Going into the 2025-26 men's basketball season, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Virginia Tech men. Of course, there is a lot of excitement around the country, but this year, the vibes around the Hokies are different.
Why? It's simple, really. Head coach Mike Young got a ton of retention from key players on his roster and added some veteran pieces through the Transfer Portal. Add in NBA prospect Neoklis Avdalas as an incoming freshman, and there is a lot to be excited about this winter.
Jeff Goodman thinks Virginia Tech is an NCAA Tournament team and said what Hokies' fans already knew about Mike Young
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 was at the ACC Tip-Off this week, and you can count him, along with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, as analysts who are high on the Hokies this year.
"I mean, I think this Virginia Tech team is an NCAA Tournament team,'' Goodman said. "I've said it over and over again. They got one of the best coaches around in Mike Young. I mean, we know what he can do. Now you've got a star in freshman (Avdalas), a guy who everyone is raving about, whether it's Young, whether it's assistant coaches, whether it's the players.
"You've got some veteran guys, and I think, obviously, (Tobi) Lawal is a guy that has to take another step. Bringing in (Amani) Hansberry has been huge in more than one way. (Jalien) Bedford, what they brought in with him is a 3-and-D guy who can help. I think now you've got enough. You had enough resources this year, and if you give Mike Young enough resources, the guy is gonna win. Period.''
That is nothing new about Mike Young; fans know he can coach. Goodman said it out loud. Look at the job he has done at Virginia Tech with limited resources before getting more this year. Last year, he took a team that really had no right winning 13 games and won 13 games and made the ACC Tournament. At the beginning of the season, that didn't seem possible.
Now Young has the resources he needs and is bringing in talent that will allow Young to cook this year and it should be NCAA Tournament or bust come March.