On Thursday’s edition of Tech Talk Live, Virginia Tech men’s basketball head coach Mike Young and guard Neoklis Avdalas joined the show.
The Hokies (18-10, 7-8 ACC) have three games remaining, beginning with a road test at No. 18 North Carolina on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Mike Young
Coach, great to see you. Great to have you here today. How are you doing?
Zach, I’m doing great. Good to be with you guys and good to see so many familiar faces and friendly faces out there. Good to see everybody.
Has it been nice for you, the staff and the team to have this week off to get healthy?
Yes, very much so. I think we’ve utilized our week well and in smart fashion. We had a chance to regroup and look at some new things on Monday and Tuesday. We didn’t do a lot with them. Yesterday, we started our North Carolina preparation, then a big prep day today and tomorrow before heading down tomorrow afternoon to Chapel Hill.
Give us the update on Tyler Johnson.
I’m going to slow-play it. He practiced all week. I thought he looked as good today as he’s looked. He looked more like himself. There’s been some erosion with his ball skills, his passing, his ball handling, which is to be expected. He hasn’t played since December 20, but it’s time to rev him up and get going, and he’s ready.
He saw our team doctor again today, he’s been cleared. He was cleared some time ago, but it’s taken a little bit longer than expected, and that can happen with lower-body injuries, the injury that he had, but he’s coming on, and it’s time to get him on the floor. Not a lot, but he’ll be on the floor Saturday, barring something happening tomorrow, and we’re not going to do a ton with him tomorrow. It’ll be nice to see him back out there Saturday.
You have not had all five of your starters together since November 26. How difficult has that been?
It’s hard, but I don’t want that to be the narrative. We’ve had some great moments. It’s disruptive, but we’re not the Lone Ranger here. A lot of people deal with it. It’s part of it. You can never have too many good players. You can never have enough quality depth. Look at North Carolina right now, playing without their leading scorer. It happens. It hurts. It’s disruptive for your team and your rotation. But you’ve got to find a way to win. That’s the bottom line.
I go back to the Virginia game when we played without key guys logging significant minutes. You’ve got to find a way to win. We’ve done that for the most part without Tyler, but certainly his energy and the intangibles he brings have been missed. It’ll be good to have him back.
Great win against Wake Forest. You shot over 50 percent, only five turnovers and 19 assists. What stood out to you?
The ball’s moving. It’s fluid. It hasn’t been choppy. It can’t be choppy. That’s a credit to our team. We’ve tried to instill in them that we have a lot of good players. If the ball sticks in one place or the other, that’s not advantageous for the group. They’ve done a great job of that here lately.
Was it 19 assists or 20?
It was 19. They changed it to 20. The stat people missed one of Neo’s. He had seven assists and zero turnovers. That should have been eight assists and zero turnovers.
Going back to the previous game, assists were up and turnovers were down. That’s a great sign, isn’t it?
It is. What took us so long to get here is beyond me. But the ball’s moving and it’s fluid. It hasn’t been choppy. That’s a real credit to our team.
Was it nice to not have another nail-biter and to control the game?
Yes, it was nice. I never feel that way. I’m always worried they have a run in them and will make it interesting. I’ve always been that way. Around the two-and-a-half or three-minute mark, I looked up and thought we were home free. I think I sat down, which I never do. It was nice. I’d like a couple more like that down the stretch.
Wake Forest started 4-for-4 from three. What was happening there?
I was mad. That was such a big point for our defense going into the game — limit catch-and-shoot threes. A couple of guys who aren’t great perimeter shooters hit some early ones. That’s the game. But we tightened up from there. I think they made their first four threes and then only two or three more the rest of the way. This has been a great three-point defensive team. Twos hurt, but threes really bite you. You’ve got to limit those. That’ll be a big deal down in Chapel Hill Saturday.
They made their first four and then went 2-for-26 the rest of the way.
Those are the kind of numbers I like.
I want to ask about Jailen Bedford. We’ve seen him get more aggressive offensively. What does he bring defensively?
As an on-ball defender, he’s the best we have. We’ve got several good ones, but he’s the best. He’s stronger than he looks. He looks wiry, but he’s strong and well put together. He’s an older guy. It took him a while. He was at junior college, Oral Roberts, UNLV — completely different systems and ways of doing things. The ball was on the floor too much with him when he got here, and it about drove me crazy.
