It wasn't the best performance nor the worst from Virginia Tech today. But ahead of a big week in Orlando at the ESPN Events Invitational, the Hokies put together put together a steady, workmanlike performance to take care of business against Wofford.
Virginia Tech beat Wofford 98-76 to improve to 3-1 on the season while the Terriers fell to 2-2 on the season. The Hokies now can turn their attention to the ESPN Events Invitational and the important non-conference opportunity they have to build their resume in Orlando starting Thanksgiving night at 8pm against Boise State on ESPN2.
The Hokies came out a little sluggish offensively but once they hit their shooting rhythm, things took off for the Hokies especially in the second half. Tech was 19-27 (70.4%) from the field in the final 20 minutes of this game while finishing 33-58 (56.9%) from the field including 10-20 (50.0%) from three-point range.
Tech did a great job of taking advantage of turnovers and offensive rebounds in this game with 23 points off 15 Wofford turnovers and 18 second chance points off nine offensive rebounds. Additionally, Tech did a great job of getting out of transition and attacking with 19 fastbreak points.
It's early but the clear lead trio of this team seems to be emerging with Hunter Cattoor, Sean Pedulla, and Lynn Kidd. You may not have expected Kidd to be one of those three entering this season but the former four-star recruit and Clemson transfer has stepped his game up this season.
Kidd followed a 24-point, 15-rebound game against Campbell with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while shooting 6-8 from the field and 8-8 from the free-throw line. Kidd now has four-straight double-figure scoring games after having only four games in double figures in his entire collegiate career prior to this season. Kidd has clearly made a big jump this season and is going to be a key part of the Hokies' success in Orlando and beyond.
Hunter Cattoor keeps getting closer to Virginia Tech's all-time three-point shots made record. Cattoor went 4-6 from three-point range as part of his 17 points in this game, putting him 3 threes away from breaking the school record held by A.D. Vassallo.
Sean Pedulla came out hot in the second half to help put what was a 10-point game at halftime out of reach with 11 points in the first five minutes of the second half on his way to having 19 points plus five rebounds and two assists.
Tyler Nickel continues to look like the best of Virginia Tech's 2023 transfer class putting up 14 points on 3-3 from three-point range plus 5-7 from the free-throw line along with two steals, two assists, and one rebound. Mekhi Long was solid with six points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Robbie Beran added three points, four rebounds, three blocks, one assist, and one steal.
Mylyjael Poteat continues to provide quality bench minutes with four points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 14 minutes. MJ Collins had a solid six points, three rebounds, and three assists while Brandon Rechsteiner was competent when Pedulla dealt with foul trouble in the first half as he had six points, two assists, and one rebound while finishing with a +14 in plus/minus despite only playing 16 minutes.
Jaydon Young and John Camden both played in the final few minutes with Camden having three points and one rebound while Young had one rebound and one assist.
This was a very workmanlike, steady performance for the Hokies taking care of business against a weaker Wofford team. Now the stage is set for Tech to take a step back up in competition in Orlando starting with Boise State in pursuit of at least one or two valuable non-conference victories to provide an early boost to their resume.
