Following their 94-88 victory over then #1 UNC on Saturday, the Hokies find
themselves back in the top 25 for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
Virginia Tech is ranked #23 in the AP Poll and #25 in the ESPN/USA Today
Coaches’ Poll.
The Hokies are one of five ACC teams ranked in the latest polls. Here is a
look at how the ACC stacks up in the latest top 25.
| The ACC in the Top 25 |
||
| Team | A.P. | Coaches’ |
UNC |
4 | 4 |
Duke |
14 | 17 |
Clemson |
19 | 16 |
Virginia Tech |
23 | 25 |
Maryland |
NR |
22 |
Back in 1995-96, Virginia Tech featured a starting lineup of four seniors and a
junior. This year the Tech team is very experienced as well, starting three
seniors and a junior, and bringing two more key seniors off the bench.
If the Hokies want to continue to move up in the polls, they’ll have to
survive two more tough tests this week against Florida State and Maryland. The
Terrapins are ranked #22 in the Coaches’ Poll, and when they travel to
Blacksburg next Sunday it will mark the first time since #1 UMass played the #10
Hokies in 1996 that two ranked teams have faced off in Cassell Coliseum.
Zabian
Dowdell Named ACC Player of the Week
Zabian Dowdell was named ACC Player of the Week on Monday for his two
performances this past week. Dowdell averaged 20 points, 3.5 rebounds and three
assists in Tech’s wins over UNC Greensboro and #1 UNC.
Against UNC Greensboro, Dowdell scored 17 points, grabbed four rebounds and
dished out three asissts. He was even better against the Tar Heels. Dowdell
scored 23 points, three rebounds and three assists. He was 11-of-19 from the
field and 6-of-8 from three-point range this week.
Dowdell is the second Tech player to be named ACC Player of the Week this
season. Jamon Gordon was named ACC Player of the Week on December 26.
Barden, Oglesby, and Sykes Enroll at Virginia Tech
For the start of the new semester, Virginia Tech has welcomed football
recruits Brandon Barden, Josh Oglesby and Jacob Sykes to Blacksburg. Barden and
Oglesby committed to Virginia Tech as part of the 2007 recruiting class and
decided to graduate high school in December and enroll early in college. Sykes
is a member of the 2006 recruiting class.
Brandon Barden is a 6-5, 220 tight end/wide receiver prospect from
Lincolnton, Georgia. He has been timed at a 4.57 in the 40 yard dash. He played
a number of different positions for his high school team, Lincolnton County,
including quarterback and wide receiver.
Barden rushed for around 600 yards, passed for 500, and had around 200 yards
receiving. Barden will play either tight end or wide receiver for the Hokies.
Josh Oglesby is a three-star running back recruit from Garner, North
Carolina. He committed to Virginia Tech back on July 15. At 5-11, 205, Oglesby
rushed for 1,154 yards on 184 carries this past season. He scored 22 touchdowns
for the year.
Oglesby was selected to play in the NC/SC Shrine Bowl back in December. He
turned down scholarship offers from East Carolina, NC State, UNC and Wake
Forest.
Jacob Sykes is a 6-0, 180 wide receiver prospect out of Goldsboro, North
Carolina. He committed to the Hokies back in July of 2005 and signed last
February. He is enrolling as a full-time student for the first time this
semester. Sykes also had a scholarship offer from East Carolina.
All three players will participate in Virginia Tech’s offseason strength and
conditioning program and will also go through spring practice.
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