Virginia Tech beats NC State 73-68 in overtime

The Hokies (10-5, 2-0 ACC) beat Virginia for the first time in eight tries while the Cavaliers, who had won 11 games in a row, fell to 12-2, 1-1. Va. Tech also hits the road and gets a brutal opponent this weekend: Duke. Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams said.

“I’ve said since Thanksgiving (of 2014) that (Hudson is) the most talented guy on our roster”.

“They were more keyed in on me, ” Smith said. Berry’s play was a huge factor in UNC’s final push for the win. “One game, first game in conference play, it’s not the end of the world”. “I think it has to be the habits you’ve tried to establish from the beginning”. “[Former players] Will Johnston and Christian Beyer have as much to do with this win as the kids that played tonight”.

At the time, the five-point lead tied UNC’s largest. Seth Allen scored six of his 13 points in the run, and Bibbs scored five.

In the game against North Carolina State, it was the key contributions from Kerry Blackshear Jr. off of the bench that pushed Virginia Tech over the top. The effect was largely the same: keep the lane open, in this case to allow for the dribbles drives off the screen, and the hard roll to the basket by the screener and the open looks for the shooters behind the play. Charles Mitchell spent much of the game in foul trouble, but still managed 14 points and 6 rebounds and was effective on both sides of the ball. Georges-Hunt made 12 of 15 free throws.

“I take a lot of pride (in my defense)”, said Allen. “Now we’ve got to out there and play better, play disciplined through the whole game and go out there like we expect to get the job done, which is what this group has done so far”. “After a big game like Florida, you have to be able to refocus yourself and be ready to go back to battle with another team that was desperate and hungry. No pressure on ourselves, just make sure we defend and rebound”. “Either we’re going to learn from this or we’re going to continue to struggle”. Before that flurry, Berry made 3 of 9 shots and had five turnovers.

Virginia Tech’s comeback victory on Saturday from a 16-point deficit was its largest successful rally from a double-digit disadvantage since the Hokies climbed out of a 17-point hole against West Virginia on November 12, 2013. Rathan-Mayes now leads the ACC in assists with 5.8 per game.

Virginia is living up to its reputation as a hard-nosed squad (eighth in Division I in scoring defense) and ranks as one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country (13th), but the recent emergence of 7-foot reserve center Mike Tobey may be giving it yet another dimension.

A basketball stathead (or, if you prefer, analytics expert) named Dean Oliver came up with an idea identifying “Four Factors of Basketball Success” – effective field goal percentage (which takes the extra value of a 3-point basket), turnover percentage (rate of turnover per possession), offensive rebounding percentage (offensive rebounds divided by offensive rebounds plus opponent defensive rebounds) and free-throw rate (free-throw attempts divided by field-goal attempts, which measures how frequently a team is going to the line).

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Well, all the league’s coaches said the ACC would be more competitive this season. The combination of a short turnaround from Saturday’s game against Notre Dame, coupled with the hyped up crowd that turns out for the Hokies when the Hoos come to town should be enough to give even the most confident Virginia fan pause.