Virginia Tech takes Commonwealth Clash in historic beatdown of Virginia

Raza Umerani

Staff Writer

February 20, 2024

BLACKSBURG — There are a dictionary’s worth of words to describe Virginia Tech’s victory over Virginia on Monday night.

Historic? Emphatic? Dominant? Cathartic?

All of the above.

The Hokies (15-11, 7-8 ACC) obliterated the Cavaliers (20-7, 11-5) 75-41, winning the matchup for the fourth consecutive time in Blacksburg. 

“Our team was onto it,” Tech head coach Mike Young told reporters after the game. “Great energy. We were as connected defensively as we've been; you have to be, because they're so violent with their cuts and their screens. … Well, we’ve got to win those matchups. And we did today.”

But very few wins in Tech history have looked like that. 

In the 158th edition of the Commonwealth Clash, the Hokies have only beaten the Cavaliers worse on one occasion. That was all the way back on Feb. 18, 1961 — a 105-70 win for Tech in the old War Memorial Gym. It’s UVa’s lowest point total in the rivalry since Jan. 23, 1942 when it scored just 25 points.

Since the Hokies moved to the ACC in 2005, only one team has ever scored fewer against them: NC State, who infamously struggled to the tune of 24 points on Feb. 2, 2019.

If it feels like this kind of performance from Tech came out of nowhere, that’s because it was. Its previous highest margin of victory in the ACC this season was 24 nearly a month ago against Georgia Tech, who currently sits second-to-last in the conference.

UVa, on the other hand, is one of only three or four ACC teams on pace to make the NCAA Tournament. Not only that, but the Cavaliers got the much better of the Hokies back on Jan. 17 in Charlottesville thanks to a scintillating offensive effort and a patented outing from their defense.

“I don't think we were as physical or tough down at their place,” Robbie Beran said. “And that was a big emphasis. It was the first two words on our board in the locker room: physicality and toughness. And we knew we couldn't just do it for 20 minutes, but we had to do it for a full 40.”

On Monday, Tech did just that.

Thanks to a balanced scoring effort and much-improved defense from Saturday — when they gave up 96 points to No. 10 North Carolina — the Hokies got out to an early lead and never looked back. 

Riding a 13-for-26 shooting effort while holding the Cavaliers to just 8-for-25 (32%) and 0-for-5 from three — embarking on a 20-0 first half run along the way — Tech was up a resounding 36-16 at the break.

The second half was more of the same as the Hokies led by as much as 36 and continued to dazzle on both ends of the floor. 

“We had a man on a man, we had a body on a body,” Young said. “They didn't make a three in the first half, that's a huge deal. ... Just presence and awareness. And you better be aware against that bunch. We had a lot on our plate in a short turnaround coming back from Chapel Hill. But to their credit they handled it masterfully.”

In more ways than one, the Hokies completely flipped the script from the first meeting. In January, it was them who struggled to score and the Cavaliers who had their way offensively. But in Blacksburg, it was Tech that shot 27-for-53 (51%) from the floor and restricted UVa to just 17-for-52 (33%).

“I think we were just really smart with the ball,” Tyler Nickel said. “We didn't turn it over. Obviously their defense is really intense and they turn people over. It's like wrestling a python. If you relax, they're gonna squeeze even harder and there's nothing you can do. So, we took care of the ball, we were smart, we made smart plays. We didn't try to do anything extra. We made simple basketball plays that ended up working.”

A large part of that equation was the nullification of Cavalier big man Jordan Minor, whose lockdown paint defense and 16 points propelled his team to victory in Charlottesville. 

This time around, he tallied just five points and one field goal, fouling out of the game in just 14 minutes. 

“Minor has really added a lift to their team,” Young said. “We have to win that matchup. It can't be a toss up. We have to win that match. And I thought Lynn [Kidd] and Mylyjael [Poteat] both were quick around the basket.”

That they were.

Tech’s big men combined for 25 points and nine rebounds on 10-for-12 shooting with Kidd leading the way, pouring in a team-high 14 points and seven boards. He hit all five shots and each of the four free throws that left his hands. 

Minor’s foul trouble allowed the duo to get whatever it wanted down low against the rest of UVa’s forwards — “We were just taking advantage of the mismatch,” Kidd said.

“They killed it tonight,” Nickel said. “They're really talented. I think people don't realize how good they are sometimes. They work their butts off. At UVa, I wouldn't say it was as much of a matchup problem as it was a gameplan conflict. They had a really good game plan. But they came in today with a different mentality and took the game over. And it was huge for us.”

Nickel had a game to remember himself. Coming off a 14-point effort against his former team in Chapel Hill on Saturday, the Harrisonburg, Va., native poured in 13 points in addition to a team and career-high six assists.

“I think after I hit a few shots they were trying to take away my space and my looks, especially coming off screens,” Nickel said. “Our bigs set great screens, so they have to react as a defense. And then once I found those little pockets and we started having momentum, they were kind of fragile on the defensive end, and everything kind of opened up.”

Beran was the only other Hokie in double figures with 13 points, four rebounds and a game-high three blocks. Like Kidd, he didn’t miss from the floor, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of triples. Guard MJ Collins poured in an all-around four points, five rebounds and five assists. 

The backcourt of Sean Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor only combined for 14 points, but it didn’t matter when the Hokies were moving the ball with such effectiveness.

It was the type of performance on both sides of the floor that Tech needed desperately. Not just because it was playing its rival, but because its NCAA Tournament hopes are dwindling by the day.

But a night like that might just get the ball rolling in the right direction.

The Hokies will look to win their first road game since Jan. 20 and continue building their NCAA Tournament case when they take on Pitt (17-8, 8-6) on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET on The CW.

“We've kind of walked ourselves into a corner here and we don't have a lot of wiggle room,” Young said. “[This is] a good step. We've still got opportunities, but we need to make the most of what we have left. What we have left is a Pittsburgh team that's playing good basketball.”