Virginia Tech Basketball: Hokies fall in AP, Coaches Polls

The Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Team is struggling to find their footing here in February (no pun intended).

After the latest in a series of injuries has struck Virginia Tech, this time to All-ACC point guard Justin Robinson and his ailing left foot, the suddenly thin and offensively-challenged Hokies are scrambling to find answers.

Since Robinson injured his foot in the victory over Miami a week and a half ago, the Hokies are 1-2 and it feels like a free fall, especially after their most recent loss, a listless offensive effort on the road against Clemson this past Saturday. Robinson is out indefinitely, joining forward P.J. Horne (knee) in that category. The Hokies have to evolve, and quickly, as their NCAA Tournament seeding depends on it. While Robinson and Horne should be back at some point this season, there is no sure timetable for when that will be. Until then, the Hokies need to do the best they can to figure things out, or else this season will be remembered for what could have been, rather than for what it was.

Now to the rankings. Virginia Tech fell from #11 to #22 in the AP Poll on Monday, while they fell from #10 to #16 in the Coaches Poll.

Why the more drastic change in the media poll?

In my opinion, the media voters are more out on Virginia Tech than the coaches are, at least after the latest struggles by the Hokies. The mutual respect that rival coaches have for Buzz Williams likely plays into the more gradual descent in the Coaches Poll, as opposed to the steep descent of 11 spots in the media poll.

Regardless, the Hokies need to turn things around and quickly. This week, they face Georgia Tech at home on Wednesday night, and head on the road to Pitt on Saturday. While both games are winnable, the Hokies need to come ready to play, as the margin for error is as small as it’s ever been on the season.

We’ll learn much more about the new look Hokies once the games are played and the polls are released again a week from today.