The Virginia Tech men's basketball team has started the 2025-26 season at 11-2 through the non-conference portion of their schedule. They have got some big-time performances from some players, and they have some big wins early in the season.
Part of the reason why they are having success is their depth and balance, something that head coach Mike Young struggled with last season. However, as the season has gone along, with injuries and illnesses, it has been tough fielding a complete roster on most nights.
Star forward Tobi Lawal has been out with a foot injury since the Battle 4 Atlantis, with an injury that Virginia Tech is being cautious with. Freshman Antonio Dorn has been dealing with back issues, and fellow freshman Neoklis Avdalas missed the game before the Christmas Break with an illness. After 11 days off, the Hokies will return to the court at Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon to kick off ACC play and will reportedly do minus another key player.
Virginia Tech will play Virginia without Tyler Johnson
According to Mark Berman of the Roanoke Times, Virginia Tech will be without sophomore Tyler Johnson when they hosts the No. 21 Cavaliers on Wednesday. It is another blow to a Virginia Tech team that seems like it has been dealing with something in nearly every game this year.
In 13 games this season, Johnson is averaging 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. His absence will be missed most on the boards for an undersized team that is already likely missing Lawal. Now missing Johnson is going to make, the task against Virginia that much more difficult.
In Joe Lunardi's latest NCAA Tournament bracketology for ESPN, Virginia Tech was the first team in the "Next Four Out" and really needs a win against Virginia to have a good start in ACC play. That is going to be a lot harder without Johnson.