Just when it seemed like the Virginia basketball team may have figured out its road woes for this season, it laid an egg in the worst possible location for many fans’ nightmares. The Hoos stumbled to not only a road loss, but to the largest defeat in more than 60 years to Virginia Tech.
The Hokies cruised to 75-41 win at Cassell Coliseum, which earned a split in the season series. That marked the largest UVA loss to VT since a 35-point setback on Feb. 18, 1961, nearly 63 years ago to the day. It far outdistanced any loss in the series during the Tony Bennett era; the Hoos lost by 14 in 2021 for the second largest margin of defeat. It also replaced the largest loss since Tech joined the ACC, a 84-57 defeat that came in 2007.
Given the non-competitive nature of the outcome, it resembled the road struggles earlier this season. UVA dropped games at Memphis (23), Notre Dame (22), NC State (16), and Wake Forest (19) before it found its footing with a four-game road winning streak.
The Hokies snapped that trend emphatically.
“They thoroughly outplayed us,” Bennett said. “That’s a tough way to go down. When you look at it and you say look we’re on a fine line and if we’re not right, separation can occur. That’s happened to us this year a few times. You’d hope at this stage that it wouldn’t, but it did and it’s a credit to how well Virginia Tech played, but also that we didn’t have the right mindset or the ability to withstand their runs to try to climb back in.”
Indeed, this game unraveled in more ways than one.
Offensively, Virginia managed just 32.7% shooting (17-52) with a paltry 16.7% from 3-point range (2-12). The Hoos logged more turnovers than assists by a 12 to 7 count and managed only 7 offensive rebounds despite missing shots throughout. They didn’t reach the 40-point barrier until the final minute.
No one reached double figures in scoring, while only Jake Groves and Ryan Dunn made 50% or more of their attempts. Of course, that came on 3 total shots between them with Groves going 1-1 and Dunn 1-2. Isaac McKneely led the scoring column with 9 points on 3-7 shooting, while Dante Harris added 8 by going 4-9.
Reece Beekman hit 3 of 10 shots for 7 points. He had only 2 assists and 0 steals as well in what was an uncharacteristically slim box score for him.
If those numbers don’t tell the tale, this part will. The game spun out of control when the offense disappeared for nearly 9 minutes as the Hoos suffered through an 8:57 scoring drought. During that time, the Hokies used a 20-0 run to turn a 16-14 game into a 36-14 waltz.
“They were aggressive, their hands were quick, they were playing hard defensively, played with that kind of desperation, that tenacity that’s required,” Bennett said. “Effort’s one thing, but being tough, tough, and really getting after it with the soundness is another and we didn’t have that tonight. Had some trouble, missed some passes and finishes and then that thing separated and then our struggle to score really was highlighted. Then when the defense goes, it all went.”
The defense definitely went by the wayside too for Virginia. The visitors allowed 50.9% shooting overall (27-53) and 34.8% from 3-point range (8-23). The Hokies also produced 17 free throw attempts where they shot 76.5% (13-17).
Four players scored in double figures for Virginia Tech. Lynn Kidd led the way with 14 points and 7 rebounds as he made all 5 of his shot attempts and 4 of his free throws. He had just 2 points in UVA’s 65-57 win in Charlottesville last month.
Robbie Beran and Tyler Nickel added 13 points each, while Nickel also dished out 6 assists. Sean Pedulla chipped in 8 points and MJ Collins tallied 5 assists. Overall, VT had 17 assists on 27 baskets and committed just 7 turnovers. The Hokies also ended up with 36 points in the paint too.
The combination of assists and paint points clearly outlines how the game went for UVA’s defense. Tech repeatedly broke down the Virginia defense for easy buckets or trips to the free throw line. That included 9 layups and 7 dunks as the Hoos provided little resistance, especially as the score spiraled.
It could be called a forgettable loss, but the Wahoos somehow have to regroup again. What was an eight-game winning streak turned into two losses in three chances and now league leader North Carolina is on deck. The Tar Heels come to Charlottesville on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
“Right now, you ask me fresh off of getting beat like that, everything’s a concern, it really is,” Bennett said. “Who are we? How are we going to respond to this? Now, we have the right kind of character and the right kind of young men so that’s good, but you have to be honest and say that got away from us and at this stage you hoped it wouldn’t. But it’s not the end of the story at all. It’s OK, let’s tighten some things up.”
Total embarrassment. You wonder how long UVA can continue to give playing time to its forwards and centers who recently have shown an inability to score points. Regardless of how well they’ve played on defense, if 40-60 percent of the starting players do not contribute on offense it’s a major problem.
That was a new breed of ugly, and to vpi to boot.
I’m thinking in the days of portal and recruiting- this is a group that has not come together.
Coach speaks of mindset. Not unusual for a single player to lose focus from personal issues that might occur…but an entire team? Most of the players have demonstrated the talent…so there must be something else !