At the midway point of their ACC slate, the Virginia Tech Hokies are a team still trying to piece together who they really are. And few storylines encapsulate that journey better than the rollercoaster ride of Jailen Bedford’s season. Let’s break down his performance so far, look at the numbers, and try to make sense of one of the more dramatic midseason statistical swings you’ll see in college basketball.
The Tale of Two Jailen Bedfords
Through his first six games, Bedford looked like a rising star-an efficient, confident scorer who could stretch the floor and finish inside. He was hitting over 55% of his shots from the field and an eye-popping 61.1% from three.
He averaged 13.3 points per game during that stretch and had breakout performances against Charlotte (21 points on 7-of-12 shooting) and Providence (18 points on 7-of-11). Even in a tough outing against Bryant, he still managed to knock down a three.
But then came the slump. In his next six games, Bedford’s production fell off a cliff.
His shooting percentage plummeted to just 21.2%, and he made only 2 of his 16 attempts from beyond the arc-a brutal 12.5%. Over those six games, he averaged just 3.3 points.
Against Saint Mary’s and VCU, he went a combined 0-for-13 from the field. That’s not just a cold streak; that’s a complete shutdown of offensive rhythm.
So what happened?
Reading Between the Lines
There’s no single stat that explains Bedford’s sharp decline, but you don’t need a deep analytics dive to see the confidence shift. Early in the season, he was decisive.
He took good shots within the flow of the offense and looked comfortable in his role. His shot selection was balanced-he wasn’t just launching threes, but picking his spots, attacking closeouts, and making defenders pay.
In the second six-game stretch, the hesitancy crept in. His shot volume dropped, and when he did shoot, the rhythm wasn’t there.
The mechanics looked rushed. And once the misses started piling up, the confidence clearly took a hit.
That’s the kind of thing that doesn’t show up in a box score but jumps off the screen when you watch the tape.
It’s also worth noting that the quality of opponents stepped up. Saint Mary’s, VCU, and South Carolina all play physical, disciplined defense. Bedford wasn’t getting the same clean looks, and the margin for error shrunk dramatically.
What It Means for the Hokies
Bedford’s early-season burst showed what kind of offensive weapon he can be. If he finds his footing again, he’s a valuable piece-someone who can stretch defenses, create matchup problems, and give the Hokies a scoring punch off the wing.
But the Hokies need more than just flashes. Consistency is the name of the game in conference play, and right now, they’re still searching for it-both from Bedford and the team as a whole.
We’ll take a deeper look at Virginia Tech’s overall efficiency numbers in the next breakdown, but for now, Bedford’s dramatic split is a microcosm of the Hokies’ season: moments of promise clouded by stretches of inconsistency. The question now is whether Bedford-and the team-can flip the switch back on as the ACC grind continues.