Feb 15, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies ahead Tobi Lawal (1) works in opposition to Virginia Cavaliers ahead Blake Buchanan (0) through the second half at Cassell Coliseum. Necessary Credit score: Brian Bishop-Imagn Photographs Cal and Virginia Tech have struggled down the stretch, but one in all them will declare not less than a second recreation within the Atlantic Coast Convention event.
The groups meet within the first spherical Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.
No. 10 seed Virginia Tech (13-18) has misplaced two in a row and three of its final 4, together with Saturday’s 65-47 setback at then-No. 11 Clemson. Tuesday’s winner meets No. 7 seed Stanford on Wednesday night time.
“Let’s go play nicely,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Younger mentioned. “Received at Cal earlier within the yr.”
No. 15 seed Cal (13-18) has misplaced seven of its final eight video games. The Golden Bears nabbed the final berth into the ACC event of their first season within the convention.
The Golden Bears had been on the flawed finish of the historic 112-110 four-overtime matchup with Notre Dame on Saturday. Jeremiah Wilkinson’s 36 factors led Cal in that matchup, and he was one in all three gamers on the group to log not less than 50 minutes of taking part in time.
Wilkinson can have one other probability to point out what he can do within the event. The freshman has averaged 20.4 factors since becoming a member of the beginning lineup 13 video games in the past.
“He is an unbelievable level guard,” Cal coach Mark Madsen mentioned. “He is an explosive scorer, but in addition does a very good job of on the lookout for his teammates. He is rising into one of many high level guards within the nation.”
Turnover troubles have haunted the Hokies and they’re working out of time to repair them.
“That has been a sore spot for my group all yr,” Younger mentioned. “We do not deal with the ball price a rattling.”
Virginia Tech gained the regular-season assembly 71-68 on Jan. 11 at Cal regardless of guard Andrej Stojakovic’s 24 factors. He hasn’t scored that many factors in a recreation since.
Guard Jaydon Younger had a team-high 14 factors for the Hokies in that victory, which featured a 42-23 halftime lead.
Tobi Lawal leads Virginia Tech in scoring (12.2 factors per recreation) and rebounding (6.8 per recreation). Lawal (lower-body harm) missed final week’s dwelling finale in opposition to North Carolina, however returned to attain 5 factors in 24 minutes within the Clemson recreation.
–Discipline Stage Media
Source link
#Deadspin #Cal #Virginia #Tech #struggling #enter #ACC #tourney
