The night started out badly when I missed out on the free T-shirt giveaway at Cassell, but I thought that would be the low light of the night – it wasn’t.

We were bad last night against nc state. That’s the bottom line, there’s not much else to say. No part of the Hokies’ game, as Coach Greenberg said, was acceptable. Players and coaches are both to blame for the loss, but as bad as the loss looked and felt for the fans, there’s no reason to be down on the Hokies yet.

state was at full strength for the first time all season and probably played their best game of the year. Tech played its worst home game of the season and was still within 2 with 4:30 left to play. The Hokies were within 2 at that point despite being out rebounded, the relative disappearance of Coleman Collins (and Jamon Gordon in the 1st half) and an obvious lack of intensity. Honestly the Hokies didn’t do much right and still had a chance to win in the final few minutes of the game.

The students did all we could to keep the Hokies in the game, especially in the second half. Every time we got close someone hit a big shot for state, hushing the crowd. Ben McCauley played very well, playing all 40 minutes, and hitting a lot of big shots. Gavin Grant, scoring all 16 of his points in the second half, also made some big shots. Courtney Fells SportsCenter Top-10 dunk was another embarrassing killer. But the biggest shot of the game came from #33 Brandon Costner. Jamon Gordon had just brought the Hokies within 2 at 55-53 with 4:17 to play and the Cassell was rocking louder than it had all night. Costner hit an open look at three from the top of the key, not a good spot to give someone an open look. Costner’s shot squelched the crowd, as they collectively groaned. Costner’s shot was the defining moment of an overall bad night.

I’ve been watching ACC basketball for a long time, my whole life actually, and much longer than Virginia Tech has been in the league. If there’s one thing this game should teach Tech students, and fans in general, it’s this: don’t let this game get you down too much. No one thought, or should have thought, that we were going to win the ACC after the duke and unc victories, and no one should think now that we’re doomed for the NIT. There are no bad teams in the ACC, not this year, not any year. So get used to some big, exciting wins, and get used to some unexpected, painful losses.

The Student Section contains columns written by Virginia Tech students, the TechHoops.com 6th man.