But to his credit, I’ve really enjoyed coaching him. He’s bought in. He takes great pride in giving the ball to a teammate for an assist or simply moving it and getting somewhere else on the floor. He’s had a great year of growth and has helped our team. He’s capable of scoring in the 20s and has done that multiple times.
He did a really good job guarding Juke Harris, didn’t he?
He did. Jailen had the majority of those minutes. Juke Harris is a terrific player. I saw him score 38 at Boston College last night. You look at the stat sheet and he had 15 or 17 points, but it took him 17 or 19 shots. That’s good defense. That’s inefficient scoring. If you’re getting to his body and making him miss from the perimeter, you’re doing a nice job.
Down to the final three games of the year, and then the postseason. Does it go by fast for you, or does it feel like a grind when you’re in it?
The older I get, the faster it goes. It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on the end of February and the end of the regular season. In two weeks, we’ll be in Charlotte for our conference tournament.
It comes at you fast. You take it day by day. I’ve enjoyed this team immensely. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coaching this team. It’s been great fun, and I firmly believe we’ve got a lot more to look forward to.
Speaking of it going by fast, Tobi Lawal walked on Saturday for senior day. I know that had to be emotional. He goes out with 17 and nine. What has he meant to the program?
I’ve been through a bunch of those, and they’re sad days — some more than others. When you see a kid who came in and had a long way to go — and he still has a long way to go — but you see the progress he’s made as a basketball player, not to mention the character he possesses, it hits you. To see his mom fly over from the UK and his brother be here, and to see how proud they are and how appreciative they are of Virginia Tech and this community, that means something.
I think he’s going to graduate in the spring. He’s done great academically. All those things come rushing back when he walks out there to be recognized before the game. Those are great nights. You just hope you go play well, and we did that, so that made it even better.
Neoklis Avdalas is going to be joining us in a little bit. Can you talk through his recruitment overall, when you first saw his tape and your initial thoughts?
That would take a long time. We saw him on tape. His agent, Alex Saratsis, is a very accomplished agent and represents a lot of really good players. Alex and Chester Frazier have a long-standing relationship going back to Rudy Gay. Rudy is from Baltimore. Chester is from Baltimore. Alex represented Rudy. That’s how it all tied in.
When Chester came back on board, we went pretty quickly up to Chicago, where Neo was working out for NBA teams. At that time, there was still a possibility he would stay in the draft. He visited. He had the combine ahead. One thing led to another, and we caught a break. We’ve had the opportunity to have him here and coach him here. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. He’s a great kid. I’m glad he’s going to be on with you guys. He’s a good one.
After the Wake Forest game, he said, “I’m back. I knew I needed to be more aggressive.” What did you take from that?
The season takes turns. Kids can get back on their heels and lose a bit of confidence. There are so many things pulling at them. Social media is one. I don’t look at it. I’m 62 years old. I couldn’t care less. But they look at it. Some of those things are hurtful and can set them back.
It was good to see him lock in and play hard and aggressive. He’s such a talented player. I’ve been doing this 40 years, he’s the best passer I’ve ever been around. Some of the things he does with his passing and playmaking, you don’t teach. He came here with that skill. He’s a really good player.
How about the pass he threw from near half court to Amani Hansberry for the dunk?
It was a loose ball. He came out of there with it. Amani was ahead of the pack. He threw that thing from half court right on the money, and Amani did the rest. It was a beautiful pass and a great unselfish play.
On the road in the ACC, is there a place you particularly enjoy going?
I really like John Paul Jones Arena. It’s a hard place to play and a beautiful facility. I’ve coached in the Smith Center many times. I was such a bad player, nobody invited me to play there. It’s a grand old facility named after Dean Smith. You look into the rafters and see all the jerseys and championship teams. That’s neat. The students aren’t right behind you like at NC State, where they’re right on top of you and it can get rough. There are other very nice facilities in our league that are a pleasure to visit. I just hope we win.
North Carolina didn’t have Caleb Wilson, but got a win against Louisville. Seth Trimble had a career night. What stands out about them right now?
Seth Trimble is a good player. He had a career high, around 30, and shot it well. Sometimes when a guy goes down, other guys elevate. We’ve seen that ourselves. They’ve gotten better guard play without Wilson. They’ve had guys step up. We’ve got our hands full. We’re looking forward to getting down there. We’ve had a couple of really good days of practice. Our team is excited. We’ve got a lot on the line.
