For the first time in many Virginia Tech-UNC matchups, I didn't know who I was going to root for on Saturday. Typically the Hokies and Heels make it easy on me: Tech is usually the best in football while UNC stinks, and UNC usually rules in hoops while the Hokies are weak. That meant that I could cheer for the team that had more riding on the specific game. A loss at Keenan Stadium would hav
e ruined the Hokies football season this year, so I rooted for them. Last year, a defeat against Tech in basketball would have truly hurt the Heels' ranking, so I went for UNC. The Hokies win last week over No. 5 Dook tossed all that out the window.
UNC came into the game at Cassell Coliseum ranked No. 1 in the country and would surely lose that ranking if it lost. But the Heels were bound to lose at sometime, and it might as well be to the Hokies early in the season. Tech coming off one of its biggest upsets ever, could get its biggest ever and announce that it could really compete in the ACC. It ended up the Hokies won 94-88, and instead of ecstatic for Tech like I was after the Dook win, I was kind of just numb.
A few thoughts on the game:
e ruined the Hokies football season this year, so I rooted for them. Last year, a defeat against Tech in basketball would have truly hurt the Heels' ranking, so I went for UNC. The Hokies win last week over No. 5 Dook tossed all that out the window.UNC came into the game at Cassell Coliseum ranked No. 1 in the country and would surely lose that ranking if it lost. But the Heels were bound to lose at sometime, and it might as well be to the Hokies early in the season. Tech coming off one of its biggest upsets ever, could get its biggest ever and announce that it could really compete in the ACC. It ended up the Hokies won 94-88, and instead of ecstatic for Tech like I was after the Dook win, I was kind of just numb.
A few thoughts on the game:
- The Cassell was really rocking for the game with a sellout of nearly 10,000 fan
s. I've only been to a few games there when it was that packed...the ACC opener against UNC in Tech's inaugural season in the league and the NCAA women's tournament when Tech hosted two rounds come to mind. When Hokie Nation fill the Cassell, it really is one of the toughest places to play in the ACC. The way the arena is built, with the stands rising at a sharper angle than in typical arenas, makes for louder crowd noise than at the Dean Dome and it may be comparable to Cameron. If only the fans would come out when the Hokies play weak competition like VMI, then maybe they wouldn't blow those games. - Seth Greenberg and the Hokies have done a good job approaching the ACC like they are a mid-major team. Instead of trying to compete with the Carolinas, Dooks and Marylands for the McDonald's All-Americans, they've recruited solid guys who will stay all four years. That may make for some lean years early on, but the Hokies are reaping the rewards now by being more polished than the young Carolina and Dook teams.
- The Heels' comeback was almost one for the books. They were down by 20 points with 4:30 remaining in the game and almost made it all the way back. I was getting images in my head of the game in 1992 when UNC came back from 22 down against Wake Forest and the game in 1993 when UNC came back from 21 down against Florida State. In those comebacks, however, the Heels had nearly the entire second half to rally. There just wasn't enough time against the Hokies.
- The final result was probably the best thing that could have happened. Now the Hokies have proven they can beat anyone, and they may actually have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. The Heels will bounce back and have plenty of time to return to No. 1. Ahhh the beauty of college basketball, a tournament decides the champion instead of some random BCS voters.
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