Column: Magic holds Hokies to win in Columbus

Columbus, OH — Can you smell it? Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you feel it?

It’s NCAA March Madness, and you can definitely taste it.

There’s something magical in the 54-52 Hokie victory Friday night against Illinois. It hits all five senses. Maybe there should be one more sense added to that equation – the sense of fear.

With a little over four minutes to go, the Hokies trailed by ten points and emotions were running low. Most of the problem turned to be the fact that the Hokies had only scored 44 points to that point.

Illinois played great defense for 36 minutes. Tech’s shots weren’t falling and the Illini did what any good team did in forcing the opponent to play a different style of game.

The clock was running non-stop all game. Illinois was like that friend you play against in Madden NFL Football on the PlayStation – when you’re down by six points; he runs the clock down and down. The clock became a factor, and the Hokies could do nothing to control it.

Defense changed the entire aspect of the game in the final minutes. It all started with Jamon Gordon. During the run, Deron Washington hit a three-pointer and Seth Greenberg immediately called a timeout. Gordon had his hands on the grease board, drawing out the defensive schemes.

That’s what makes Gordon the cornerstone of this year’s edition of the men’s basketball team. He is a true leader on the court. When Greenberg got the technical foul early in the game, Gordon was the first to calm him down. When Tech needed a big stop, Gordon was the first to make a play. Most of all, Gordon jumped up and down on center court with minutes left in the game, rejuvenating a fearful Tech cheering section.

Gordon could feel it. He didn’t get the glory interviews after the game or his name being cheered from the stands, but Gordon didn’t care. He’s playing another day.

So is Coleman Collins. For a senior who has suffered the unthinkable for the last two seasons, his lowest point of his career happened on the grandest of stages. With under a minute left before halftime, he grabbed an errant pass and drove for the basket. Instead of driving down a hammer destined to be replayed on YouTube, he shanked it off the back iron.

Collins could taste it at halftime. Whatever he drank in the locker room should be sold in mass quantity to every Hokie fan. He returned to the court a new man. He made the free throws and played with a clutch attitude, something that Tech fans seemed to forget after a disappointing regular season for the Stone Mountain, Ga. native.

Collins could feel it too. His grin was from ear-to-ear after the game. It is truly bad that very few of his peers were able to see the performance.

Of the few Tech fans in attendance, even less were actual students. That’s a far cry from a small school like Holy Cross. The Crusaders allotted 250 tickets only to students, who were standing and cheering non-stop during Holy Cross’ game against Southern Illinois. To make matters better, the alumni paid for the 12 hour bus ride from Massachusetts.

Almost no Tech students were to be found. It’s a shame that the athletic department failed to realize the team’s biggest supporters were still back in Blacksburg.

March Madness is making its mark. The taste of the magic for Virginia Tech is in the air. Too bad the student body can’t be a part of it.