They’re 22-6 overall and 10-5 in conference. How different does North Carolina look without Wilson?
Very much so. They’re playing faster without him. They really come at you in transition. If they’re scoring in transition, you’re putting your back against the wall. You have to play good offense. You can’t turn it over. You can’t take bad shots. Then you’ve got to sprint back and get your defense set and be ready to guard quick ball screens and the other actions they’re going to throw at you. We’ve got a good plan in place. We had a great practice today in preparation. Let’s get down there and get after it.
Roy Williams is often there. Two years ago, you went over and spoke with him. What’s that relationship like?
I’ve known him forever. He’s a dear man. Hubert Davis is a wonderful person and a good friend of mine. Being in this league as long as I have, you get to know a lot of people. They’re classy people down there. Bubba Cunningham, their athletic director, is wonderful. I believe he’s still chair of the NCAA Selection Committee. He always makes a point to come by the locker room after the game, win or lose, and sit and talk for five or ten minutes. Good folks that I admire greatly.
Two years ago, we were down there getting ready for shootaround. Coach Williams was walking down from the stands. He and his wife had been walking the concourse. He leaned in and said, “Michael, would you mind if Wanda and I walked around the concourse during your shootaround? I won’t be disruptive.” I told him his name is on the court, of course he can walk around.
When I was a kid, I went to Dean Smith’s basketball camp. Roy Williams was my head coach for a couple of years. I forgot to turn my lights out one night. You had strict rules at that camp. If you didn’t turn your lights out, you ran. He ran me hard. I thought my lungs were going to explode. We still laugh about that. He’s a great man. A legendary coach.
Tony Bennett’s name is now on the court at Virginia. What’s your thought on that recognition?
I’m happy for Tony. It’s most deserving. What he did for Virginia — the games, the national championship, the class he did it with — that matters. I’ve talked to him quite a bit. I think he still comes to some games. I saw he’s doing some things for the Lakers. I don’t know how much that will take him away from Charlottesville. He may send a text from time to time after big wins. I’ve always had great respect and admiration for Tony. I’m happy for him and for the university for that recognition.
Back to Wake Forest — Christian Gurdak had 10 second-half points and five rebounds. What did you see from him?
I think he’s put together a really good freshman year. He’s going to be a very good player around here for a long time. He has hands like meat hooks. When he gets his hands on it, he’s got it. He doesn’t have the greatest lift yet. He’s going to get better with positioning and understanding some things. He’s screening better. He’ll become a great screener. He gave us quite a lift in the second half. It was a lot of fun to see. I love that kid. He’s a remarkable young person.
Neoklis Avdalas
Neo, how are you doing today?
I’m doing good. Thanks for having me here. I’m doing very good. I’m excited for the next game.
What has this week been like? It’s been a little bit of a recharge without a game on Tuesday or Wednesday.
It’s been good. It’s a hard time to prepare for our next opponent. We’ve had many days to get ready. I think we’ve done a pretty good job being focused in practice. I think we’re ready to go.
Let’s talk about your upbringing. You were born in Athens, Greece. What is life like in Greece?
Life in Greece is amazing. You’ve got everything you need. The weather is perfect. I’ve got my family there. It’s everything I want. But here in the U.S., I’ve found my home here too. It’s been really cool.
Your hometown is Kalamata, Greece. What’s it like there?
You can see the sea from my home. It’s about five minutes away. Like I said, perfect weather all the time. It’s a small city — maybe 50,000 or 60,000 people. Everybody knows each other. It’s really cool.
When did you start playing basketball?
At a very young age. My father was a professional basketball player, so he put a basketball in my hands when I was maybe four years old. I always remember having a ball in my hands.
You had a growth spurt at one point, right?
Yes. I grew very fast in one summer.
Some people may not know — your father actually played in Cassell Coliseum.
Yes. He was with a traveling team, and I think he scored four points. That was back in 1991. It’s pretty cool. When I came here for a visit, he told me. I didn’t know before. I was surprised. It was cool.
You played professionally in Greece at 17 and 18 years old. What was that experience like?
It was a great experience. That’s why I left Panathinaikos, because I wasn’t playing much there. It’s one of the biggest clubs in Europe. I wanted to play more, so I went on loan to other teams. My first year, I didn’t play a lot because I was 17. But last year, I had more playing time and the ball in my hands. I grew a lot as a player.
