Virginia Tech Preview
February 27, 2004 04:01 PM | General
February 27, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia draws another tough road assignment Saturday when the Mountaineers face Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum for a noon Big East tilt.
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| West Virginia coach John Beilein is hoping for a better performance from his team Saturday at Virginia Tech. (AP photo) |
The Hokies come into the game needing a victory to keep its hopes alive of qualifying for the Big East tournament. Tech has never made it to New York City since joining the Big East prior to the 2001 season.
While boasting an overall losing record (11-13), the Hokies have been very formidable at home, winning three of six league games at Cassell and posting an overall 9-4 mark at home.
Tech won its last meeting at home against St. John’s 54-53 and also shows an impressive 69-57 win over Providence back on Feb. 4.
Earlier this year, Virginia Tech defeated West Virginia 69-67 in Morgantown. The Hokies were able to shoot 55.6 percent from the floor and Markus Sailes hit a driving layup with nine seconds left to give Tech its first conference victory of the year.
“That game was one where we were in big time transition from a shakeup in our lineup and we weren’t very efficient in the game,” said West Virginia coach John Beilein. “On the other hand Virginia Tech played very well and deserved to win.”
West Virginia was playing its second game without leading scorer Drew Schifino, who was dismissed from the team for violation of team rules. Virginia Tech was also without freshman guard Jamon Gordon, who has since returned to the lineup and is expected to start Saturday.
Joining Gordon (10.2 ppg.) in Coach Seth Greenberg’s three-guard lineup is freshman Zabian Dowdell (11.1 ppg.) and Sales (5.3 ppg.). Up front, the Hokies will go with forwards Bryant Matthews (22.5 ppg.) and Coleman Collins (9.1 ppg.).
In its last game Wednesday night Tech dropped a 56-48 decision at Boston College after leading by five at halftime. Matthews led the Hokies with a game-high 21 points.
West Virginia (14-10, 6-7), meanwhile, is coming off a stinging 21-point road loss at Rutgers. Patrick Beilein came off the bench to lead West Virginia with 16 points and center D’or Fischer contributed 14.
The Mountaineers are expected to start Fischer (10.3 ppg.) and forwards Tyrone Sally (9.8 ppg.) and Kevin Pittsnogle (9.6 ppg.) up front, with Joe Herber (8.3 ppg.) and J.D. Collins (4.2 ppg.) in the backcourt.
West Virginia has lost two in a row twice but has yet to lose three in a row this season. The Mountaineers own a 46-28 advantage in series play that dates back to 1920 and West Virginia has won six of the last eight and three in a row at Cassell.
Saturday’s game will be televised by ESPN Regional and will be carried locally on WCHS in Charleston, WOAY in Beckley, WVFX in Clarksburg and WJAL in Chambersburg, Pa.
