Butta Johnson is officially heading to Blacksburg, joining the Virginia Tech Hokies via the College Basketball Transfer Portal, and if you’re a fan of buckets, you should be hyped. This move is all about one thing: fixing the Hokies’ shooting woes and snapping their frustrating March Madness skid.
The Hole Butta Johnson Is Filling
Let’s be real, last season was a tough one for the Hokies. Head coach Mike Young racked up 19 wins for the third time in his tenure, which is solid, but it still wasn’t enough to make the field of 68. Missing March Madness when you’ve got 19 Ws? That’s gotta sting. A lot. The numbers tell a story, too. The Hokies ranked 10th among 18 Atlantic Coast Conference teams in scoring. You can’t be in the middle of the pack on offense and expect to contend for the big dance. They landed at No. 7 overall in three-point field goal percentage, which is okay, but “okay” doesn’t cut it when you’re fighting for a bid. They needed more, much more.
This Dude Shoots, Period.
So, who is Butta Johnson? He’s a former Clemson guard who’s making his third collegiate stop. And let me tell you, this guy knows how to drain a shot. Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports confirmed the news, with Zenitz dropping a crucial stat on X: Johnson has 163 career made 3-pointers. One hundred sixty-three! That’s not just a few lucky shots; that’s a consistent, proven sharpshooter. He made nine starts at Clemson last season, and before that, he was a two-year starter at UAB. This isn’t some fresh-faced rookie; this is a veteran presence ready to contribute. He’s already lit up ACC defenses, too, with seven games of double-digit scoring at Clemson, including dropping 15 against Georgia Tech and a cool 13 on SEC foe Georgia during the regular season. This guy can play.
From Heartbreak to Hope?
The Hokies desperately need that kind of firepower. Last season, they lost six of their last nine games, with some of those coming in one-score affairs. Worse, they took four defeats that came down to one last possession. Think about that! How many of those could have been different with an extra three-pointer or a clutch bucket from a guy like Johnson? He’s stepping into a program that’s been agonizingly close to success but just couldn’t seal the deal. Johnson isn’t the only new blood either; he rises as one of 10 newcomers aiming to snap that March Madness skid, joining former North Carolina State center Musa Sagnia as one of two new faces with ACC experience. The goal is clear: get to March. With Butta Johnson’s proven shooting, the Hokies are definitely swinging for it this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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