2018–19 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team American college basketball season
The 2018–19 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Hokies were led by fifth-year head coach Buzz Williams and played their home games at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia , as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference . They finished the 2018–19 season 26–9, 12–6 in ACC play to finish in fifth place. They defeated Miami (FL) in the second round of the ACC tournament before losing to Florida State . They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Saint Louis and Liberty to advance to the sweet sixteen for the first time since 1965 where they lost to ACC member Duke .
On April 3, Williams left Virginia Tech to take the Texas A&M head coaching job.[ 1] The Hokies hired Wofford head coach Mike Young as his replacement on April 7.[ 2]
Previous season
The Hokies finished the 2017–18 season 21–12, 10–8 in ACC play to finish in seventh place. They lost in the second round of the ACC tournament to Notre Dame . They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Alabama .
Offseason
Departures
2018 recruiting class
College recruiting information
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Isaiah Wilkins SF
Wake Forest, NC
Mount Tabor High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Jul 30, 2018
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : ESPN : N/A
Landers Nolley II #23 SF
Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Oct 15, 2017
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN :
Jon Kabongo #28 PG
Toronto, ON
Putnam Science Academy
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
Oct 22, 2017
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : ESPN :
Tyrece Radford PG
Baton Rouge, LA
McKinley High School
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Star ratings : Rivals : N/A 247Sports : N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout : NA Rivals : NA 247Sports : 23 ESPN : 19
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
Roster
2018–19 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
1
Isaiah Wilikins
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
Fr
Mount Tabor
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
G
3
Wabissa Bede
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
So
Cushing Academy
North Andover, Massachusetts
G
4
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
So
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
Toronto, Ontario
G
5
Justin Robinson
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Sr
St. James School (MD)
Manassas, Virginia
G
10
Jonathan Kabongo
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
Thornlea Secondary
Toronto, Ontario
G
11
Brendan Palmer (W)
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Fr
Forsyth Country Day
Lewisville, North Carolina
G
13
Ahmed Hill
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
RS Sr
Aquinas
Augusta, Georgia
G
14
P. J. Horne
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
So
Tift County
Tifton, Georgia
G/F
15
Chris Clarke
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Sr
Cape Henry
Virginia Beach, Virginia
G/F
21
Landers Nolley II
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
Fr
Langston Hughes
Fairburn, Georgia
G
23
Tyrece Radford
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
McKinley
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
F
24
Kerry Blackshear Jr.
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
RS Jr
Maynard Evans
Orlando, Florida
G/F
42
Ty Outlaw
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
GS
Person/Lee College
Roxboro, North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
Nov 4, 2018 *3:00 pm
No. 15
at Liberty Hurricane Relief Exhibition
W 86–70[ 3]
–
20 – Robinson
7 – Tied
9 – Robinson
Vines Center (4,210)Lynchburg, VA
Non-conference regular season
Nov 9, 2018 *7:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 15
Gardner–Webb
W 87–59
1–0
21 – Tied
6 – Tied
8 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (7,736)Blacksburg, VA
Nov 15, 2018 *11:30 am, ESPN2
No. 16
vs. Ball State Charleston Classic Quarterfinals
W 73–64
2–0
21 – Alexander-Walker
