Carter Atherton
Hokies catch fire late in the season to secure a tournament bid. Is there more history to be made?
The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team was a cinderella story, winning the 2022 ACC Tournament for the first time in history. After winning their last nine of their ten games in the late season, the team entered the conference tournament as a seven seed. In the tournament the Hokies defeated the one seeded Duke Blue Devils, two seeded North Carolina Tarheels, and three seeded Notre Dame Irish, in their historic run.
The win gave the Hokies and automatic bid to the tournament after being on college basketball analyst Joe Lunardi’s “First Four Out” of the tournament column, meaning they would not make the tournament without the win.
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Virginia Tech is the only team in ACC history to start 2-7 in conference play and end up with a winning record. Also, they were the lowest seeded team to win the tournament in history.
Starting senior point guard, Storm Murphy, has been a force this year, and has displayed every quality of what it means to be a Hokie on and off the court. The point guard understood the team needed to start to get hot if they had a chance of making the tournament.
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“The biggest thing that allowed [the team] to catch fire was the belief that [the team] has… talking about how good we really were and staying confident, despite the record,” said the Wofford transfer.
Murphy’s back-up, freshman Sean Pedulla, has played a large role coming off the bench for the Hokies this season. Pedulla also knew the talent his team had and that they were not going to let the season go to waste.
“We are too good of a team not to be in the tournament,” said Pedulla. “We knew we dug ourselves into a big hole… and all our motivation is getting ourselves out of the hole,” said the Oklahoma native.
The team was selected to play in the tournament as an 11 seed and will face the six seeded Texas Longhorns on Friday in Milwaukee at 4:30pm EST. The Hokies have their work cut out for them on Friday, however, even if they do come away with another win, they move on to play a talented Yale team or star-studded Purdue team.
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The year has been a rollercoaster ride for the Hokies, but for the players, one they don't want to get off.
March 14, 2022
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By Carter Atherton
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Blacksburg, Va, March 1- Cassel Crazies: The Hokies prepare to take on the Louisville Cardinals in their last game this season in Cassell Coliseum. The photo is slightly color enhanced. Photograph: Carter Atherton
The Hokies mens basketball team have been on a tear late in the season when everyone counted them out. They have a shot in the NCAA Tournament and don't want their season to go to waste.
The Storm: Starting point guard, Storm Murphy. Photograph: AP
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