Wake Forest Loses at Home to Virginia Tech, Undefeated No More

"Chippy" is a term that's thrown out a lot these days. It refers to a sporting contest that gets a little heated without getting violent. Wake Forest, the nation's top-ranked team, and Virginia Tech, a classic "look past" opponent for the Deacs, took that adjective to an entirely different level on Wednesday night in a fantastic ACC battle.

Virginia Tech led by 10 at the break, and as much as 13 throughout the second half, and while there were pendulum-like momentum swings throughout the final 20 minutes, the mistakes made by the Demon Deacons down the stretch resulted in a 78-71 loss to the Hokies. The biggest issue surrounding those mistakes, and something that will be addressed frequently over the next few days, is probably Jeff Teague, who failed to take charge late.

Additionally, Wake settled for jumpers late in the game, despite the Hokies clanking free throw after free throw (19-of-29) in the last three minutes of the game. That -- the Deacs' willingness to fire off 18-footers instead of driving to the hoop -- may have stemmed from Teague hitting an absolute monster of a 3-pointer with 1:45 left in the game, slicing the lead to five.

And then really weird things started happening. Teague -- easily the best player on Wake -- started (allegedly) avoiding the ball. OK, "avoiding" might be too much; Len Elmore called him out for "sulking", and discussed how he dogged his teammates in high school, but it looked like he gave the rock up with 30 seconds to go looking for the extra pass.

I'm not entirely sure why Teague would have bothered shutting it down. Granted, his teammates didn't entirely play like they wanted to win, but they also didn't give an entirely empty effort. L.D. Williams and James Johnson both scored 15, and you can hardly blame Al-Farouq Aminu -- he did get his face broken open by a random elbow early in the first quarter.

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Rutgers' Gregory Echenique (00) tries to block a shot by Louisville's Samardo Samuels (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, in Piscataway, N.J. Samuels scored 15 points in Louisville's 78-59 win. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Xavier head coach Sean Miller talks to his team on the bench during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against St. Bonaventure at the Reilly Center in Olean, N.Y. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. Xavier won 84-64. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Michigan State's Draymond Green, right, Northwestern's Michael Thompson, left, and Kyle Rowley, center, and Michigan State's Goran Suton, top, fight for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, in East Lansing, Mich. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 70-63. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg coaches his team from the sidelines during their NCAA basketball game against Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina January 21, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES)

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Xavier forward Kenny Frease, left, makes a layup in front of St. Bonaventure forward Andrew Nicholson during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at the Reilly Center in Olean, N.Y. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. Xavier won 84-64. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Wake Forest University head coach Dino Gaudio watches his team from the sidelines during their NCAA basketball game against Virginia Tech in Winston-Salem, North Carolina January 21, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES)

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Wake Forest players, from left, Chas McFarland, Tony Woods, Gary Clark, and James Johnson, watch the final minutes of their 78-71 loss to Virginia Tech in an NCAA college men's basketball game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Wake Forest University's Al-Farouq Aminu (L) and Jeff Teague battle Virginia Tech's Hank Thorns for a loose ball during the second half of the teams' NCAA basketball game in Winston-Salem, North Carolina January 21, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES)

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WINSTON-SALEM, NC - JANUARY 21: The Virginia Tech Hokies celebrate after defeating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 78-71 during their game at Lawrence Joel Coliseum on January 21, 2009 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Kentucky's Jodie Meeks , top, shoots over Auburn's Quantez Robertson, left, as Robertson's teammate Rasheem Barrett looks on during the first half of an NCAA college men's basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

The truth is that Wake's probably better off losing this one. And no, that's not just me consoling myself because Wake lost and I picked them to win the title. When you don't lose for a while and get too cocky, you're bound to get popped in the mouth by someone like Duke next week. Instead, Wake should be hungry now.

That's not to take anything away from Seth Greenberg and Virginia Tech, though. Malcolm Delaney balled it up with 17 points, while Jared Allen and A.D. Vassallo tossed in 16 each as well. The Hokies, as you'll hear over the next 24 hours, "punched Wake in the mouth." And it's true; they did. But a championship caliber team doesn't fold when their opponent is shooting from the charity stripe like a Shaquille O'Neal-Ben Wallace love -child late in the game.

Kudos to the Hokies, indeed, but there are a whole lot of questions that are suddenly going to be asked about the Deacs. And rightfully so.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-22-2009 @ 12:11AM

wongtpa said...

IT IS TOUGH TO GO UNDEFEATED. TOO MUCH PARITY IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL. MARCH MADDNESS OUGHT TO BE GREAT. THERE ARE MANY GOOD TEAMS AND I SEE DUKE COMING OUT ON TOP. THEIR TRADITIN AND THEIR COACH KNOW HOW TO WIN THE BIG GAMES.

1-22-2009 @ 12:17AM

John Lawrence said...

The NCAA tournament will be decided by the officials. No other game gives officials so much power to favor one side over another. When Christian Laetner made his miracle shot, he moved his pivot foot which is still called traveling. As you remember, it was not called.

1-22-2009 @ 3:38AM

Mike Breedlove said...

Another Kentucky fan who still hasn't accepted the fact that Duke was the better team ... and it's been almost 17 years. Should have scored more points or had Pelfrey learn how to play defense.

1-22-2009 @ 5:22PM

BerniesFan84 said...

Officials do make mistakes, but mostly do a remarkable job. In that classic showdown between Duke & Kentucky in 92', I didn't see Laettner move his pivot foot at all. I saw him half-fake, dribble once, turn & shoot. Opinions differ. Sometimes we can agree to disagree, no harm done. M. Breedlove makes a valid point concerning Pelfrey's defense. However, Coach Pitino did tell the two defenders guarding Laettner, do not foul him. Make him earn the basket. Which he did. I suppose the defenders could have been on him more, but Christian was 3 inches taller than the defenders. After the shot, the game was over.

1-22-2009 @ 2:32AM

Dudley Haas (Wacko, Taxes) said...

I know how the top dog feels. I lost a bowling match by one stick tonight. It went down to the final shot in the 10th frame. I used my bald head to pick up the ten pin and missed it by a whisker.

1-22-2009 @ 4:27AM

I was a Kentucky fan then, but you will be pleased to know that I quit following the Cats when Tubby destroyed the program. Duke might have had the better team and I certainly don't think that a game turns on one basket, but a bad no-call is still a bad no-call.

I enjoyed watching Florida win the tournament when UCLA was whistled for charging on their first possession. The refs showed UCLA that they would not be allowed to engage in thuggery. When that tool was taken away from them, they were just another ordinary team. The next year, Ohio State blocked the inside game and Florida just shot over the top to light up the score board.

Kentucky was once the place of legends. I will never forget when Rupp took his team into Nashville to face Clyde Lee. Vandy decided to raise the tempo and the Cats won by fifteen. At the end, Rupp walked down the center of the court to leave the floor. The people in Nashville stood and applauded him. That showed real class. Oh, well. Diehard fans always have their memories. Do you remember when UK beat Duke on a Friday night in College Park? If the tournament was run then, the way it is run today, Kentucky might have beaten Texas Western on Saturday night.

What about the year Temple came into the tournament ranked number one with only one loss. That loss had been to Kentucky earlier in the year. Temple was 28-1. UK beat them again and, on the next night, beat Elgin Baylor and Seattle. Elgin was by far the best player on the floor, but he got three fouls in the first half and was benched. He started the second half and immediately got his fourth foul and his coach again pulled him out. He was not able to make up the margin when he came back.

Those are memories with which we will die.