Virginia Tech was off to a woeful start to conference play, dropping their first two games in an ugly fashion. They were able to get past those two performances today with a 81-67 win over Pittsburgh. The Panthers had undergone major roster turnover this offseason, and started 5 freshmen in the lineup. And for the majority of the game, those freshmen kept the struggling Hokies on their heels, staying within striking distance for much of the afternoon.
Forward Kerry Blackshear carried the Hokies’ offense against Pittsburgh, ending the game with a career-high 31 points on 12-of-16 shooting. The Panthers had no match for him once he posted up on the low block or in the pick-and-roll.