Virginia Tech and Providence will both be looking to begin the season with back-to-back victories when they meet Saturday in a nonconference matchup at the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off event in Uncasville, Conn.
The depth of Providence’s roster was evident during a season-opening 89-79 victory over Holy Cross on Monday. The Friars had a 27-0 edge in points off the bench at halftime and the team’s reserves scored 44 of the 89 points in the win.
“It’s good to be back,” Providence coach Kim English said. “First game and there’s still a lot of stuff we need to clean up. … I’m really proud of our young guys, our bench. That is what a bench is supposed to do. The bench is supposed to withstand a good start or elevate a not-so-good start. These guys got in the game and did that.
” … They played a free-flowing offensive game, passed the ball, cut, they got good shots. They looked how we looked in practice. Proud of the second group.”
Freshman Stefan Vaaks led the Friars with 19 points. Jamier Jones made each of his seven field-goal attempts, scoring 16 points with five rebounds.
Virginia Tech started its season with a 98-67 win over Charleston Southern on Monday. The Hokies led 42-38 at halftime, but took control by starting the second half with a 27-3 run.
“We’ve got a long way to go. I think that much is obvious,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said after the win.
Senior forward Tobi Lawal, Virginia Tech’s leading scorer and rebounder last season, finished the game with 20 points and 12 rebounds. He had eight points in the run.
West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry had 19 points, 13 rebounds and three 3-pointers in his Virginia Tech debut.
“I think a really good one-two punch. I think they complement one another well. They give us some flexibility defensively,” Young said. ” … I’m not going to turn down a double-double from both of them night in, night out.”