Soundbites: 2024 ACC Tipoff Men's Press ConferenceSoundbites: 2024 ACC Tipoff Men's Press Conference
Men's Basketball

Soundbites: 2024 ACC Tipoff Men's Press Conference

New look Hokies take a trip to Charlotte to preview upcoming season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As Virginia Tech men's basketball prepares for the upcoming season, they participated in the league's media day on Thursday. Head coach Mike Young represented the Hokies alongside student-athletes Mylyjael Poteat and transfer Ben Burnham. Tech spoke with the media on the ACC Tipoff main stage to discuss its new-look roster and its preseason training. Read and watch below to see what they had to say:

Head Coach Mike Young

On creating cohesion between the returning players and transfers:
"I think we're all trying to get our arms around it. We're a couple of years into this era of college sports. It makes you a better teacher. You've got guys coming from different programs. All good programs. Well-coached, but they do things differently. The terminology may be different, and you're trying to make that a cohesive unit. That's going to take a little time. All of us in my conversations with other coaches across the country, you know, it's going to look differently in January and February than it does in November/December. I think this team, this current Virginia Tech team, is on a good course, but there's something every day that I'll communicate, compared to a three-year, four-year person that has heard it, has experienced it, has done it on the floor. So, there are some challenges to it, but last time I checked, they call it coaching for a reason. That is to be a better teacher and give that person a better understanding of what you are trying to accomplish."

On the team's potential to be strong defensively:
"I had a complete reversal after last night's experience. We have a long way to go on both ends. We're going to get there. Both ends are hard. When you incorporate a ball into the offensive end, that requires timing, that requires spacing and execution. The same can be said without the ball on the defensive end. We have the makings of a very good defensive team. This is not a great defensive team yet, but we've got the right pieces. They're smart people. I'm thankful we have several more practices before we throw it in the air for real on Nov. 4."

Forward Mylyjael Poteat

On his personal development this summer:
"I think a lot of the emphasis for me personally this summer was conditioning. You know, getting in shape to play more minutes, leaned out a little bit, got in better shape. I think that, along with the expansion game a little bit, try to score the ball in some different ways than I was able to last year or the year before that overall. I think all of that will come together to hopefully make me a little more effective on the court."

Forward Ben Burnham

On his decision to transfer to Virginia Tech for his final year:
"I think, yeah, you nailed it. Coach Young, his personality. He's a real likable guy, despite what some people say. The assistants who recruited me just built a good relationship. The sports fans in Blacksburg are crazy, so that's eventually what led to me being here."