Men’s Basketball Recap: Week 1

Evan Bainer

Nov. 13, 2024

The new-look Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball program began its 2024 campaign with a trio of contests at home in Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies started the 2024 season off with home games against Delaware State, University of South Carolina Upstate, and Winthrop this past week. With the team’s new look of players this season, the three matchups gave Virginia Tech fans a glimpse at what the roster could do in 2024.

The Hokies got off to a hot start in their season opener against the Hornets. After leading 40-32 at the half, however, the Hokies did see a surge from the Hornets at the start of the second half. Delaware State’s effort would not be enough though as Virginia Tech pulled away to secure the win later in the half. Although Delaware State guard Martaz had a 30 point game against the Hokies, a combined effort from Tobi Lawal, Mylyjael Poteat and Jaydon Young propelled Virginia Tech to the 83-60 victory. 

Lawal’s 23 points led the team in the game, as he went 6-9 on field goals (two of which were three-pointers) and 9-11 on free throws. Poteat and Young assisted in the win, as they scored 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Although the Hokies fell into a 16-2 deficit early in the game, the team made a quick and substantial turnaround as they were able to end the first half of the game with a 37-32 lead. Virginia Tech would keep this momentum going, outscoring the Spartans 56-42 in the second half. With each starter putting up double-digit points, Virginia Tech’s all-around performance helped the Hokies pick up the 93-74 victory.

Mylyjael Poteat and Brandon Rechsteiner led the way in scoring for the Hokies in this contest, as they both put up 19 points each. While Poteat’s scoring mostly came at the line, as he went 7-9 on free throws, Rechsteiner’s success came from going 7-12 on field goals and 3-5 on three-pointers. What may have arguably been the best performance by the Hokies, however, came from freshman guard Tyler Johnson, who came up with 16 points off the bench for Virginia Tech.

Much like in their matchup against South Carolina Upstate, the Hokies got off to a slow start offensively against the Eagles. Despite being down 25-23 at the half, Virginia Tech was able to surge back in the second half, outscoring Winthrop 35-27 in the half. Tech’s 58-52 victory came in large part from play from former Duke guard Jaden Schutt, who led the Hokies with 17 points after going 3-5 on three-pointers. Schutt’s performance, particularly in the second half of the game, helped lift Virginia Tech over Winthrop in what turned out to be a tight matchup.

Virginia Tech heads to Baltimore on Friday to take on Penn State in the 2024 Hall of Fame Series, which will be the team’s first notable matchup of the season. The following week, Tech is back in Blacksburg to take on Jacksonville University on Nov. 20. Finally, the Hokies wrap up the month with a matchup against Michigan on Nov. 25 in the Fort-Myers Tip-Off in Florida.

Statistically this season, Virginia Tech has relied heavily on free throw shooting over its first three games, as the points scored from free throws have accounted for about a quarter of the total points scored in each game for the Hokies. Additionally, Tech’s attack at the rim has played a crucial role in its success. In their largest victory margins this season, beating South Carolina Upstate by 19 and Delaware State by 23, the Hokies outscored their opponents in the paint 38-32 and 32-20, respectively. Finally, Virginia Tech’s rebounding has been another difference-maker so far this season, especially in its close win against Winthrop when it accumulated 43 total rebounds to Winthrop’s 32. 

With free throw shooting and points in the paint being the biggest difference makers for the Hokies this season, it will be important to see whether Tech capitalizes in these areas specifically or whether it will look to add on by improving areas like its three-point shooting. Further, Virginia Tech’s rebounding will be an important statistic to watch over the course of the season, as rebounding will play a large role in the Hokies’ success.

The upcoming contests against Penn State and Michigan should prove to be a significant test for this new Hokies squad. Although there are many new faces to the team in 2024, the amount of depth Virginia Tech has shown over its first three games can be a game-changer in what many fans consider to be a rebuilding year for the program. Should this team find its stride, Virginia Tech could very well compete with other teams week in and week out this season.