The Magic Elixir
Posted at 12:00 pm on Monday, January 8th, 2007 by VinceEcstatic. Redeemed. Relieved. All of those apply to how the Virginia Tech men’s hoops team must feel after their overtime win over Duke on Saturday, Jan 6th. I’m not sure what was more amazing – the fact that the Hokies dominated much of regulation or how they bounced back after Duke tied the game with a very difficult three pointer with 18 seconds left in regulation. When that shot hit, Hokies everywhere had images of last year flash in their heads. While I almost had a stroke, I still had faith that they could pull off one of the biggest road wins in Virginia Tech basketball history. That faith stemmed from the fact that I saw them play the entire 40 minutes of regulation with intensity and hunger. It also came from the miracle fade-away Jamon Gordon sank after slipping but before falling on his butt. When that shot hit, I had the feeling that Hokies could not lose that game. Although, I will admit my confidence was a little shaken when Duke forced overtime.
Tech jumped to an early lead and were one step ahead of the Blue Devils for much of the first half, forcing turnover after turnover. Thanks to the efforts of DeMarcus Nelson, Duke stepped up its game in the second half, and they took their first lead midway through the 2nd period. The Hokies never gave in to the pressures of Camerson Indoor Stadium, and they continued to battle through the end of regulation and into overtime. While Nelson hit a 3 to force overtime, there would be no miracle for Duke at the end of the extra period. Deron Washington made sure of that with a block of Greg Paulus’ 3-point attempt, and Paulus’ blocked shot flew out of bounds as time ran out.
When the horn blew, and Cameron went dead silent, I stood in my family room, hands on my head, wondering if the game was actually over. After the clock fiasco prior to the end of regulation, it wouldn’t have surprised me if the referees were going to give Duke another chance by adding a half-second or so to the clock. However, the refs signaled that the game was over, and they jogged off the court. They did it. The Hokies beat Duke in Cameron.
Chris Coleman, of TechSideline.com, notes in his recap, “The win marks Tech’s first win over a top five team since they beat #2 Memphis State 76-72 in Blacksburg in 1986. The last time the Hokies beat a top five team on the road came against Kentucky 80-77 in 1962. In other words, this one is one to remember.” Besides being one of the most memorable wins in Virginia Tech basketball history, this win washed away the blues that Hokie Nation was feeling after New Year’s. The football team’s loss to Georgia combined with the men’s basketball team’s loss to Marshall that same day put Virginia Tech fans into a funk of despair and hopelessness. Not only did we feel like we gave away the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but we felt like our hopes at a NCAA bid were flushed down the toilet when let one slip away at Marshall. Beating Duke on the road certainly raised the spirits of Hokies everywhere. Maybe this team can make it to the big dance.
Not only does this win serve as vindication for last year’s heart breaker, but I hope it will be the magic potion that will cure the ailments that have plagued the men’s basketball team since last season’s loss to Duke. We all remember last year for the tough losses and off-court issues the team had to deal with. Even with the hardships of last year, there were high expectations for basketball this year. The team features one of the most experienced backcourts in the country, and there was the thought that last year’s tumultuous season would only make the team tougher. Unfortunately, the Hokies lost some games they should have won, and they lost them close. It seemed as though they were picking up where they left off from last season.
This win should be a turning point for Virginia Tech hoops. They finally got a big win, on the road no less, by winning a close game. They made some clutch free throws, and Coleman Collins began to look like the talented player we know him to be. This win will give them confidence they haven’t felt since the 2004-5 season. And, for the time being, they sit at the top of the ACC standings, tied for 1st place.