With most of the attention focused on the NCAA Tournament, folks may not have noticed the stunning transformation of WNIT semifinalist Virginia Tech from adversity-plagued ACC also-ran to postseason offensive juggernaut. With the Hokies set to visit West Virginia Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a spot in the WNIT final, we get a few shots up on Tech’s sizzling – and surprising – postseason run.
Reverse layup – In its final five games of the regular season, Virginia Tech went 1-4 and averaged 55.2 points per contest. The victory was an eight-point decision at home over last-place Clemson, a game in which the Hokies had to overcome a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit. In six postseason games since, the Hokies have gone 5-1 while averaging 74 points per outing. The loss was a three-point, neutral-site setback to Final Four-bound Louisville (36-2), a game in which Tech led for more than 20 minutes. In his post-game press conference, Cardinals coach Jeff Walz said the team he’d just played belonged in the NCAA Tournament.
Free throw – If Walz had said that a week prior, when the Hokies were still adjusting to the loss (for personal reasons) of star point guard Chanette Hicks, he’d have been laughed out of the room.
Baby hook – Tech’s recent surge has been a collective effort. All-ACC guard Taylor Emery has gotten hers, as usual, but Regan Magarity, Aisha Sheppard, Alexis Jean and newly-installed point guard Rachel Camp have all taken turns lighting opponents up. In Thursday’s 31-point rout of Fordham, they all went off in the same game.
Step-back 3 – Given that the five victories all came against postseason teams, we’d argue that this is Tech’s most impressive six-game stretch in more than a decade. The Hokies have had longer winning streaks in the years since, but when you adjust for level of competition, we have to go back to the 2006-07 season to find anything comparable to the run Tech is on now.
Putback – We weren’t sure Camp could handle the point. Then again, a couple of years ago we weren’t sure Houston Rockets star James Harden was a point guard, either. Last we checked, Harden was rehearsing his MVP speech. Now, we’re not saying Camp is Harden. You just never know until you put the ball in their hands.
Mid-range J – The one box Tech has yet to check during this streak is a victory in a true road game, which is why Wednesday’s WNIT semifinal at West Virginia looms as the Hokies’ second-biggest postseason challenge yet (taking on Louisville will remain No. 1).
Floater – The home team has gone 47-13 (78.3 percent) in this year’s WNIT, so credit Mountaineers coach Mike Carey for not trying to downplay the significance of this game being played at the WVU Coliseum. “It’s a big advantage,” Carey said.
Corner 3 – West Virginia rolled to a 79-61 victory when these teams met on Nov. 25 in Florida during the Paradise Jam, but as the Roanoke Times’ Mark Berman details, this is a much different version of Virginia Tech.
Halfcourt heave – Mountaineers senior point guard Chania Ray, who verbally committed to Kenny Brooks-led James Madison before electing to sign with Florida State, seemingly can’t stop running into Brooks and/or the Dukes ever since transferring to West Virginia. Wednesday’s game will mark the fourth time she’s suited up against either JMU or a Brooks-coached Virginia Tech. In fact, on Dec. 20, 2015, Ray’s Mountaineers career began with a game against a JMU team led by Brooks.
Slam dunk – In the WNIT semifinals, the Hokies will do everything they can to make sure Ray’s Mountaineers’ career ends with a game against Brooks, too.