For the first time in 2025, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team will play a home game. Four days after returning from the Christmas break with a loss at Duke, 88-65, in a game where the Hokies showed much more fight than the final score indicates. Now they’ll return home and host a former player from the 2023-24 roster for the second time this season.
Last month, when Vanderbilt came to Blacksburg as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, MJ Collins and Tyler Nickel returned with the Commodores. Collins played a big part in their win. On Saturday, when Miami visits, former Hokie Lynn Kidd will make his return to Tech. The Hurricanes come to town without coach Jim Larranaga who abruptly stepped down the day after Christmas.
How to Watch Miami at Virginia Tech men’s basketball
This will be the third ACC game for both teams and both teams have dropped their first two which means someone will be leaving with their first conference win of the season.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 3
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Cassell Coliseum
Virginia Tech Record: 5-8 (0-2 ACC)
Miami Record: 4-9 (0-2 ACC)
You have to wonder how many chances Virginia Tech is going to get this season to win an ACC game. This may be one of them. Miami is going through some big changes without their head coach while the Hokies have battled tough in their first two conference games, Pittsburgh and Duke, without anything to show for it. If they can take care of the ball and shoot the ball well, they have a chance to pick up a win.
Expect Miami to go to Kidd early and often as he had a big game against Boston College on New Year’s Day, but it wasn’t enough in a loss to the Eagles. The Hurricanes still have talented guard Matthew Cleveland who was one of their better players last season.