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I asked ESPN “bracketologist” Joe Lunardi on Thursday about Virginia Tech’s NCAA chances. If the Hokies beat Wake Forest and Clemson to finish 10-6 in the ACC, would they lock up a bid? That would be “premature” thinking, he said. But if they also get a win in the ACC Tournament, he said they’ll be in fine shape. He said that while they would have a similar “profile” as 2007 wallflower Syracuse — which was left out despite 22 wins, 10 Big East wins and a win in the Big East tournament — they would benefit by being in a weaker mix of bubble teams than last year’s bunch. — Mark Berman

VHSL BOYS
NORTHWEST REGION
Tuesday
First round
William Fleming 52, Osbourn Park 41
Mountain View 57, Freedom 54
Potomac 62, North Stafford 46
George Washington 66, Battlefield 53
Thursday
Semifinals
Mountain View 48, William Fleming 43
George Washington 78, Potomac 71
Saturday
Championship
George Washington 82, Mountain View 58

REGION III
Monday
First round
Rustburg 41, Alleghany 38, OT
Liberty 63, Stuarts Draft 57
Broadway 51, Jefferson Forest 47
Waynesboro 56, Turner Ashby 45
Tuesday
Quarterfinals
R.E. Lee-Staunton 69, Rustburg 46
Liberty 56, Harrisonburg 52
Broadway 40, Lord Botetourt 39
Waynesboro 47, Brookville 43, 2 OT
Thursday
At James Madison University
Semifinals
R.E. Lee-Staunton 54, Liberty 40
Waynesboro 66, Broadway 36
Saturday
At Spotswood H.S.
Championship
Waynesboro 55, R.E. Lee-Staunton 52, OT

REGION IV
Monday
First round
Salem 67, Graham 47
Martinsville 67, Marion 47
Tuesday
Quarterfinals
Blacksburg 70, Carroll County 60, OT
Bassett 72, Salem 60, 2 OT
Martinsville 36, Abingdon 34
Hidden Valley 70, Magna Vista 47
Thursday
At Bassett H.S.
Semifinals
Blacksburg 78, Bassett 60
Hidden Valley 72, Martinsville 48
Friday
At Northside H.S.
Championship
Hidden Valley 70, Blacksburg 61, 2 OT

REGION C DIVISION 2
Tuesday
First round
George Wythe 84, PH-Glade Spring 37
Auburn 58, Chilhowie 46
Radford 84, Fort Chiswell 39
Wednesday
First round
James River 71, Giles 54
Friday
At Lord Botetourt H.S.
Semifinals
George Wythe 70, Auburn 45
James River 56, Radford 50, OT
Saturday
At Lord Botetourt H.S.
Championship
George Wythe 72, James River 60

REGION C DIVISION 1
Tuesday
First round
Parry McCluer 58, Holston 45
Pocahontas 82, Craig County 64
Wednesday
Quarterfinal
Eastern Montgomery 46, Parry McCluer 42
Thursday
First round
Northwood 58, Bath County 47
Bland County 60, Highland 40
Quarterfinal
Narrows 82, Pocahontas 73
Friday
Quarterfinals
Galax 82, Northwood 63
Bland County 39, Covington 38
Saturday
At James River H.S.
Semifinals
Galax 57, Bland County 44
Eastern Montgomery 66, Narrows 42
Monday
At James River H.S.
Championship
Galax (23-3) vs. Eastern Montgomery (16-9), 7 p.m.

VHSL GIRLS
NORTHWEST REGION
Tuesday
First round
Forest Park 61, Osbourn Park 38
Riverbend 67, Franklin County 42
George Washington 66, North Stafford 50
Potomac 60, Stonewall Jackson 59
Thursday
Semifinals
Forest Park 66, Riverbend 42
George Washington 60, Potomac 41
Saturday
Championship
Forest Park 60, George Washington 24

REGION III
Monday
First round
R.E. Lee-Staunton 45, Liberty 40
Spotswood 68, Stuarts Draft 56
Staunton River 53, William Byrd 37
Northside 45, Jefferson Forest 33
Tuesday
Quarterfinals
Lord Botetourt 63, R.E. Lee-Staunton 48
Brookville 56, Spotswood 48
Turner Ashby 77, Staunton River 37
Waynesboro 80, Northside 63
Thursday
Semifinals
At Lord Botetourt H.S.
Brookville 55, Lord Botetourt 46
Waynesboro 58, Turner Ashby 57
Saturday
Championship
At Lord Botetourt H.S.
Waynesboro 57, Brookville 37

