Entering Tuesday night's early-season test against Iowa in Sioux Falls in what was a neutral-site game, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team was looking for an early-season résumé-building win in what was a tremendous opportunity.
An Elite Eight team a year ago, the Hawkeyes are a team that is predicted to finish in the top half of the Big Ten Conference this season and a great measuring stick for a new-look Hokies team with eight new transfers in the lineup. In what turned into a great back-and-forth game, the Hokies pulled out an 93-88 overtime victory to improve to 3-0 on the season after wins last week over Coppin State and Mercer at home.
After Tuesday's win over Iowa, Young had a message to Hokies fans.
"I know it's November,'' said Young, per David Cunningham of Tech Sideline. "Football is having a really good year, but with a Saturday football game against Stanford, we're in the Cassell on Friday. Time for Hokie fans to start coming down Washington [Street], into the Cassell for men's basketball, and I look forward to seeing them and Cassell Guard on Friday."
On Wednesday morning, the veteran coach doubled down on his X account.
@CassellGuardVT we need you guys on Friday at 7:00pm. We have a good basketball team, tough kids that play the right way. You guys have always responded. Get to Cassell!
— Mike Young (@CoachMKYoung) November 11, 2026
It is shaping up to be a big athletics weekend in Blacksburg, beginning on Friday night when Mount St. Mary's visits. James Franklin and the football team host Stanford on Saturday night, before Megan Duffy and the women's basketball team host La Salle on Sunday afternoon.
Women's basketball plays first road game at VCU
After playing their first three games at home, the Hokies women's basketball team will hit the road for their first road game of the season at VCU. After blowout wins over North Carolina Central and Delaware to begin the season, Duffy and her team beat James Madison on Sunday night at home by 16 points, getting revenge for a loss last season in Harrisonburg.
The game at VCU will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. The Rams are 1-0, with a win over Central Connecticut State University on Nov. 3. Last season, VCU went 8-23, but this is the first road game for a Hokies team that still plays a lot of young players. It'll be interesting to see how things play out.
Luke Reynolds is a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award
The semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, handed out to the nation's top tight end, and Virginia Tech's Luke Reynolds was listed as one of the nine players. In his first season in Blacksburg, the Penn State transfer has 56 receptions, 560 yards, and six touchdowns. His two biggest touchdowns came three weeks ago when the Hokies visited Clemson and pulled out a 20-16 win to become bowl-eligible.
Putting the nation on notice. @reynolds12_luke has been named a Mackey Award semifinalist! #LetsGoHokies pic.twitter.com/LRL3l4fELS
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) November 11, 2026
The finalists joining Reynolds are Kari Ashley of TCU, Jelani Thurman of North Carolina, Eli Finley of Louisiana Tech, Rocky Beers of Oklahoma, Patrick Overmyer of Houston, Jamari Johnson of Oregon, Willie Rodriguez of Kentucky, and DJ Vonnahme of Iowa. The selection committee will narrow the field to three semifinalists on Nov. 24.
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