Last night's win was badly needed. Certainly the Hokies were due for having a close one go their way. If nothing else, they can continue to tread their NCAA tourney water a little while longer. The question is, how far is the swim to shore?
Virginia Tech sits at 7-6 in the ACC, 17-10 overall, with 3 games left plus the tournament. What record gets them in? Worst case is 7-9 and 17-14 which probably spells NIT. Best case is 10-6 and something like 20-11 or 21-11, which is not realistic. So the question is does 9-7 or 8-8 get them in?
Personally I believe one more conference win will be enough, regardless of what happens in the ACC tournament. That would mean 8-8 and 18-13 worst case, in a the country's best conference. I think that, along with all the Hokie's close losses this year and their quality wins will get them in. Especially if one of their last wins is against UNC or Duke. So in essence, I believe Seth was right on Hokie Hotline in that they needed 2 wins in their last 4 (they got one last night).
As I blogged on the Hokie Hoops team earlier, I'm also convinced the ACC tournament will have a role in this, because it alwasy does. Its also the wild card in this situation, which I think can be a good thing because the Hokies can be a team that does some damage. They've been in so many close games I believe they will be ready for the stress of 'one or done' tournament play.
Of course it would be nice if they could just beat Duke on Saturday and take a lot of stress out of Virginia Tech fans.
Go Hokies!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I disagree on 8-8… it’s been several years since a team with a .500 record in the ACC got into the tournament… more mid-majors are better… now, I know this thing goes in cycles and maybe not as many mid-majors get it, but I think Seth is dillusional and is trying to lower expectations, Glenn… I saw him speak at the Round Ball Club and was honestly shocked that he said 8-8 would do it… I mean, it’s possible and I will be there first person to say I was wrong… but I don’t think .500 is good enough this year (I think we’d have to get to the finals of the ACC tournament if we had an 8-8 record)… I think minimum, we need a 9-7 record and 1 win in the ACC tournament… I said at the beginning of the year we needed to be 10-6 because we lost all of our major non-conference games (and I don’t consider St. John’s a big win… and Georgia, whoa boy, that was a bad loss), but I’m hedging now and think that 9-7 might do it.
Matthew
It’s possible and I will be there first person to say I was wrong… but I don’t think .500 is good enough this year (I think we’d have to get to the finals of the ACC tournament if we had an 8-8 record)… I think minimum, we need a 9-7 record and 1 win in the ACC tournament…