After the Virginia Tech men's basketball team beat Colorado State in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis, the night before Thanksgiving, little did anyone know what was about to come. When the Hokies played Saint Mary's the next day in the semifinals, Mike Young had to play the game without Tobi Lawal.
It began a stretch where we wouldn't see Lawal, the best player for the Hokies, for well over a month. He has recently made his way back into the lineup, but it has been a slow progression. Young has not started him, but chose to bring him off the bench. It was a smart move to slowly work him back into game shape.
With each passing game, he has gotten better and better. On Saturday afternoon, he recorded a double-double in what was a must-win game against Notre Dame after losing at the buzzer three nights before in Dallas against SMU. After the game, Young said what no team wanted to hear for the rest of the season in ACC play.
Mike Young goes all facts and no filter about the return of Tobi Lawal
Virginia Tech rolled over the Irish, 89-76, and Lawal finished with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. He was 14-for-18 from the free-throw line. His baskets against Notre Dame were around the rim, where his athletic ability was tough for them to defend. Young made it clear after the game that his senior forward is back and healthy.
"I thought he was good in his first game back,'' said Young. "Thought he was a little bit better (in his) second game back. He looked a lot more like himself on Wednesday in Dallas. That's him, and that rebounding and that gravity at the rim with his athleticism is a big deal. He's back. He's back, and he's playing good basketball. Proud of him."
Any success Virginia Tech is going to have this year will surround Lawal and his health. As good as the rest of his teammates are, he is a nightmare for teams to prepare for and deal with. If he's healthy, that's good news for the Hokies and bad news for the rest of the conference.