Mens Basketball: Miami (19-11, 9-8) at Virginia Tech (10-20, 2-15) Noon ESPN3

Its probably fitting after the season the Hokies have had to finish up with a nooner on the internet. The only drama left in this game is that Miami actually comes in with something to play for, sitting squarely on the NCAA bubble. Right now the pundits have them as one of the last four teams out. They need the win today to put them over 20 total and 10 in conference. 10 used to be an automatic entry from the ACC until our Hokies of a few years ago ruined that. Since then its been hit or miss.

Since this is our second time playing the Canes, I will give you a refresh of who their top players are but will also touch on what happened the first time around and how we need to improve if we want to have a chance to win.

Miami is still led by the same group of transfer students in McClellan and Rodriguez. The Canes are led in scoring by Sheldon McClellan, (#10) a 6'5, 210 lbs junior guard who transferred from Texas. He is giving the Canes 15.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, and 2 apg. He is coming off several 20+ point performancesa 24 point. He is also clutch at the free throw line, shooting 81% and can hit from outside.

He is joined in the backcourt by Angel Rodriguez, (#13) a 5'11, 181 lbs junior point guard who is averaging 12.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, and 2.5 rpg. Rodriguez comes to the Hurricanes on a transfer from Kansas State. Rodriguez had seemed to have found his touch in recent games, steadily scoring in double figures in eight straight games, until he hurt his wrist against Floriday State last week. It is unknown whether Rodriguez will be able to play today due to the injury.

Down low, the Hokies still face the stout task of trying to slow Tonye Jekiri, (#23) 7', 235 lbs junior Center, who is averaging 8.7 ppg to go with his 10.5 rpg. He also adds 1.6 bpg as well. He is a rebounding machine and could prove our undoing underneath unless Pierce can find a way to play a solid game. Henry and Beyer just don't have the size to keep Jekiri off the glass. He shoots 50% from the field and a solid 73.2% from the free throw line, so essentially he scores about 80% of the time he touches the ball in the paint.

The hit or miss player for the Canes seems to be Davon Reed (#5), a 6'6, 208 lbs sophomore guard. On the season, he averages 7.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg but it definitely comes in spurts. In his last three games he went for 18, 2 and 19 points respectively. The Canes just dont know what they are going to get from him game to game. Tech has to hope he has an off night, especially around the perimeter as he shoots almost 48% from beyond the arc this season.

In the last game against the Hurricanes, Tech suffered its worst loss of the season. 76-52 after playing an extremely close first half. The Hokies couldnt hit a shot to save themselves in the second half, going 10-33 from the floor. We were also crushed in the rebounding department 40-19.

I would like to think that today is going to be different, that the home crowd, it being senior "night", and the last game of the regular season. I dont expect to see us get blown out again but I dont have faith that the Hokies can manage to win this game. Too many times this year we have failed to respond, and in this case our opponent has their post season aspirations riding on beating us, so Miami will be motivated to win.

Miami 74 - Virginia Tech 62