Good evening, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) fans.
It happened last night. Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach, Mike Young, finally got his first win against Boston College. Boston College is the only team Mike Young did not have a victory against – which is shocking for many. Mike Young has more wins against Duke than he does against Boston College (Mike Young is 3-4 vs. Duke – let that sink in). I feel weird blogging about this – but this was a really big win for Virginia Tech vs. Boston College – because the Eagles have been kryptonite vs. the Hokies.
How did Virginia Tech do it last night? Tough defense, sound fundamentals, and a balanced scoring attack. All of these stats are courtesy of HokieSports. Boston College seemed to find a way to hit 40 percent of their three-point shots in prior games vs. the Hokies. Last night, the Hokies limited Boston College to a pedestrian six of 18 (33 percent) from three-point land. But the Hokies also got to the free throw line – and hit 16 of 16 shots (100 percent). They call them free throws – they are free points if you can make them – and the Hokies did. Boston College went 5 of 9 from the free throw line. Sometimes those are the differences in the game – doing the little things you need to do to survive and advance.
But the bigger key for Virginia Tech was a balanced scoring attack – four different players scored in double figures (including an expected 11 points from MJ Collins); the Hokies got scoring from the bench players; and the 18 points from the post. Getting bench scoring is a big for any team – but Virginia Tech wins when the bench players put up numbers.
The last couple of games, I’ve had concerns that Virginia Tech hasn’t been the more physical team vs. either NC State or Boston College (I am hard at times on the Hokies) – but it’s found ways to become more gritty against both teams and get wins. And I have to give the Hokies credit for that. Get a win vs. Georgia Tech and you can start talking about the Hokies getting back into that NCAA tournament conversation.
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