A lot has changed since the last time the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team walked off the floor at Ohio State following a second-round loss at the hands of the Buckeyes last March. There has been a mass exodus of transfers out of Blacksburg, while there has also been some incoming.
Head coach Mike Young will begin another season on the sidelines in Blacksburg with a new roster of transfers and incoming freshmen, sprinkled around some returning players. Expectations are very high entering the season, but they should be a fun group to watch. Here are five games fans should circle on their schedule to watch.
Nov. 4 vs. Delaware State
Of course with all the roster turnover, the first game of a new season is always must-watch TV. This kicks off an interesting non-conference schedule for the Hokies and a win would go a long way to keeping the hopes up early in the season.
Nov. 15 vs. Penn State
November is interesting for the Hokies. Their first of two Big Ten matchups is against Penn State in Baltimore in the Hall of Fame Series. After games with Delaware State, USC Upstate, and Winthrop, this is their first matchup against a power conference team. Good early-season test.
Nov. 25 vs. Michigan (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
A second Big Ten opponent in 10 days, the Hokies will get the new-look Wolverines in Fort Myers. Michigan parted ways with former coach Juwan Howard and hired Dusty May who had recent success at Florida Atlantic. Last season, his FAU team routed Virginia Tech in the Championship Game of the ESPN’s Events Invitational in Orlando.
Dec. 9 vs. Vanderbilt
There were several ways that this season’s ACC/SEC Challenge could have gone in terms of a matchup for the Hokies. Last season they played at Auburn against a very good Tigers team and this season, they’ll be home at Cassell Coliseum against Vanderbilt, which includes MJ Collins and Tyler Nickel, two transfers who played for Virginia Tech last season. This is certainly an interesting game.
Jan. 4 vs. Miami
Another game on the 2024-25 schedule that includes a former Hokie coming back to Cassell Coliseum to play his former school. Lynn Kidd broke out last season for Young, but like several other teammates, he entered the portal and landed in South Florida with the Hurricanes. He was a key piece in the middle last season that when he played well, the Hokies offense flowed very well.
It’s certainly going to be an interesting season in Blacksburg, especially early with so many new faces looking to come together quickly. It begins in two nights.