WRAL Sports Fan

College Basketball

Virginia Tech knocks off Miami, readies for UNC

By Guy Curtright

Mar 12, 2009

Atlanta — Virginia Tech’s NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive thanks to a 65-47 victory over Miami, but the Hokies have a major hurdle ahead.

To secure a berth, all Virginia Tech may need to do is beat No. 1-ranked North Carolina Friday in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.

At least the Hokies know that they won’t have to face a healthy Ty Lawson, if they have to face the ACC player of the year at all.

Lawson, hobbled by an injured big toe on his right foot, remains questionable for the noon game at the Georgia Dome. Lawson had 22 points and five rebounds when the Tar Heels won 86-78 at Virginia Tech in the final week of the regular season.

That game is still fresh in the Hokies’ minds. So is a heartbreaking 68-66 loss to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament semifinals last year that kept Virginia Tech from the NCAA Tournament.

“We led that game almost all the way and couldn’t close it out,” Virginia Tech senior A.D. Vassallo said. “If we don’t beat them this time, we’ll be heading to the NIT again.”
Asked if he remembered Tyler Hansbrough’s celebration after his last-second game winner a year ago, Vassallo shook his head. “I try not do think about any of that,” he finally said.

The Hokies (18-13) closed the regular season by losing six of their last seven games. But they never trailed in soundly beating Miami (18-12) on Thursday and ending the Hurricanes’ NCAA hopes.

Virginia Tech took an early 22-8 lead and then broke the game wide open midway through the second half, going on a 14-0 run for a 20-point lead.
Miami started cold and never warmed up, failing to place a single player in double figures. Hampered by a sore knee, All-ACC pick Jack McClinton had nine points and committed seven turnovers.

“He wasn’t himself,” Virginia Tech’s Malcolm Delaney said. “He got frustrated and you could tell he was hurting.”

Delaney, who started at point guard, was cold himself, but finished with 17 points thanks to 14-for-15 shooting from the foul line. Vassallo scored 14 and J.T. Thompson added 12 points and defensive energy off the bench. Each had eight rebounds as the Hokies enjoyed a 35-22 edge on the boards.

Virginia Tech beat North Carolina twice two seasons ago. One win will do the Hokies just fine this year.

“If Lawson doesn’t play, it will obviously be an advantage for us,” Thompson said. “But they still have a great team.”

“We have to win the game no matter who plays or who doesn’t,” Vassallo said. “We can’t worry about them. We have to play our game.”

Hokies coach Seth Greenberg called his team’s second-half defense against Miami the best of the season. But he knows that UNC is a bigger challenge.

“[North Carolina] is the best transition team in America,” he said. “They push it at you in warp speed.”

Of course, that is with Lawson running the show.

“He’s what makes their transition so good,” Delaney said. “He’s the best there is at that. But they’ll push it up no matter if he plays or not.”

Virginia Tech struggled down the stretch during the regular season. Now that the Hokies have found new life, they need at least one more victory.

Asked if he was happy to be playing Carolina, Vassallo said, “No, not really. I’d rather avoid them.

“We just need to keep winning. Maybe we’ve been thinking too much about the NCAA Tournament. Right now, all I care about is the ACC Tournament.”