REGION IV
Monday
First round
Graham 61, Magna Vista 51
Blacksburg 62, Tazewell 32
Tuesday
Quarterfinals
Hidden Valley 61, Graham 30
Abingdon 58, Patrick County 46
Pulaski County 62, Carroll County 53
Bassett 58, Blacksburg 44
Thursday
At Salem H.S.
Semifinals
Hidden Valley 64, Abingdon 25
Bassett 60, Pulaski County 55, OT
Friday
At Northside H.S.
Championship
Hidden Valley 59, Bassett 38

REGION C DIVISION 2
Monday
First round
George Wythe 81, Floyd County 68
Grayson County 71, Fort Chiswell 54
Radford 35, James River 31
Chilhowie 49, Auburn 36
Thursday
At James River H.S.
Semifinals
Floyd County 71, Grayson County 37
Chilhowie 42, Radford 38
Saturday
At Lord Botetourt H.S.
Championship
Floyd County 54, Grayson County 47

REGION C DIVISION 1
Monday
First round
Craig County 59, Eastern Montgomery 26
Narrows 64, Holston 24
Galax 65, Holston 45
Bath County 42, Covington 39
Tuesday
Quarterfinals
Parry McCluer 48, Craig County 30
Galax 55, Highland 49
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Northwood 68, Narrows 48
Bland County 65, Bath County 36
Saturday
At James River H.S.
Semifinals
Northwood 53, Parry McCluer 42
Bland County 46, Galax 30
Monday
At George Wythe H.S.
Championship
Northwood (10-14) vs. Bland County (12-13), 7 p.m.

VIS BOYS
BOYS
DIVISION I
Today
First round
Paul VI 69, Collegiate-Richmond 66
Christchurch 68, Liberty Christian 37
Hargrave Military 70, Norfolk Collegiate 65
Flint Hill d. Fork Union
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Benedictine 96, Paul VI 77
Christchurch 60, Episcopal 57
Blue Ridge 71, Hargrave Military 59
Bishop O'Connell 61, Flint Hill 46
Friday
At Richard Bland College, Petersburg
Semifinals
Benedictine 78, Christchurch 64
Bishop O'Connell 84, Blue Ridge 77, OT
Saturday
At Richard Bland College, Petersburg
Championship
Benedictine 67, Bishop O'Connell 46

DIVISION II
Today
First round
Walsingham (18-8) at Virginia Episcopal (15-10)
Fishburne (17-6) at Hampton Roads Academy (25-5)
Peninsula Catholic (13-7) at St. Anne’s-Belfield (19-8)
Steward School (20-4) at Roanoke Catholic (20-13), 7 p.m.
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Miller School 76, Virginia Episcopal 58
Cape Henry Collegiate 49, Hampton Roads Academy 45
Potomac School 55, St. Anne's-Belfield 50
Atlantic Shores Christian 101, Roanoke Catholic 88
Friday
At Richard Bland College, Petersburg
Semifinals
Miller School 66, Cape Henry Collegiate 51
Potomac School 65, Atlantic Shores Christian 59
Saturday
At Richard Bland College, Petersburg
Championship
Potomac School 61, Miller School 49

DIVISION III
Today
First round
Hampton Christian 66, Williamsburg Christian 35
Tidewater Academy 47, Wakefield School 45
Amelia Academy 46, Isle of Wight 36
Word of Life 86, Fuqua School 71
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Evangel Christian 62, Hampton Christian 51
Tidewater Academy 50, Stonebridge School 46
North Cross 70, Amelia Academy 46
Carlisle 78, Word of Life Academy 63
Friday
At Richard Bland College, Petersburg
Semifinals
Evangel Christian 56, Tidewater 44
North Cross 53, Carlisle 51, OT
Saturday
At Richard Bland College, Petersburg
Championship
Evangel Christian 74, North Cross 62

VIS GIRLS
DIVISION III
Today
First round
Williamsburg Christian 45, Tandem Friends 43, OT
Wakefield 29, Christchurch 23
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Carlisle 72, Williamsburg Christian 33
Amelia Academy 61, Broadwater Academy 52
Miller School 94, Southampton Academy 36
Stonebridge School 62, Wakefield School 44
Friday
At Paul VI, Alexandria
Semifinals
Miller School 41, Stonebridge School 30
Carlisle 49, Amelia Academy 36
At Paul VI, Alexandria
Semifinals
Carlisle 40, Miller School 23

You want your email inbox to fill up as a columnist? Write an NCAA tournament bubble column. Presto. Filled. Simple as that. My take that Virginia Tech still needs three wins to get in generated a variety of responses this morning.

