Hokies' NCAA hopes fading fast

Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg remained defiant after yesterday's 63-53 loss at No. 24 Florida State -- a result all but assured by the Hokies' worst shooting performance in 40 games.

But even as Greenberg tried to keep his players upbeat in the locker room afteward, he had to know time is running out on their push for an NCAA tournament at-large bid.

"I just told the guys that everyone thinks that our dream of making the tournament is over," Greenberg said on his postgame radio show. "It's not over. We have games to play. Win games. Play yourself into the tournament. It's that plain and simple."

With its regular season ending yesterday, Tech (7-9 ACC, 17-13) must now try to get quality wins in this week's ACC tournament in Atlanta. The Hokies will be the eighth seed and play in the tournament's first game, Thursday at noon against ninth-seed Miami (7-9, 18-11). The winner plays top-seed North Carolina at noon Friday in the quarterfinals.

If the Hokies win their first two games in Atlanta, they would have a stronger case for an NCAA spot. But if they play the way they did yesterday, they will have to settle for the National Invitation Tournament for the second consecutive season.

The Hokies shot 16 of 52 -- a 30.8 percent showing that was their worst since they shot 25.9 last season in a 92-53 loss at North Carolina. Their leading scorer, senior A.D. Vassallo, was brutal, making 1 of 11 shots in the game's first 35:35. He finished 4 of 15 for 14 points, but the Hokies needed more from him.

Because the other two members of Tech's Big Three, guard Malcolm Delaney and forward Jeff Allen, offered little help. Delaney scored 13 points, five fewer than his average, and made as many shots (4 of 12) as he had fouls. Allen proved even more of a nonfactor, scoring six points on 1-of-2 shooting and fouling out with 2:16 remaining.

Two unfortunate trends continued for the Hokies, who lost for the sixth time in seven games and eighth time in 11. Delaney has shot 10 of 40 in the past three games. Perhaps more disturbing for Greenberg: In seven of those eight losses, his team fell behind by at least eight points in the first half -- including deficits of 10 at Virginia, 14 against Florida State in Blacksburg and 16 at home against Duke.

Yesterday, the Seminoles (10-6, 23-8) led 28-14 with 3:48 left in the first half, as the Hokies made three of their first 18 shots -- including a combined 0 of 6 from Vassallo and Delaney. The Hokies trailed 32-25 at halftime. They have scored fewer points in a first half just three other times this season.

But they still managed to cut the Seminoles' lead to 45-42 with 7:18 left. Then Florida State senior guard Toney Douglas showed why he might be the ACC player of the year, nailing a 3-pointer on the next possession. "It goes back to the same thing: We had to get a stop," Greenberg said, revisiting a familiar theme this season. "We couldn't get a stop."

Douglas (22 points) scored nine of Florida State's next 11 points, hitting another 3 and a jumper after Tech twice trimmed the margin to six. And right after that jumper, he swiped the ball from Dorenzo Hudson, sprinted down the court for a layup attempt, was fouled and made both free throws. Tech never contended again.

VIRGINIA TECH (7-9, 17-13)


M FG FT R PF A Pts Allen------------------------- 28 1-2 4-8 4 5 0 6 Vassallo------------------------- 37 4-15 4-5 3 0 4 14 Diakite------------------------- 25 2-6 2-2 11 0 0 6 Thorns------------------------- 35 0-3 0-0 2 1 3 0 Delaney------------------------- 29 4-12 3-4 3 4 0 13 Bell------------------------- 3 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 Hudson------------------------- 17 1-4 0-0 1 2 0 3 Davila------------------------- 9 2-4 0-0 2 2 0 4 Thompson------------------------- 17 2-5 3-4 2 3 1 7 Team 5 Totals ------------------------- 16-52 16-23 33 17 8 53

FLORIDA STATE (10-6 ACC, 23-8)

M FG FT R PF A Pts Singleton------------------------- 32 2-6 0-0 4 0 1 4 Echefu------------------------- 34 2-6 4-4 6 2 1 9 Alabi------------------------- 22 4-6 0-0 6 4 0 8 Hoff------------------------- 5 2-3 0-0 1 1 0 6 Douglas------------------------- 36 7-19 6-6 5 3 3 22 Gibson------------------------- 6 1-1 0-0 1 0 0 2 DeMercy------------------------- 11 1-1 0-0 0 2 1 2 Loucks------------------------- 10 1-2 0-0 3 2 1 2 Dulkys------------------------- 6 0-1 0-0 0 2 1 0 Kitchen------------------------- 24 1-4 4-4 3 1 1 6 Reid------------------------- 14 1-2 0-2 2 1 0 2 Team 5 Totals ------------------------- 22-51 14-16 36 18 9 63

Virginia Tech ------------------------- 25 28 -- 53
Florida St. ------------------------- 32 31 -- 63

3-point goals -- Va. Tech (5-20): Vassallo 2-7, Delaney 2-7, Hudson 1-2, Bell 0-1, Thorns 0-3. Florida St. (5-19): Hoff 2-2, Douglas 2-6, Echefu 1-3, Loucks 0-1, Dulkys 0-1, Kitchen 0-2, Singleton 0-4.

Turnovers -- Va. Tech (17): Vassallo 5, Delaney 4, Allen 3, Hudson 3, Diakite, Thorns. Florida St. (17): Kitchen 6, Alabi 3, Reid 3, Douglas 2, Loucks 2, Echefu.

Blocked shots -- Va. Tech (3): Allen 2, Diakite. Florida St. (4): Alabi 2, Singleton, Echefu.

Steals -- Va. Tech (9): Delaney 4, Thompson 2, Allen, Vassallo, Thorns. Florida St. (7): Douglas 2, Singleton, Echefu, Alabi, Kitchen, Reid.

A -- 7,871.