Hokies earn Friday date with Heels

Staff photo by Ethan Hyman

ATLANTA — North Carolina will open the 2009 ACC Tournament with a rematch of the best game of the 2008 tournament.

No. 8 seed Virginia Tech will meet the top-seeded Tar Heels at noon Friday in the first ACC quarterfinal after disposing of No. 9 seed Miami 65-47 on Thursday in a first-round game at the Georgia Dome.

A year ago, the Hokies were desperate for a high-profile win to attract the attention of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, just as they are now. Virginia fought the Tar Heels every inch of the way, but lost 68-66 in the semifinals when Tyler Hansbrough tracked down a rebound and scored the winning basket from the baseline in the closing seconds.

Virginia Tech (18-13) again needs a big win to add to its NCAA resume, which already includes a defeat of No. 2 ACC seed Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. On Thursday, the Hokies held Miami senior Jack McClinton, a first-team All-ACC selection who averages 19.7 points per game, to nine points.

Sophomore guard Malcolm Delaney scored 17 points to lead the Hokies in an odd game. He made 14 of 15 free throw attempts but shot 1-for-10 from the field.

The Hokies will meet North Carolina for the second time in nine days. The Tar Heels won 86-78 on March 4 in Blacksburg, Va.

The loss almost certainly will relegate a Miami team that started the season with high hopes to the NIT. The Hurricanes (18-12) hoped to return to the NCAA Tournament but lost three overtime games during one two-week stretch and finished 7-9 in the ACC.