Virginia Tech Fouls Out Against Auburn In ACC-SEC Challenge

Jack Brizendine

Editor-in-Chief

November 29, 2023

AUBURN, Ala. — Virginia Tech’s Wednesday night in Auburn started on the wrong end of an 18-4 run and it didn’t get much prettier from there.

The Hokies (5-3) were flattened in the inaugural ACC-SEC game by Bruce Pearl’s Tigers (5-1) 74-57, the result of early foul trouble and poor shooting from range.

“I think we’re doing great things, [but] you’re not going to make everything you throw in the air,” Tech head coach Mike Young said to reporters after the game. “We had some cracks from kids that we typically get down, [and] we didn’t.”

While Tech shot better from range against Auburn than it did against Florida Atlantic on Sunday, the Hokies only had 10 personal fouls against the Owls; they had 21 against the Tigers on Wednesday, good for the most in the Mike Young era (H/T Tech Sideline’s David Cunningham).

Already down starting guard MJ Collins, Young had to go deep into his bench following early whistles on the Hokies. True freshman Jaydon Young — who averaged 7.6 minutes per game coming into the night — took on the biggest load, clocking 24 productive minutes for Tech while Young experimented with different lineups.

The rookie from Goldsboro, N.C., was more than serviceable in his increased role, netting 3-of-4 from range and tying for second on the team with nine points.

“Just staying ready [and] not really dwelling on it,” Young said on what led to his standout performance. “Just being ready when my number is called. I feel like I’ve prepared enough so when my number was called I was ready.”

Young confirmed that Collins would be back in Tech’s lineup on Sunday against Louisville in its ACC opener, but the promising play from his freshman guard should settle his nerves as Sean Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor try to regain their footing.

Against Auburn, Tech’s pair of sharpshooting guards were anything but, combining for nine points on 4-of-20 shooting from the field, including 1-0f-8 shooting from behind-the-arc. The duo finished 0-for-12 from downtown against Florida Atlantic three days prior.

Pedulla’s night individually was particularly forgettable, going 0-f0r-9 from the field in addition to seven turnovers, much to the delight of Neville Arena’s vocal student section.

“[Pedulla’s] not playing very well, but you see every game we play how good he is, how important he is to our team,” Young said of his point guard’s recent woes. “I take a lot of responsibility there. I’ve got to get to him. He’s tough, he has great intentions. He’s pressing. He’s struggling. We all go through tough spells as players. I went through more than others, I wasn’t very good. I’ll get him. I’ll get him taken care of. He’ll be in the gym tomorrow working on it.

“We need the best Sean Pedulla, we both know that.”

Tech held its own in the frontcourt against Auburn, out-rebounding the Tigers 44 t0 40. 

Both teams reeled in 17 offensive boards, but Bruce Pearl’s bunch was more efficient with its additional opportunities, racking up 26 second-chance points; Tech finished with just 14. Auburn’s total was largely helped by forward Johni Broome’s heroic 30-point outing, collecting put-back after put-back on the glass.

"[Auburn] only made two threes, [but had] 17 offensive rebounds,” Young said. “It’s when the ball gets to the second level. When the ball beats the initial defender and [you’re] stepping up now with a post player and there’s Broome and [Dylan] Cardwell and [Chad] Baker-Mazara, that’s something that we’ve done a pretty good job of to this point, but must continue to improve upon.”

Facing a subpar Cardinals squad on Sunday, Tech will have an opportunity to clean up some issues and find its footing again as it inches closer to the new year.