The college basketball season is in full swing, as we head into the holiday season. Several teams have been making an early statement this season, while others are hoping to turn things around quickly. This brings us today a program that has been quietly taking care of business and is trending upward in the ACC; that is the Virginia Tech Hokies who sit at 10-1 to start the season.
The Hokies are coming off a 23-13 season last year, in which they were able to win the ACC Tournament and make a first-round appearance against Texas. And knowing what head coach Mike Young has been able to do with programs, it seems that he has only been able to carry that momentum from last year into this season, as the Hokies are quietly racking up some early season wins.
It is a team that has some good talent, but probably names that you might not hear about outside of the ACC. But this team has been able to come together early, has been effective in several areas of the floor, and is playing well on offense and defense.
Offensively, they have seen players like Sean Pedulla, Justyn Mutts, Hunter Cattoor, Darius Maddox, and others really elevate their play this season. Pedulla has been leading the charge with around 16 points per game, while Mutts has been a strong force scoring and on the boards. Another critical piece to the Hokies success has been the play of Grant Basile, who came from Wright State. The forward has really made his presence felt in the ACC, averaging nearly 14 points and six rebounds a game.
As a team overall, the Hokies rank high in offensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage, and turnover percentage, as well as being strong inside the arc, limiting turnovers, and from the free throw line (Note: According to KenPom). Defensively, they are limited teams to just under 64 points per game, having solid numbers against teams overall defensively and limiting teams at the free throw line.
Sitting at 10-1 and looking down the road, the Hokies could be favored in several winnable games against ACC opponents; in fact, the next game they may not be favored in is not until they play at Virginia on January 18th.
Obviously, things could change until then but the Hokies need to be a team recognized more in a tough ACC Conference and it seems like they aren’t going away anytime soon.