A laundry list a mile long has been compiling since the Hokies joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004. That list included things such as never beating BC in league play, a 80-59 loss in Chestnut Hill this season, Coach Greenberg was sick as a dog for the last two days, and most of all, they had inspiration from the other team.
In Wednesday's Washington Post, Eagle forward Jared Dudley commented on how easy it was to play against the Hokies in the Feb. 3 game.
"They're not the best defensive team we face," Dudley said in the article. "You'll get your looks and an opportunity to score."
Yeah, check your words at the door, Jared. That quote was plastered all over the Tech locker room when the players reported for shoot-around yesterday morning. The Hokies were upset beyond belief, which was a big problem for Boston College.
It's obvious that Tech played a bad game against N.C. State last Sunday. Greenberg was drained mentally and physically after losing in Raleigh. Both teams were coming off of embarrassing loses after BC lost to No. 5 North Carolina.
In BC's loss to UNC, Dudley shanked three straight free throws needed to tie the game at a critical point in the game. His team needed the win just as much, and they played with tenacity in the first half, closing the period on a 9-0 run.
Thoughts of a letdown were flowing through Cassell, but inspiration came from a few places. Greenberg, who was still ailing, gave a halftime speech that should be bottled up and sold to the highest bidder.
But it was the Eagles' Sean Marshall that kept the crowd in it. After a confrontation with Tech's Deron Washington in the first half, the crowd owned him. Every time he touched the ball from that point on, the student section treated him like an opponent's critical third down play in Lane Stadium.
That needs to happen every game, because it works. Marshall was yucking it up at halftime when the students were giving him the shout treatment, laughing every time he made a shot. But when it came down to brass tax, he only made two shots the rest of the game — two free throws.
"What was surprising to me is that I saw some confusion out there on our end," said BC head coach Al Skinner about their offensive struggles.
Picking a horse and riding him all night is nothing new. The Maryland game strikes me as the best example. During the ice-storm game, Tech fans rode the Terps' Greivis Vasquez like a rented mule. I can still hear it now, "VASQUEZ – VASQUEZ – VASQUEZ."
Jumping on a visiting player's back is what a student section is all about. The wins against Maryland and the one last night became more than just a game.
In the meantime, the inspired Tech squad clipped the Eagles' wings to start the second half.A 32-6 run is unheard of, but this was a team that wanted revenge from that loss up at BC.
"I was just hoping to beat them by 40 if we could," said Tech forward A.D. Vassallo. "Every time they made a shot, I was like, 'Man, they're cutting our lead down,' It was just satisfaction because we played a hard game and played our hearts out."
The win came a little short of 40, but the Hokies took care of business in the end. Sure, BC closed the lead some, but Tech embarrassed a top team in the league on national television.Come on. When Markus Sailes dunks on you, you know you're in for a long night.
Tech plays lights-out against teams in the top of the conference, 6-1 to be exact. That lone loss came at the hands of the Eagles, but that got turned around last night.
Greenberg may or may not have gotten a good night's rest last night. It was tough with that head cold, but at least his team played an inspired game — and that's the best medicine.