What’s the biggest difference between the European game and the American game?
The physicality, for sure. It’s way more physical here. Also the pace. The game is played much faster here. We don’t play that fast in Greece. And, of course, the talent. There are more talented players and more challenging teams here.
Talk about your experience at the NBA Draft Combine. You had a big second day statistically. What was that like?
It was one of the best experiences of my career so far. I got to compete against the best talent in my age group and the best talent going to the NBA. It was a great experience for me. I learned a lot going into my freshman season here at Virginia Tech. Hopefully, I can go back again this year.
Against Providence, you scored 30 early in the season and it got a lot of attention. What was that moment like for you?
It was great to do that so early in my time in Blacksburg. But when you score 30 points, people might think you’re going to do that every game. That’s not how it works. Of course, I can score the ball, but I can do more things than just score.
You’ve been passing the ball really well lately. Tell us about the pass from near half court to Amani for the dunk against Wake.
I had some fun with that one. I like having fun on the court. My teammate ran ahead, so I had to put a little sauce on it. I like those types of passes.
You guys have been moving the ball well. Nineteen assists in that game. Can you feel that on the floor?
Yes. That’s Virginia Tech basketball. That’s what Coach Young teaches us. When the ball moves like that at a high level, we win games.
What has Coach Young been like for you?
He’s one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met. He’s been really good to me and to everybody. Coaching is different in Europe than here, but he’s a legend in coaching. I want to learn as much as I can from him.
You scored eight of the first 19 points against Wake Forest. Did you feel locked in early?
Yes. When the shots are going in and you’re aggressive from the beginning, you feel good. My teammates trust me. I felt like it was going to be a good game.
After the game, you said you were back and needed to be more aggressive. What did you mean by that?
It was a tough stretch. Every player goes through that in their career. For me, it’s been a whole new experience. I came from Europe. It’s a completely different style of play. I was adjusting. My coaches and teammates helped me get through it. After that game, I really felt like I was back.
You’re heading into a big environment Saturday. There will be more than 20,000 people there. What are ACC crowds like compared to what you experienced in Greece?
I would say they’re pretty similar, except for the rivalry between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in Greece. That can get wild sometimes. But the fans here are passionate too. I enjoy playing in those environments.
You mentioned earlier about fans throwing things sometimes in Greece. What’s that like?
Sometimes they throw things on the court and they have to stop the game to clear it. It can get intense.
Did you know much about the NCAA Tournament before coming here?
I knew about March Madness, but I didn’t really follow college basketball before the last couple of years. Coach Young always tells me it’s one of the best experiences you can have in your career. That motivates us every game to try to get there.
The ACC Tournament can mean playing multiple games in a row. Are you comfortable with that?
Yes. I’ve played in tournaments before where we had back-to-back games. I’m used to it.
You had a decision to make after the draft combine. What went into choosing Virginia Tech instead of staying in the draft?
I wanted to come to college to improve my draft stock. When I came here for my visit, I felt good about it. Coach Young and Coach [Chester] Frazier showed me how much they wanted me here. That made the decision easy.
Why do you wear number 17?
I’ve worn it since youth national teams and at Panathinaikos. I kept wearing it every season.
Who did you look up to growing up?
Luka Dončić. I’ve been studying him for many years, since he was 19 playing at Real Madrid. Of course, I want to be myself. I’m not Luka, but it’s good to study great players and take positive things from them.
How different is the food here compared to Greece?
Greek food is the best. I miss it. But I like the food here too. It didn’t take long to adjust.
Is there anywhere in Blacksburg that reminds you of home?
I’ve tried The Cellar before. It has some Greek dishes. I liked it.
You played 48 minutes in that triple-overtime win against Virginia. What was that like physically?
It was one of the craziest games I’ve played in my career so far. I’ve never played that many minutes before. But it felt really good to end up with the win. We deserved it. Everybody was so happy after that game.
What do you enjoy doing away from basketball?
I play video games sometimes. I like spending time with my friends, my girlfriend and my family. I don’t really go out. I like staying home, watching movies and relaxing. I’m pretty simple.
Living near the sea growing up, are you a beach guy?
Yes, 100 percent.
This winter has been a tough one in Blacksburg. Was that an adjustment?
Yes, a lot of snow. It was different. But I’ve gotten used to it.
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