Pete Gillen is no mathematician. But the apricot-topped skipper of the Virginia men's basketball knows that for his team to win two games in a row, they have to win one first.
Last Saturday, the Cavaliers (10-6, 1-5 ACC) grabbed their first conference win of the season against fellow ACC basement dweller Clemson, and tonight they'll go for number two versus conference newbie Virginia Tech (10-6, 3-2).
"It's very important [to pull together back-to-back wins]," Virginia tri-captain Devin Smith said after Virginia's 81-79 victory over the Tigers. "Everybody has their confidence back because we know that we can win in this league. We just have to prepare for Virginia Tech, because they're playing pretty good right now."
But "pretty good" might be an understatement. In their first season in the conference, Virginia Tech hasn't cowered in the shadows of Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest or any of the ACC's other beefy squads. Instead, the Hokies have joined in the winning and thrown a curveball into the conference standings.
At 3-2, the Hokies own the fifth best record in the conference, trailing only Carolina's big three and fellow surprising newcomer Miami.
After early losses at home to the Tar Heels and on the road at Florida State, Virginia Tech has strung off three straight ACC wins, most notably last weekend's 70-69 upset of then-No. 12 Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
Last season, the Hokies crutched themselves on All-Big East forward Bryant Matthews, who, at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, averaged 22 points and nine rebounds a game. This year, Tech's locus is backcourt play.
Carlos Dixon, Zabian Dowdell, Coleman Collins and Jamon Gordon aren't the type of players to be named preseason All-ACC or to be recognized in a lineup of ACC guards.
But, together, the quartet has earned Virginia Tech attention and respect in the heralded ACC.
Dixon and Dowdell both average about 15 points, Collins 11 points and Gordon 10 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
Versus the Yellow Jackets, Dixon reeled off 21 points, including the game-winning jumper with 36.8 seconds remaining.
"They've won three close games," Gillen said. "That's not an accident -- it's coaching, it's guts. They're believing in him [Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg] and listening to him. They're playing well, and that's a sign of good players and good coaches."
In the only meeting between the teams last season, Virginia won at home, 80-65.
But the Hokies trounced Virginia, 73-55, the last time they played at Tech in January 2003. The Cavaliers are 14-23 all-time in Blacksburg.
"Going on the road to Virginia Tech, we know that is going to be a hostile environment," Smith said. "We just have to take it like another game -- every team in this conference is good. We have to be prepared for a hostile environment"
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