Football season is in full swing in Blacksburg but that doesn’t mean men’s basketball can’t take the center headline for a day. We’ve known Virginia Tech’s non-conference schedule for months now but per Tuesday’s release, the Hoki25 es now have their sights set on a full slate of ACC opponents. To recap, here’s the list of Tech’s non-conference opponents for 2022.
- Delaware State | November 7 | Blacksburg, Va
- Lehigh | November 10 | Blacksburg, Va
- William & Mary | November 13 | Blacksburg, Va
- Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic:
- Old Dominion | November 17 | Charleston, S.C.
- Furman/Penn State | November 18 | Charleston, S.C.
- Final Round | November 20 | Charleston, S.C.
- Charleston Southern | November 25 | Blacksburg, VA
- Minnesota | November 28 | Blacksburg, VA
- Dayton | December 7 | Blacksburg, VA
- Oklahoma State | December 11 | Brooklyn N.Y.
- Grambling State | December 17 | Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Tech’s ACC schedule starts off during the latter half of the non-conference schedule. Tech hosts North Carolina on December 4, before their final out of conference matchups with the Dayton Flyers, Oklahoma State Cowboys and Grambling State Tigers.
Kicking off the ACC slate with the Tar Heels will be a major test for the 2022-23 Hokies. Carolina returns multiple big time pieces from their 2021 Final Four run. The dynamic backcourt of Caleb Love & RJ Davis paired up with All-ACC First Team selection Armando Bacot give the Tar Heels an ultra talented squad. Last year, UNC had the experience to come away from Blacksburg with a 78-66 win in late January.
After the dust settles from UNC and the Hokies three non-conference games that follow, Tech’s true ACC slate begins. The Hokies travel into Chestnut Hill and Winston-Salem to face off against Boston College and Wake Forest for the Hokies first true road tests of the season.
Interestingly enough, Tech has no real road games in their non-conference schedule which means they’ll have to go over a month without any road tests. The Demon Deacons handled the Hokies in Cassell to the tune of a 80-61 rout in Tech’s 2021 ACC home opener. Wake Forest will be easier to manage this year with the loss of Jake LaRavia and Alondes Williams to the NBA. Tech also fell 68-63 to Boston College in their lone 2021 matchup. They’ll return to the Conte Forum with revenge on their mind against the Eagles.
Next up for Virginia Tech comes home matchups against Clemson and NC State. Both games will take place during winter break for students which gives Tech less of a home court advantage than usual. The Hokies went 2-2 combined against the Wolfpack and Tigers. This includes the Hokies incredible victory in round one of the ACC Tournament that came off the back of Darius Maddox’s buzzer beater. NC State finished last in the ACC with a 4-16 record and doesn’t project to be much better in 2022.
From January 11th through January 21st, Tech will play three big time road games against the likes of Syracuse, Virginia, and a rematch against Clemson. By this point, a narrative will be established depending on how the Hokies season has gone. It’ll be crucial to either keep the positive momentum or turn the tide in hostile road environments. This stretch could make or break Tech’s season. The Hokies went 2-1 against Syracuse and Virginia with both wins coming at home and the loss suffered in John Paul Jones arena.
Two days after Tech finishes that road stretch out, they’ll travel back to Blacksburg for a Big Monday showdown against Duke. Luckily for the Hokies, the game will be played from the confines of Cassell Coliseum.
In 2021, Tech lost to the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor after leading at halftime. However, they avenged that loss in the ACC Championship game. The Hokies were powered to the 82-67 by a legendary 31-point explosion by Hunter Cattoor that gave them their first ACC Tournament title in program history. With a revamped roster that includes three new five-star recruits, Duke will be one of Tech’s tallest tests of the season.
After Duke comes another home matchup against Syracuse. In 2021, the Hokies took down the Orange in Blacksburg 71-59. Depending on how the Duke game goes for Tech, the Hokies will have five days to recover from a potentially major win or hungrily prepare after a humbling loss.
Then, Tech travels to Coral Gables to face Miami in the first game of their February slate. It’ll be the first time the Hokies do battle against the Hurricanes since their thrilling win in the Watsco Center back in late February 2021. Maddox was once more the hero of another Tech road triumph which was the beginning of the run that sparked the Hokies 2021 ACC championship.
Tech’s trip to South Florida is oddly sandwiched between two more home games that come after. One will be the Commonwealth Clash part two and the other a rematch against Boston College. UVA & Virginia Tech will duel on February 4 with the winner either gaining a series sweep or split depending on how their previous matchup from January goes. Despite winning the last two of three games against the Cavaliers, the Hokies haven’t swept the Hoos since 2010. Coming off an either thrilling win or defleating loss, Tech will have to not take the Eagles of Boston College lightly when they face off on February 8 in Cassell.
Following the major home stand for the Hokies will be a pair of road tests versus Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Tech fared very well against these teams in 2021, going 4-0 with a ACC Tournament quarterfinals victory over the Fighting Irish.
Next for Tech will be their lone game against Pittsburgh back at home. The Panthers were swept by the Hokies in 2021 and finished with the ACC’s third worst record at 6-14 in conference play. Miami will be Tech’s second to last home challenge. Justyn Mutts, Hunter Cattoor, and company will have vengeance as the last time they faced off in Blacksburg, the Hurricanes stunned the Hokies on a wild half court buzzer beater.
In the final three regular season games, Virginia Tech will travel to play Duke and Louisville while wrapping the whole year up at home against Florida State. The last time Virginia Tech beat Duke at Cameron Indoor was January 6th, 2007 when the Hokies were triumphant over the Blue Devils by a score of 69-67 in OT.
Tech will play the Louisville Cardinals once in 2022 just like in 2021. The last time they played, it got ugly for the Cardinals as the Hokies destroyed them 75-43 at home. Similarly, Tech found success in 2021 against their final 2022 opponent in FSU. They won on the road in Tallahassee 85-72 behind a three-point barrage from Cattoor and Sean Pedulla. The teams will have over a year of separation between games dating back to that matchup and it will be senior night for many Hokies on March 4th.
ACC Record Prediction: 14-6 with losses to North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia, Duke, Miami, and Notre Dame
