Virginia Tech has not taken the court since their quarterfinal defeat to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament. Today, the Hokies will learn their NCAA Tournament fate when the bracket is revealed at 8:00 p.m. ET. Unlike the men”s tournament, the Virginia Tech women”s basketball team can be confident of their inclusion, as they have secured a place in the tournament.
In the latest projections by ESPN”s Charlie Creme, Virginia Tech has been assigned a No. 9 seed in the Fort Worth Region. Their first matchup will be against Tennessee, who is the No. 8 seed. Despite a lackluster season for the Volunteers, their roster still boasts considerable talent, making them a challenging opponent for the Hokies.
If these projections hold true, a daunting second-round clash with the No. 1 overall seed, UConn, awaits Virginia Tech. The Huskies enter the tournament undefeated at 34-0 and are heavily favored to claim the national title once again. This potential matchup represents a significant hurdle for Virginia Tech.
Regardless of their opponent, the dynamic duo of Carys Baker and Carleigh Wenzel will pose a formidable challenge for any team they face. Baker has emerged as one of the most effective forwards in the conference, averaging 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field. As she heads into the postseason, Baker has recorded 24 games with double-digit points and nine games with 20 or more points.
During her time in ACC play, Baker”s performance improved significantly, where she averaged 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, including five games with 20 or more points. Notably, she scored in double figures in 15 of 18 conference games and led the team with 24 blocks and 11 steals. Baker achieved several career milestones in league play, including two standout games where she scored 24 points.
On the other hand, Wenzel has effectively orchestrated Virginia Tech”s offense, contributing an average of 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. She ranks among the top 25 in ten different statistical categories within the conference. Throughout the 18-game ACC season, Wenzel”s scoring average increased to 16.4 points, along with 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 three-pointers per game. She consistently scored in double figures in 17 of those games, tying the school record for the most such performances in ACC games.
Wenzel has been on a scoring streak, achieving double figures in 14 consecutive games, which is the fourth longest active streak in the conference. Her most notable performances include a career-high 29 points against Virginia and a flawless 10-10 from the free-throw line in a game against Cal, marking one of the best free-throw performances in program history.
Together, Baker and Wenzel accounted for 44 percent of Virginia Tech”s total offensive output in conference play, while also contributing to an impressive 77.4 percent of the team”s three-pointers. Their efforts were instrumental in the Hokies achieving 12 ACC wins, marking only the fourth time in the program”s history that this milestone has been reached.
