Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Home court and home mat advantage is a real thing, especially in college athletics. Virginia Tech women's basketball, wrestling and men's basketball took those sayings to new heights this winter.
These three programs combined for a 35-3 (.921) record in home events during the regular season, which ranks as the second-highest winning percentage across Division I sports.
The success experienced inside Cassell Coliseum is a testament to the environment created by fans and the consistent support from Hokie Nation. Men's basketball sold out every conference game this season, while women's basketball sold out the most games in program history with five.
Women's basketball, commonly referred to as the 'Queens of Cassell', led the charge, going undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1998-99. Holding a 15-0 record in 2023-24, the Hokies' average margin of victory at home is 26 points, and their largest margin was 69 points, scoring a season-high 105 points against Houston Christian. They also scored at least 85 points in six different games.
Men's basketball on the other hand, started the season 8-0 at home, en route to a 14-2 record at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum. Tech also finished the year 4-0, including a 34-point victory over Virginia. Playing at the highest level in Blacksburg, five different players led the team in scoring, with Lynn Kidd holding the most games with six and Hunter Cattoor with four.
Moving from the hardwood to the mat, Tech wrestling finished the regular season on a six-match win streak in Blacksburg. During the streak, the Hokies defeated two ranked opponents in back-to-back home matches in No. 19 Stanford and No. 25 Appalachian State. They also won their last three matches by a margin of at least 30 points over a three-week span, headlined by a 45-point shutout against Duke at the Moss Arts Center.
Student-athletes are the center of success during these performances, and the atmosphere they compete in wouldn't be possible without the dedication of Hokie Nation.
As the teams finish out the postseason for their respective sports, there are still opportunities to further support our student-athletes by making gifts to Reach for Excellence.