Virginia Tech’s NCAA Tournament hopes received a significant boost earlier this week with a 76-66 win at No. 20 Clemson. How would the Hokies respond to their biggest win of the season? On Saturday, the Hokies hosted Florida State in Blacksburg, and, despite going into halftime with a 42-39 lead, were steamrolled by the Seminoles 92-69 in a game that will certainly damage their NCAA hopes.
Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond were excellent in the first half for the Hokies, combining for 21 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field. As a team, the Hokies shot 50% from the field, as did the ‘Noles.
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However, the wheels fell off in the final 20 minutes. Florida State made 18 of its 23 attempts from the field in the second half. Yes, you read that correctly. The Seminoles shot 78% from the floor in the second half. Meanwhile, Tech cooled down, making only 9 of its 25 attempts. FSU outscored Virginia Tech 53-27 in the final 20 minutes, including three separate runs of 10-0, 11-0 and 13-0. The Hokies had no answer. Honestly, didn’t even look like they put forth the effort once FSU’s first second-half run.
Virginia Tech had no answer for any Seminole, especially 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Martin Somerville, who scored 23 points on 9-11 shooting from the field.
It was a pathetic performance. Virginia Tech offered no resistance inside the paint. If FSU got any penetration, it was an automatic two points.
There just isn’t a lot to say about a performance like this. Here’s one thing we know: you can kiss goodbye to Virginia Tech’s NCAA Tournament chances. Sure, the Hokies are still 17-9 (6-7) with five games remaining and then the ACC Tournament to play themselves in. But who are we kidding?
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Florida State entered the game 11-13, including a 4-7 mark in ACC play. The Seminoles are playing their best basketball of the season, having won three of four entering Saturday and almost upsetting Virginia this week. But if you want to make the NCAA Tournament, this is a game you can’t lose. The Hokies didn’t just lose, they got their tails kicked — on their home floor.
Embarrassing at every level.
If the Hokies want to make the NCAA Tournament now, they need to win out. Does anyone believe they can beat North Carolina, Virginia and Miami? Heck, they may even lose to Boston College or Wake Forest. That’s right, they already lost one to Wake Forest in January. This team has proven they can beat Virginia, even without Tobi Lawal and Tyler Johnson. I wouldn’t count on that happening again, this time in Charlottesville. The Hoos are playing good basketball.
Johnson’s return will help. But it feels like we are getting strung along on that front, too. Young keeps promising he’s close. At this point, we’ll believe it when we see it. You know, much like Virginia Tech following up a big win with a strong performance against a team it should beat.
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Let’s not take anything away from FSU. The ‘Noles earned that win and are playing well over the past few weeks. But the effort we saw from the Hokies in the final 20 minutes was embarrassing.
Next up for Virginia Tech is a trip to Miami on Tuesday. Good luck on that one.
