After wins over Charleston Southern and Providence to begin the season, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team was looking to pick up a third straight win on Wednesday night at home against Saint Joseph's. Anyone left from last year's team will remember the 20-point loss the Hawks hung on the Hokies in mid-December.
Yes, both rosters look different, especially Virginia Tech's from how it looked when the season ended back in March in the ACC Tournament. For the third straight game, the Hokies put up 90-plus points in a 35-point rout at Cassell Coliseum.
Virginia Tech gets balance effort in win over Saint Joseph
If there is one thing to take away from the Hokies' first three games, it's the balance that Mike Young has with the 2025-26 team. They also spread the ball around. They had 23 assists to seven turnovers against the Hawks, which is a ratio that Young will take every night.
Virginia Tech placed six players in double figures, with West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry leading the way with 19 points. Neoklis Avdalas had 14 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, and Jaden Schutt had 12 points and five rebounds. Tobi Lawal (seven rebounds), Tyler Johnson (three steals), and Ben Hammond (six assists) each had 11 points.
Sitting at 3-0, the Hokies will be off until Sunday afternoon when Charlotte visits Blacksburg for another non-conference game, and then Bryant visits next Wednesday night. Then things get much more difficult in the Marriott Bonvoy Battle 4 Atlantis when they play Colorado State on Nov. 26 in the first round.
Avdalas has opened some eyes around the country with his early performances, but Virginia Tech continues to slide under the radar, as Joe Lunardi did not have the Hokies anywhere near his latest NCAA Tournament projections earlier this week, which is fine. Keeping sliding under the radar is how Mike Young likes it.