Young Hokies Show Their Real Character
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Seth Greenberg’s biggest issue wasn’t his young team’s preparation or inexperience. It wasn’t that they were playing on the road. It also wasn’t the fact that they had a very quick turnaround, having lost at home to Duke on Thursday night. In fact, it was something one might not have figured at all.
“This team has great character. That’s probably what’s bothered me the most over these last 36 hours,” said the Virginia Tech head coach after his team’s 81-73 overtime win at Boston College. “What happened the other night and the way they were depicted really just ate at me, because you’re not going to find a better person than Deron Washington. He plays his heart out, gives up 40-5 pounds every night. The attacks that he has been under in the last 36 hours is really sickening, and I’m so proud of him and his teammates, and the way they played tonight is something very special. The character of that team was represented in the last five minutes.”
Greenberg was alluding to highlights shown from his team’s prior game, an 81-64 loss against Duke where the game appeared to get chippy in the final minutes. Washington was at the center of it with a couple of hard fouls and his reckless style of play, and clearly people took notice. When he was introduced in the starting lineup, the boo birds came out in a big way, and during the game a couple of fans yelled out, “You’re a bum Deron!” to him.
Washington didn’t change what got him this far on Saturday, playing the same scrappy style he always has in leading the team with 19 points and eight rebounds. His value to the team is clear just by watching them play, because the Hokies all play the kind of scrappy basketball he does.
“I think he’s part of the catalyst that stirs it,” said Greenberg. “He gives up his body as much anybody. I’ve been doing this now 31 years – he gives up his body more than any kid I’ve ever coached. That’s what makes him special.”
It was that scrappy style that helped this team gut out the overtime win on the road without starting forward Jeff Allen, serving the second game of a two-game suspension for bumping an official a week ago. The Hokies had a 51-42 edge on the glass, but they had a big 24-7 advantage in second-chance points and got just about every loose ball whether from a missed shot or deflected ball.
“The only way we can win games is by beating people to 50-50 balls, rebounds, just trying to do the little things that can take over the game and control the game,” said freshman guard Malcolm Delaney, who had 13 points.
Greenberg couldn’t stop raving about the character of his team. Washington was the start, but Delaney was sick for much of the past week and didn’t practice much as a result, while A.D. Vassallo had a double-double on Saturday (14 points, 11 rebounds) and continues to play well, and J.T. Thompson (14 points, 12 rebounds) has given them a shot in the arm as a second freshman who starts.
Perhaps no one showed character more than Hank Thorns, a 5’9″ freshman who scored nine of his 11 points in overtime. There have been plenty of doubters about his ability, but some of them were probably silenced on Saturday as he was also part of an exceptional defensive effort on Boston College junior guard Tyrese Rice, who didn’t score another point after hitting two free throws with 6:36 left in regulation.
“Hank’s not afraid, that’s why he’s here,” said Greenberg. “He’s been raised not to be afraid.”
The Hokies, who are 3-3 in ACC play with this win, may not be an ACC contender given their youth. But the conference is wide open after North Carolina and Duke, and the Hokies have two of their ACC wins away from Cassell Coliseum thus far. There’s enough talent on this team to be right in the mix after the top two.
Regardless of their finish, Greenberg is going to be happy with who he has on the team. That much seems clear from how happy he was yesterday, especially in light of his primary concern entering the game.
“I learned a long time ago in coaching that you’ve got to love your players,” said Greenberg. “It’s an honor for me to coach (Washington) and these kids.”
Other Notable Games
Memphis 81, Gonzaga 73: The Tigers held off a pesky Bulldogs squad that had some struggles but never quit. This was the first of two big tests remaining in the regular season for them, with Tennessee being the other in a month.
Connecticut 68, Indiana 63: This is the signature win the Huskies have been lacking, and it comes with Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins suspended. They’ve been a team on the verge, and broke through with this win, their third straight.
Georgetown 58, West Virginia 57: A thrilling come-from-behind win for the Hoyas, with Jessie Sapp making key plays late and then a game-saving block at the buzzer by Patrick Ewing Jr.
Notre Dame 90, Villanova 80: Notre Dame tries to separate itself from a big pack of teams around the middle of the Big East, going to 4-2. It was another huge game for Kyle McAlarney, who had 30 points.
Rutgers 77, Pittsburgh 64: Did anyone see this coming? The Scarlet Knights just got their first Big East win the other day, and now they knock off Pittsburgh on the road.
Kansas State 82, Iowa State 57: Another big game for Michael Beasley (33 points, 15 rebounds) leads the Wildcats to a 4-0 Big 12 start.
Texas A&M 59, Oklahoma State 56: The Aggies get back on track with their first Big 12 win, and it comes on the road in Stillwater.
Purdue 60, Wisconsin 56: The Boilermakers have simply been winning games, and now they have a signature win to go with it.
Washington State 56, Arizona State 55: Both teams were hoping to salvage a game out of this week, and the Cougars did just that.
Arizona 84, Washington 59: The Wildcats stay hot with their third straight win after starting Pac-10 play 1-3.
USC 95, Oregon 86 (OT): The Trojans have gone from a rough 0-3 start to being 4-3 in the Pac-10 after pulling out this thriller. Oregon had all the momentum late with a great comeback and two key post players fouling out for USC.
Mississippi State 88, Mississippi 68: In a rivalry matchup with a little more than usual on the line, the Bulldogs win their ninth straight and improve to 5-0 in the SEC for the first time since 1993-94.
Louisville 67, St. John’s 57: The Cardinals continue to get it together with another win.
Kentucky 78, South Carolina 70: Ramel Bradley leads the way for the Wildcats, who have found new life as they reach .500 overall and are 3-2 in the SEC.
Oklahoma 77, Baylor 71: The Bears’ first Big 12 loss is a good win for the Sooners as they try to get back on track.
North Carolina State 69, Florida State 66: A nice road win for the Wolfpack, one they needed to try to get some type of jump-start going after winning just one of their first four ACC games.
Alabama 97, Auburn 77: The first SEC win for the Crimson Tide.
Richmond 80, Dayton 63: All of a sudden, the Flyers have dropped three straight and are 2-3 in Atlantic 10 play.
Charlotte 74, Fordham 60: Quietly, the 49ers are 4-1 in Atlantic 10 play.
Drake 58, Northern Iowa 54: The Bulldogs are now 9-0 with this win and remain on a roll.
VCU 76, Drexel 62: The Rams are on a roll and stand 8-1 in CAA play. With a couple of teams right behind them losing, they are up by two games in the standings.
UNC Wilmington 61, George Mason 58: A nice win for the Seahawks puts them into a four-way tie at 6-3 for second place.
Georgia State 54, Delaware 53: Rod Barnes’ team finally comes out on the positive end of a single-possession game.
Nevada 83, Louisiana Tech 70: First a win over New Mexico State a couple of nights ago, now a road win for the Wolfpack. Clearly, reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.
New Mexico State 100, Utah State 70: Utah State’s winning streak to open WAC play ends with a thud, as New Mexico State wins the battle of the Aggies. Utah State was without four players who were suspended before the game for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Oral Roberts 80, Southern Utah 75: The Golden Eagles are now 9-0 in Summit League play.
Davidson 70, College of Charleston 58: With this win, the Wildcats are now 11-0 in Southern Conference play.
Chattanooga 89, Appalachian State 77: The host Mocs win a battle of teams that came into this game 7-2 in Southern Conference play.
Cornell 72, Columbia 54: The Big Red are the early leaders in the Ivy League with a 2-0 start.
Holy Cross 66, American 64: The Crusaders snap a five-game losing streak and get their first Patriot League win – on the road no less.
