Photo Credit: Liam Sment
After a loss to Penn State cost Virginia Tech their top 25 spot, a win over then #24 Clemson followed by a rout of Coppin State led the Hokies to return to the top 25 this week.
We're back 👋
— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) December 21, 2020
2️⃣4️⃣#StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/x5pZxSY4ZJ
The Hokies jumped in the top 25 at #24 this week, the same ranking that Clemson held when the Hokies beat them last week. Tech was among 3 new additions to the top 25 this week along with 8-0 Xavier at #22 and 6-1 Oregon at #25 as San Diego State, Louisville, and Clemson fell out of the rankings.
Tech is among 5 ACC teams ranked this week along with Virginia at #16, North Carolina at #17, Duke at #20, and Florida State at #21. Additionally, Clemson and Louisville also received votes after dropping out of the top 25 last week.
Tech has made this return to the top 25 after winning those two games last week without Cartier Diarra who opted out of the season prior to the Clemson game due to personal concerns about COVID. Mike Young also made it clear that it wasn't because Diarra had COVID.
Looking ahead, Tech should be able to stay in the rankings at least another week with Longwood being their only game this week. The true test of their top 25 validity will begin next week as the full ACC slate kicks off beginning with a home game against Miami.