From Jason in McLean, Va.: "First of all-if we go 10-6, we're in, win or lose in the ACC tourney. Just no way to dispute that. Leave a 9-7 ACC team behind, yes, it has happened before, but not 10-6 and that's not going to happen this year either. Not to mention, our RPI would be in the mid-40s (RPI factors in win-streak and we would've beat a top 25 RPI Clemson team). You should check out realtimerpi.com so you can get more up-to-date info than citing "Sunday's RPI" for a Wednesday article (even if it was written last night)."

More on this a bit later.

From Brett in Washington, D.C.: "I think it's time to give VT a new nickname attributed to success in all sports: 'Defense U.' Think about it....football, nuff said. Basketball? We wouldn't have won like we have this year or the past 2 years if the defense wasn't nasty. Soccer? I hear a very stingy defense as well. Don't know about baseball. Nonetheless, it's just funny how Greenberg has taken the 'business model,' if you will, of the football team, and applied it directly to basketball. Awesome coaching. Defense U. We take pride in defense."

I have no doubt Brett -- a devoted Tech fan and frequent emailer, particularly during football season -- makes good money as a financial analyst in the big city, but I think he'd do all right for himself in this business, too.

And even my own colleague threw in his two cents. Mark Berman, our Virginia Tech men's basketball beat writer, sent me this in reference to the column: "So what if no ACC team has been left out at 10-6? Sure, back when ACC had 9 teams and everyone played Duke and UNC twice, a 10-6 record meant something. But in the watered down 12-team ACC we have now, a 10-6 mark does not mean the same thing as it used to because teams' schedules aren't the same."

That's the main reason I think Tech needs at least one win in the tournament, too. Although I stand by my assertion that leaving them out at 10-6 would be historic. Probably not unfair. But by definition, historic.

Here is ESPN's updated take on the bubble situation.

And, as usual, here is a fresh piece of fake news for all to enjoy.

-- Aaron McFarling

Mark Berman back here in Blacksburg, where the Virginia Tech men's basketball team beat Boston College 67-48 for its 3rd straight win.

The Hokies led by as many as 26 points in the second half.

"The 2nd half was the best balance we've had between our offense and our defense," coach Seth Greenberg said. "We were very efficient defensively and we really executed offensively. We made the extra pass. We waited on screens. We cut harder. We were efficient in transition.

"We've got some guys, the light bulb's starting to go on. ... They start to buy in to playing harder defensively, being more alert and using their quickness and athleticism and trusting each other."

Tech improved to 8-6 in the ACC, grabbing sole possession of fourth place.

"I'm excited -- not surprised," JT Thompson said.

"In the media's eyes and whoever picked us, I think we exceeded (expectations), but in our own eyes .. this is where we thought we could be," Malcolm Delaney said.

Tech went on a 14-0 run to build a 44-25 lead with 14:46 to go.

"We forced them to take quicker shots," AD Vassallo said. "We did a good job running the break."

"The defensive pressure (improved) - we pushed up on them a little," Jeff Allen said.

Vassallo had all 12 of his points in the second half.

"I got better looks (in the 2nd half)," he said. "They weren't denying as hard as they were in the 1st half. ... The guys did a good job finding me."

Read more »

Mark Berman here in Blacksburg, where for all of you who can't see this game on ESPNU, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team leads Boston College 25-20 at halftime.

BC is shooting just 32.1 percent from the field to Tech's 40.7 percent. Tech has outrebounded BC 21-15, but Tech has 10 turnovers.

JT Thompson has eight points off the bench for Tech. AD Vassallo is 0-of-3 from the field.

Rakim Sanders has eight points for BC, while Tyrese Rice has six points.

Deron Washington and Lewis Witcher scored back-to-back baskets to give Tech a 19-15 lead with 3:51 to go in the half. Tech has led ever since.

Back with more after the game.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Virginia, which had not forced more than 20 turnovers in a game all season, took advantage of 17 first-half N.C. State turnovers Sunday en route to a 78-60 victory at John Paul Jones Arena.

It marked the first time that Virginia (13-12 overall, 3-9 ACC) has won consecutive conference games this season, while N.C. State (15-11, 4-8) lost its fifth game in a row.

The Wolfpack finished with 25 turnovers, compared to nine for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers had a season-high steals, including a career-high seven by senior point guard Sean Singletary.

Singletary also had 21 points and six assists, game highs in both categories.

Coach Dave Leitao said his team's defense in the first half, when it held State to 18 points while committing only three fouls, was the most impressive of his tenure.

Mark Berman back here in Blacksburg, where the Virginia Tech men's basketball team beat Georgia Tech 92-84.

The Hokies led the entire second half en route to clinching their fourth winning season in coach Seth Greenberg's five years at the helm. The Hokies improved to 7-6 in the ACC. Not bad for a team picked to finish 10th in the ACC's preseason media poll. They have won 2 straight after a 3 game skid.

"We weren't going to use our youth as an excuse," Greenberg said. "Two weeks ago we were Cinderella. And then a week ago we weren't so brilliant - 'we ran into the wall.' All I said to our gguys was, 'It's none of those things. Let's get better today. Let's play the next 40 minutes. Where do we need to improve? That's all we're trying to do. We're just trying to get better."

Leading 70-63 with 7:24 left, the Hokies went on an 8-0 run to build a 78-67 cushion with 4:53 to go.

AD Vassallo had 27 points for the Hokies. Malcolm Delaney had 16 points. Deron Washington had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Hokies, who outrebounded GT 42-27.

"We had a lot of heroes," Greenberg said. "Lewis Witcher (8 points) ... really good energy and really good focus and quickness, geting to the offensive glass and playing off Jeff (Allen). ... AD struggled early on but he stayed with it and made some really tough shots. After he made those tough shots I think he started to see a big basket. The job Deron Washington [did] after {Anthony] Morrow got it going was huge. .. He realy did a good job of chasing him off screens aand staying down on the shot fakes, ... making it hard for Morrow to get a good look after he got it going."

JT Thompson had 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench after missing the Maryland game with a sprained ankle.

"Probably the hero of the game was [trainer] Keith Doolan, getting JT back healthy," Greenberg said.

"I wasn't really planning on coming back and getting as much time as I did," Thompson said. "I still have some aches and pains, but it's getting there."

Thompson was just 1-of-8 from the field in Saturday's loss at UNC.

"I used shot fakes (this time), so that helped me out a lot," he said.

Read more »

Mark Berman here in Blacksburg, where the Virginia Tech men's basketball team leads Georgia Tech 42-38 at halftime in a foul-plagued game.

The Hokies hurt themselves with turnovers early and fell behind 12-2 with 14:41 left in the half.

VT went on a 12-0 run to grab a 26-22 lead with 6:54 left in the half and has led ever since. AD Vassallo had seven points in the run.

Vassallo had no points in the first 9-plus minutes of the half but now has 13.

The refs are calling way too many fouls. Tech is 18-of-24 from the line in this half, while GT is 12-of-15. GT has 18 fouls and VT has been called for 13. Jeffl Allen picked up two fouls in three minutes.

The Yellow Jackets have been outrebounded 25-17 and are shooting 37.5 percent from the field. Maurice Miller had 14 points.

The Hokies are shooting 39.3 percent from the field and have nine turnovers.

Back with more after the game.

No makeup date has been announced for the men's basketball game between Virginia and Georgia Tech that was postponed Thursday night.

A wet floor caused Georgia Tech to announce the postponement at 7:30 p.m., 30 minutes after the scheduled tipoff.

The Georgia Tech women's team practiced until 5:30 p.m., after which the men's teams took the floor for pregame shootarounds. Managers subsequently discovered droplets near the free-throw line at the east end of the floor.

Atlanta has been under a drought watch for most of the year but a steady and sometimes heavy rain hit the area in mid-morning.

UVa executive associate athletic director Jon Oliver said the game might be held following the regular season and prior to the ACC Tournament.

Opening game for the men's basketball game between Virginia and Georgia Tech has been delayed at least 20 minutes by a leak in the roof at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Puddles have developed near the foul line at one end of the court.