7 – Blackshear
6 – Robinson
TD Arena (2,648)Charleston, SC
Nov 16, 2018 *11:00 am, ESPN2
No. 16
vs. Northeastern Charleston Classic Semifinals
W 88–60
3–0
20 – Alexander-Walker
7 – Outlaw
7 – Alexander-Walker
TD Arena (2,752)Charleston, SC
Nov 18, 2018 *8:30 pm, ESPN2
No. 16
vs. No. 23 Purdue Charleston Classic championship
W 89–83
4–0
25 – Alexander-Walker
7 – Alexander-Walker
6 – Robinson
TD Arena (3,985)Charleston, SC
Nov 24, 2018 *1:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 13
Saint Francis (PA)
W 75–37
5–0
19 – Hill
8 – Wilkins
7 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (7,474)Blacksburg, VA
Nov 27, 2018 *7:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 13
at Penn State ACC–Big Ten Challenge
L 62–63
5–1
19 – Robinson
9 – Blackshear
3 – Tied
Bryce Jordan Center (8,373)University Park, PA
Dec 1, 2018 *1:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 13
Central Connecticut
W 94–40
6–1
24 – Hill
6 – Outlaw
13 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Dec 5, 2018 *7:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 15
VMI
W 89–68
7–1
18 – Robinson
11 – Outlaw
5 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (7,748)Blacksburg, VA
Dec 9, 2018 *1:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 15
South Carolina State
W 81–44
8–1
19 – Alexander-Walker
13 – Blackshear
6 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (5,305)Blacksburg, VA
Dec 15, 2018 *7:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 13
vs. Washington Boardwalk Classic
W 73–61
9–1
24 – Alexander-Walker
6 – Tied
3 – Tied
Boardwalk Hall (5,456)Atlantic City, NJ
Dec 19, 2018 *7:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 13
North Carolina A&T
W 82–60
10–1
20 – Alexander-Walker
9 – Blackshear
6 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (6,681)Blacksburg, VA
Dec 28, 2018 *7:00 pm, ACCN Extra
No. 10
Maryland Eastern Shore
W 85–40
11–1
20 – Hill
7 – Bede
6 – Tied
Cassell Coliseum (7,632)Blacksburg, VA
ACC regular season
Jan 1, 2019 1:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 10
Notre Dame
W 81–66
12–1 (1–0)
21 – Blackshear
7 – Blackshear
8 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (8,008)Blacksburg, VA
Jan 5, 2019 12:00 pm, ACCRSN
No. 10
Boston College
W 77–66
13–1 (2–0)
25 – Alexander-Walker
8 – Robinson
5 – Robinson
Cassell Coliseum (7,009)Blacksburg, VA
Jan 9, 2019 7:00 pm, ACCRSN
No. 9
at Georgia Tech
W 52–49
14–1 (3–0)
15 – Hill
10 – Blackshear
6 – Alexander-Walker
McCamish Pavilion (6,166)Atlanta, GA
Jan 15, 2019 8:00 pm, Raycom
No. 9
at No. 4 Virginia Rivalry
L 59–81
14–2 (3–1)
19 – Alexander-Walker
4 – Alexander-Walker
3 – Alexander-Walker
John Paul Jones Arena (14,623)Charlottesville, VA
Jan 19, 2019 4:00 pm, ACCRSN
No. 9
Wake Forest
W 87–71
15–2 (4–1)
24 – Alexander-Walker
7 – Alexander-Walker
5 – Bede
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Jan 21, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 10
at No. 11 North Carolina
L 82–103
15–3 (4–2)
20 – Hill
17 – Blackshear
6 – Robinson
Dean Smith Center (21,148)Chapel Hill, NC
Jan 26, 2019 8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 10
Syracuse
W 78–56
16–3 (5–2)
35 – Robinson
7 – Outlaw
8 – 2 tied
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Jan 30, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 12
at Miami (FL)
W 82–70
17–3 (6–2)
25 – Alexander-Walker
9 – Blackshear Jr.
5 – Alexander-Walker
Watsco Center (6,860)Coral Gables, FL
Feb 2, 2019 12:00 pm, Raycom
No. 12
at No. 23 NC State
W 47–24
18–3 (7–2)
13 – Blackshear Jr.
13 – Blackshear Jr.
3 – 2 tied
PNC Arena (19,500)Raleigh, NC
Feb 4, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 11
No. 16 Louisville
L 64–72
18–4 (7–3)
21 – Blackshear Jr.
7 – Outlaw
5 – Bede
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Feb 9, 2019 12:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 11
at Clemson
L 51–59
18–5 (7–4)
17 – Blackshear Jr.
8 – Outlaw
3 – 2 Tied
Littlejohn Coliseum (9,000)Clemson, SC
Feb 13, 2019 8:00 pm, Raycom
No. 22
Georgia Tech
W 76–68
19–5 (8–4)
20 – Outlaw
6 – Tied
8 – Blackshear Jr.
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Feb 16, 2019 12:00 pm, ACCRSN
No. 22
at Pittsburgh
W 70–64
20–5 (9–4)
29 – Blackshear Jr.
