Virginia Tech’s 2023-24 season ended in frustrating yet fitting fashion on Tuesday, as the Hokies fell in double overtime to California, 82-73, in the ACC Tournament. While the defeat closed the book on a difficult season, it also set the stage for brutally honest reflections from players and coaches alike—including a particularly candid take from the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, Tobi Lawal.
Lawal, a VCU transfer, didn’t sugarcoat his assessment when asked about the Hokies’ 13-19 season. While he acknowledged they had surpassed outside expectations, he made it clear that the season still fell well short of any real success.
“What did they have us in the preseason? Maybe 14th or 15th?” Lawal asked reporters before dropping a hilariously blunt verdict on Virginia Tech’s performance. “They thought we were going to be ass. I mean, we were still ass, but, you know, we weren’t that bad. You know what I’m saying? We beat expectations.”
That line alone is one for the record books.
Indeed, Virginia Tech was projected to finish 14th in the ACC according to the preseason media poll but managed to outperform that prediction, securing the ninth spot with an 8-12 conference record. While technically an improvement over expectations, it was hardly a season to celebrate.
Despite flashes of promise, Virginia Tech struggled with inconsistency, injuries, and a lack of depth, ultimately finishing well below .500 and missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The team often found itself in close games but failed to close them out, leading to a frustrating season for both players and coaches.
Head coach Mike Young, who just wrapped up his sixth season with the program, didn’t hold back when evaluating his team’s shortcomings. He acknowledged the players’ effort and character but emphasized that talent was a glaring issue.
“A lot was missing. A lot was missing. Just call it what it is,” Young said postgame. “They’re great kids and a pleasure to work with. We’ve got to get more talented, and we’re going to, quick.”
Pressed further on whether Virginia Tech would upgrade its roster, Young’s response was blunt and to the point:
“It better be,” he said. “It better be. I’m not living through that again.”
This marks the first time in Young’s tenure at Virginia Tech that the team has finished with a losing record, making the upcoming offseason a pivotal one. The good news? There seems to be a shared understanding within the program that what they had this year wasn’t enough.
With the transfer portallooming as a key tool for rebuilding, the Hokies are expected to be aggressive in pursuit of reinforcements. Whether they can turn things around quickly remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—after a season filled with frustration, humor, and harsh truths, Virginia Tech’s roster will look different next year. And it needs to.
Leave a Reply