Three Takeaways From Virginia Tech Men's Basketball's 89-76 Victory Over Notre Dame

On Saturday, Virginia Tech hoops hosted and defeated Notre Dame 89-76 successful a ascendant affair. Here are 3 large takeaways from nan contest:

No. 1: Tech needed a comfortable victory.

In nan Hokies' past six contests entering nan matchup pinch Notre Dame, nan last people has been wrong a azygous possession each but once. In each six, nan separator was a possession aliases tied astatine nan extremity of regulation.

That singular time? Tech's 10-point triple overtime thriller complete nan past No. 21-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, which was thing but comfortable.

"It thumps nan alternative," Hokies caput coach Mike Young exclaimed erstwhile asked astir yet moving distant pinch a contest. "All those experiences, 4-0 successful overtime, those others that didn't activity retired for us, we study from and conflict and not fto it hap again."

After freshman halfway Christian Gurdak opened nan scoring successful Blacksburg, nan Fighting Irish responded pinch a 7-3 tally to unafraid their only lead of nan contest.

Second-year defender Ben Hammond joined Jailen Bedford successful nailing a changeable from down nan arc to springiness nan Hokies backmost nan 8-7 triumph that they wouldn't relinquish pursuing Hammond's relationship astatine nan 16:30 people successful nan first half.

By halftime, Tech had sprung retired to an 11-point advantage, starring 45-34, connected nan backmost of a 15-for-27 people from nan section and an unblemished 11-for-11 clip from nan stripe.

The Hokies' largest lead — 20 — came astatine nan 12-minute people successful nan 2nd half. Young only expended 7 players coming successful nan contest, and freshman Neoklis Avdalas emphasized slowing down nan gait successful nan waning moments of nan contest, waving his hands down connected 1 juncture to awesome to his teammates to slow nan gait down arsenic nan crippled neared its conclusion.

No. 2: The Hokies' second-chance efforts were rewarded.

Of Tech's 26 missed shots today, it nabbed 34.6% of its misses for a second-chance effort. The Hokies logged 17 second-chance points disconnected 9 violative rebounds.

"It's a blessing to person [Tobi] Lawal and [Amani] Hansberry," Young said astir nan second-chance efforts. "Gurdak is simply a large man pinch a bully chemoreceptor for nan ball, and he's sewage hands for illustration nutrient hooks. It's personnel, not a full batch astir technique."

Tech's 17 second-chance points outmatched nan Fighting Irish's 15 contempt Notre Dame holding a 13-9 advantage successful respect to violative boards.

The Hokies held nan size advantage successful nan title complete Notre Dame; consequently, nan duo of Lawal and Hansberry took complete nan interior.

"They're conscionable difficult to woody with," Fighting Irish caput coach Micah Shrewsberry said postgame. "Especially erstwhile we're injured and playing smaller, it's difficult to woody pinch Hansberry connected nan glass."

Hansberry, who has logged 8 double-doubles 2nd successful ACC this season, compiled six rebounds while Lawal astir doubled that people pinch 11.

"We did a bully occupation trying to beryllium relentless connected nan glass," Lawal exclaimed. "He [Coach Young] tells america that we person to termination nan different squad successful nan glass."

No. 3: Tech utilized nan kindness stripe handsomely to its advantage

The Hokies' 27 section goals against Notre Dame really matched nan Fighting Irish's 27-basket total.

Tech, however, went a staggering 28-32 from nan stripe, propelling its scoring up passim nan full contest.

"[Tobi] Lawal changeable 18 [free throws]," Shrewsberry said. "Hansberry shoots nine. That's much than our full team."

Lawal drew 10 fouls en way to his 14-for-18 effort from nan foul line.

Lawal and Hansberry were nan only 2 Hokies to eclipse nan 20-point mark, arsenic Hansberry utilized nan stripe to his assistance arsenic well, posting a cleanable nine-for-nine effort connected his attempts.

Tech nailed its first 24 opportunities from nan statement earlier Lawal would beryllium nan first Hokie to crack, missing nan 25th foul changeable of nan afternoon.

"We ever activity connected free throws successful practice... It's very important for us," Lawal exclaimed.

Next up: Virginia Tech draws Syracuse connected nan roadworthy connected Wednesday, Jan. 21 astatine 9 p.m. ET connected nan road. Should nan Hokies win, it will provisionally beryllium a Quad 1 win.

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