Talk about a bounce-back game needed. It has been three days since the Virginia Tech men's basketball team suffered a devastating loss that will not look good on Selection Sunday in a couple of months.
Leading visiting Stanford, 65-52, with 3:36 left in the game on Wednesday night, the Hokies totally collapsed and were outscored, 17-3, down the stretch in falling, 69-68, to the Cardinal on a 3-pointer from Ebuka Okorie. It was a loss that will sting for a long time, and it was really inexcusable. It can't happen if Virginia Tech has visions of making the NCAA Tournament this year. Can't happen.
After falling to 1-2 in conference play, the Hokies will look to rebound on Saturday afternoon with California comes to Blacksburg. Last year, the Hokies went to Cal and beat the Golden Bears in the regular season, but Cal got the last laugh in the opening round of the ACC Tournament in March and eliminated the Hokies to cap off what was a dreadful 13-19 season for Mike Young's team. It's safe to say that it shouldn't take much for them to be up for this game.
How to watch California at Virginia Tech men's basketball
There is no other way to put it, this is a huge game for Young's team with a trip to SMU lurking next Wednesday night. Cal is coming off an 84-60 loss to Virginia on Wednesday night in Charlottesville. Virginia Tech got Tobi Lawal back against Stanford; however, he didn't start and came off the bench for Young. He finished with five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes.
Players to watch
Virginia Tech
- Amani Hansberry (Forward): 16.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists
- Neokli Avdalas (Guard): 14.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists
- Ben Hammond (Guard): 11.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists
- Tobi Lawal (Forward): 11.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists
- Jaden Schutt (Guard): 9.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists
California
- Dai Dai Ames (Guard): 17.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists
- Justin Pippen (Guard): 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists
- John Camden (Forward): 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists
- Chris Bell (Forward): 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists
- Lee Dort (Forward): 8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists