I’m still not entirely sure how the Hokies were able to come back and beat Illinois last night. I mean, I watched the game and I saw HOW they scored the points, but I’m still trying to figure out how this team found a way to exercise their big-game demons.
Yes, I know they beat UNC twice and Duke on the road. But at the end of the season, when the stakes were higher and first place in the ACC was on the line, this team crumbled under the pressure and lost to Virginia and Clemson in the final two games. All they had to do was beat Clemson and they would’ve ended up with the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. But they came out flat in both games.
Then, they came out flat in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament … against N.C. State, a team that beat the Hokies three times this season. That loss cost the Hokies a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. They drew a #5 seed when Maryland and Virginia drew #4 seeds. I wrote about my concerns about the #5 seed last week and my fears, through the first 35 minutes of last night’s game were realized.
I was so frustrated and angry with the Hokies’ effort against Illinois for the first 35 minutes, I turned on my Playstation 2 and started playing the ultra-violent game “Black.” It’s a great stress reliever for me because everything you shoot, phone booths, walls, etc., explode. But, I kept the game in site on my computer. I can never completely give up on the Hokies…
When Tech pulled within a couple of baskets, I paused the game and put the game back on the big TV. What I saw wasn’t what I expected. A gutty performance, under pressure, with the entire team’s reputation on the line. There was also that little foul the Hokies committed, but wasn’t called. A terrible no-call, but part of the game…just glad it didn’t go against us because I’d probably be shopping for a new TV right now.
The Hokies dug deep and found whatever motivation they needed to hang in there and win that game. The announcers during the game said that an eight-point lead for Illinois (which they later pushed to 13) was like a 20 point lead for any other team because of the stingy, aggressive half-court defense they play. But, the Hokies finished the game on a 12-0 run, down 52-42, to win 54-52.
It was probably one of the ugliest wins I’ve ever seen, but it’s one of the most gratifying – Tech’s first NCAA Tournament win since a first round win in 1996 over Milwaukee Green Bay.
