In a season in which the Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball team had exceeded all expectations, they found a way to have the wind taken out of their sails by the 12th seeded Miami Hurricanes. The Hokies lackluster play sent Tech back to Blacksburg a day or two before they had liked. Now all Coach Greenberg and his 23-8 Hokie basketball team can do is sit at home and cautiously watch the Selection Show this Sunday.
The biggest question on everybody’s mind will be the Hokies tournament chances and rightfully so. Tech has been so close the last two years but failed to find their way into the field of 65 in March. This year the Hokies have amassed a better overall record, a better conference record, and some quality wins. However, Tech will be scrutinized for their painfully easy out of conference schedule and that could cause the selection committee to second-guess whether or not to include Virginia Tech in the dance.
But, the Hokies do have ten ACC wins, including three against other tournament teams. So odds are Tech will be in the dance, just in an unfavorable division as a high seed. But what concerns me about this team is how they have fallen apart down the stretch. I devoted an article too it a couple weeks ago and it deserves to be mentioned again here.
Take away the Hokies last two wins of the regular season against NC State and Georgia Tech and the Hokies are just 2-4 in their last six games. That’s not impressive and definitely a cause for concern as the Hokies move forward.
The ACC tournament has been unkind to the Hokies ever since Tech joined this conference in 2004. In 2004, the Hokies were blown-out by Georgia Tech in the first round. In 2005, Tech lost to UVA by four in the first round, sealing a losing record for the season. Tech finally won their first game in the 2006-2007 season by beating Wake Forest but lost to NC State in the second round for the third time that season. Then in the next season, Tech beat Miami but fell by two points to the first ranked Tar Heels. Then last season the Hokies once again beat Miami but then fell, once again, to the Tar Heels.
I have to admit, I expected this team to beat a worn down Miami team and from the start of this game it looked like I was going to be right. However, once Hudson cooled off and Miami started playing defense, the Hokies struggled for the final 30 minutes. Tech led this game by as much as ten points in the first half but it just seems like the Hokies could never bury Miami. Then by the two minute mark in the first half, Miami had come all the way back to take the lead.
The rest of the game was a chess match, ultimately won by Frank Haith’s Miami Hurricanes. Haith stuck with his 2-3 zone even when the Hokies led 22-12 and had knocked down three three-pointers at that point. If Haith had switched back to his man-to-man defense I have a feeling the Hokies could have walked away with this one. Instead, Coach Haith stuck with his game plan and the Hokies scored just 43 points in the final 31 minutes.
So, the battered and wounded Hokies will make their way back to Blacksburg tonight and will play the waiting game as the Hokies tournament hopes are now ultimately in jeopardy.
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