February 21, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Neoklis Avdalas (17) celebrates with fans after a game at Kassel Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images In most NCAA Tournament predictions, Virginia Tech is on the wrong side of the selection bubble, but not by much.
At this point, a Quad 1 win would likely pay huge dividends for the Hokies, who still have two opportunities to accomplish the feat in the regular season.
The first game is Saturday when Virginia Tech (18-10, 7-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) travels to No. 18 North Carolina (22-6, 10-5) to face a Tar Heels team that has yet to lose this season in Chapel Hill.
That 16-0 record certainly looks threatening. But what could help the Hokies’ cause is the absence of Caleb Wilson, who is expected to miss his fifth straight game.
The freshman, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.4 points), has missed the last four games with a fractured bone in his left hand.
With no return date and the postseason looming, anxiety hovered in Chapel Hill until the good news arrived Monday. ESPN reports that Wilson is preparing to don his uniform for the Tar Heels’ final regular season game at Duke on March 7.
Without Wilson, North Carolina has won three of four, including a 77-74 win over No. 24 Louisville on Monday, with Seth Trimble scoring a career-high 30 points on 11 shooting from the field.
“Seth’s ability to get down, score, and draw fouls makes a huge difference for us,” Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis said.
Virginia Tech has lost four of its last six games, displaying the inconsistency it has shown all season in the process.
Then – after winning at no. 20 Clemson, 76-66, After one of their best efforts this season, the Hokies came home and laid an egg against Florida State, falling 92-69.
“I’m not sure there’s an explanation,” coach Mike Young said afterward.
For Virginia Tech, bad luck factored into the equation as well. That’s because their first three ACC losses came by a total of five points. One of those losses came at SMU, 77-76, when the Hokies gave up a half-court shot to Boopie Miller as time expired.
Virginia Tech won 82-63 at home against Wake Forest on Saturday. That’s because all five starters and reserve Christian Gurdak scored in double figures.
The Hokies shot 50.8 percent from the floor and committed just five turnovers. Leading the offense was 6-foot-9 point guard Neo Avdalas, who had 17 points, seven assists and zero turnovers.
With his unique skill set, Avdalas was once considered a potential NBA lottery pick, but his tentative play and questionable shot selection this season have caused his draft stock to plummet.
Could his play with the Demon Deacons be the long-awaited turning point?
“He would be better off talking about his game outside of ball screens,” Young said. “He brings a lot of benefits to the team offensively.”
Tobi Lawal has been an efficient force inside over the Hokies’ last five games, averaging 14.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and shooting 61.9% per game.
The last time Virginia Tech won at North Carolina was in 2007. The Tar Heels led the series 74-17.
–Field level media
