In a much too common theme in recent weeks, No. 9 Virginia Tech dropped another game to an opponent that, once again, was very much beatable. This time, the Hokies (13-3, 3-3 ACC) fell on the road to Miami (10-6, 3-2 ACC) on Sunday afternoon at the Watsco Center, 77-66.
Last week, Tech lost its first road and conference matchup to an inferior team in Clemson. It bounced back with two straight wins (North Carolina and Virginia) and appeared to regain its footing after its dud against the Tigers.
But Sunday’s loss mirrored the one that VT sustained in South Carolina, proving that the team might have taken a step in the wrong direction. Tech only made 40% of its shots on Sunday while its defense allowed Miami to make 53.1% of its attempts.
Tech, too, struggled from long range where it only made six of its 21 attempts (28.6%). 3-pointers were Tech’s strength a season ago; the team averaged 8.5 makes per game while shooting 36.3%. In 2022-23, the team has made less than eight threes in seven of its 16 games. In six ACC contests, the Hokies shot above 35% from deep just twice.
Miami and Tech were neck-and-neck until halftime on Sunday – the Hurricanes outscored Tech 20-19 in the first quarter and took a one-point lead into intermission. Both teams shot the basketball well as neither squad shot under 50% in the first half. But coming out of the break, Virginia Tech began to fall apart.
The Hokies were 5-of-13 in the third (38.5%) and dreadful in the fourth quarter (20% on 15 attempts). And it didn’t get any easier when their leading scorer, Elizabeth Kitley (20 points), and Taylor Soule (seven) dealt with foul trouble for most of the second half.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes had no trouble staying hot as Jasmyne Roberts (23 points) and Haley Cavinder (19 points) led the way on offense. Miami made half of its 20 shots in the second half and 14 of its 15 free throws.
In its previous losses this season, Tech was careless with the basketball, but that wasn’t the case this time. The Hokies only turned it over nine times, though Miami managed to score nine points off of those turnovers.
However, there’s a long way to go in the regular season for Virginia Tech. The Hokies are still missing one of their core offensive pieces in Ashley Owusu, who remains out indefinitely with a broken pinkie.
It’s certainly not time for Virginia Tech to panic just yet, but maybe it’s time to raise an eyebrow.
Up next for the Hokies is Louisville, whom they haven’t beaten since January 1995 (lost nine straight). The Cardinals (13-5, 4-1 ACC) travel to Cassell Coliseum on Thursday for a 7 p.m. ET tip on ACC Network Extra.
Box score: Link
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This was a tight game: 60-60 then 62-63 with 7 minutes left. Horrific shooting in last 7 minutes to lose by 11.
I can’t see team getting better until Ashley gets back. She’s one of the few I’ve seen that can create her own shot.
Need to play more folks. Starters playing too many minutes
Rim protection a real problem. I believe I heard 38 of Miami’s points were scored in the paint.
Brooks has decided to die on that hill. Then the backups who rode the pine this year will portal out after the season to get more PT elsewhere. And next year’s Hokies will be an even less experienced and talented bunch.