WASHINGTON — So, Buzz Williams, tell us how it is you get your team to play with such intensity, wire to wire. And explain how you’ve managed to coach Virginia Tech to six victories in a row after what you
WASHINGTON — So, Buzz Williams, tell us how it is you get your team to play with such intensity, wire to wire. And explain how you’ve managed to coach Virginia Tech to six victories in a row after what you called a “rough stretch.”
“People think there’s a shortcut or a secret or we found it on Google,” Williams said. “It’s the ‘law of the farm,’ you know: Wake up and do what you’re supposed to do. Then do it again the next day and try to be a little bit better at it.”
His Hokies sure are doing precisely that lately.
Adding to its season-saving surge in front of a favorable crowd, Virginia Tech got 20 points from reserve Seth Allen and never trailed en route to beating Florida State 96-85 in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday night.
“Our vibe is real positive,” said Justin Bibbs, who scored 16 for the Hokies. “I can’t explain it, but our confidence is really high.”
The Hokies (19-13) bolstered their case for NCAA seeding by stretching their longest winning streak in ACC play since joining the conference in 2004-05. The current run began with a victory over FSU — and was preceded by a rut of seven losses in eight games.
“The resiliency of this team to be able to bounce back and keep fighting and go on a run like we’re on now, it just speaks to everybody’s character in this locker room,” Allen said. “Nobody gave up or put their head down and said ‘Oh, the season’s over.’ We just kept fighting.”
In the quarterfinals, Virginia Tech will meet 11th-ranked Miami.
