Long before the 2025-26 men's basketball season began, Virginia Tech was seen as a team that was an NCAA Tournament team. The play on the court. For the most part, has told a lot of people that they are a tournament team, but the results say otherwise.
Three losses in January to SMU, Stanford, and Wake Forest in the final seconds were bad losses. In the case of Stanford, the Hokies blew a big lead late in the game, and the Cardinal made a late 3-pointer in the final seconds. That wasn't as bad as a Boopie Miller half-court heavy at the buzzer that went in.
The common theme in those losses was missed free throws and turnovers. When it rained and poured. Those losses are likely going to keep Virginia Tech out of the 68-team field unless a major miracle happens. Joe Lunardi, ESPN's bracketologist, had some interesting things to say to David Cunningham of Tech Sideline when asked about the Hokies.
Joe Lunardi has an honest take on Virginia Tech and the NCAA Tournament
Cunningham spoke to Lunardi about the Hokies and what they need to do this week at the NCAA Tournament to get on the right side of his bubble. Lunardi said that if he had wins by Virginia Tech over Wake Forest on Tuesday and Clemson on Wednesday, he would have them in the field. He also said the painful truth that all Hokies fans know.
I asked ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi about the #Hokies and what they need to do this week at the ACC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.
— David Cunningham (@therealdcunna) March 9, 2026
"I think they may be the most talented team not solidly in the field, and I think it’s because they had so many hard-luck losses." pic.twitter.com/7Xkp6nNHJh
"I think they may be the most talented team not solidly in the field, and I think it’s because they had so many hard-luck losses," Lunardi said.
He also went on to say, according to Cunningham, that if there isn't a team on the board that is good enough to make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, it's Virginia Tech. Talk about adding even more pain to Hokies fans.
The bottom line is, somehow, someway, Virginia Tech still has a shot to get into the NCAA Tournament. They will likely need to get to the semifinals to have a shot at being in the conversation. That would mean wins over Wake Forest, Clemson, and North Carolina. Easier said than done. It starts with Wake Forest on Tuesday.