Collegiate Times

NIT center

Below the basket, Robinson and fellow senior forward Gavin Edwards (10.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg) helped the Huskies outrebound their opponents 39.5-35.5 this season.

Along the perimeter, Dyson and sophomore guard Kemba Walker have helped the Huskies outshoot their opponents 45 percent to 39.3 percent on the year. Walker is averaging 14.5 points and an impressive five assists per game this season and is Connecticut’s biggest threat from beyond the arc, converting on 34.3 percent of his three-point attempts.

“Connecticut is really talented and very athletic,” Hokies head coach Seth Greenberg said. “They have size and shot makers.”

If the Hokies want to get past the Huskies, their starters will have to continue their diligent work on the defensive end to contain a dangerous Huskies starting lineup.

Wednesday, Tech junior forward Terrell Bell was given the duty of guarding Quinnipiac’s leading scorer, James Feldeine. Feldeine, who averaged 16.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season, was held scoreless against the Hokies.

“Terrell Bell did an absolutely phenomenal job guarding Feldeine,” Greenberg said.

On Monday, the Hokies will face a much similar guard in Dyson in terms of size and threat. Dyson, like Feldeine, is a 6-foot-4-inch scorer who leads his team with ferocity inside and outside of the perimeter.

Bell will most likely be called on again, and his performance could be just as important as anyone’s Monday, including Tech’s leading scorer Delaney, who put up 25 points in the Hokies’ first-round win.

Greenberg isn’t worried about being let down, though. He knows his players.

“We had everything to lose and not a whole lot to gain,” Greenberg said after Wednesday’s win. “For them to come out and play as hard as they played and be ready when the ball went up ... that’s why it hurt so much for me and for them on Sunday.”

“I told them before the game, ‘If you are who I know you are then you’ll come out and play hard,’” he said.

Wednesday’s win and the Hokies’ performance confirmed his thoughts.

“That’s who they are.”

The Hokies and Connecticut will go head to head in the second round play of the NIT on Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.

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A version of this article appeared in the Mar 19 issue of the Collegiate Times.