One time is luck, two times is a habit, three times is the truth.
When Virginia Tech (3-0) hung 98 points on Charleston Southern, we didn’t think much of it. After all, that’s what good teams do to mid-major opponents. When the Hokies put up 107 points on Providence in an overtime thriller, the potential of this team seemed pretty clear.
Now the Hokies offense showed out for a third time - this time against a quality mid-major opponent in Saint Joseph’s (2-1), who actually beat Tech by 20 less than a year ago. The Hokies completely flipped the script and then some this time.
Virginia Tech destroyed Saint Joseph’s 94-59, behind a balanced offensive effort with 10 scorers and six players in double figures. Center Amani Hansberry led the way with 19 points, to go along with four rebounds and three assists.
“We’ve got some guys teeing it up,” said Virginia Tech’s head coach Mike Young. “Hansberry is very unselfish, (and is) going to make the right basketball play.”
This one never was close. The Hokies trailed 5-4 less than four minutes into the game, before rattling off a 16-2 run, capped off by a Jaden Schutt triple and a Tyler Johnson breakaway layup.
This Neoklis Avdalas-led Tech team controls the pace and doesn’t force tempo early in the shot clock, but it has been very efficient in selective transition opportunities. The Hokies outscored the Hawks 21-0 on fastbreaks - mostly by generating steals.
The sophomore duo of Ben Hammond and Johnson finished with three steals a piece. Hammond, in particular, has lightning-fast hands and seems to get a finger on every dribble or pass within his reach. He added 11 points and six assists - both season highs.
Hammond and the Hokies’ defensive pressure contributed to 19 Saint Joe’s turnovers, compared to just seven for Virginia Tech. Even when the Hokies did cough it up, they were rarely the detrimental live ball turnovers that lead to easy buckets. The Hawks scored just four points off of turnovers, while Tech had 25.
Just as staggering as the turnover differential were the three point shooting splits. Virginia Tech went 11-27 from long range, making it two straight games over 40% from deep. Jaden Schutt was the top marksman, going four of seven, but Jailen Bedford and Avdalas each added two triples of their own.
“(We’re) Moving the ball, generating paint touches,” Hammond said in regards to the open threes the Hokies are generating. “A lot of people are going towards Neo or towards Tobi on the lob, so it leaves a lot of people open.”
Virginia Tech also tightened up its own coverage of the three point line. After allowing 11 treys in each of its first two outings, it held Saint Joe’s to just five-for-28 from deep.
As a whole, the Hawks shot 37% from the field. Beyond forcing turnovers, the Hokies seem to be improving their defensive communication, relying more often on switches and doing a better job hedging screens.
It’s hard to pinpoint anyone who didn’t play a good game for Virginia Tech tonight. Tobi Lawal finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and a number of highlight dunks or rejections. Tech’s “glue guy” Tyler Johnson dropped 11 on an efficient five-for-eight from the field. Antonio Dorn got some run, scoring his first collegiate points as part of a four-point, three-rebound night.
The star of the show, Avdalas, had a relatively quiet, yet strong performance with 14 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two blocks. His tandem with Hammond at the point guard position has worked wonders in improving this team’s ball security and offensive cohesion.
“Everyone’s starting to gel really well, (and) know each other's games; know where people want to be and their certain spots,” Hammond said. “It’s been showing on the court.”
“We’ve got a lot of good players,” Schutt agreed. “(We’re) Just kinda piecing them together. It’s really fun. We're playing team basketball.”
Virginia Tech is averaging 99.6 points per game three games into the season, despite facing some high-level programs in two of the three games. Tonight’s 35-point margin of victory marked a 55-point swing for the Hokies from last year’s loss to this dominating win over Saint Joseph’s.
Tech looks to carry this momentum into Sunday, Nov. 16, as it hosts Charlotte (2-1), which is coming off a tight loss against Davidson.
