The Hokies have five regular-season games — plus the ACC Tournament — left to make their case for an NCAA Tournament selection.
I'll start by saying this: Virginia Tech's clash against Miami tomorrow is a must-win for a myriad of reasons. For one, the Hokies are running out of resume-enhancing opportunities, and an 8-10 record in league play won't cut it for the NCAA Tournament.
Perhaps a 9-9 record, even given the relative strength of the ACC this year, won't cut it, unless Virginia Tech claims some serious wins in the ACC Tournament.Even the Hokies' "gimme" games — Wake Forest and Boston College, both of which will be at home — are by no means secure. Head coach Mike Young is 1-6 against the Eagles while at Blacksburg, while Virginia Tech lost to Wake Forest 81-78 in Winston-Salem on Jan. 3 and is 1-5 against the Demon Deacons in the two teams' last six meetings. The Hokies likely don't draw a net-positive in the NET metrics from beating either Wake Forest or Boston College; after all, those are games that Virginia Tech is favored in and needs to win for its stock to remain the same. Virginia Tech's clash against Miami is thus likely a must-win because against North Carolina and Virginia, those opportunities are likely closed, barring the Hokies making a surprise run. Virginia Tech is 5-34 against the Tar Heels all-time on the road and is 1-9 in the Dean E. Smith Center, with its lone triumph being an 81-80 overtime upset over then-No. 4 UNC.Against Virginia, the Hokies are 5-13 in John Paul Jones Arena and have only defeated the Cavaliers twice in the past 10 years: 2017-2018 and last year, 2024-25 . Interestingly, Virginia Tech has never won a game by more than five in JPJ. The Hokies have a 2-5 record against a ranked UVA team on the Cavaliers' home turf, with that 2017-18 win and a 47-45 victory in 2011-12 their lone triumphs. With North Carolina and Virginia thus likely losses, Virginia Tech needs to claim tomorrow's tilt with Miami to avoid being stuck in place when the ACC Tournament approaches.Even still, if the Hokies slot in either as the eighth or the ninth seed in this year's ACC Tournament, that likely books them a quarterfinals slot with No. 3 Duke, which held Tech to a season-low 58 points in their matchup on Jan. 31. The Hokies' most favorable matchup in the ACC Tournament could work out as such:The Hokies fought tooth-and-nail with the Mustangs and came apart at the end, falling 77-76 on SMU's buzzer beater. For the quarterfinals, Virginia Tech boasts wins over both the Cavaliers and the Tigers. Virginia has been torrid since, though, and has won 11 of its last 12, with its lone loss being a 85-80 defeat at the hands of then-No. 22 North Carolina. The Cavaliers did Virginia Tech a favor by taking down Ohio State, 70-66, on Feb. 14 in Nashville.Back to the ACC: Virginia Tech can go through a bracket where it exclusively plays teams that it either defeated or played to the final possession into a possible semifinals berth. The likelihood of that happening is hard to tell, especially given: a) the volatilty of the Hokies as of late and b) what the bracket itself actually ends up shaping out to be. For what it's worth, I don't consider the Hokies' hopes as done and dusted. Virginia Tech still has a chance but it undoubtedly has been put behind the 8-ball and I'd peg its chances at about 25% of making the NCAA Tournament. Virginia Tech's contest against Miami comes on Tuesday as an 8 p.m. tip, with the contest being broadcast on the ACC Network.Thomas is a sophomore at Virginia Tech majoring in multimedia journalism with a minor in creative writing. He currently works with Collegiate Times, Virginia Tech's student-run newspaper, as a staff writer for its sports section. In addition, he also writes for 3304 Sports as a staff writer and on-air talent, as well as Aspiring Journalists at Virginia Tech as a curator. You can find him on X: @thomashughes_05.Clemson vs. Duke Prediction, Odds for College Basketball on Saturday, Feb. 14
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
No. 2 Red Bank Catholic defeats St. Rose in Shore TournamentCaseys dominate early in Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal victory.
Read more »
Piscataway bests Sayreville in GMC tournament quarterfinalsNwaigwe and Pernell lead the way for Piscataway.
Read more »
Updated ACC Standings and Projected ACC Tournament Bracket After Saturday's Games (2/15)Where do the Hokies land in the ACC standings after splitting this week's slate?
Read more »
The Good, Bad, & The Ugly From Georgia Tech 89-74 Loss To Georgia TechThe Yellow Jackets fall to 2-11 in the ACC.
Read more »
Two ACC Teams Among College Football Programs Emerging for 42-TD QBA proven winner could make his way to the ACC.
Read more »
The 10 most impactful women's games to finish the regular seasonRegular-season titles, conference tournament seeds and NCAA tournament hopes are on the line.
Read more »