Watching the Virginia Tech Football team for me is normally an adrenaline rush. You expect success and normally you get it (though this year has been shaky). With the Hokie Hoops team, I try lower expectation but end up watching with more anxiety. I'll admit I have high hopes for the team this year. They over-achieved last year and were young, so I expect good things this year. So far, its been, well....anxious.
Virginia Tech has a recent history starting slow and struggling with out of conference games early that they should win. Some of the losses are almost fluky (I'm thinking Bowling Green on a Vassallo tip in, and the GW loss at MCI Center in recent years). Its as though they take a few weeks to get their act together, but come ACC play, they pleasantly surprise.
Tonight, I didn't watch the game, but looking at stats and the ESPN game log they obviously struggled to beat an inferior team in Elon. In Puerto Rico, they started strong against Xavier and Seton Hall, only to fade in the 2nd half and give up big leads (granted, the Xavier loss was on a half court shot at the buzzer). Many of these are signs of a young team unable to close out games and simply poor free throw shooting. But I think it just may be part of the character of the program.
That gives me hope for the rest of the season, because hopefully like past years they will continue to be tough and gritty come conference play. I like thisteam. They do have their problems, mainly the need to find more scoring besides Vassallo, Delaney, and Allen. Closing out games, including free throw shooting, worries me. I also think point guard is a problem - neither Delaney or Thorns is a perfect fit.
So besides some stomach churning that is simply a part of college basketball, Hokie basketball, and the 2008 edition of Virginia Tech Hoops, this season will be intriguing and fun. Lets just hope these early season non-conference losses don't bite us come NCAA selection time.
A win over Wisconsin would surely be nice.
Go Hokies!!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Another good sign, Victor Davila scored I think 12 or 14 points tonight. He might be the one stepping up.
Davila had 16 and will start by midseason.