Hokies Sixth in the BCS

After their defeat to Miami over the weekend, Virginia Tech has dropped three
spots from third to sixth in the BCS. The Hokies are ranked eighth in both the
Harris Interactive Poll and the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, but their computer
rankings boost them to sixth in the BCS.

Tech ranks behind both LSU and Notre Dame in the human polls, but have a
comfortable margin ahead of both schools in the BCS. The computers rank Virginia
Tech sixth in the nation, while LSU (seventh in the BCS) is tied with West
Virginia for 13th in the computer polls. Notre Dame (11th in the BCS) is
ranked 18th by the computers.

To get an automatic bid to the BCS without winning the conference
championship, a BCS conference team must be ranked in the top four of the BCS
standings. A non-BCS conference team must only be ranked in the top six in the
BCS standings. If the season ended today (and conference championship games were
not played), the five teams ahead of the Hokies in the BCS would receive
automatic bids for winning their conference. A sixth team, West Virginia (ranked
14th in the BCS) would receive a bid for winning the Big East.

Notre Dame (11th in the BCS) would receive an at-large bid, meaning the
Hokies would be fighting it out with LSU, Ohio State and Georgia (Oregon is a
long shot) for the remaining at-large bid.

There is still nearly a month left in the season, and a lot could change. For
more information on the Hokies’ chances to make a BCS bowl, see the TSL column
Assessing
VT’s Chances for a BCS Bid.

Virginia Tech-UVA Kickoff Set for Noon

Virginia Tech’s road matchup at UVA on Saturday, November 19 has been
scheduled to kickoff at noon. The game will be televised by ESPN. Virginia Tech
defeated UVA last season 24-10 in Blacksburg to clinch a share of the ACC
Championship. The Hokies have beaten the Cavaliers in seven of their last ten
meetings and five of the last six.

Virginia currently stands at 5-3 overall, 2-3 in ACC play. They are coming
off a 51-3 victory at home over Temple. UVa hosts #24 Georgia Tech this Saturday
at 3:30 on ABC. The Cavaliers will potentially have a lot to play for in their
game against Virginia Tech. If they lose at home to Georgia Tech on Saturday,
they will enter season-ending games with Virginia Tech and Miami with a 5-4
record. The Hoos would then be forced to beat either the Hokies or the Canes to
be bowl eligible.

Virginia Tech has a weekend off after being defeated by Miami 27-7 on
Saturday night. The Virginia game is huge for the Hokies as well, who must win
out if they hope to receive a BCS invitation.

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Victorious in Exhibition Games

The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s basketball teams got their seasons
off to a good start over the weekend with exhibition game victories. The men’s
team took on the University of Saskatchewan, while the women’s team squared
off against Athletes in Action.

The men’s team rolled to a 90-42 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies on
Friday night. Leading the Hokies in scoring was sophomore forward Deron
Washington, who scored 16 points by shooting 6-9 from the field and 4-6 from the
free throw line. Washington came off the bench for the Hokies. Senior Allen
Calloway started at power forward.

Freshman Cheick Diakite, a 6-8 power forward from Mali, scored 15 points for
the Hokies. Diakite was impressive, hitting 7 of 9 shots from the field. He also
grabbed six rebounds, five of which were offensive rebounds. Freshman forward
Terrance Vinson led the Hokies in rebounds with seven.

Three other players scored in double figures for the Hokies. Junior forward
Coleman Collins had 12 points, junior forward Chris Tucker scored 11 points, and
junior guard Zabian Dowdell added ten. Collins also added six rebounds.

Virginia Tech played without three key players who missed the game because of
injuries. Wynton Witherspoon, who would have started at small forward for the
Hokies, missed the game after having surgery for a fractured foot. Robert
Krabbendam, who was to see a lot of playing time at center this year, is out
indefinitely following knee surgery. Senior guard Shawn Harris missed the game
with a shoulder injury but should be ready to play in the season opener against
Radford on Thursday night.

The women’s basketball team defeated Athletes in Action 85-62 on Sunday
afternoon. Kirby Copeland scored 13 points to lead the Hokies to the victory.
R-freshman Brittany Cook scored 12 points, freshman Amber Hall had 11, and
senior point guard Carrie Mason scored ten points.

Center Nare Diawara just missed a double-double by scoring nine points and
grabbing nine rebounds. The Hokies controlled this game from start to finish,
leading 45-25 at halftime, before coasting to the victory. Tech forced 24
turnovers and converted them into 33 points.