9 – 2 Tied
7 – Bede
Petersen Events Center (10,289)Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 18, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 20
No. 3 Virginia Rivalry
L 58–64
20–6 (9–5)
23 – Blackshear Jr.
13 – Blackshear Jr.
4 – Alexander-Walker
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Feb 23, 2019 4:00 pm, ESPN
No. 20
at Notre Dame
W 67–59
21–6 (10–5)
22 – Blackshear Jr.
14 – Blackshear Jr.
3 – Tied
Edmund P. Joyce Center (8,787)South Bend, IN
Feb 26, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 20
No. 3 Duke
W 77–72
22–6 (11–5)
23 – Blackshear Jr.
10 – Blackshear Jr.
6 – Alexander-Walker
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
Mar 5, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 15
at No. 14 Florida State
L 64–73 OT
22–7 (11–6)
19 – Alexander-Walker
9 – Hill
4 – Blackshear Jr.
Donald L. Tucker Center (10,611)Tallahassee, FL
Mar 8, 2019 7:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 15
Miami (FL)
W 84–70
23–7 (12–6)
21 – Alexander-Walker
10 – Alexander-Walker
8 – Alexander-Walker
Cassell Coliseum (9,275)Blacksburg, VA
ACC Tournament
Mar 13, 2019 2:30 pm, ESPN
(5) No. 16
vs. (12) Miami Second Round
W 71–56
24–7
19 – Blackshear Jr.
10 – Blackshear Jr.
6 – Alexander-Walker
Spectrum Center (19,691)Charlotte, NC
Mar 14, 2019 2:30 pm, ESPN
(5) No. 16
vs. (4) No. 12 Florida State Quarterfinals
L 63–65 OT
24–8
21 – Alexander-Walker
9 – Blackshear Jr.
4 – Alexander-Walker
Spectrum Center (19,691)Charlotte, NC
NCAA tournament
Mar 22, 2019 *9:57 pm, truTV
(4 E) No. 16
vs. (13 E) Saint Louis First Round
W 66–52
25–8
20 – Alexander-Walker
7 – Outlaw
2 – Tied
SAP Center (12,824)San Jose, CA
Mar 24, 2019 *7:10 pm, TBS
(4 E) No. 16
vs. (12 E) Liberty Second Round
W 67–58
26–8
19 – Blackshear Jr.
11 – Outlaw
6 – Alexander-Walker
SAP Center (14,802)San Jose, CA
Mar 29, 2019 *9:45 pm, CBS
(4 E) No. 16
vs. (1 E) No. 1 Duke Sweet Sixteen
L 73–75
26–9
18 – Blackshear Jr.
16 – Blackshear Jr.
5 – Blackshear Jr.
Capital One Arena (20,006)Washington, D.C.
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East.
All times are in
Eastern Time .
Source[ 4]
Player statistics
No.
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
1
Isaiah Wilkins
14
14.4
47.2
46.4
73.7
2.2
0.9
0.4
0.1
5.5
3
Wabissa Bede
15
19.7
44.7
43.3
0.0
2.1
2.1
0.8
0.0
3.7
4
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
14
32.5
54.6
42.4
79.1
4.1
3.6
2.2
0.6
17.8
5
Justin Robinson
15
32.4
44.7
36.7
80.0
3.8
5.8
1.7
0.1
13.1
10
Jonathan Kabongo
8
5.9
33.3
25.0
33.3
0.5
0.4
0.1
0.0
1.8
11
Brendan Palmer
3
0.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
13
Ahmed Hill
15
33.1
46.3
44.8
93.3
3.5
1.7
0.9
0.1
12.7
14
P.J. Horne
15
16.9
65.4
0.0
80.0
3.3
0.6
0.3
0.5
5.1
24
Kerry Blackshear Jr.
15
25.7
54.2
34.8
66.2
6.2
1.7
0.5
0.9
14.1
42
Ty Outlaw
15
25.1
46.7
49.3
33.3
5.1
1.1
0.4
0.5
7.9
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final AP 15 16 13 13 15 13 13 10 10 9 9 10 12 11 22 20 20 15 16 Not released Coaches 17 17^ 14 12 14 13 13 10 10 7 7 8 11 10 16 18 19 16 15 14
^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll.
References
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons