"The Bubble" has reached sports cliche in the last few years...taking a life of it's own. Less than two weeks before Selection Sunday, a handful of schools in an around the beltway are finalizing their profiles for evaulation from the Tournament Commitee.
Virginia Tech made a major move towards a potential berth with an 80-58 win over Wake Forest. The ingredients to a victorious senior night involved holding the Demon Deacons to 34% shooting while outrebounding Wake 48-30. Deron Washington posted 22 points and 13 rebounds in his final regular season game at Cassel Coliseum--the Hokies were a model of offensive efficiency by posting 21 assists in 29 field goals while turning the ball over just 8 times.
Four straight wins moves Virginia Tech to 18-11 and 9-6 in the ACC; no 9-win school has missed the NCAA's since 2000 (Virginia). The Hokies visit Clemson (9-5 in the conference) in the battle for third place Sunday.
American begins Patriot League Tournament play tonight when Holy Cross stops by Bender Arena. The two schools split their regular season series, each losing on its home court. Despite their last place conference finish, the Crusaders (15-13 overall) boast one of the league's top players in 6-foot-11 forward Tim Clifford (18 points and 5 rebounds a game). So how did Ralph Willard's team wind up in the cellar? Injuries (second leading scorer Alex Vander Baan missed 6 of 14 Patriot League games this year) and turnovers (Crusaders averaging 5 more turnovers than assists each game).
AU hit nine three-pointers in their February win at Worcester; Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer not only need to be on their usual games (the backcourt duo combines for 31 points a contest) but the duo needs help from the likes of either Brian Gilmore or Bryce Simon on the perimeter.
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