GREENSBORO, N.C. — In March, teams have to take it one game at a time. Matchups shuffle and seasons can end in a matter of seconds. For Kenny Brooks and Virginia Tech, internalizing that mentality isn’t just an option — it’s a must.
“Games are games,” Tech head coach Kenny Brooks told reporters after the Hokies’ 82-53 ACC Tournament semifinal loss to Notre Dame. “It counts as one loss. … We’ll look at it. We’ve got 24 wins and seven losses, and we’ll regroup and get ready for the NCAA Tournament.”
Saturday’s dismantling by Notre Dame wasn’t a performance that Tech is accustomed to this season, and it’s not one that accurately depicts the team’s strength.
But it was just one game; and only Tech’s second this year without Elizabeth Kitley on the floor. Her sudden absence limited the Hokies ability to spread the floor on offense, making them much easier to defend; and Notre Dame capitalized.
With Tech’s leading scorer sidelined, the Irish had one objective going into the semifinal bout: containing Georgia Amoore.
“We really focused on Amoore,” Notre Dame head coach Nielle Ivey said. “I felt like she was the engine and that was our main focus. We wanted to contain everyone, defend the 3-point line, but really put a lot of pressure on Amoore and just try to deny her, trap her, get the ball out of her hands [and] put multiple bodies on her.”
That plan paid dividends for Notre Dame, holding Amoore to just 11-of-29 on the day while allowing Tech as a team to net only 8-of-28 (29%) from beyond the 3-point line.
Miami took a similar approach in the quarterfinals, but standout performances from reserves made the difference for Tech. Against a much tougher opponent in Notre Dame, the Hokies weren’t able to do that.
Without having their two All-ACC first teamers to rely on, they had to pivot offensively, and struggled. Outside of Amoore and Olivia Summiel — who’s veteran poise was on full display in her 10-point, 18-rebound outing — they only netted seven field goals.
Tech’s offensive puzzle was made even more difficult by Notre Dame’s pace of play. The Irish pressed on both sides of the ball, forcing the Hokies to play on their heels even more.
“I felt like I wanted to run on Virginia Tech,” Ivey said. “We wanted to really push the pace and play fast. We talked about coming out and playing fast.”
On Friday against Miami, the Hokies flexed their depth to muscle through to the semifinals. A day later, the shoe was on the other foot.
The role reversal is one that every team is familiar with, especially those in leagues as talented as the ACC. With the familiarity between programs who’ve faced off multiple times throughout the season, it’s hard to pull the rug out from underneath other teams.
Brooks and the Hokies are hoping that they can get back to being the aggressors once the NCAA Tournament begins in two weeks.
“[Today was] one game,” Brook said. “Who knows who we’re going to play in the NCAA Tournament. I just know we will be in the NCAA Tournament. I promise, when we tip it up [against] whoever we’re playing in the NCAA Tournament, we’re not going to look back and say, ‘Oh my goodness, that game we played against Notre Dame’ — it doesn’t happen like that. Tonight was not our night. We were tired. Our kids were physically tired.
“That’s not an excuse because everybody has to play multiple games, but we had kids out there who hadn’t played a lot and without really a gameplan, so we just didn’t play well today. We’ll regroup. This is a time of year [when] I’m excited. It’s like a new energy. I’m tired of playing against the same teams in the ACC. I’m tired of the same officials. I’m excited to see something new. I want to see some new officials, I want to see some new teams, I want to see some new everything.”
Luckily for Brooks, his squad will have two weeks to rest and regroup before its first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament — and continue to take it one game at a time.