Virginia Tech defeates N.C. State

It's the last Thursday of the regular season, and Virginia Tech is coming off a victory. So let's get right to some morning reading.

The Hokies swept aside North Carolina State, 71-59, but now turn their focus to a critical trip to play at Georgia Tech. And surprise, surprise: Atlanta is the crossroads once again for a Virginia Tech sports team. (Hint: Virginia Tech's football team played there three times this fall, each in big games; now it's the basketball team's turn.)

But Virginia Tech's win over the Wolfpack on Wednesday was step one in an important two-step that could ensure it is in the Big Dance in a few weeks.

But for as big as the next game is, the Hokies got a huge senior-night performance from seldom-used forward Lewis Witcher and a gutsy performance from injured starter Dorenzo Hudson, whose decision to ignore doctor's advice and play "spoke volumes about the magnitude of the Hokies’ latest game."