Virginia Tech Upsetting Third-Ranked Michigan State Proves Preseason Polls Mean Absolutely Nothing
By Michael Luciano
On paper, Virginia Tech should be an average ACC team. They lost big man Kerry Blackshear to a transfer and star guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Justin Robinson to the NBA.
Still, they managed to take down the alleged No. 3 team in the country, as they upset Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans 71-66 in the Maui Invitational. Landers Nolley led the Hokies with 22 in one of the most stunning upsets of the season.
FINAL: Virginia Tech 71, No. 3 Michigan State 66.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) November 26, 2019
So the team projected to finish 14th in the ACC, according to the league’s official preseason poll, just beat the preseason AP poll's No. 1 team. Incredible. What a win for Mike Young and his program.
Keep in mind, Sparty was the No. 1 team in the country in the first rankings of the season.
The Spartans weren't grossly outplayed, but the fact that a completely average team was able to assert their will against an Izzo-coached team that preaches toughness above all else is extremely concerning.
It also shows that anyone who prematurely crowned the Spartans has egg on their face.
Is it March?!!
— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 26, 2019
We take down No. 3 Michigan State in @MauiInv ?#StoneByStone | #Hokies ? pic.twitter.com/Udf96UeDV1
Izzo and the Spartans will almost assuredly grab another high seed in the NCAA Tournament, but this game is another example of the fact that anyone who takes preseason rankings seriously is simply silly. Wait until the new year or conference season to weigh the results.