Hokies Back in the Top 25

After two big victories in the ACC in the past week, Virginia Tech has
climbed their way back into the top 25. The Hokies are ranked #21 in both the
A.P. Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, and they are one of five ACC
teams to be ranked in at least one poll.

Virginia Tech played two home games in the last week. They blew out Boston
College 79-62 last Wednesday and then knocked off Miami 73-57 on Saturday. The
Hokies are tied with UNC and UVA for first place in the conference standings,
and they currently hold the tiebreaker over both schools.

UNC
remains in the top 10. They easily beat NC State last Wednesday night but blew a
12-point second half lead against Maryland on Sunday, falling to the Terps
89-87. The Tar Heels are still the favorite to win the ACC tournament, but they
have probably played their way out of a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Duke won 71-66 at Clemson on Thursday and then whipped St. John’s 67-50 in
Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday. The Blue Devils have won four
games in a row, after losing their previous four.

Maryland has won five in a row and six of their last seven, yet they are only
ranked in one poll. The Terps have pretty much locked up a trip to the NCAA
tournament at this point. Their final two games are at Duke and home against NC
State.

UVA is tied at the top of the ACC with UNC and Virginia Tech. The Hoos host
Virginia Tech on Thursday night, and they must win this game if they hope to be
at the top of the conference standings when the season ends. They would still
need UNC to lose one more game though, as the Tar Heels beat UVA head-to-head
back in January.

At this point, it appears that six ACC teams are locked in to the NCAA
tournament. UNC, Virginia Tech, Duke, Virginia, Maryland and Boston College have
likely all done enough to get at-large bids.

The ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament begins on Thursday in Greensboro, NC.
The Hokies are seeded 7th in the tournament, and they will face 10th seeded
Boston College. The Hokies blew out the Eagles 67-52 on Friday in Chestnut Hill.
If the Hokies get past the Eagles again, they will have to face #2 seed UNC in
the second round.

The Lady Hokies are 17-13 overall, with a 6-8 record in ACC play. The Hokies
have finished with a 6-8 conference record for the third consecutive season.
This year they aren’t likely to get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament,
however, because their RPI is too low (#70, per realtimerpi.com), and their
resume isn’t as strong as it was the last two seasons. They’ll have to make a
run in the ACC tournament to warrant consideration, and that isn’t likely, with
a second round game against UNC, assuming the Hokies get by Boston College in
the first round.

The Hokies will take on the Eagles on Thursday night at 6pm. The game will
not be televised, but you can view the game as a webcast on ACC
Select. If Tech gets past BC, they’ll play North Carolina on Friday at
6pm. That game will also be available only on ACC Select.

For complete information on the Women’s ACC Tournament, click
here.