Virginia Tech Hokies vs California Golden Bears Picks and Predictions March 11th 2025

Cal and Virginia Tech Struggling but Hopeful in ACC Tournament Opener

Neither Cal nor Virginia Tech is entering the ACC Tournament on a high note, but for one team, a fresh start begins Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.

The No. 10 seed Hokies (13-18) have lost three of their last four games, while the No. 15 seed Golden Bears (13-18) have dropped seven of their last eight. However, one of them will advance to face No. 7 seed Stanford in the second round on Wednesday night.

For both teams, this is a do-or-die moment—and a chance to salvage a disappointing season with a deep tournament run.

Virginia Tech Seeks Stability After Inconsistent Season

The Hokies come into the tournament after a 65-47 loss to Clemson in their regular-season finale.

Head coach Mike Young knows his team has to play much better than they did on Saturday.

“Let’s go play well,” Young said. “Won at Cal earlier in the year.”

That earlier win came on Jan. 11, when Virginia Tech escaped with a 71-68 victory in Berkeley. The Hokies built a 42-23 halftime lead before nearly collapsing in the second half.

Turnovers have been a major issue for Virginia Tech all season, and Young is well aware of it.

“That has been a sore spot for my team all year,” Young admitted. “We don’t handle the ball worth a damn.”

Key Players for Virginia Tech

• Tobi Lawal (12.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG) – Hokies’ leading scorer and rebounder, returned from injury last game.
• Jaydon Young – Scored a team-high 14 points in the last meeting vs. Cal.
• Turnover Management – Virginia Tech must take better care of the basketball to avoid another second-half collapse.

Cal Looks to Rebound After Heartbreaking 4OT Loss

The Golden Bears enter the tournament still reeling from a grueling 112-110 four-overtime loss to Notre Dame on Saturday—the longest game in ACC history.

Freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson put up a career-high 36 points in the marathon game, playing over 50 minutes along with two of his teammates.

Despite the loss, head coach Mark Madsen sees Wilkinson’s emergence as a major bright spot.

“He’s an unbelievable point guard,” Madsen said. “He’s an explosive scorer, but also does a really good job of looking for his teammates. He’s growing into one of the top point guards in the country.”

Since becoming a starter 13 games ago, Wilkinson has averaged 20.4 points per game, making him a key player to watch in the tournament.

Key Players for Cal

• Jeremiah Wilkinson (20.4 PPG in last 13 games) – Emerging star, coming off a 36-point game.
• Andrej Stojakovic – Scored 24 points vs. Virginia Tech in the last meeting, but hasn’t reached that mark since.
• Fatigue Factor – Can Cal bounce back after playing four overtimes just three days ago?

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Last Meeting: Virginia Tech Survived a Scare

Back in January, Virginia Tech won 71-68, but only after nearly blowing a 19-point halftime lead.

• Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic led all scorers with 24 points.
• Virginia Tech’s Jaydon Young paced the Hokies with 14 points.
• The Hokies dominated the first half but struggled in the second, nearly giving the game away.

With both teams struggling down the stretch, this rematch could come down to who wants it more.

Final Thoughts: Can Either Team Make a Run?

Both Cal and Virginia Tech have had disappointing seasons, but a win here could spark momentum for a surprise tournament run.

What’s at Stake?

• Winner advances to face No. 7 Stanford on Wednesday.
• Cal looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking 4OT loss.
• Virginia Tech aiming to fix turnover issues and play a complete game.

Can Cal’s young stars carry them to victory, or will Virginia Tech’s experience prevail?

Tip-off: Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte.