Tech, Maine will kick off the 2021-22 season on Tuesday night
GAME INFORMATION
Tuesday, November 9 | 8 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Virginia)
vs. Maine (0-0, 0-0 East America)
Series: VT leads 1-0
Play Notes: Virginie Tech | Maine
5 things to know
TV broadcast
Additional ACC network
Read by read: Bailey Angle
Analyst: Mack mccarthy
Local radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Read by read: Jon laaser
Analyst: Mike Burnop
THE SERIES
– Virginia Tech won the one-time encounter with the Black Bears, 80-67, on November 11, 2016.
– Like this year, this match was also the start of the season for both teams.
A VICTORY WOULD BE …
– Improves Tech’s record in the opening games of the season to 86-28.
– Be the Hokies’ sixth consecutive season opener, dating back to 2016-17.
WHO TO WATCH
– Keve Aluma is back for one more trip to Blacksburg.
– He led the Hokies in scoring (15.2) and doubles-doubles (6), while shooting 49% from the ground.
CLOSURE ON 600
– Mike Young, who is in his 20th season as a college head coach, is three games away from reaching 600 coached games on the main whistle.
– He compiled a career record of 330-267 (.553) as a head coach.
STORM WARNING
– Graduate student Storm Murphy takes the reins of the leader after graduation from Wabissa Bede.
–Wofford’s transfer averaged 17.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season. He was one of 11 players to average that stat line or better nationally.
– Murphy has scored double in 21 of 24 competitions, including 10 20-point performances, and has more than five assists on eight occasions.
– He ended his career at Wofford with 1,315 points to finish 24th on the program’s all-time scorecard.
– The first-team All-SoCon selection will be an away scoring threat, as he shot 40% on three last season.
– Murphy knocked down 70 3-pointers a year ago. By comparison, Bede logged in out of 12 with a clip of 24.5%.
– With the addition of Murphy, Tech can stretch the defenses even further now that opponents must respect the long range shot from the leader position.
DANCE IN THE SECOND YEAR
– In previous seasons in Virginia Tech history, the fastest head coach to enter the NCAA tournament was in grade three. These Hokies were Howie Shannon, Charlie Moir, and Buzz Williams.
– Therefore, with Mike Young in doing so, in the second year, he became the fastest technical trainer to do The Dance.
MOMENTUM OF OUR CTÉ
– With third place in the regular season standings in 2020-21, Tech has finished in the ACC top five for two of the past three seasons.
– Tied third for best ACC result in school history as the Hokies were tied for third in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
– If Tech can finish in the ACC’s top five this season, it would be the third time in four years to accomplish this feat.
– The Hokies have five top-five rankings in the ACC in seven years, from 2004-05 to 2011-12.
MAINE SCOUTING
– Maine enter their first game of the season with many new faces, including nine newcomers to the field and three new assistant coaches on staff.
– The Black Bears are under the management of Richard Barron, who is in his fourth season at the helm of Orono. He is the 22nd head coach in the history of their program.
– Barron was previously Special Assistant to the Maine Athletic Director since December 1, 2017. He was the Head Coach of the Maine Women’s Basketball Team from 2011 to 2017 before taking medical leave in January 2017.
– After making the decision to wrap up their 2020-21 season on February 12 due to challenges related to COVID-19, Maine is returning to action for the first time since a January 17 loss to Vermont (88-60) .
– LeChaun DuHart is the Black Bears’ leading returning scorer averaging 11 points per game. He has hit double digits in four of Maine’s nine games, including a high of 19 at Boston College.
FOLLOWING
– The Hokies will travel to Annapolis, Maryland for the Veterans Classic hosted by Navy. The seventh meeting between Tech and the Mids will begin at 8:30 p.m. and will be televised by CBS Sports Network.