Another buzzer-beater heartbreak for Virginia Tech.
This time, it was SMU’s Boopie Miller who added his name to the Hokies’ growing list of last-second tormentors. With the clock winding down in Dallas, Miller drained a game-winning shot at the horn, handing Virginia Tech a gut-punch 77-76 loss on Wednesday night.
If you’re a Hokies fan, this one stings-but it’s not unfamiliar territory. Virginia Tech has been on the receiving end of more than a few soul-crushers over the years.
Think back to Sean Dockery’s miracle heave for Duke in 2005. Or Tyler Hansbrough’s dagger in 2008.
Dante Jackson, Terance Mann, Kihei Clark, Charlie Moore-the list reads like a highlight reel of heartbreak.
And now, in just the past two weeks, add Wake Forest’s Nate Calmese, Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie, and SMU’s Boopie Miller to the roll call of late-game assassins.
It’s a pattern that’s become all too familiar for Virginia Tech: competitive games, strong stretches of play, and then-boom-a buzzer-beater that flips the script.
But as much as this loss hurts, there’s no time to dwell. The Hokies have to regroup quickly with Notre Dame coming to town on Saturday.
That game now takes on even more weight-not just in the standings, but in terms of morale. How does this team respond after such a deflating finish?
It’s a test of resilience, and if Virginia Tech wants to stay in the mix in the ACC, they’ll need to show it. The execution late in games, especially on the defensive end, has to tighten up. These close contests are often decided by a single possession, and right now, the Hokies are coming out on the wrong side of those margins.
The challenge is clear: shake off the sting, refocus, and find a way to close games. Because in a conference as competitive as the ACC, there’s no room for lingering heartbreak.