Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett walks off the court after the game against Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum. Brian Bishop-USA TODAY Sports

Historic loss to Virginia Tech reveals Virginia's limits

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 2/20/24

Just when it looked like Virginia's basketball team hit its stride, the Cavaliers played their worst game of the season on Monday.

Virginia (20-7, 11-5 in ACC) lost 75-41 to in-state rival Virginia Tech (15-11, 7-8), its worst loss since an 87-52 defeat at the hands of Tennessee in 2013.

The result is also the second-largest margin of victory for Virginia Tech in series history.

FINAL: #Hokies 75, UVa 41

A 34-point win tonight.

The second largest margin of victory by Virginia Tech over Virginia in school history.

The largest win was in 1961 - a 105-70 victory by VT.

What. A. Performance.
— Matej Sis (@MatejS247) February 20, 2024

Per KenPom, the Cavs dropped to 65th in the 2024 Pomeroy Ratings, while the win propelled the Hokies to 51st.

The loss highlighted Virginia's biggest problem. While it is stout defensively, Virginia's offense is holding it back.

As the Hokies showed, the Cavaliers aren't built to come from behind if an opponent gets hot from the field.

Virginia Tech shot 50.9% while Virginia was a dreadful 32.7%. Over its past two games, it's scored 90 points.

The schedule doesn't get much easier, either. On Saturday, the Cavaliers host Associated Press No. 10 North Carolina (20-6, 12-3 in ACC) and follow that with a road game against No. 8 Duke (20-5, 11-3 in ACC) the following week.

Virginia is likely safe for a spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, and it's strong enough defensively to be a tough out in March.

However, its lack of offensive production puts a hard ceiling on how far it can go.

During the Cavs' recent 9-1 stretch, they looked like a team capable of a run to the second weekend of March Madness. Their dud against Virginia Tech is a reminder of how far from being a contender they actually are.

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