Virginia Tech's Grant Basile breaks down ACC Tournament win over Notre Dame, previews NC State rematch

It was this time a year ago that Virginia Tech made a run to win the ACC Tournament, winning four games in as many days. While graduate transfer forward Grant Basile wasn’t a part of that Hokies team a year ago, he sees the potential for another run from this group.

First up was a matchup against Notre Dame on the opening evening of the tournament on Tuesday. And after dispatching a pesky Irish squad, 67-64, Basile explained how Virginia Tech got the first of what they hope to be several wins in Greensboro.

“We needed to slow them down. They’re obviously a great offensive team. They’re very experienced so we needed to slow them down offensively, play a lot better defense,” Basile said on ACC Network after the win.

Going into a TV timeout late in the second half and trailing by two possessions, Basile said he and his teammates locked in to make a final push, swinging the game in its favor.

“When we went into the media, down five, we knew we needed to lock in. I think there was 5:30 left to play and we knew there’d be no tomorrow if we didn’t lock in together,” Basile said. 

With the win over Notre Dame, Virginia Tech is now slated to face North Carolina State in the second round on Wednesday. Basile hopes the Hokies can put together a better showing than the one they put on at home in early January against the Wolfpack. Virginia Tech lost, 73-69, that day, and Basile described it as being even worse than that.

“Obviously they have the really talented guards,” Basile said. “And then [DJ] Burns has been playing very well inside for them. We played really bad when they came in our place and they beat us pretty good. And then we didn’t have Hunter Cattoor so he’ll be back, that’ll help us, obviously. But we just need to stay together, continue to take it game-by-game.”

And as for repeating a run like that of 2022, the Hokies and head coach Mike Young have been pretty mum about it.

Basile relayed what Young finally told the team about repeating any sort of March magic.

“And what he said was ‘I haven’t talked about it at all.’ And he said ‘It’s you guys that have the experience, you guys know what it’s going to take. You guys have played a lot of games. I just need you to continue to stay together and trust your work,'” Basile said.