Collegiate Times

"The kids did a good job of executing," said head coach Seth Greenberg. "I want to get Malcolm (Delaney) in the gap or if he didn't have it, hand it off and A.D. (Vassallo) was on the backside. He got a good look. We'll take that look. Sometimes you make them, and sometimes you don't."

All the stars aligned for the Hokies, they got the type of production from their 'Big Three' that usually secures a win. This time it just didn't happen.

There's no denying Florida State is a very good team. Heralded guard Toney Douglas played as advertised, leading the 'Noles with 22 points and guard Derwin Kitchen stepped up and played his best game of the season, contributing with 19 points and six rebounds.

Yes, all hope is not lost.  Saturday's game was not the final one. The remaining schedule is simple, yet intimidating.  The last four games of the regular season all come against top five teams in the ACC.

It appears as if Tech can beat either Duke and/or North Carolina at home and score another win on the road against Clemson or the Seminoles, they can still save their season. Others who feel particularly sanguine believe that if Tech can just win both road contests, they can make a case for an at-large bid.

But if the Hokies do not have enough to defeat the worst of their four remaining opponents at home, what slightest bit of evidence is there to give one hope that they can turn it around against three top-15 teams in Clemson, Duke, and North Carolina? And who knows what will occur in the conference tournament other than that no plausible first-round opponent will be an easy win for the Hokies.

Perhaps this is all pessimism to the utmost degree, but it cannot be argued that the current is going against a Tech team that is all but drifting along at this point in the season.

And let it be known that there's nothing wrong with a bid to the NIT - such a bid would be seen as an accomplishment for so many programs. But when a team shows as much promise as Tech did earlier this season, anything less than the 'Big Dance' just leaves a sour taste in one's mouth.

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