Virginia Tech basketball: 17-18 season preview for the Hokies
Non-Conference Highlights
Nov 16-17 2k Sports Classic (Saint Louis, Providence, Washington)
1st round vs Saint Louis
Nov 28 Iowa
Dec 2 @ Ole Miss
Dec 16 @ Kentucky
Virginia Tech has numerous opportunities to add quality non-conference wins. Their first opportunity is in the 2k Sports Classic opening round versus Saint Louis. The Billikens are one of the most improved teams in the country with their additions of transfers DJ Foreman, Javon Bess, and Adonys Henriquez. The Hokies will be favored, but it would still be a top 100 win on a neutral floor.
A potential second matchup against Providence would be an extremely difficult test. The Friars are a borderline top 25 team and have Kyron Cartwright, one of the best point guards in the nation. Providence’s big frontline could give this undersized Virginia Tech team some problems inside.
Iowa only loses one player from last season’s NIT team and should be a top 50 team. They are led by the talented sophomore duo of Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook. Playing at Ole Miss is also a challenging game. The Rebels have one of the best backcourts in the SEC and have revamped their frontcourt by adding JUCO standout Bruce Stevens and Drake transfer Dominik Olejniczak.
Finally, Virginia Tech’s toughest non-conference game comes at Kentucky. The Wildcats are extremely young but have numerous potential first round picks on their loaded roster. The Hokies could struggle with the size and athleticism of Kentucky.
Overall, Virginia Tech should have plenty of chances to grab a coveted non-conference win, with their best chance coming against Iowa in Blacksburg.