorer for the Hokies was (take a wild guess), Zach LeDay, who put up 17, making this his sixth straight game with at least 17 points… Wow. That’s an impressive stat for any college basketball player, whether you’re a freshman phenom at Duke who will be in the NBA next year, or just an improving Junior Forward playing for an improving Virginia Tech basketball team. He was 9-11 from the free throw line, coupled with 2 threes. I’d like to see some improvement closer to the rim, as his final field goal tally was 3 for 8.

Justin Bibbs has, unfortunately, continued to struggle from beyond the three-point line after leading the ACC in three-point percentage at the beginning of the season. He would go 1 for 4 and finish with just 6 points.

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Seth Allen had 11 points, marking his third straight game with double-digit contributions to Tech’s scoring. His lack of field goals, however, was probably why the Hokies couldn’t pull it out. He went 2 of 11 from the field, poor by anyone’s standards for a starting guard. Blackshear and Hudson attempted to make up for some of the slack, combining for 26 points, but it just wasn’t enough.

“Scared” isn’t the word I would use to describe how teams should feel about playing Virginia tech, but they should be nervous and certainly not overlook them. The only team to control them was Duke in their blow out win five games ago, and since then, Virginia Tech has consistently played their best basketball of the year. A win against #16 Louisville tomorrow is both very reasonable to hope for and would also be huge for Virginia Tech’s tournament hopes that are relatively low right now.

Virginia Tech takes on #16 Louisville tomorrow at home at 8 PM ET. Go Hokies!