Virginia Tech came up short in Blacksburg against Wake Forest 72-63 in what was a back-and-forth battle. Although the result wasn’t what the Hokies wanted, Saturday’s game was the latest in a number of recent performances that have proven that Mike Young’s team is much improved from just a few weeks ago.
In the first half, Virginia Tech was plagued by familiar turnover issues, committing six in the first eight minutes of play. Not helping the Hokies’ sloppy play was their offense, as they shot just 2-7 in the same timeframe, and 3-20 in the first 16 minutes of action. Despite these early offensive struggles by the home team, Wake Forest failed to capitalize. Virginia Tech later got a better handle on the ball by not committing a turnover for the remaining 9:24 of the half, and stepped up the defensive pressure by holding the Demon Deacons to a 4.5 minute scoring drought until two minutes remaining in the half. The Hokies went into the locker room down just 31-29.
The second half got underway with a four point play by Jaden Schutt coming off of a perfectly executed offensive set, putting the Hokies ahead for the first time. Despite this strong start for the Hokies, the Demon Deacons later found their groove on the offensive end. Behind leading scorer Hunter Sallis with 24 points, and complemented by Cameron Hildreth with 21 points, Wake Forest managed to overcome its slow start, as well as some opportunistic Virginia Tech defense, and converted on the Hokies’ mistakes, unlike in the first half. Coming down the stretch, the Hokies’ deficit remained within five points until the final 1:30 when the Hokies began to foul intentionally to stop the clock. Virginia Tech shot 41% from the field, and 32% from three point range.
Although Mike Young undoubtedly is disappointed in the result, he has to be proud of the effort his team exhibited throughout this game. This team is much better than the performances it displayed during its non-conference schedule. If this game were played in December, the Hokies likely would have lost by 20+ points. But, through a combination of improved individual and cohesive team play– and more than a little coaching acumen on Young’s part– Virginia Tech has improved by leaps and bounds. Understandably, though, the Hokies have to improve in several areas to have a chance to be in the postseason conversation in the latter portion of conference play.
As demonstrated early in Saturday’s loss, turnovers continue to be an issue for Mike Young’s team. Despite starting point guard Ben Hammond returning to the lineup after a multiple-game absence due to injury, Virginia Tech’s offense couldn’t be sustained because of numerous sloppy turnovers. This issue can be tied to the fact that the Hokies do not have a go-to scoring option or ball handler who they can rely on. This second glaring issue was painfully apparent in the late stages of Saturday’s contest, as one Virginia Tech offensive possession after another looked out of sync at the worst possible time. Unlike previous Virginia Tech squads, this year’s roster lacks a reliable scoring threat who can create his own shot, leading to a sometimes disjointed offensive approach.
Mike Young’s offense by committee, while effective against lesser competition, usually isn’t suitable by itself in late-game situations. This system has truly taken form over the Hokies’ four previous games coming into Saturday’s matchup, during which they were led in scoring by four different players. Similarly, against the Demon Deacons, the Hokies dominated in bench points, 27-8. Whether it’s Tobi Lawal (10 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s game), Mylyjael Poteat (10 points and 5 rebounds), Brandon Rechsteiner (10 points and 2 assists), or Jaden Schutt (12 points and 2 rebounds), Mike Young will need to find an offensive leader.
The bottom line is this: Virginia Tech has proven that they’ve come a long way since losing to Jacksonville in November. Saturday’s game went the way it probably should have, just like many of the Hokies’ recent losses have. This season was all about demonstrating growth over the course of the year while rebuilding a depleted roster, and Virginia Tech so far has done that. While that’s not to say that they should settle, it should serve as an encouraging sign to Mike Young and Hokies’ fans alike.
Virginia Tech is back in action against Georgia Tech in Atlanta on January 22nd at 7:00 PM.