Collegiate Times

Reality has set in. Virginia Tech’s season suffered a major bump in the road losing a game that never seemed to fall the Hokies’ way.

Various four-letter words could be heard throughout Cassell. At one point a cup of ice was thrown. Forget this game — that’s the only way the Hokies can get back on track.

North Carolina State made it happen. Tech didn’t play like the top team in the conference. However, being on top of the league at this point of the season was already unexpected. Regardless of how this game was played, it’s still one that will resonate in the locker room for weeks to come.

“We were out-coached. We were out-played. We were out-competed. We were out-focused. We were out-toughed,” Tech head coach Seth Greenberg said. “I can’t really say one thing that we did a good job.”

Not one Hokie can say they played well. The team rushed shots and was heavily out-rebounded. When your senior forward plays 19 minutes and doesn’t score a point, of course you’re going to lose. Coleman Collins had an off night, something every player in this league will have at some point during the season.

This was no fluke. The Wolfpack wanted the win more, they played with heart.

“When you lose and you’re 1-5, you’re going to play every game like it’s your last game,” said Wolfpack guard Engin Atsur. “(Virginia Tech) couldn’t get their rhythm going. That was the key, because the crowd wasn’t in the game.”

The crowd did their job last night. Students showed just in full force, but Tech played an embarrassing game according to Greenberg.

“If you don’t play well, you’re not going to win,” Greenberg said. “That’s just the way it is. We didn’t play well today and they won.”

Winning every game at home was something that seemed to be a lofty goal for the Hokies. Bad games happen. North Carolina had their bad game against the Hokies.

“This is extremely disappointing, but it’s just one game,” Greenberg said. “We have to get hrefocused. We can’t get this game back, that’s just how it is.”

Don’t blame the hreferees for this loss. This is the toughest conference in the country. The records are forgotten every time a game happens in this league. There are plenty of games to be played, and the only way Tech can stay on top is to play at the top of their game.

Reality has finally set in. The only way to compete with the big boys is to play like the big boys. Being a 14-point favorite at home is nothing to be taken lightly. A rabid wolf will bite, and the Hokies ran into the whole Pack.