UVa. wins nailbiter at Virginia Tech, 61-59
A 17-2 second-half run erased an eight-point deficit, and Virginia held on after losing its starting guards to foul trouble in the final two minutes to post a 61-59 win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Tuesday night.
The Hokies had won two of their last three on buzzer-beaters, and had a chance to win another one at the end after Akil Mitchell missed the front end of a one-and-one with 22.5 seconds left. Tech coach Seth Greenberg called timeout to set up a game-winning play, but his team never got a shot off.
UVa. (21-6, 8-5 ACC) had several chances to close the game out down the stretch, but missed the front ends of three consecutive one-and-ones in the final minute to leave the door open. Continue reading “UVa. wins nailbiter at Virginia Tech, 61-59” »
Virginia Tech transfer eligible immediately for JMU
James Madison men’s basketball head coach Matt Brady announced Tuesday that incoming forward Gene Swindle, a transfer from Virginia Tech, has been cleared by the NCAA to compete immediately for the Dukes during the 2011-12 season.
“We’re absolutely delighted that Gene was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA and we’re eager to welcome him to our team and our program,” declared Brady after the ruling.
Typically NCAA rules require transfers from one Division I institution to another to sit out a season. However, Swindle, who stands at 6’11″ and 260 pounds, was limited to less than one minute of action in three years with the Hokies. After redshirting as a freshman in 2008-09, he suffered an injury to his knee thought to be career ending during a Nov. 17 game against UNC Greensboro. He had one rebound and a missed field goal, his only official career statistics. Swindle then spent the 2010-11 season as an undergraduate assistant coach at VT before deciding to transfer to JMU and give basketball one more shot. He will be a redshirt junior for the Dukes for the 2011-12 campaign.
“I’m just thrilled to be honest after sitting out last year with an injury,” commented Swindle. “Just the fact that I’ve been cleared by the doctors and cleared by the NCAA means the world to me after everything I’ve been through. JMU is a good fit for me. I like the team and the coach and feel like I fit in pretty well with the program.”
Brady added, “He’s a terrific addition to a team that is coming together nicely for JMU in 2011-12. Gene brings terrific character, work ethic and an enthusiastic love of the game to JMU and our basketball program. It was unfortunate that things didn’t work out for him health-wise at Tech. I know they liked him as a player and a person, but JMU became an excellent opportunity for him and for us.”
Swindle originally hails from Miami, Fla. and played scholastically for three years at Gulliver Prep following his freshman year at Westminster Christian School. He was a three-time team captain while leading the Raiders to three straight district titles. Swindle averaged 15.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game during his three years at Gulliver, highlighted by 18.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks as a senior. In addition, he helped the Gulliver water polo team to a state championship as a junior and was a member of the student council. Swindle competed in football and volleyball in addition to basketball as a freshman at Westminster.
ACC-Big 10 Challenge matchups announced
The 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Nov. 29-30 will be highlighted by Duke at Ohio State and Wisconsin at North Carolina – four traditional power programs expected to be highly ranked entering the 2011-12 season – and an expanded format with new Big Ten member Nebraska.
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to broadcast all 12 games of the two-day event, one more than in the previous 12 Challenges. Continue reading “ACC-Big 10 Challenge matchups announced” »
Hokies' ACC run ends
An Erick Green layup at the 18-minute mark brought Virginia Tech within six, but an 11-2 Duke run pushed the lead back into double figures to stay as the #2-seeded Blue Devils topped the #6 seed Hokies 77-63 on Saturday in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
About 16 hours after an emotional 52-51 victory over Florida State, Tech (21-11) came out flat for Duke, which lost 64-60 at Tech two weeks ago. Continue reading “Hokies' ACC run ends” »
Hokies survive apparent buzzer-beater
Erick Green made an 18-footer with 4.5 seconds left to give Virginia Tech the lead, and an apparent game-winner at the buzzer by Florida State’s Derwin Kitchen was nullified by a lengthy official review, allowing the Hokies to escape with a 52-51 victory in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals Friday night.
