Virginia Tech Basketball Picked to Finish 11th in the ACC in 2020-21

(Ivan Morozov)

The ACC released their 2020-2021 media predictions on Wednesday, and Virginia Tech was tabbed to finish 11th in the 15-team league.

Here’s the full poll, with point totals for each team.

 

The Hokies are entering their second season with Coach Mike Young at the helm, and Young has quickly  built a full, deep roster of scholarship players. Virginia Tech’s top scorer from last season, Landers Nolley, transferred to Memphis, and their fifth-leading scorer, PJ Horne, transferred to Georgia. Isaiah Wilkins also transferred out, to Wake Forest.

Young signed a three-man class ranked as the No. 8 class in the ACC by the 247Sports composite rankings: shooting guards Joe Bamisile and Darius Maddox, plus forward David N’Guessan. Young also signed transfers Cartier Diarra, a point guard from Kansas State, and forwards Justyn Mutts (Delaware) and Cordell Pemsl (Iowa). All three transfers are immediately eligible, as is Wofford transfer Keve Aluma, who sat out last year at Virginia Tech.

The newcomers join returning starters Tyrece Radford, Naheim Alleyne and Wabissa Bede, plus key reserves and sometime-starters Jalen Cone, Hunter Cattoor, and John Ojiako. Here’s the full roster for 2020-21 with links to player bios for more information.

No.NamePos.Ht.Wt.Class
0Hunter CattoorG6-3200So.
1Joseph "Joe" BamisileG6-4195Fr.
2Cartier DiarraG6-4185Gr.
3Wabissa BedeG6-1195Gr.
4Nahiem AlleyneG6-4195So.
5David N'GuessanF6-9205Fr.
10Grant Yates*F6-8205R-So.
11Gill Williamson*F6-8195Fr.
13Darius MaddoxG6-5185Fr.
15Jalen ConeG5-10165So.
21John OjiakoF6-10245So.
22Keve AlumaF6-9235R-Jr.
23Tyrece RadfordG6-2200R-So.
25Justyn MuttsF6-7230R-Jr.
35Cordell PemslF6-9250Gr.

* denotes walk-on

Virginia Tech is holding a media event on Thursday, and we’ll have coverage to preview the season.

 

16 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. If the season gets played and we stay healthy, I think we are going to surprise those who are clearly sleeping on the Hokies. What CMY was able to get out of the youngest and smallest team in the ACC last season was incredible, so now that we’ve added size and experience to an already talented roster, I see the potential for a really great season. The future is so bright for our program with CMY at the helm. 12 more days…can’t wait! #ilikemike #gohokies

  2. Talking to some St Christopher’s people don’t you guys sleep on Gill Williamson he’s six eight with some some growth could be upwards of 7 ft. Played quarterback in high school

  3. Am I the only one who doubts the voting media really spend time researching every ACC team in preseason before voting? The blue bloods and now add UVA and Louisville seems to be pretty much every season. “This is why they play the games” 🙂

    I like our team and am impressed how Coach Young could pull this much talent and experience together in just one season. But at the same time know this is a very tough league in which to play. I will be interested in seeing how small to no crowds have an effect on both the home court advantage and the officiating.

  4. If this team has great chemistry and can stay healthy. Number 11 will be an insult for thus team. Would be surprised if coach MY hadn’t put this up on the bulletin board. Would motivate me anyway.

  5. I still maintain, regardless of ranking, that if a team does 2 simple things they have a CHANCE to win:

    1) Limit turnovers
    2) Make your free throws

  6. Hokies all, IMO being 11th seems AOK, 2nd year coach and at least a center over 6-5. For many years the rest of the ACC has been and will contiue to “chase” the top 5.. every now and then some other team will join that elite group. “Playing for 5th” in the ACC is still a very good accomplishment.

    GO HOKIES!!!

  7. Interesting roster with 3 grad students, 2 R-juniors and 10 sophomores & freshmen. 5 guys have more than one year of college ball experience. This may be an exciting group to watch. it won’t take long to see how we stack up against good competition.

  8. 11 sounds about right. Diarra and Bamissile will help a bit..Bamisille will probably shoot it as much as Nolley did and Diarra will help to add a bit of explosion. Radford, Diarra and Bamissile probably the best scorers, but they are all the type of player that operate best with the ball in their hand. Interesting how you can capitilize on their strengths being on ball players. Diarra will be willing to kick it and open up some shots for guys. I am not sure if we will be much better in yrs after this, so we need to exceed expectations to get some decent players for the next cycle (that looks very weak)

    1. It sounds like you aren’t accounting for any improvement of the players year over year though? Ojiako and Aluma could be beasts over the next 2 years, and we have 3 very talented freshman coming in on top of the current young core plus Mutts for 2 years. After this year we’ll basically only lose Diarra and Bede production wise. The future is bright for Coach Young and our basketball program including this year IMO. 11 is almost insulting! I think we finish 8th or better

      1. Seriously. Ojiako looked pretty fluid for a big guy last year, look for solid play this year and then who knows but you can take one look at him now an know he has potential.

    2. There is a 0% chance Bamisile leads the ACC in usage like Nolley did, he probably won’t even finish top 3 in minutes played on the team.

  9. Coach and team will surprise everyone. Top four no, but I think we are in for a good second season with Coach Young.

    1. Gotta agree there. I think this team is underrated and can very easily finish in the top half of the ACC this year. Can’t wait to see what Coach Young puts together with this upgraded group.

      1. Agree with both of you. It makes sense that we would be placed at 11 and also a case can be made that we have the talent and coach to to end up in higher middle of the pack. I think we all will take that!! Cant wait..

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