The Virginia Tech Hokies entered tonight looking to get another easy win ahead of their trip out west for the Wooden Legacy against a VMI team that only lost by 3 at Richmond in their season opener. While the Keydets got off to a strong start, the Hokies are definitely the better team and it showed over the course of this game.
Virginia Tech took care of business and beat VMI 88-72 to go 3-0 on the season ahead of their first big tests of the season in the Wooden Legacy starting with New Mexico on Thanksgiving Day on ESPN. The Hokies were down for a good majority of the first half after VMI got off to a hot shooting start, but the Hokies kept fighting and eventually had a 10-point lead at halftime before cruising through the second half to a 16-point victory.
Zach LeDay had his best game of the season so far as the senior forward had his second double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds plus 2 assists and 1 block in a dominant performance in which VMI had no real answers for trying to contain the senior big man. LeDay has been quite good for the Hokies over the past year but has been especially good against teams like VMI that don't have great size like the Hokies, allowing for the physical LeDay to be dominant and take over the post.
LeDay continues to have another strong start to the season as he continues to be one of the best big men in the ACC along with being a strong candidate to make one of the three All-ACC teams at the end of the season.
Justin Bibbs had struggled early in the season, but the junior was able to get his three-point shot going and had the best game of his season so far with 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. The biggest positive for the Hokies is that Bibbs seemed to get some rhythm from beyond the arc as he shot 3-for-5 from three-point range in this game.
Chris Clarke made an impact in many ways in this game with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as Clarke has definitely improved a fair amount over the offseason, and definitely is reaping the benefits of having a full year in the program. Meanwhile, Seth Allen had 15 points and 5 assists but the biggest positive is the fact that Allen was an efficient 7-of-9 shooting the basketball. Overall, Allen is off to a very efficient start shooting an impressive 65.4% from the field through the first three games.
Ahmed Hill had his worst game of the season with only 6 points, but the redshirt sophomore continues to be one of the Hokies' top two shooters along with Justin Bibbs. Justin Robinson had another productive game at the point with 6 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal while Khadim Sy had 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block with Ty Outlaw having 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block.
Overall, the Hokies were solid once again in taking care of business against VMI outrebounding the Keydets 34-28 though VMI did have one more offensive rebound than the Hokies. Virginia Tech also had as many turnovers as VMI with 12 and will need to lower that number some against tougher competition, but the Hokies did have some quality ball movement with 19 assists including three players with at least 5 assists (Allen, Robinson, Clarke).
Virginia Tech now will make final preparations in Blacksburg before heading west for the Wooden Legacy in what is their first chance to start building a NCAA Tournament resume a game against New Mexico to open and games against schools like Texas A&M, UCLA, Nebraska, and Dayton also possibly looming.
Virginia Tech did what they needed and got another comfortable win against weaker competition, and now will be tested in the coming weeks at the Wooden Legacy, and against Michigan and Ole Miss.
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