After suffering a 96-81 loss at No. 7 North Carolina, Virginia Tech returns home for a rivalry game against Virginia. Tech came up short in their trip to Charlottesville earlier this season, but will look to avenge that loss tonight in what will certainly be a rocking Cassell Coliseum while also looking to climb up the ACC standings. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are playing some of their best basketball of the season currently as they battle UNC and Duke for the ACC regular season title.
With that said, here are my keys to the game and prediction for the Hokies against the Cavaliers.
1. Protect the Basketball
Turnovers were a major problem for the Hokies in the first matchup between these two teams as they had 15 while UVA only had seven. Virginia had only eight points off turnovers despite 10 of those 15 turnovers being steals for UVA, making a case that the Hokies were fortunate to lose by single digits.
Since the inflection point that surrounded that week, which included 20 turnovers in a victory at NC State, the Hokies have drastically cleaned things up offensively. That included having only six turnovers in their loss to North Carolina and though MJ Collins was quick to downplay that postgame given that UNC doesn’t force a ton of turnovers, that turnaround is still impressive.
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Now the odds of Tech having only six turnovers are quite low given how good UVA is defensively with their top 10 rank in KenPom’s defensive efficiency while forcing 13 turnovers per game. However, the Hokies need to minimize the turnovers in a game where they must the maximize the number of opportunities given the challenge of facing UVA’s defense. That only grows in importance when you factor in that UVA ranks last in adjusted tempo per KenPom and allows the eighth fewest shot attempts per game in the country.
Tech will need their guards to be smart in this game and not try to force things to happen but let the game come to them. That’s especially true for Sean Pedulla who has to stay composed and pick his spots even if that means keeping the ball a few more times when the options to dish it off to require the ball to go through crowded spaces.
If the Hokies want to win this game, they not only need to be efficient, but can’t afford to waste offensive possessions with turnovers. Do that and there’s a good chance of a Hokie win in Cassell.
2. Control the Paint
On paper, Virginia Tech should be better than UVA in the frontcourt yet that was not the case when these teams first faced off in Charlottesville.
Jordan Minor dominated Lynn Kidd and Mylyjael Poteat with 16 points and five rebounds while UVA’s backup big Blake Buchanan added eight points and three rebounds. Meanwhile, Kidd and Poteat were held to a combined four points and seven rebounds with neither playing being able to get anything going offensively. The post play made a big impact on the 65-57 victory for UVA as they outscored the Hokies 36-20 in the paint.
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Tech can’t afford to be dominated like that again if the Hokies want to take down UVA while the Cavaliers know that winning the matchup down low will make it much more difficult for VT to get the job done.
The good news is that Kidd and Poteat have both been playing better lately with each being in double figures Saturday against UNC, facing a much better frontcourt duo of Armando Bacot and Jalen Washington than what UVA offers with Minor and Buchanan. However, it’s one thing to have the on-paper advantage, but another thing to get the job done.
Tech needs Kidd and Poteat to step up this time and maintain the on-paper advantage that the Hokies have. If they fail to do so, the Hokies will be in some trouble this evening.
3. Take Advantage of Open Threes
UVA is too good of a defensive team to have you believing that you will consistently get the type of open three-point opportunities that you’d like. Going into this game, Tech has to know that when they do get those chances, they have to shoot them with no hesitation and take advantage of them.
Of course, the Hokies have been a little up and down lately from three-point range going 11-23 (47.8%) in their win against Florida State last Tuesday followed by going 7-26 (26.9%) at UNC this past Saturday including 1-12 at the second half. Tech’s three-point shooting has generally improved as this season has progressed, but they’ve still been a little inconsistent at times.
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It absolutely helps that the Hokies will be at home for this on a court they are more than used to shooting on. It also helps that Hunter Cattoor is still Hunter Cattoor and his 1-6 shooting performance from three-point range is clearly the exception to the norm.
This has to be about more than just Cattoor though with the Hokies needing Sean Pedulla, Tyler Nickel, and MJ Collins to provide some pop from three-point range. If Tech can collectively shoot 40% or better from three, there’s a very good chance that they’ll win this game.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 62, Virginia 58
Expect this to be a close, competitive game from start to finish with Virginia being sharp defensively but lackluster offensively. Virginia Tech’s three-point shooting was well below-average Saturday, but that will prove to be an outlier rather than a new trend.
Lynn Kidd and Mylyjael Poteat will step up and win the battle in the paint while Hunter Cattoor and Sean Pedulla will bounce back from a 6-23 shooting day with a more typical performance to lead the Hokies to a victory over UVA.
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.
The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).
As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.
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Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?
Click here for more details.
Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot
Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.
The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.
According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.
Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.
A new effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs to help missing persons. (Ron Lach/Pexels.com)
HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.
The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.
Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.
“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”
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Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.
“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”
The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.
“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”
Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.
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“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.
“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”
She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.
“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”
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United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.
“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.
The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.
The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.
Reid said the goal is clear.
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“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”
