Three games into the 2025-26 season, so far so good for the Virginia Tech men's basketball team. They have wins over Charleston Southern, Providence in overtime, and Saint Joseph's. They will look for a fourth straight win on Sunday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum when the Charlotte 49ers visit for another non-conference matchup.
This will be the third home game for the Hokies early in the season and then a home game with Brynat follows this week before they head to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis. Before we get that far ahead, let's dive into the matchup with Charlotte.
2025-2026 Season
Virginia Tech Hokies
- Overall record: 3-0
- Conference Record: 0-0
- Home Record: 2-0
- Away Record: 0-0
- Neutral Site Record: 1-0
- Top-25 Wins: 0
Charlotte 49ers
- Overall record: 2-1
- Conference Record: 0-0
- Home Record: 2-1
- Away Record: 0-0
- Neutral Site Record: 0-0
- Top-25 Wins: 0
Key Players
Virginia Tech
- Amani Hansberry (Forward): 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists
- Neoklis Avdalas (Guard): 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists
- Jailen Bedford (Guard): 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists
- Tobi Lawal (Forward): 12.7 points, 10.5 rebounds
- Tyler Johnson (Forward): 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3 assists
Charlotte
- Ben Bradford (Guard): 17.0 points
- Major Freeman (Guard): 13.3 points
- Dezayne Mingo (Guard): 12.3 points
- Anton Bonke (Center): 11.0 points
Keys to victory for Virginia Tech
So far, things in the two home games for the Hokies have come with huge offensive explosions. Even in their OT win over Providence, they still put up 107 points. Charlotte will test Virginia Tech's inside game as center Anton Bonke is a 7-foot-2 presence who is averaging a double-double early in the season with 11 points and 10.7 boards in the 49ers' first three games. This will be the first road game for Charlotte this season.
For Virginia Tech, just keep doing what they have been doing through the first three games. Defend at a high level, hit the boards, run the floor, and ride freshman Neoklis Avdalas when he has the ball in his hands. Also, avoid a trap with a loss, as things have been rolling through the first three games.