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The season opener for the Hokies was a sold out contest. Honestly, it is about as packed in Cassell as it was for Clemson last year. That says a lot about the excitement and “buzz” in the air in Blacksburg for this team.
The MVP of the first half was easily Justin Robinson. He seems to have gotten quicker, stronger, and faster over the offseason. He also saw the floor well, making impressive skip passes to wide open shooters. Robinson’s defense was also impeccable as he added two steals to his name on back-to-back possessions.
Ahmed Hill also had a nice half, knocking down a couple of triples for the first time since 2014. He needs to be a key contributor, particularly if Buzz Williams wants to continue playing small ball.
Virginia Tech is also playing stifling defense. The Black Bears are only shooting 37% from the field, and many of their looks are contested. Maine has also turned the ball over seven times and the Hokies are doing their best to get transition buckets off of that. The gobblers have primarily been in a man scheme, and their help defense on cuts and screens has been excellent.
Look for Virginia Tech to pull away in the second half as they should start knocking down more of their open shots.