After splitting a two-game trip to California against Stanford and Cal last week, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team returns to Cassell Coliseum to begin a homestand. The Hokies will be kicking the homestand against off North Carolina State and they could be getting a key player back.
On Monday, head coach Mike Young said that freshman point guard Ben Hammond could return to the lineup against the Wolfpack, although he will be a game-time decision. That is huge news despite Brandon Rechsteiner and Rodney Brown, Jr. playing well on their trip out West last week in Hammond’s absence.
How to watch North Carolina State at Virginia Tech men’s basketball
Both teams are stuck in the middle half of the ACC standings at 2-3 as they look to pick up an early-season win. NC State is coming off a loss at home on Saturday night to North Carolina after the Tar Heels blocked a shot in the final seconds.
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Cassell Coliseum
How to Watch: ESPNU, ESPN.com, ESPN+, or FuboTV
Virginia Tech Record: 7-9 (2-3 ACC)
North Carolina State Record: 9-7 (2-3 ACC)
As will be the case in most ACC games this season, the Hokies enter the game as an underdog and it will be interesting to see how they respond after a week out West despite being home for three days. Since the holiday break, Virginia Tech has been playing some good basketball and they even hung tough with Duke on New Year’s Eve despite the loss.
They have won two of their last three against Miami and Cal. Some of the younger players, freshman Tyler Johnson and sophomore Jaydon Young, have played well while Ben Burnham shot the ball very well at Stanford. In the end, NC State is not as good as they were last season when they made a Final Four run, but they should come to Blacksburg and sneak out a win over the Hokies.