Greenberg: Pack's system splendid

Hokies coach says that with 'five very good starters,' State has chance in final

TAMPA, FLA. -- Count Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg among the believers.

N.C. State beat the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va., this season. The Wolfpack routed the Hokies by 25 points in Raleigh. On Saturday, State made it a third straight victory with a 72-64 win in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

"I think they have a good chance," Greenberg said of today's championship game against North Carolina. "They have five very good starters. People talk about them only having just six or seven guys, but they have five very good starters."

The Pack won Saturday despite not having a single offensive rebound, despite 17 turnovers. It won by shooting 66.7 percent in the first half and 52.5 percent for the game. Just as important, State was 24-for-28 at the foul line while the Hokies were a woeful 8-for-19.

During the second half, Virginia Tech missed the front end of three consecutive one-and-one free-throw chances. Each time, Greenberg covered his face with hands and agonized.

With Pack coach Sidney Lowe calling out every offensive set, as usual, State was effective enough to win for a third straight day.

"Sidney has put a system together that fits their personnel," Greenberg said. "They're a tough matchup because of how effective they are passing the ball. They're a good passing team, kind of like a European team in the way they space it, pass it, cut."

The Hokies collapsed inside to bottle up Ben McCauley and Brandon Costner, forcing turnovers and limiting the State big men to 18 total points. But the Pack again got big shots from nearly everyone down the stretch.

After the Hokies tied the score 35-35 with an early second-half spurt, State's Bryan Nieman drilled a 3-pointer. When it was 48-48, McCauley hit a pair of free throws and later a key hook shot.

A 3-pointer by sophomore guard Courtney Fells with 1:33 left pushed the Pack in front 61-52. The Hokies twice pulled within three points in the final minutes, but Gavin Grant, Fells and Costner hit enough free throws to win.

Even with senior Engin Atsur clearly struggling with a sore hamstring in the second half, the Pack found a way, getting enough timely defensive stops.

"We played with a lot of guts, a lot of character and a lot of pride against a good ballclub," Lowe said. "We made plays when we had to."

And beat the Hokies, again.