The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team had multiple opportunities to secure a victory in the first round of the ACC Tournament against California on Tuesday, but costly mistakes proved to be their downfall. The Hokies let leads slip away at the end of regulation and overtime, ultimately committing a crucial turnover on an inbounds play in the closing moments. It was a fitting end to a frustrating season.
With an 82-73 loss, Virginia Tech finished the year with a disappointing 13-19 record. Pinpointing the reasons behind their struggles isn’t difficult—turnovers, prolonged scoring droughts, defensive lapses, and inconsistent shooting from both the field and the free-throw line all contributed at various points. Despite these issues, managing to win 13 games, including eight in ACC play, given the challenges of the roster, was an accomplishment in itself.
Following the season-ending loss, head coach Mike Young addressed the media and gave some candid thoughts on the team’s shortcomings and the path forward.
on what this year’s team was missing
“A lot was missing. A lot was missing. Just call it what it is,” Young said. “They’re great kids and a pleasure to work with. We got to get more talented, and we are going to, quick.”
His blunt assessment makes it clear that roster upgrades are a priority, raising questions about who might enter the transfer portal when it opens later this month. The Hokies have some promising young players, including freshmen Ben Hammond and Tyler Johnson, but there is a sense that significant roster changes could be coming.
Mike Young on addressing roster issues through the transfer portal
“It better be,” Young said. “It better be. I’m not living through that again.”
Last offseason, Young relied heavily on the portal to fill roster gaps, and he is expected to be just as aggressive this year. However, this time around, he should have access to a larger NIL budget, which could help attract more high-impact players.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, there is optimism that these issues will be addressed. With the transfer portal and NIL opportunities playing a major role in roster construction, Virginia Tech fans will be eager to see how Young reshapes the team for the future.
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