Hokies eye chances to rise in RPI

By: Darryl Slater | Times-Dispatch
Published: February 16, 2010

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech is 7-3 in the ACC, 20-4 overall with six games left in the regular season and 26 days between now and the unveiling of the NCAA tournament's field of 65. By any measure, the Hokies are off to a successful start, having reached 20 wins at the earliest point on the calendar in school history.

They are in the conversation for an NCAA at-large bid because of power forward Jeff Allen's recent strong play, shooting guard Dorenzo Hudson's emergence as reliable scorer and wing player Terrell Bell's thankless contributions as a rebounder. All three complement fellow junior Malcolm Delaney, the Hokies' point guard and the ACC's leading scorer.

Though the Hokies have done plenty so far, the one achievement that will define their season -- whether or not they make the tournament -- still remains uncertain. The next week could improve their chances of getting a bid, because they play two teams, Wake Forest and Duke, that will be in the tournament, and beating one or both would impress the tournament's selection committee.

Tonight, Tech hosts Wake, ranked 11th in the Ratings Percentage Index. Sunday night: on the road at Duke, currently second in the RPI. The Hokies, 50th as of yesterday, need wins over teams in the RPI top 50, and if they beat one or two in the top 15, all the better for their tournament hopes.

They are 1-2 against the RPI top 50, with a win over No. 34 Clemson. Their remaining top-50 opponents after this week are No. 42 Maryland and No. 29 Georgia Tech. Their Jan. 2 win over Seton Hall could become a top-50 victory, because the Pirates are 55th.

Considering the opportunity at hand tonight in Cassell Coliseum, where the Hokies are 13-0, this rates as the most significant game of their season to date. Winning it could depend on how they handle Wake's rebounding ability and length.

The Demon Deacons' leading scorer, 6-9 sophomore forward Al-Farouq Aminu, leads the ACC with 10.4 rebounds in conference play. Tech ranks 11th in the 12-team league in rebounding margin in ACC games: minus-3.2.

In addition to Aminu, Wake plays guys who are 7-foot, 6-11, 6-11 and 6-7. That length lets the Deacons cover the court well and means the Hokies must be readier than usual to shoot when they get an open look. "It's hard to simulate that length in our practice because we've got a bunch of 6-8 guys," said Tech coach Seth Greenberg.

One of their bigger players, 6-7 Allen, is showing lately why Delaney calls him "one of the best big men in the league." In Tech's first five ACC games, he averaged 6.8 points. In the past five: 14.6.

Many expected Allen to be the Hokies' second scoring option behind Delaney, who is averaging 21.2 points against ACC teams. Instead, Hudson has that role. His ACC scoring average last season was 3.9. This season: 16.2.

Hudson's improvement started in the summer, when he worked on his shot more than ever, spending eight hours a day, five days a week at a gym near his hometown, Marshville, N.C. "I feel like it's paying off for me a lot right now," he said.

Summer scrimmages with teammates also showed Bell, who's making his debut as a starter, that Tech already had three capable scorers. "So who was going to do the little things?" he said. He was, as it turned out. Bell has a team-best 5.9 rebounds and 13 blocks in conference games.

Contact Darryl Slater at (804) 649-6026 or dslater@timesdispatch.com.