After the Virginia Tech men's basketball team had its 2024-25 season come to an end in the first round of the ACC Tournament last March in Charlotte at the hands of first-year ACC member California, it began another long offseason in Blacksburg. After finishing 13-19, head coach Mike Young promised that the 2025-26 Hokies would be better.
In terms of record, he wasn't wrong. It has still been a frustrating season at times with all the talent on the roster, but they are still on the NCAA Tournament bubble. A win over Virginia on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville will go a long way toward helping them sneak into the 68-team field a week from Sunday. Also winning a game in the conference tournament would help.
What would also help Young and his team is having some of the other bubble teams with them suffer a setback or two. On Wednesday night, one of those teams, New Mexico, suffered a surprising loss, and it came at the hands of a former Virginia Tech guard, who had a hand in the upset.
Former Virginia Tech guard Brandon Rechsteiner helps Colorado State upset New Mexico
When the Transfer Portal opened last spring, guard Brandon Rechsteiner hit the portal to find a new home for 2025-26. When the dust settled, he committed to Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference. Against the Lobos, he had a hand in the 82-74 upset with 13 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 33 minutes of action. The loss dropped New Mexico to 22-8, and CSU improved to 20-10.
Entering the game last night, New Mexico was part of Joe Lunardi's "Last Four In'' as the second-to-last team. This loss will keep them on the bubble, and in an earlier matchup against Virginia Tech back in November, Rechsteiner had zero points in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in 27 minutes. However, when the Hokies needed him in March, he helped to keep their slim hopes alive for the NCAA Tournament.