Virginia Tech to Face No. 18 Pittsburgh in ACC Opener

After dropping its fifth consecutive game of the season to Vanderbilt on Wednesday night, Virginia Tech begins its ACC schedule on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Panthers in Cassell Coliseum at 2:00. A win in this game would go a long way in providing a badly needed spark for Mike Young’s team.

Led by head coach Jeff Capel, Pitt enters Saturday’s contest with a record of 7-2, notching wins against West Virginia, LSU, and Ohio State. The Panthers are 1-2 in their last three games, notably being upset on the road at Mississippi State 90-57 in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Capel’s team no doubt hopes to bounce back in a big way against the Hokies to launch its ACC campaign the right way.

Pitt will challenge Virginia Tech on both ends of the floor, and the Panthers’ attack starts with Ishmael Leggett. The fifth-year senior guard is averaging 17 points on 49% shooting, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Leggett is Pitt’s leading scorer and paces the Panthers’ offensive scheme efficiently. He’s also a former 40% three-point shooter, though his average has remained around 30% since his freshman season.

Another offensive threat on Capel’s squad is sophomore guard Jaland Lowe. Averaging nearly 17 points on 39% shooting, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists a game, Lowe presents the Hokies with a second consistent option in Capel's system to account for, forcing Mike Young’s team to contend with a dangerous backcourt for at least 34 minutes, the tandem’s average so far this season.

Two more Panthers average double-digit points: guard Damian Dunn and forward Cameron Corhen at 11 points per game each. These four players comprise the bulk of the Panthers’ offensive production, but 8 players on Pittsburgh’s average 15 or more minutes a game, allowing Capel to go to his bench for a spark on offense if needed. Shooting just 33% from three, Capel’s team hasn’t to date demonstrated a reliable ability to shoot the long ball but is efficient elsewhere, averaging an overall field goal percentage of 47%. Pitt is tied for 25th nationally in turnovers a game, averaging just 9.8. 

Capel’s team doesn’t rank highly in many major defensive metrics but remains a sound unit that forces opponents to work through sets and find open shots. Pitt is 64th nationally in scoring margin, allowing an average of 69 points per game. The Panthers are led in steals by Leggett with 2 per game. Forward Zack Austin leads the Panthers in blocks, averaging nearly 2 per contest. 

If Virginia Tech wants to end its losing streak, it must improve in several key areas. First, Mike Young has to find a go-to scoring option to pace the offense. In nearly every one of the Hokies’ five consecutive losses this season, Virginia Tech has relied on several players stepping up to contribute points, a staple of Mike Young’s offense. However, Young must identify a player who can create his own shots in space outside of running an offensive set. He had this option in recent years in players like Sean Pedulla, Keve Aluma, Hunter Catoor, and Grant Basile.

Thus far in 2024, except for some infrequent breakout performances, the Hokies have yet to display a dynamic scorer whom they can rely on to get the offense going. Defensively, Virginia Tech continues to struggle to get stops at important junctures in the game. For example, during a 10-minute stretch in the second half against Vanderbilt, the Hokies were on the wrong end of a 29-14 Commodores run, essentially icing the game. To use one of Brent Pry’s favorite sayings, the Hokies have to play “complementary” basketball. That is, the Hokies have to be able to find consistent scoring options to take some of the pressure off of their defense at the other end of the floor.

Despite a difficult start to the season, Mike Young continues to believe his team will figure it out. Here’s to hoping they can do just that as the Hokies enter conference play.