Virginia Tech lost a heartbreaker 94-90 at #7 Louisville on Saturday afternoon. The Hokies dropped to 18-8 overall and 7-7 in the ACC with the loss, while the Cardinals improved to 22-5 and 10-4.
Virginia Tech shot 29-of-49 (59.2%) from the field and 17-of-26 (65.4%) from three-point range. The 17 three-pointers in one game broke the school record. The Hokies were also 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line. Louisville countered by shooting well in their own right: 51.5% from the field, 54.5% from three-point range, and 80% from the charity stripe.
The big difference in the game, however, was second chance points. Though Louisville outrebounded Tech just 33-25, the Cardinals pulled down 16 offensive rebounds against the much smaller Hokies. They made them count, scoring 26 second chance points to Virginia Tech’s 3. Considering that margin, it was amazing the game was as close as it was.
Virginia Tech overcame a 10-point deficit with 7:44 left in the first half to take a 44-43 lead into halftime. At that point the game became back-and-forth, and the Hokies led five different times throughout the course of the game. Ultimately it wasn’t enough, as Louisville’s superior length and depth won out.
Seth Allen was once again amazing for the Hokies. The redshirt-senior scored 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and he was 6-of-8 from three-point range. At one point in the second half, Allen scored 15 out of 17 Virginia Tech points, and he made all five of his three-point attempts in the process.
It was also the coming out party for redshirt-junior Ty Outlaw, who is playing increased minutes with Chris Clarke out. Outlaw played 35 minutes on Saturday, scoring 19 points and pulling down seven rebounds. He was 7-of-8 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range.
Despite being outmanned by multiple Louisville frontcourt players for the entire game, Zach LeDay managed to finish with 18 points and nine rebounds. LeDay drew fouls driving to the hole and was 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Ahmed Hill and Justin Bibbs added 11 points apiece.
Virginia Tech played just seven players again, except for Matt Galloway’s two minutes when a limping Justin Robinson exited the game briefly. Robinson returned, but fouled out late in the game. Here’s how Virginia Tech’s minutes broke down…
Ty Outlaw: 35
Justin Bibbs: 32
Ahmed Hill: 32
Justin Robinson: 30
Zach LeDay: 30
Seth Allen: 28 (foul trouble)
Khadim Sy: 11
Matt Galloway: 2
Expect that to be Virginia Tech’s rotation for the rest of the season, as Buzz Williams and the Hokies are down to just seven scholarship players.
Despite the loss, the Hokies remain a solid #34 in the RPI. They have four games remaining, three of which are at home. Here’s the remaining schedule…
Tuesday, Feb. 21: vs. Clemson (14-12, 4-10, #57 RPI)
Saturday, Feb. 25: at Boston College (9-18, 2-12, #203 RPI)
Monday, Feb. 27: vs. Miami (18-8, 8-6, #46 RPI)
Saturday, March 4: vs. Wake Forest (15-12, 6-9, #37 RPI)
If the Hokies can close strong they will make their first NCAA Tournament since 2007.
Tech’s Tuesday game with Clemson will tip off at 7pm, and it will be televised by ESPNU.
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Clemson up next. Time to pack the Cassell. VT played great against a top 8 team. Keep up the Mojo and let’s be pull Tiggers tail hard on Tuesday!!!
Let’s Go..Hokies!!’
Hokie basketball is back! We’re competitive, despite lacking size and depth. Wow, can they shoot the rock!!!. Love this scrappy team. Will be even better next year, but will miss Seth Allen.
Fun, fun, fun game. It’s what happens in the moment that’s what it is all about, not tournament bids, won-loss records etc.
I will argue live by the three, die by the three they dropped this time maybe next time they don’t and it’s a 30 point loss. but… they were up for Louisville, maybe that’s why they dropped.
Great effort- so proud of our guys, especially with only a 7-man rotation.
I’m happy that Buzz has kept them firing on all cylinders after they lost a key player in Clarke.
Amazing, 90 points and we still lost, bet that hasn’t happened too often. Not to mention the school record for threes. Hate to lose any game, but my what an heroic effort. Go Hokies, now lets run the table for the last four.
Another heroic effort, much appreciated! This team never quits. Thought the foul by Zach with about 10 sec left killed whatever small chance of winning we still had. A little disappointed Buzz didn’t have them coached up regarding the correct way to foul intentionally late in a game. Pretty basic stuff. Anyway, the good news is this team won’t be an easy out for anyone from here forward. Go Hokies!
I understand your point about Zach’s foul but that call is such a lame call by those refs when you consider that foul happens through the entire game wherever you go…..but only in the final 2minutes does it all of a sudden become an intentional foul.
But regardless, I don’t blame Zach for that play too much. There were some other plays that were a bit more bone-headed such as.the double lane violations as well as a several lousy effort fouls by Justin and Seth that should never have been committed by otherwise court-intelligent guys who know they have to play smart and foul-free. Justin and Seth sitting on the bench at alternating times due to foul trouble was the entire difference to the ball game…..Louisville had NO answer for the Hokies when they were both on the floor.
These guys have to understand Buzz’s vision and philosophy and stay foul free.
“Ultimately it wasn’t enough, as Louisville’s superior length and depth won out.”
You misspelled “home cooking” as it pertains to the rebounding sitch.
There were constant over the backs by UL. None were called.
Despite the loss, I do think scoring 90 @ Louisville won’t hurt in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee! This team showed no quit going into one of the toughest arenas to play in college basketball and were in it until the very end (and playing without Clarke too!). Hopefully they can finish strong with last 4 games and get a win or two in the ACC tourney to make the Big Dance! Buzz is doing an outstanding job with this group!
Great game today. To shot lights out and still lose shows you how solid a team Louisville is. Upcoming is an interesting stretch. We can win every game, but we need to stay focused and continue to execute. Buzz is doing an amazing job with the team. Looking forward to the finish.
these guys deserve our support. Get out to the Clemson game and root them home!