ESPN's College GameDay Comes to Blacksburg

The college hoops version of ESPN's College GameDay will be in Blacksburg this weekend as the Hokies host the No. 1 ranked Duke Blue Devils in a prime time match up.

The game is enormous for Tech (18-8, 8-5) as they once again reside squarely on the "bubble" for the NCAA Tournament.

Duke (26-2, 12-1) has only lost to St. Johns and Florida State this season and sits poised to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament come March.

Tech has played extremely well against the top-ranked team in the nation, compiling a 3-4 all-time record including wins over North Carolina in 2007 and Wake Forest in 2009.

In it's last five games against the No. 1 team The cumulative score reads Virginia Tech 389 No. 1 Team 383.

This is an enormous opportunity for the Hokies and you can expect a raucous crowd in Cassell Coliseum.

The only bad thing will be how many times they'll show former Tech great Dell Curry wearing Duke stuff behind their bench.

More Tennessee Drama

Volnation.com is the place to go for independent Tennessee football and basketball coverage, message boards and the personification of the general ignorance of their entire fan base. However, it's been struggling to handle all the web traffic of the past few days.

The shocking resignation and hiring of Lane Kiffin at USC started the disaster. As students took to the streets, literally blocking Kiffin from leaving Tennessee's athletic complex for several hours until a police escort was put together, the internet ran wild with rumors.



So far, it would appear that Tennessee has been turned down by Texas defensive coordinator and "head coach in waiting" Will Muschamp and Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun.

There are plenty of rumors surrounding Mike Leach and David Cutcliffe, but my gut tells me UT will be reluctant about Leach, another high-profile, big-ego guy.

Most sources indicate Cutcliffe still doesn't have any interest in the Vols. You may remember they approached him last season, but he elected to continue building the Duke program. I can't see anything changing in one season, if anything Duke is a much stronger team and has a bright upside.

Here's a link to a Huffington Post article that includes some great pictures of the students and their handy work on one of those free expression rocks found on many campuses that students can repaint.

Also, word now is that my boy Al Groh is likely going to be the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.

Hokies Edge Clemson, Set Sights On Duke

Led by a gritty performance from sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech defeated #13 Clemson 80-77 on the road in Littlejohn Coliseum Wednesday night.

Despite landing hard on his right side while driving to the basket in the second half, Delaney recovered finishing the game with 26 points and 6 assists, including a blistering 4-7 from three point range.

Senior A.D. Vassallo added 21 points going an equally impressive 4-9 from beyond the arc. Vassallo also knocked down two crucial free throws in the final moments to give Tech the 3-point cushion that proved to be the final margin.

Diminutive sophomore guard Hank Thorns made his first start of the season and was a difference maker for the Hokies. Thorns played 30 minutes, scoring 10 points, dishing out 4 assists and grabbing 3 rebounds. He did a solid job helping Tech navigate the Clemson's full-court press, eventually causing the Tigers to abandon their pressure defense.

With the win, Tech is now 17-10 overall and 7-6 in the ACC. The much needed victory ended the Hokies' three-game losing streak, and has rekindled hopes of an NCAA Tournament birth but the road will be tough.

The Hokies' run through nationally ranked opponents continues Saturday in the friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum against the #7 Duke Blue Devils.

Tech looks to avenge an ugly 69-44 loss to Duke back on Jan. 4. Since joining the ACC, Tech-Duke games in Cassell have been very exciting and hotly contested. The Hokie faithful will certainly be more than ready to help the Hokies continue their run to postseason play.

To help get the juices flowing early, heres an amazingly bad no-call in a recent Duke home game. Of course, it would take a brave official to call something on Duke right in front of their bench.

There won't be such Devil-friendly calls come 3:30 on Saturday...