Just when you didn't think the Virginia Tech men's basketball season couldn't hit another frustrating point, guess again.
After suffering three losses in ACC play to Wake Forest, Stanford, and SMU in the final seconds, another chapter was added to the 2025-26 season in terms of a loss in the final seconds. And it was in another game that was very winnable for Mike Young's team.
Tied with Miami, 66-66, with 12.5 seconds remaining, Virginia Tech's Tobi Lawal fouled the Hurricanes' Tre Donaldson and sent him to the free throw line for a 1-and-1. He sank the front end, missed the second one, and after Miami used their two fouls to give, the Hokies had one last chance with 3.8 seconds with an out-of-bounds play from the sideline.
Mike Young drew up a play that had Ben Hammond driving to the basket as time expired, and he missed a floater. Game, set, match. Another devastating loss, 67-66, this time to Miami in what was a major Quad 1 opportunity. That ended any hopes Virginia Tech had of making the NCAA Tournament.
Miami coach Jai Lucas said the ugly truth out loud after beating Virginia Tech
What a first season Jai Lucas is having in South Florida in charge of the Hurricanes. He has them at 21-5 after beating the Hokies and is securely in the 68-team field next month. As for the Hokies, he feels their pain and said what all Hokies fans know after the game.
"How good is the ACC? That's my first statement. And then Virginia Tech, that's the tournament team, and I knew it coming in,'' said Lucas. "One, they're extremely well-coached. He does a great job both offensively and defensively. They're physical. They execute. They're just a really well-coached team, and they deserve--they've had bad luck. I had to tell them I'm sorry after the game, because it's like their fourth loss under three seconds. And they would be in the top of the league. They would be right there with us if it wasn't that way.''
He's not wrong. This is an NCAA Tournament team, but they just can't get out of their own way late in games, and it has painfully cost them four times. Each one of those was winnable and should have been won. Virginia Tech is off to the NIT, and who knows what team will show up for them. The ugly truth is that this is a team that should be in Miami's position, safely in the NCAA Tournament field.