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We are just about six months away from the start of the 2020-21 NCAA Basketball season. Mike Young’s second year leading the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg as they look to build on last season’s strong start. You know - in theory. While we wait to see what college campuses look like for the fall semester and how sports manage the reintroduction process over the summer, for know we can assume NCAA Basketball returns as planned - just without fans at the moment.
Schools may limit travel as they finalize non-conference schedules and the NCAA may have to restrict or reduce fans at games, based on state guidelines as the time. But for now we know at least a piece of the Hokies home non-conference schedule.
Joe Rothstein from CBS Sports first reported that the Hokies will be adding George Washington to the 2020-21 basketball schedule. Last season the Colonials went 12-20 overall and 3-9 on the road. As a member for the A-10 conference, GW struggled against high-powered Dayton and in-state foes Richmond and VCU.
Source: Virginia Tech will host George Washington as part of its 20-21 non-conference schedule.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 5, 2020
The Hokies last played GW in 2007, winning 68-36 in Blacksburg. Tech has only lost to the Colonials once at home since 1961.
Last season’s non-conference schedule was 11 games which consisted of eight home games and the Maui on the Mainland tournament in Hawaii. Looking ahead to next season’s schedule the Hokies should have no trouble repeating the same level and consistency for the non-conference schedule since many of last year’s opponent came from nearby states.
If Virginia Tech doesn’t opt to take part in one of the early season tournaments, there are several in-state schools they should be able to fill the 2020-21 schedule with. The first and most obvious would be adding Radford, which is a quick ride over for the Highlanders and Tech could offer a home-and-away series.
Next, I’d like to see JMU added back to the schedule if Tech needs to fill spots as it’s a quick ride on Interstate 81 and is a match up that would generate some in-state buzz. But the series I hope the Hokies add eventually, whether in result to limited travel or not, is VCU. The Rams are a consistent side challenging for the NCAA Tournament and have a great basketball following. Both schools know how critical non-conference wins are in the selection process, but this would make for an entertaining series in Blacksburg and Richmond.