Can the Hokies Bounce Back After Panthers Pounce in Pittsburgh?
The Virginia Tech Hokies faced a challenging contest against the Pittsburgh Panthers, culminating in a 64-79 defeat. The Hokies now stand with an overall record of 0-1, while the Panthers have kicked off their season with a victory, holding a 1-0 record.
In front of an energetic crowd at the Petersen Events Center, the Virginia Tech Hokies showcased their skills but ultimately fell short against their hosts. The game was tightly contested in the first half with both teams locked at 36 points each. However, as play resumed, it was clear that momentum had shifted towards the home team.
The Hokies' offense managed to convert 54 percent of their two-point attempts and were successful on 76 percent of free throws. Despite these solid numbers from closer range and from the line, they struggled beyond the arc with only three out of twenty attempts made from three-point land — translating to a mere fifteen percent success rate.
Virginia Tech's defense racked up two blocks and three steals over the course of play but found themselves outrebounded by a significant margin. They collected twenty-eight rebounds compared to forty-two by Pittsburgh — highlighting one area where they were dominated on court.
On an individual level for Virginia Tech, contributions came across the board as thirteen assists were distributed among players indicating some fluidity in ball movement despite what final numbers might suggest. Points in paint were also high for both teams at thirty-two each which suggests that there was no lack of effort getting to basket.
However, personal fouls proved costly for Virginia Tech as they committed twenty throughout game leading to one player being fouled out; discipline will surely be something addressed moving forward. Turnovers remained relatively low for both sides with eight for Virginia Tech and ten for Pittsburgh; however this did not translate into dominance on fast break where Hokies scored eleven points off turnovers compared to ten by Panthers.
The upcoming schedule sees Virginia Tech heading into another tough matchup as they visit Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on February 27th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Fans eager to follow can tune into ESPNU where this encounter will be broadcasted live from Syracuse's iconic venue.