If there was a way to sum up the 2025-26 Virginia Tech men's basketball season, it was in the first-round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday night against Wake Forest. Needing a win in the worst way to keep their slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive, the Hokies fell, 95-89, in overtime.
It was the story of the season for the Hokies. They began the game by digging themselves a hole in the first half, minus Amani Hansberry. They rallied in the second half to take a lead, only to fall behind again. They had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation when Ben Hammond drove to the basket, but missed his shot. Jailen Bedford crashed the boards and had an opportunity to win the game with a put-back, but it rimmed out.
In overtime, the Demon Deacons outscored Virginia Tech, 20-14, on their way to the six-point win to pop the Hokies NCAA Tournament bubble. After the game, head coach Mike Young took the blame for a team that will miss the 68-team field with a 19-13 record.
Mike Young takes the blame for Virginia Tech's frustrating season
After another brutal and frustrating loss, Young didn't beat around the bush about pointing the finger for the blame for a frustrating 2025-26 season that is going to fall well short of the NCAA Tournament.
"We had our opportunities, and we came up just short,'' said Young. "That's disappointing, infuriating, and I take a lot of responsibility there."
He's right, they had their opportunities all season long. It was in ACC play where they shot themselves in the foot. Three games come to mind in January: losses in the final seconds to Wake Forest, Stanford, and SMU. All three were winnable games and games they should have won.
From a major meltdown against Stanford with missed free throws and terrible offensive possessions late, which blew a 13-point lead to Boopie Miller's half-court heave at the buzzer in Dallas. The Hokies had a five-point lead late, but turnovers and missed free throws did them in. Let's not talk about the Florida State blowout loss at home in February.
The NCAA Tournament bubble this year is bad, very bad. The opportunity was there, and they failed to take advantage of it. It's not surprising that Young pointed the finger of blame at himself.