Virginia Tech and Radford University have announced its 2023-2024 basketball schedules with several interesting home games this season.
The Atlantic Coast Conference revealed the 2023-24 men’s basketball schedule Tuesday evening, with Virginia Tech opening its league slate at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 3 vs. Louisville.
In all, the Hokies host five ACC weekend games to go along with two Big Monday matchups: defending ACC champion Duke on Jan. 29 and in-state rival Virginia on Feb. 19.
Single-game and group ticket options go on sale on Wednesday at 10 a.m. for Hokie Scholarship Fund (HSF) top-three donor levels (as of March 1, 2023), noon for the rest of HSF donors and 2 p.m. for the public.
Of Tech’s 20 league games, the Hokies are set for home-and-home dates with Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Notre Dame, Virginia and Wake Forest. Additionally, VT will welcome Boston College, Clemson, Duke and Georgia Tech to Blacksburg, while the Hokies will travel to North Carolina, NC State, Pitt and Syracuse.
Tech tips off its previously announced 11-game nonconference slate on Monday, Nov. 6 vs. Coppin State at 8 p.m.
The Commonwealth Clash, presented by Smithfield, features the Hokies and the Cavaliers squaring off on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in Charlottesville, followed by the return trip to Blacksburg on Monday, Feb. 19. Tech and UVA split the season series last year, with each side winning at home. VT has won three in a row at home in the series.
Tech’s conference opener vs. Louisville marks the fourth straight season it will open ACC play at home. The New York Life ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament will run March 12-16 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Mike Young enters his fifth season at the helm of the Hokies and welcomes back eight returners from last season, including two starters in Hunter Cattoor and Sean Pedulla, who was listed in The Almanac’s Top 100. Tech should be a much deeper team this year, especially in the backcourt with sophomores MJ Collins and Rodney Rice, and the additions of Brandon Rechsteiner and Jaydon Young. Tech also landed three versatile wings in Robbie Beran, Tyler Nickel and Mekhi Long out of the transfer portal.
The Virginia Tech women’s basketball program received their ACC matchups Tuesday night, as the ACC Network’s “Nothing But Net” revealed the slate.
On the Hokies’ 18-game ACC schedule is a home-and-home with pod members Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and Virginia. Additionally, Tech will play host to Clemson, Miami, Pitt, Georgia Tech and Boston College. Tech’s road trips will take them to Notre Dame, Louisville, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Florida State this season.
The Hokies enter the season ranked ninth in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 following the best season in program history that featured 31 wins, an ACC championship and a trip to the Final Four.
Three starters from the 2022-23 team return: center Elizabeth Kitley, point guard Georgia Amoore and sharpshooter Cayla King. Kitley, the two-time ACC Player of the Year, Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year and AP All-American, and King, one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in program history chose to utilize their fifth year of eligibility, while Amoore is a senior.
Tech’s roster features eight new student-athletes: five true freshman and three student-athletes with previous Power Five experience in Olivia Summiel (Wake Forest), Rose Micheaux (Minnesota) and Matilda Ekh (Michigan State). Carleigh Wenzel who earned a redshirt in 2022-23 also returns.
The Hokies’ season opener is Monday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. against High Point on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum.
Across the river, the Radford University men will open their season at national power North Carolina and will open its Big South season on Jan. 3 and ending with a showdown against UNC Asheville on March 2, the highly anticipated 2023-24 Big South Conference schedule for the Radford men’s basketball program has finally been announced.
The Highlanders will journey through a 16-game schedule in the new year, playing each of their conference foes twice. With the 2023-24 slate now complete, fans can look forward to 32 total games during the regular season, including 14 contests inside the Dedmon Center.
High Point makes a visit to the New River Valley to kick off Big South play, followed by road trips to Longwood (Jan. 10) and Winthrop (Jan. 13).
Radford then returns home to face off against Gardner-Webb (Jan. 17) and USC Upstate (Jan. 20). The first matchup with heavyweight UNC Asheville comes on Jan. 24 and then the Highlanders close out the month of January with home matchups against Presbyterian (Jan. 27) and Charleston Southern (Jan. 31).
The month of February ushers in a pair of away games at USC Upstate (Feb. 3) and Presbyterian (Feb. 10), followed by a Valentine’s Day edition game against Winthrop (Feb. 14) back in the Dedmon Center.
Returns trips to High Point (Feb. 17) and Gardner-Webb (Feb. 21) are up next on the docket, and then the Highlanders welcome Longwood (Feb. 24) back home.
One more game at Charleston Southern (Feb. 28) finishes up the road slate and then a huge home game against UNC Asheville (March 2) closes out the regular season.
The Big South Tournament, hosted by High Point at the Qubein Center, is set for March 6-10.
The Radford University women face a 16-game conference schedule to complete the women’s basketball program’s 2023-24 schedule. With nine total teams in the conference, Radford will host eight games with an equal eight road games facing every team twice.
“I’m really looking forward to the conference race this season,” commented head coach Mike McGuire. “There are a lot of opportunities and unknowns within the conference heading into this season. This year’s race seems more-wide open than previous seasons. I fully expect our program to be prepared for Big South play after a challenging non-conference slate. I am also really excited about watching our team grow and find its best by the end of the season. We have a hard-working group and I know they are determined to prepare well for one another.”
The Highlanders get conference play started on January 3 as the team travels to face High Point in an exciting debut of Big South action for the 2024 calendar year. Radford will eventually make the return trip to High Point at the exact opposite end of the schedule as High Point will host the 2024 Big South Tournament in March.
Returning home, Radford will get two straight home contests to open up conference play in the Dedmon Center. Radford will play host to Longwood on January 10 and will host Winthrop to close out the week on January 13.
Two straight road games await the Highlanders after the early-January home stretch as Radford travels to Gardner-Webb on January 17 and USC Upstate on January 20th. It’s another back-to-back home games for Radford after that as the team hosts UNC Asheville on January 24 and Presbyterian on January 27.
Closing out the first half of the conference schedule will be Radford and Charleston Southern at Charleston, S.C. on January 31st. Moving into February, the schedule heats up with a pivotal home meeting with USC Upstate on February 3 and two big road games at Presbyterian (February 10) and Winthrop (February 14).
From there, three of Radford’s final five games will come within the Dedmon Center. After a home contest with High Point on February 17, Radford and Gardner-Webb will meet again after two thrilling finishes last season in the regular season and Big South Semifinals.
Radford visits in-state rival Longwood and their new arena on February 24 before closing out the home portion of their schedule on February 28 against Charleston Southern. The regular season concludes on the road for Radford on March 2 as two historic Big South teams clash at UNC Asheville.
The 2024 Big South Tournament has a new host this season as High Point will host all nine Big South institutions to determine who earns the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Action begins on March 6th with the championship meeting currently scheduled for March 10.
News Messenger/ Radford News Journal staff report
