Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks shares how Hokies adjusting with no Elizabeth Kitley

Virginia Tech is playing without star center Elizabeth Kitley in the ACC Tournament against Miami after she went down with an apparent knee injury during the regular season finale against Virginia.

The Hokies got off to a rough start without Kitley during their tournament opener against the Hurricanes but still managed to take a 25-20 lead into halftime.

Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks spoke with the ACC Network at the half about what he saw from the Hokies in the first 20 minutes without Elizabeth Kitley.

“I’m learning on the fly,” Brooks said of how to adjust. “We only had a day and a half of practice, and it really wasn’t live. But what they do have is heart, and they’re playing really hard. I’m so proud of them for that.

“But at some point in time, we’ve got to step up and we’ve got to make some shots. We’ve had some open opportunities, but we’ve gotta take advantage of that and we didn’t do so.”

Virginia Tech was 10-for-29 shooting in the first half and made only 3 of its 17 3-point attempts.

Playing without Kitley is understandably a huge adjustment as she is the three-time ACC Player of the Year.

For the season, the senior is averaging 22.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Brooks wants to see others step up in the second half.

He added that his team also needs to do a better job of knowing where Miami guard Jasmyne Roberts is. The junior was extremely disruptive in the first half.

Roberts and company held Virginia Tech star Georgia Amoore to only four points in the first 20 minutes of action.

“Well, they’ve done a really good job of taking Georgia [Amoore] out. They’re doubling her any time we set a ball screen,” Brooks said. “Others have to be aware of where Roberts is. She’s kind of a pest – not in a bad way, in a really good way for them. But she’s always around the ball, and we have to be aware of her whereabouts in order to come down and take care of our offense.”

Virginia Tech is the top seed in the ACC Tournament after going 23-6 (14-4) during the regular season.

Miami is the No. 9 seed and upset No. 8 seed North Carolina on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals. The winner between Miami and Virginia Tech will face Notre Dame in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament on Saturday.