Hokies enter make-or-break stretch with confidence intact

BLACKSBURG -- A few weeks before the season began, Jeff Allen was talking about all the promise the coming months could hold for him and his Virginia Tech teammates. He knew most observers had the Hokies -- with all but one starter returning from a team that went 9-7 in the ACC -- pegged as an NCAA tournament team. And he acknowledged that if they didn't make the tournament, the season would qualify as nothing short of a disappointment.

Now that two weeks are left in the regular season, the Hokies find themselves in the same tense situation as last year, fighting to improve their credentials before the tournament's field is announced March 15.

Four losses in their past six games have left them 6-5 in the ACC with five games remaining -- all against teams that, barring epic tumbles, will receive NCAA bids. Even back in October, Allen or anyone connected with Tech's program might have looked at these five games and stated what is now obvious: This is the stretch in which the Hokies will prove if they are tournament worthy.

It begins with today's 8 p.m. home game against Florida State and continues with a trip to Clemson on Wednesday, home games against Duke and North Carolina and the regular-season finale at Florida State on March 8. All four teams currently are in the top 18 of the Ratings Percentage Index, a formula the tournament selection committee uses to pick its teams. North Carolina, Duke and Clemson are third, fifth and seventh.

Wins in any of these games would strengthen Tech's tournament résumé. Wednesday's 75-61 loss at Virginia, which is 84th in the RPI? That one could sting the Hokies if the committee passes on them for the second consecutive season.

"Depends what happens in the next five games," Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. "If we don't win games in the next five games, it's a bad loss. If we win three of them, it's a loss. The season isn't over. We're not gonna throw a pity party for ourselves. We've got five games left. We could win all five of them, and this isn't a damaging loss."

Easier said than done, even with Allen returning tonight. The sophomore forward, who leads the Hokies in rebounds and is third in scoring, was suspended by Tech for the Virginia game because he flashed his middle finger at Maryland's fans last Saturday.

Yet pressing concern remain.

Sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney, who was one of the ACC's best players in Tech's first seven league games, has shot 30.8 percent in the past four. Last season he shot 42 percent overall and 36.8 percent in league games.

"He's a good shooter," Greenberg said. "It's not his shooting touch. He missed shots. Dwyane Wade misses shots. I want him to shoot the ball. I have great faith in Malcolm Delaney."

And if Greenberg sounded repetitive after the Virginia game when he said "we've got to get stops," that's because Tech's recent poor defense continues to trouble him.

Of the Hokies' four worst defensive showings -- in terms of their opponent's field-goal percentage -- three have occurred in the past four games: a win over North Carolina State and losses to Maryland and Virginia. Today brings no respite. Florida State senior guard Toney Douglas leads the ACC in scoring in conference play with 23.3 points per game.

"We're having a little trouble right now getting our stuff together, but it can be easily fixed," sophomore forward J.T. Thompson said, emphasizing that the Hokies have struggled lately to pair a quality offensive performance with stingy defense. "Once we get them together, I think we'll be able to make a run and still make the tournament."