WASHINGTON, D.C. — Virginia Tech exited the ACC Tournament early on Wednesday afternoon after just one game, an 86-76 loss to Florida State.
“They played a little bit better than we did,” Tech head coach Mike Young said after the loss. “… I thought we had some very good shots that we got down in the first half. Consequently, we go in at the half up one, but I thought we had some very good shots in the second half, but we weren't shooting the ball [well].”
The Hokies (18-14) led the Seminoles (17-15) at halftime by one, 37-36, but struggled offensively in the second half.
After shooting a 64 percent clip in the first 20 minutes, they regressed to just 36 percent after the break and endured a stretch of almost five minutes without a basket. Most of Tech’s offense came at the foul line; it was in the double bonus halfway through the period and attempted 22 free throws, 20 more than the first half.
But lack of ball security and other inconsistencies — rebounding among them — came back to bite the Hokies. Their 13 turnovers led to 25 points for the ‘Noles, who were paced by VCU transfer Jamir Watkins’ career-high 34 points and 11 rebounds. The guard, who Young described as a “heat-seeking missile,” played like one for much of the game.
“That’s a dude right there,” Tech guard MJ Collins said of Watkins. “Getting downhill, he’s strong, physical. Our plan was to keep him from getting downhill, but it’s easier said then done. When he gets downhill, he’s a problem.”
Young preached about the importance of taking care of the basketball on Tuesday after Virginia Tech arrived in the nation’s capital. His team had not committed more than 10 miscues in its last seven games. But against Florida State’s length, it struggled, especially late.
Tech, who was led by Sean Pedulla’s 24 points and five assists, tied the game with 7:28 remaining after spotting FSU a cushion. However, everything unraveled quickly. Three turnovers and four missed shots in a four-minute span put the ‘Noles up 10 again and Tech couldn’t climb out of it.
“I felt like we were in great position,” Tech guard Hunter Cattoor said. “We were in good spots, we were making good plays, getting stops on the defensive end. It just kind of slipped away. ... It’s kind of been the story of this year — we’re in the game and something happens, a couple of possessions where we lose it and they go on a run and we just can’t ever come back from it.
“It’s tough. … It’s basically a seven-minute game, zero-zero. But at the end of the day, it just sucks that we couldn’t get back in it.”
Tyler Nickel and Collins, two of Tech’s three players to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor (with Lynn Kidd), joined Pedulla in double figures for the Hokies. Nickel was the team’s leading rebounder for the first time this year with seven boards and chipped in 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Collins was 5-of-10 for 15 points and four assists.
Kidd recorded eight points and made four of his six field goals but it was tough for him and fellow big man Mylyjael Poteat — who was held scoreless — to find anything on a consistent basis inside against FSU’s height. Cattoor hit a 3-pointer to get Tech going early but missed his next four attempts and finished with just eight points and five boards. As a team, Tech was 6-of-24 from behind the arc.
“I think we had the same looks in the first half as we did in the second half, they just didn’t drop in the second half,” Cattoor said.
“I think we did get a lot of good shots,” Nickel said. “When we get past the first layer of defense, play on two feet, drive and kicks, we got a lot of good shots from guys that can shoot the real really well, but sometimes they just don't drop.”
The ‘Noles found success down low with 48 paint points. Jalen Warley (18 points) and Primo Spears (10) complemented Watkins in the backcourt while Cameron Corhen (eight) and Baba Miller (seven) helped FSU control the interior and the glass.
When the two teams met in February, Virginia Tech finished with a plus-12 rebounding margin. Florida State was nine boards better on Wednesday, which included 13 second-chance points off nine offensive rebounds.
Tech tried to make a late push against the ‘Noles but couldn’t complete the comeback. With 1:01 left, it cut the deficit to five after forcing a turnover with its full-court pressure, and it had an opportunity to make it a one-possession game after FSU gave it away a second time, but Pedulla’s jumper ricocheted off the rim.
The loss ends Tech’s chances at an NCAA Tournament bid. After making the Big Dance in five straight years it was held from 2017-22, it’s now missed the event two years in a row despite winning two more conference games than it did last season.
“We just couldn’t really stack on games,” Cattoor said. “There were some games where we kind of won two games and that third game, we kind of had a lull, and that stacks up. I just think we weren’t consistent, night in and night out, to be an NCAA tournament team. You have to be consistent within the team … and [put] together a 40-minute game. … I don’t think we did that well enough this year.”
If the Hokies are to play any more postseason basketball, their opportunity lies in the NIT. As a result of the event changing its selection format in October, Tech would automatically qualify if it’s one of the top-two teams in the ACC according to the NET rankings. The selection show is at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday on ESPN2.
“To play in the postseason? Sign me up,” Young said of a chance to participate in the NIT. “… We all want to play in the big one, but to coach these guys again and make a run at that thing. … I don't care what anybody says, [it’s] not what all of us want to do, but it is still a great tournament, and I'd like to do that.”
Box Score: Florida State 86, Virginia Tech 76