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Hokies Entering Critical Stretch by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com, TSLMail #467, January 14, 2011 Through the first half of the season, Virginia Tech is 10-5 overall, with a 1-2 record in the ACC. They are still a contender for the NCAA Tournament, but they are going to have to hold serve and home, and steal some wins on the road. A great opportunity for a quality road win slipped through their grasp on Thursday night. Tech will have more opportunities for road wins over the next several weeks. Four of their next six ACC games are on the road.
The other home game in that stretch is Miami, who is currently in the top 50 of the RPI at #37. However, the Canes are also 0-2 in the ACC right now, and a loss to BC this weekend would put them at 0-3. Their size on the inside make them a tough matchup for the Hokies, but nevertheless it is one that Tech needs to win. The other four ACC games in that stretch are on the road. Looking at each game individually, trips to Georgia Tech and NC State represent Virginia Tech's best chances at road wins between now and February 5. Georgia Tech is 7-8 overall and 0-2 in the ACC, ranking #177 in the RPI. The Hokies have a solid history of winning games in Atlanta as well, so that trip on January 25 is one of Tech's best chances of the season for picking up a road victory in conference play. NC State is 11-5 overall and 1-1 in the ACC. However, their RPI is only #107, and their best win came against George Mason. The Wolfpack are relying on several freshmen, and they are still coached by Sidney Lowe. Tech's other road games are against Maryland and Boston College. The Terps are 1-2 in the ACC, but played Duke tough. Jordan Williams will be tough for the Hokies to handle on the inside, and Gary Williams is one of the best coaches in the game. It's tough to get a read on Boston College. They are a perfect 3-0 in the ACC, and in first place in the conference standings. However, they are also 0-2 against the Ivy League this year, with losses to Harvard and Yale. Currently sitting at 1-2 in the ACC, it's important for Virginia Tech to start a winning streak and get above .500 in conference play. Winning both of their ACC home games and splitting the four road games from now until February 5 would put them at 5-4 in league games. They would then play four of their final seven games at home, and would be in a position to have a strong finish.
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Last
night's game was the latest in a series of losses to North Carolina
that went down to the wire. Each time the Hokies have arguably
outplayed the Tar Heels, but they've fallen in the final minutes for
various reasons. I'm getting tired of seeing the same story play out
nearly every time the teams play.
After
a tough Thursday night loss to North Carolina, the Hokies have a
quick turnaround game with Wake Forest on Saturday night in
Blacksburg. This is another must-win home game for Virginia Tech,
and they'll be facing a Wake team that has struggled against just
about everyone they've faced.
H.D.
Woodson (Washington, D.C.) cornerback Adeboye Aromire will
leave for Blacksburg on Friday. He won't return home, as he'll be
enrolling at Virginia Tech and thus embarking on his college career.
The 6-0, 180-pound prospect, a second-team Washington Post all-metro
selection in 2010, took time for a "Q&A" before he
officially becomes a Hokie.
Virginia
Tech's defense had carried the Hokies throughout the ACC era, until
the 2010 season. This year the offense had to put up big numbers at
times for a defense that was both undersized and inexperienced. Tech
had to break in a lot of defenders at key positions, and Bud Foster
had to employ a nickel package as his primary defense. Despite
Foster's efforts, the Hokies didn't get what they are used to
getting from their defense.
Seth
Greenberg was the guest on Monday night's Tech Talk Live. He talked
with Bill Roth about upcoming games against UNC and Wake Forest, and
discussed the ACC as a whole.
Dewayne
Alford, Michael Cole, James Farrow, Corey Marshall and Christian
Reeves spent some time together the final week of 2010, when they
all were in Charleston, South Carolina, for the inaugural National
Underclassmen Combine All-World Gridiron Classic. The event provided
the Virginia Tech recruits a chance to showcase their talents on a
national stage while also getting to know each other better before
arriving in Blacksburg.
Though
it didn't register nationally, Virginia Tech's win over Florida
State on Saturday was a pretty big one. It got the Hokies to .500 in
conference play, and now they don't have to go into Chapel Hill on
Thursday night with an 0-2 ACC record.