Virginia Tech Pulls Away From Richmond In First-Round Of NIT
Raza Umerani
Staff Writer
March 19, 2023
Virginia Tech's Lynn Kidd served as a big reason why the Hokies got past Richmond. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG – Despite a cold start, No. 3 seed Virginia Tech got hot in the second half to pull away from Richmond in a 74-58 win in the first-round of the 2024 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Tuesday night inside Cassell Coliseum.
The Hokies (19-14) started just 1-for-16 from the field, but made 25 of their next 38 shots (65.8%) including a 56.5% second-half clip to slowly but surely pull away from the Spiders (23-10) to secure their first postseason win under head coach Mike Young — and first since the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
“It was a bit disturbing, needless to say,” Young said of the offensive start. “I thought we took a couple of quick shots. I thought the defense they employ can slow you down and cause you to stand. Once we got our teeth into it and the ball started to move, we got a couple of shots down. That's been the case with this team, really and truly, on a number of occasions. They figure it out, and they did again tonight.”
Neither squad started hot, as they combined to shoot just 1-for-15 in the opening minutes, with Richmond getting out to an early 11-2 lead. But whereas the home team got hot, the Spiders remained stuck in their own web, shooting just 37.7% on the game with Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year Jordan King held to just six points on 2-for-9 shooting.
Tech, meanwhile, received contributions from all over as four players were in double figures: Lynn Kidd, Sean Pedulla, MJ Collins and Hunter Cattoor, who combined for 21 of the team’s 26 made field goals.
“Offensively, [we] got into a rhythm and didn't take the rushed shots that we did in the first 10 minutes,” Pedulla said. Once we settled in and got our feet in defensively, I think those shots kind of came a little bit better.”
Kidd led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds on 9-for-10 shooting, marking his fifth 20-point outing of the season.
“He's done it consistently [this season],” Young said. “I was disappointed he wasn't the Most Improved Player; something, some sort of recognition in our league. He's had that kind of year. He had a couple of really hard shots that he got up on the backboard and got them in the basket. Great interior passing, and really good play from Lynn throughout.”
Pedulla poured in 17 points and seven assists with a 4-for-4 effort in the second half after making just one of his eight shots in the first 20 minutes. The junior point guard also had a solid game on the other end, with Young suggesting that it was his best defensive effort of the season.
“I've never been one to stop shooting,” Pedulla said. “I'm a confident player. ... I [wasn't] about to go into the second half and not take shots. I think that would hinder our chances of being successful.”
Collins hit a career-high four threes en route to a 15-point, seven assist outing, continuing to showcase increased confidence in his offensive ability down the stretch of this season after a up-and-down start to the year.
“At this point, my teammates, they have confidence in me,” Collins said. “My coaches have confidence in me. My parents have confidence in me. And most importantly, I have confidence in myself. You go through a slump at times, everybody's been through it. And I'm happy that now I'm out of it.”
Although he shot just 2-for-12 from the floor, Cattoor chimed in with 10 points and four rebounds of his own with a pair of triples in his final game inside Cassell Coliseum. When he checked out of the game with a minute remaining, his head coach passionately urged the fans in Blacksburg to give the fifth-year senior and program legend an ovation, which they gladly did.
“It's deep, it's involved,” Young said of his relationship with Cattoor, his first recruit to Tech. “He's like a trusted friend. That's how the relationship has evolved. Through great times and tough times. I've always known where he was, as a human being. … He's been a gem. I hope we'll look back 10 years from now when it's all said and done and my time in this business is over with a very rewarding five years.
“I wish we could do it a while longer, but that's not how this thing plays out.”