#6 seed Tech (21-10) advances to play #2 seed Duke in Saturday’s semifinals – and perhaps more importantly appears to have all but sewn up an at-large berth in next week’s NCAA Tournament. Continue reading “Hokies survive apparent buzzer-beater” »
The AFP on WREL: Politics and sports
AFP editor Chris Graham talks news and sports on WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
The discussion begins with an early look at the local budget season. It won’t be any easier than recent years, Chris predicts, even with the improving economy, with Washington and Richmond not doing any more than in recent years to pass money through down to the local level.
The local politics season will be relatively quiet, Chris says in a discussion that runs from local races in the General Assembly in 2011 all the way to the 2012 Senate race.
Then the attention shifts to sports – with talk about the ACC Tournament, including Virginia’s historic choke against Miami and Virginia Tech taking care of business.
We wrap talking up Waynesboro’s run in the Group AA state basketball tournament.
Hokies dominate Georgia Tech in ACC opener
Virginia Tech jumped out to an early 15-2 lead and cruised from there to a 59-43 win over Georgia Tech in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Thursday.
The Hokies (20-10) led by as many as 19 points in the first half and went into the halftime break up 36-19. Georgia Tech (13-18) would get no closer than 15 in the second half. Continue reading “Hokies dominate Georgia Tech in ACC opener” »
Hokies fall at Clemson, now squarely on NCAA bubble
A 15-5 run to begin the second half gave Clemson separation, and the Tigers held off a couple of Virginia Tech rallies en route to a 69-60 win to end the regular season for both teams.
An 16-3 Clemson run in the first half pushed the Tigers (20-10, 9-7 ACC) to an early 15-point bulge, but the Hokies rallied to within four at 34-30 at the half. Clemson’s strong second-half start left the Tigers up 49-35 at the 11:29 mark. The closest that Virginia Tech (19-10, 9-7 ACC) would get the rest of the way would be seven points. Continue reading “Hokies fall at Clemson, now squarely on NCAA bubble” »
Riding the bubble again?
Maybe I’m alone on this, but that’s where I think Virginia Tech is after that demoralizing 76-61 home loss to Boston College Tuesday night. Except for a 10-minute stretch in the middle of the game, the Hokies were dominated at home three days after its supposedly season-defining win over then-#1 Duke.
Reality check: The updated CBSSports.com RPI has Tech down to #62, i.e. dangerously close to being out of the field, after the BC game. More reality: The Hokies are a woeful 2-6 against the RPI Top 50, and a middling 4-3 against RPI 101-200 (with two losses to anemic Virginia). Continue reading “Riding the bubble again?” »
Tech loses at home to BC: Back on the bubble?
Boston College led by as many as 20 points in the second half and held on to defeat a sluggish Virginia Tech 76-61 in Blacksburg Tuesday.
The win gives BC (18-11, 8-7 ACC) a sweep of the season series with Tech and boosts the Eagles NCAA Tourament hopes. The loss similarly puts a black mark on the tournament resume of Virginia Tech (19-9, 9-6 ACC), which just three days ago seemed to have played its win into the NCAAs with a dramatic win over then-#1 Duke. Continue reading “Tech loses at home to BC: Back on the bubble?” »
The AFP on WREL: The big stage
AFP editor Chris Graham talks local and Virginia sports on WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
This week’s segment begins with a look back at Virginia Tech’s big win over then-#1 Duke. Did the victory cinch an NCAA bid for the Hokies? Chris thinks Tech still has some work to do, but the squad is looking good at the moment.
UVa. JMU, VMI and the high-school hoops scene wrap us up.
The AFP on WREL: Senate Madness
Posted by afp on March 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment
The segment begins with a review of Virginia politics news. The focus in that sector is still on what Tim Kaine will or will not do regarding a potential run at the 2012 Democratic Senate nomination.
A look at the Virginia economy through the lens of state-revenue collections follows, and then the attention turns to the NCAA Tournament. Can Richmond make a run to the Sweet 16?
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