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Carter Hill
Editor-in-Chief
November 6, 2023
Sean Pedulla's first career double-double helped the Hokies to thump Coppin State. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG - Coming into Monday night’s season-opener against Coppin State, many questions were waiting to be answered for Virginia Tech men’s basketball.
What’s the rotation look like? How deep can the Hokies go? Has Tech improved enough defensively? How would the new group mesh?
Sure, maybe not everything was answered, as it shouldn't have been. But Virginia Tech (1-0) looked sharp on night No. 1, riding a 51.6% performance from the field and a stifling defensive showing to a 100-55 rout of the Eagles (0-1) on Monday night inside Cassell Coliseum.
“A good first step,” Tech fifth-year head coach Mike Young said. “I thought we played well. If we don’t, I’ll tell you.”
That they did, with junior point guard Sean Pedulla serving as a big reason why. The Edmond, Okla. native tallied a game-high 15 points and a career-high 10 assists in the 45-point win, posting his first career double-double to lead the way in the season debut.
“He’s playing the point guard position,” Young said. “He’s distributing. He makes the game easier for others. He’s a joy to play with. He’s not a lot of fun to play against. I thought he did a nice job. He’s done a great job for us throughout the preseason in making it difficult for opposing point guards to get them into stuff.
“[I’m] very proud of him.”
The Hokies’ 100-point performance was the program’s first since a 100-64 thumping of Delaware State back on Nov. 20, 2019 – Young’s first season at the helm. The offense was fierce. And defensively, Tech was just as good.
The Hokies forced an impressive 19 turnovers over the course of the contest, and held Coppin State to just 29.4% (5-for-17) from beyond the arc. That’s a solid start for a team that’s struggled on the defensive side of the ball in the last calendar year.
“Let’s do it night in and night out,” Young said. “Let’s not think we’ve arrived. … There are more boxes to check on that end. But so far, so good.”
Overall, Tech spread out the scoring, too. Five members of the maroon and orange reached double figures, with Pedulla (15), Lynn Kidd (14), Hunter Cattoor (13), Tyler Nickel (12) and Brandon Rechsteiner (12) each hitting the double-digit mark.
Kidd was particularly impressive. Taking over as a full-time starter for the first time in his Tech career, the former Clemson Tiger also put up 11 rebounds to secure his first-career double-double.
And considering his need to step up in an elevated role, that’s a pretty good start.
“We need that presence,” Young said. “He’s a talented person. He can go with left shoulder. He can go right shoulder. He’s got a very nice 15-foot jump shot. He’s a really good foul shooter. … We need that.”
Nickell certainly stood out, too.
The North Carolina transfer also added seven rebounds of his own across 20 minutes in his Hokie debut, and is slated to serve in a key role for Virginia Tech throughout the duration of the year.
Same could be said for Rechsteiner. With no more Rodney Rice and the need to get Pedulla off the floor, the true freshman is going to have to play. How much? We’ll see. But to see both him and fellow freshman Jaydon Young combine for 20 points in their collegiate debuts, had to be an encouraging sign.
[Brandon’s] a very confident player,” Pedulla said. “He can obviously really shoot, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops as well. He’s really, really close to being a good player, and he’s already there.”
Mylyjael Poteat’s nine points off the bench also gave Tech a spark. The senior forward also could see an increased role for the Hokies in 2023-24, and Monday night was a nice indicator.
All in all, the night went about as well as Tech could’ve helped for, particularly for game No. 1. The Hokies rebounded the ball well, too, outrebounding the Eagles 43-22, and they shot a whopping 29 free throws – making 23 of them. That’s winning basketball.
Tech didn’t do enough of that last year, and sure, there’s still room to grow, but the Hokies couldn't have asked for a better start. And with South Carolina awaiting up next, it’s an opportune time to start off hot.
“My feelings about this team will continue to evolve as we move along and I see it night in and night out when the lights are on,” Young said.
“A good team effort. A good night for our team. But it gets a tad more sticky here on Friday.”
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