Good morning, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports fans. Hope all is well in your world.
On November 24, 2021 at 9:30 PM EST, the unranked Virginia Tech men’s basketball takes on #9 Memphis in the Preseason National Invitational Tournament. This will be a game of contrasting styles on offense.
Virginia Tech, rated inside the top 30, according to KenPom, represents an extreme contrast in style to Memphis. The Hokies are a one-man show at point guard (Storm Murphy) and are among the most deliberate teams in the country (300th in adjusted tempo). The Tigers rank third in adjusted tempo.
You can bet that Memphis will be paying attention to Virginia Tech, who is well coached by Mike Young – and has a bunch of really smart players. Virginia Tech is also an older team. The Hokies, in short, aren’t going to be afraid when they play Memphis.
You can’t help, but be nostalgic as a Virginia Tech men’s basketball fan when you think of past games with Memphis. Virginia Tech and Memphis were old Metro Conference rivals for several years. In the overall series vs. Memphis, Virginia Tech is 12-18. There were a few really notable games.
First, on January 10, 1983 (almost 28 years ago), an unranked Virginia Tech defeated #1 Memphis in Blacksburg, VA. Here’s a video on that 🙂
Here’s what the Washington Post had to say about that:
Unranked Virginia Tech starting three freshman and two sophomores, upset No. 1 Memphis State, 69-56, in a Metro Conference game before a sellout crowd in Cassell Coliseum tonight, It was Tech’s first victory over a top-ranked team.
Memphis State (11-1, 1-1) had just been elevated to the No. 1 spot today by United Press International following the upset of Indiana by Ohio State Saturday.
“Virginia Tech played exceptionally well,” said Memphis State Coach Dana Kirk. “We didn’t handle the ball like we have been. We stayed in our game plan, but really sputtered in the spread offense. If you don’t execute in the spread, it can really hurt you. It did tonight.”
Reserve guard Reggie Steppe, one of Virginia Tech’s few seniors, led the Hokies with 21 points, including 15 free throws in 17 attempts. Guard Dell Curry scored 16 points and forward Bobby Beecher, another freshman, had 12.
You see that a young Del Curry played in that game 😉
Second, on February 1, 1986, unranked Virginia Tech defeated #1 Memphis again – this time an older Del Curry led his team to victory:
Memphis is highly favored in this game – but I’m going to show my homer side a little bit here – don’t count out Virginia Tech in this game 😉
History shows Virginia Tech and Memphis is always a battle – and I expect this one to be that, too.
Go Hokies!!
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