Thursday, November 20, 2008

When: 11 a.m. Where: Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan. TV, Radio: ESPNU, WTNT-570.

EARLY START, DIFFICULT FIELD: The Puerto Rico Tip-Off includes Memphis, Southern California and Xavier, but Coach Seth Greenberg is first concerned with Fairfield. The 11 a.m. start provides no favors, and the Hokies must wake up early and start quickly to avoid an upset. "It's the same for both teams," Greenberg said. If the Hokies make it past Fairfield as expected, they play the winner of today's Xavier-Missouri game. However Virginia Tech fares, the team is guaranteed to return to Blacksburg after playing a high-caliber opponent.

HOMECOMING: Virginia Tech has two Puerto Rico natives, senior A.D. Vassallo and freshman Victor Davila. The pair will be popular with local fans, but Greenberg must ensure it does not negatively affect their play, specifically with Vassallo, who is the Hokies' biggest attraction. "A.D. is going to be doing schoolwork the whole time he's there, anyway," Greenberg said. "He knows it's a business trip." Vassallo's father, Daniel, was a pro basketball star in Puerto Rico.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS: During the first two games, Greenberg appears correct in labeling Vassallo, Jeff Allen and Malcolm Delaney as his "Big Three." Greenberg's problem is he needs swingman Terrell Bell and guards Dorenzo Hudson and Hank Thorns to also contribute. "I have confidence they will," Greenberg said. "But we need those three guys to play well." Hudson, Bell and Thorns have averaged a combined four points per game. Vassallo, Allen and Delaney have combined to average 49.5 points per game.

-- Zach Berman