A year ago, the Hokies welcomed a top-tier team in North Carolina to Cassell Coliseum. In that game, Virginia Tech allowed the Tar Heels to go on an elongated run in the first half. At one point, the Hokies found themselves down 36-16. They showed grit, heart, and toughness to claw back from a huge deficit, and eventually held a late lead. However, they failed to finish and North Carolina escaped Blacksburg with a five-point victory.
Sound familiar?
Despite the similarities between that loss and the loss to the Irish, the feel surrounding the result was noticeably different.