Going into the 2025-26 season, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Virginia Tech men's basketball team. After a dismal 2024-25 season that saw the Hokies finish 13-19, veteran coach Mike Young wasn't going to repeat that for a second straight season.
Instead, he brought back assistant coach Chester Frazier, who helped bring in superstar freshman Neoklis Avdalas and West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry to Blacksburg, and the results so far this season have spoken for themselves. The Hokies got off to an 11-2 start in the non-conference and opened ACC play at home on Wednesday against in-state rival Virginia.
It was a game for the ages to close the calendar year of 2025. The two teams, both shorthanded, battled through regulation and three overtimes before the Hokies prevailed to knock off the 21st-ranked Cavaliers, 95-85, in what was a statement win. After the game, Young didn't hold back with the cold, hard truth.
Virginia Tech coach Mike Young delivers the cold hard truth after beating Virginia
Virginia Tech played the game extremely shorthanded. They were still missing forward Tobi Lawal and center Antonio Dorn, but it was revealed on Tuesday that they were going to be without sophomore Tyler Johnson. That was a huge blow.
However, behind a career-high 30 points from sophomore Ben Hammond and a double-double from Amani Hansberry and Christian Gurdak, the Hokies gutted out the 10-point win. Young admires every team he plays. It's respect, but he didn't want to take anything away from his team in his postgame press conference.
"Great admiration for (UVA), but dammit, I’ve got a good basketball team, too, alright? And I’m not gonna shy away from that."
You tell them, coach. It was a major gut-check win for the Hokies down three rotation players, and it is the type of win that will stick out on Selection Sunday in March. It was their fourth overtime win this season. The résumé building continues.