Fighting Gobbler
Fansided

Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Hits Rock-Bottom Among Power Conference Teams

It's going to be a long winter in Blacksburg for the Hokies men.

By Scott Roche

Virginia Tech Hokies forward Mylyjael Poteat (34) shoots the ball as Michigan Wolverines center Vladislav Goldin (50) guards him during the first half of the Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division semifinal at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.
Virginia Tech Hokies forward Mylyjael Poteat (34) shoots the ball as Michigan Wolverines center Vladislav Goldin (50) guards him during the first half of the Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division semifinal at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. / Jonah Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Talk about a wild first month of the 2024-25 season for the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team. The Hokies opened the season with three straight wins over Delaware State, USC Upstate, and Winthrop, but since beating the Eagles at home on Nov. 11 they have dropped four straight to Penn State, Jacksonville, Michigan, and South Carolina.

In their four losses, they were non-competitive against Penn State, they had a 10-point lead at halftime at home against Jacksonville before losing by 10, and in their two losses in Fort Myers last week, they hung around with the Wolverines and Gamecocks before falling. What have the first seven results meant for the Hokies and their NET ranking?

Virginia Tech men’s basketball net ranking is difficult to see

Not too long ago Hokies were celebrating the ACC Tournament Championship in Brooklyn in 2022, but just two and a half years later, the Hokies are quickly declining in the men’s college basketball world. Monday, the first net rankings were released and Virginia Tech came in 233rd, which is well down in the final third of the field. They have the worst net ranking of all power conference schools.

That ranking reflects just how quickly the Hokies program is regressing before our eyes and there are several factors for it to get to this point. They do have some upcoming games to improve, but with this group, it seems like it’ll be a tall task.

Virginia Tech facing a big week of home games

At 3-4, it’s safe to say that Virginia Tech is facing a big week of games at home. They host former Hokies’ MJ Collins and Tyler Nickel and Vanderbilt on Wednesday night, then they open ACC play on Saturday afternoon against a very good Pittsburgh team. All the problems that have hurt Tech through the first seven games need to be worked out as best as they can.

The problem for Young and his team is that a lot of the issues they are having are self-inflected mistakes. Turnovers have been a major problem, both forced and unforced. Bad passes, traveling, and head-scratching decisions. Another issue Virginia Tech is having this season is they just don’t have enough scoring. They struggle from the field and they don’t have the 3-point shooters they have had in the past. Jaden Schutt might be their best shooter from behind the arc, but the Duke transfer is streaky.

Entering the season, there were a lot more questions than answers for Virginia Tech and after seven games, there are still a lot more questions than answers. This week could be a long week in Blacksburg and the net ranking could tumble even more.

feed

Home/Virginia Tech Basketball