The losses of Bede and Radford defensively were massively overweighted simply because the crux of the defense is to not make any 1 defender defend on an island. The system is the defender.

Make them take lesser percentage shots for 40 minutes and more often than not the numbers will work in your favor.

Cover up transition layups (something VT could still be better at), limit second chances, force contested dribble 3s, the only points in the paint are over contested post players...it is very difficult to win when you face that for 40 minutes. It isnt "hard-nosed" or "tough" or any other 90s coaching cliche you can think of, but it is most definitely efficient and gives a team with less talent a better shot at winning