Feb 15, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies ahead Tobi Lawal (1) works in opposition to Virginia Cavaliers ahead Blake Buchanan (0) in the course of the second half at Cassell Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Brian Bishop-Imagn Pictures Cal and Virginia Tech have struggled down the stretch, but one among them will declare no less than a second sport within the Atlantic Coast Convention match.
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 12 months.”
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 match of their first season within the convention.
The Golden Bears had been on the unsuitable 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 among three gamers on the group to log no less than 50 minutes of taking part in time.
Wilkinson could have one other likelihood to point out what he can do within the match. 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 extremely good job of in search of his teammates. He is rising into one of many prime level guards within the nation.”
Turnover troubles have haunted the Hokies they usually’re operating out of time to repair them.
“That has been a sore spot for my group all 12 months,” Younger mentioned. “We do not deal with the ball value 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 sport 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 sport) and rebounding (6.8 per sport). Lawal (lower-body harm) missed final week’s residence finale in opposition to North Carolina, however returned to attain 5 factors in 24 minutes within the Clemson sport.
–Discipline Degree Media
