After back-to-back ACC victories in the past week at home
(and who among you thought you would really be saying that in mid-January?),
Virginia Tech fans can be excused if they find themselves in that mode where
realism and hope play a tantalizing game of tug-of-war.

On the one hand, there is the excitement of seeing the
Cassell come alive, at least partially, while seeing a Virginia Tech basketball
team residing at .500 for the season in conference play. It’s watching a team
start to play with more and more confidence in their first year in a conference
that most desperately wanted to be in for quite some time.

On the other hand, it was Clemson and North Carolina State
that were the victims, both games being won by the Hokies in the final 10
seconds, while withstanding a last shot attempt by both visitors. The Tigers are
a notoriously poor road team in the conference, and the Wolfpack have performed
below expectations this season, having now lost 5 of their past 6 games. The
Hokies caught them at a most opportune time.

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