hokies take on marquette in first ncaa tournament appearance in 15 years

Topher Wagner

March 21, 2021

SAN ANTONIO, Tex. — Following a fantastic come from behind season, Virginia Tech punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years.

After losing seven out of their first eight games to start ACC play this year, the Hokies could have easily rolled over and given up on the season. Tech looked beaten down and demoralized after countless fourth quarter collapses, and in the midst of it all, it looked like it would take a miracle to save a lost year for head coach Kenny Brooks’ squad.

However, in the face of adversity, the plucky group in Blacksburg came together and turned the season around.

Behind the superstar play of Aisha Sheppard and Elizabeth Kitley, as well as the emergence of role players like Georgia Amoore and Cayla King, the Hokies won a program-best six consecutive ACC games, including an upset over No. 2 NC State to clinch Virginia Tech a spot in the big dance.

Tech’s reward? A No. 7 seed in March Madness and a Round of 64 matchup with Marquette.

For the Golden Eagles, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing this year either. Playing second fiddle to top ranked UConn in the ultra-competitive Big East, Marquette had to rally after a rough midseason lull that saw it lose to both the Huskies and DePaul. And like Virginia Tech, Marquette had to fight its way back into the postseason conversation.

A strong February by the Golden Eagles gave them a high seed in the Big East Tournament, as they knocked off both Providence and Creighton enroute to the championship game. Despite a 34-point thrashing from UConn to lose the Big East crown, Marquette still enters the NCAA Tournament hot as it looks to upset the Hokies in the first round.

Sunday marks the first ever matchup between the two programs. Marquette will look to win at least one game in the tournament for the third straight year, while Virginia Tech is making its first appearance in 15 seasons.

Virginia Tech Key to the Game: Dominate from beyond the arc

All season long, the Hokies have lived and died by the three. Propelled by Sheppard as well as the sharpshooter King, the Hokies are at their best when they are locked in from behind the arc.

However, in its loss to NC State in the ACC Quarterfinals, Tech hit just five three-pointers on a paltry 24% shooting as it struggled mightily against the Wolfpack all night. Now, the Hokies face a Marquette squad that has shown to be susceptible on defense to the three-ball as seen by allowing UConn to shoot 50% from behind the arc in the Big East championship.

For Virginia Tech to keep its stellar season alive, it will have to do what it does best and exploit the Golden Eagles sloppy perimeter defense.

Marquette Key to the Game: Win the Turnover Battle

The Golden Eagles have played scrappy defense all season long, holding their opponents to 62 points per game, while forcing turnovers early and often. In fact, Marquette has forced double-digit turnovers in each of its last 14 games as it has consistently disrupted its opponents rhythm to end the year.

While Virginia Tech has had one of the better offenses in the ACC this year, it has shown a knack for turning the ball over at times, which has doomed the Hokies in close games.

Marquette will need to keep this trend of tenacious defense going to survive and advance in the NCAA Tournament.

Virginia Tech Player to Watch: Aisha Sheppard

Sheppard has been everything Tech could’ve asked for during her senior year as the guard has stepped up for her team in the biggest moments time and time again.

Despite the stellar season, the All ACC first-teamer struggled against NC State, putting up a season low six points on 2-for-15 shooting as she rallied from a tweaked ankle the game before.

As one of the best three-point shooters in the country and the heart of this high powered Hokies’ offense, Sheppard will need to bounce back in a big way in her NCAA Tournament debut.

Marquette Player to Watch: Selena Lott

Much like Sheppard for the Hokies, Selena Lott struggled mightily in her last game, putting up just two points on 1-for-5 shooting for the Golden Eagles in the blowout Big East title loss.

Even with the poor performance, the Big-East Co-Defensive Player of the Year has still been Marquette’s best player on both sides of the ball as she leads the team in points, assists, steals, and blocked shots.

The senior duo of Lott and Lauren Van Kleunen has been relied on time and again this year and that won’t change on Sunday. The senior star will need a huge game to upset Virginia Tech.

Score Prediction: Virginia Tech 75, Marquette 68

In what is one of the better matchups on paper in the first round, both power-conference teams enter the NCAA Tournament on hot streaks despite losses in their respective conference tournaments.

While Tech tends to rely on a lethal three-point attack, Marquette typically depends on its defense to close out games.

The difference in this one will be the play of the two star senior guards.

Both Lott and Sheppard had rough conference postseason games, but look to bounce back in the biggest spotlight. In the battle between stars, Sheppard is too talented a shooter to be stopped.

Against NC State, Sheppard registered zero three-pointers for the first time all season. For one of the best deep ball shooters in the country, Sheppard will come out with a vengeance versus Marquette.

Add in the dominance of sophomore center Kitley and the Golden Eagles will have no answer for Tech’s high powered offense. In Brooks’ first NCAA Tournament game at Virginia Tech, the Hokies will hold on and advance to the second round, 75-68.