It's a weird time to be a Hokie. Honestly, if you looked at the Virginia Tech basketball schedule back in November, you probably thought this season was going to be a "rebuilding year." That's the word the national media loved to throw around. Mike Young had a roster that looked like a jigsaw puzzle found at a yard sale—talented pieces, sure, but do they actually fit together?
Fast forward to mid-January 2026, and the vibe in Blacksburg is electric. We’re deep into the ACC slate now, and the schedule isn't just a list of games anymore. It’s a gauntlet. If you're looking for the "easy" part of the season, you've already missed it.
The Remaining Grinds on the Virginia Tech Basketball Schedule
Right now, we are sitting in the thick of it. The Hokies just came off a heartbreaking one-point loss at SMU on January 14. That was a tough pill to swallow—77-76 in Dallas. But there's no time to sulk. The Virginia Tech basketball schedule is about to bring some heavy hitters to Cassell Coliseum.
Looking ahead, the January 31st matchup against Duke is the one everyone has circled. It’s at noon, it’s at home, and the "Cassell Guard" is going to be out of its mind. Duke is currently ranked in the top 10, and Mike Young’s squad has a habit of making life miserable for blue bloods in Blacksburg.
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Before that, though, there’s a sneaky important game against Notre Dame this Saturday, January 17. People tend to overlook the Irish, but they play a style that can lull you to sleep if you aren't careful. After that, it's a road trip to Syracuse (January 21) and Louisville (January 24). If Tech can split those two road games, they stay in the hunt for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.
Breaking Down the Key Matchups
The back half of the schedule is where the "real" season starts. Here’s what you need to keep an eye on:
- The Duke Game (Jan 31): This is the marquee home game. If Tech wants to be a serious NCAA Tournament contender, they almost have to protect home court here.
- NC State Road Trip (Feb 7): Raleigh is always a house of horrors. The Wolfpack play fast, and Tech’s guards—specifically Neoklis Avdalas—will need to handle the pressure.
- The Commonwealth Clash Finale (March 7): We closed out the 2025 calendar year with a massive 95-85 triple-overtime win against UVA. The rematch in Charlottesville to end the regular season? Yeah, that’s going to be personal.
Why Neoklis Avdalas Changes Everything
You can't talk about the Virginia Tech basketball schedule without talking about the kid from Greece. Neoklis Avdalas isn't just another recruit; he’s a 6-foot-9 point guard who plays like he’s been in the ACC for a decade. He’s already grabbed ACC Rookie of the Week honors twice this season.
When he’s on, the floor shrinks for the defense. He can see over the top of the press, and his ability to find Tobi Lawal and Amani Hansberry in the paint is basically why Tech is 13-5 right now. Most fans expected this team to struggle with depth, but the "three-headed Hydra" of bigs (Lawal, Hansberry, and freshman Christian Gurdak) has been surprisingly sturdy.
Still, there’s a catch. Foul trouble.
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In the losses to Wake Forest and SMU, Hansberry and Gurdak were basically watching from the bench by the ten-minute mark of the second half. If they can’t stay on the floor, the Virginia Tech basketball schedule becomes a lot scarier. There isn't a lot of size behind them, and the ACC is full of seven-footers who will eat you alive if you're forced to play small-ball for 20 minutes.
The Women’s Side: Life After Liz and Georgia
It would be a crime to talk about Hokies hoops and not mention what Megan Duffy is doing. Taking over after Kenny Brooks left for Kentucky was a tall order. Everyone thought the program would take a massive step back without Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore.
Kinda haven't happened, though.
The women’s Virginia Tech basketball schedule has been a masterclass in "gritty" wins. They just beat Boston College 78-56 on January 11. Carleigh Wenzel has stepped up as a leader, and Carys Baker is shooting the lights out.
The big one for them is the home game against NC State on February 8. The Wolfpack are a juggernaut, but Duffy has Cassell Coliseum rocking just like the old days. They also have a home-and-home with UVA, with the Blacksburg leg happening on February 1.
Actionable Next Steps for Hokie Fans
If you're planning on catching a game or just following along, here is how you should handle the rest of the season:
- Get Tickets Now for the Duke/UVA Games: These will sell out, and secondary market prices are already creeping toward the $200 mark for decent seats.
- Watch the "Quad" Rankings: Tech is currently floating around the NCAA Tournament bubble. Every road game (like the upcoming ones at Syracuse and Louisville) is a chance for a "Quad 1" win. These are the metrics the selection committee actually cares about.
- Monitor the Frontcourt Health: Keep an eye on the injury report for Mylyjael Poteat and the foul counts for Gurdak. The Hokies' season lives and dies in the paint.
- Check Tip-Times Daily: Between the ACC Network, ESPN2, and ESPNU, the start times for the Virginia Tech basketball schedule are all over the place. Don't assume a Saturday game is at 2:00 PM; it could easily be a noon tip or a 7:00 PM night cap.
The path to March isn't easy, but for Mike Young's crew, that's exactly how they like it.