Preview: Virginia Tech Hokies

 

Preview:   Virginia Tech Hokies

WBB Website

Last Season:   25-8 and 14 –4 in league play

 Feb 19 Update:

Virginia Tech is 16-9 on the season and 7-7 in conference play. Their net ranking is #46 vs Stanford's #48 net ranking.  Their conference losses are a road game to #9 Duke,  home losses to Florida State, Virginia and #1 Notre Dame, and a road loss to #14 NC State.  Their last game was a 72-67 road loss to #12 ranked North Carolina.    

Below is a 5 minute highlight video of that game against North Carolina

Virginia Tech has balance scoring led by four starters who average between 11.8 and 14.4 ppg, while their 5th starter averages 9.7 ppg. Their leading rebounder, #4 Rose Micheaux averages 8 mpg followed by #10 Carys Baker with 6.4 rpg.

The team is scoring 75.5 ppg while holding opponents to 68.2 ppg.  They are dangerous from 3-point range averaging 37.7%, with 5 players hitting between 38% and 52% of their 3 pointers.

 Stanford's road game against Virginia Tech may come down to who shoots better from three point range.  Given their similar net rankings it should be a fairly close game that would be a great road win for Stanford.  Having a healthy Nunu back could be a game changer.

Click on image to enlarge

The Coaches:  Megan Duffy is the Head Coach in her first season.  She was the Head Coach at Marquette for 5 years and played at Notre Dame.

Itoro Coleman is the Associate Head Coach in her first season after coaching at North Carolina.

Sharnee Zoll-Norman is in her first year after several seasons at Penn State.

Jen Hoover is in her first season.  Hoover was for 10 years the Head Coach at Wake Forest and before that an assistant at Cal for several years.

 

Losses:

Head Coach Kenny Brooks moved to Kentucky as the Head Coach.

Clara Strack, 6’5, C, Fr. (4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) → Kentucky

Georgia Amoore, 5’6, G, Sr. (18.8 ppg, 6.8 apg) → Kentucky

Elizabeth Kitley who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Cayra King who averaged 7 ppg.

 

Additions:

Leila Wells, 5-9 Frosh Guard

Myah Haxelton, 6-4 Frosh Forward/Post

Ramiya White, 6-5 Frosh Post

Kayl Petersen, 6-0 Frosh Wing

Lani White, 5-11 JR Guard transfer from Utah

 

Schedule:

Iowa who they lost to 52-71.  Rutgers who they beat 91-80.  Michigan and Georgia.

 

The Team:

Carleigh Wenzel, 6-0 Redshirt Soph Guard who averaged 4 ppg.  Weenzel is averaging 14 ppg thus far.

Mackenzie Nelson, 5-8 Redshirt Soph Guard who sat out last season.  Nelson was ranked # 65 out of HS.

Rose Micheaux, 6-2 SR Forward who averaged 4 points and 3 rebounds.  However at Minnesota as Soph she averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds.  Micheaux is averaging 14 ppg and 9 rebounds thus far.  

Carys Baker, 6-2 Soph Forward who averaged 3 ppg.

Matilta Ekh, 6-0 SR Wing who averaged 10 ppg and made 78 threes at 40%.

Samyha Suffren, 5-8 Soph Guard who averaged 7 minutes per game. 

 

Prediction:

Losing 53 points hurts, but new successful coach in Duffy.  The returning players averaged just 21 ppg.   It’s certainly a rebuilding year.  

 

2025 Recruiting:  

Kate Sears 5-9 Point Guard, ranked # 87

Amani Jenkins, 6-2 Post, ranked # 81

Aniya Trent, 6-3 Wing