Entering the 2024-25 season, we knew it was going to be rough at times for the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team and veteran coach Mike Young. However, after November and December, it was hard to envision the Hokies winning many, if any, ACC games.
That’s not an overreaction of any kind. After an offseason filled with roster turnover and additions through the transfer portal and with three freshmen, there were going to be some growing pains. Some of those growing pains were rough, no question about it.
When the first NET ranking was released in December, it was a shock to the system for Virginia Tech fans. The Hokies were 233rd in the country among Division 1 schools, which was the worst ranking of power conference schools. Yes, even Boston College had a better ranking. However, as time has gone on, Tech’s ranking has risen and now, it is proof of the job that Young and his staff have been doing since the New Year.
Virginia Tech’s rising NET ranking more proof that Mike Young isn’t the problem
Currently, at the time this article is being written, Virginia Tech’s NET ranking is 159th, a huge jump over two months. Since Jan. 1, the Hokies have won five of their eight ACC games and are sitting in ninth place in the conference standings. That would mean, if the ACC Tournament began today, not only with they be in the 15-team field, but they would get a bye and avoid playing on the dreaded Day 1 of the tourney.
I don’t think that was on anyone’s bingo card just over a month ago, but here we are, after road wins at Florida State and Virginia, the Hokies are trending upward with a young roster that is growing up quickly. They are playing well at both ends and finding ways to survive on the road, something they failed to do in 2023-24 with a better and more experienced roster.
It’s not going to matter in the end unless the Hokies go on a long winning streak, other than the ACC Tournament if they finish in the Top 15, it’s likely their only postseason action. After that, all the attention will turn to the offseason for Virginia Tech and the future of Young and the young players on the roster. Whatever happens will happen, but you can’t deny the job that the staff has done this season to have the Hokies in their spot right now in the first week of February.