Virginia Tech vs. Duke

Who: Virginia Tech vs. Duke

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Va.

Records: Hokes 17-10, 7-6 ACC; Blue Devils 23-5, 9-4.

TV: WJLA (Channel 7), WMAR (Channel 2).

Radio: WWXT (92.7 FM), WWXX (94.3 FM), WTEM (980 AM).

ON THE BRINK OF MADNESS: Virginia Tech bolstered its hopes of securing an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament with Wednesday's road win over No. 12 Clemson. Beating No. 7 Duke might be the finishing touch. If the Hokies fall to the Blue Devils, they will need to beat either No. 4 North Carolina at home or No. 23 Florida State on the road to finish .500 in the ACC. A win in one of their remaining games would lessen the Hokies' burden in the ACC tournament.

AVENGING A LOSS: Virginia Tech's 25-point loss to Duke on Jan. 4 was its worst of the season, but also served as a springboard to a five-game winning streak. In that game, Coach Seth Greenberg sat his key players late in the second half, in which the Hokies scored just 13 points. Notable starters such as Malcolm Delaney and A.D. Vassallo watched the Blue Devils exhibit the toughness that Greenberg sought, and that toughness will be needed if Virginia Tech hopes to keep the score closer.

NO NOLAN: Duke guard Nolan Smith is out indefinitely after suffering a mild concussion in the Blue Devils' win over Maryland on Wednesday. Smith's absence will not be as costly given the emergence of freshman Elliot Williams, who has started and excelled in the last three games. Williams scored 15 points against the Terrapins, and his role in Duke's rotation makes the Blue Devils a different team from the one Virginia Tech last encountered. But Duke will miss Smith's defense, which was instrumental in holding Delaney without a three-pointer in the teams' first meeting.

-- Zach Berman

Who: Virginia vs. Wake Forest

When: 2 p.m.

Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville.

Records: Cavaliers 9-15, 3-10 ACC; Demon Deacons 21-5, 8-5.

TV: WTTG (Channel 5), WNUV (Channel 54).

SOUR 16?: If Virginia loses to Wake Forest, it will give the Cavaliers 16 losses for the second straight season. Virginia appeared to have turned around its season after winning two games last week, but the Cavaliers have since lost two straight games. Virginia finishes the regular season with Wake Forest, Clemson and Maryland, so reaching 10 wins might be tough. Coach Dave Leitao has cited his team's inexperience throughout the season, and any success during the final games could carry into next season, when almost the entire roster returns.

SENE OUT?: Starting center Assane Sene sprained his right ankle in the first half of Thursday's loss to Miami. The team will announce Sene's status before today's game. Although limited offensively, Sene is an important piece of Virginia's defensive interior. Senior Tunji Soroye will receive increased minutes if Sene does not play. Forwards Mike Scott and Jamil Tucker will also be expected to fill Sene's spot. "Obviously it's a very, very quick turnaround," Leitao said. "We'll address Assane, and if it means the next man needs to step up, the next man will have to step up."

REMEMBERING 1984: Stuck in a lost season, the Cavaliers will get a reminder of when the once-proud program was at its apex. Virginia will honor its 1984 Final Four team at halftime today. The team from 25 years ago included Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle as a player, George Mason Coach Jim Larranaga as an assistant coach and Greenberg as a graduate assistant. East Carolina Athletic Director Terry Holland coached the Cavaliers. It was the program's last trip to the national semifinals.

-- Zach Berman

Who: George Mason vs. Towson

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Patriot Center.

Records: Patriots 19-9, 12-5 Colonial Athletic Association; Tigers 10-20, 5-12.

TV: MASN.

Radio: WTNT (570 AM).

PLENTY AT STAKE: Regardless of the result in tonight's regular season finale, George Mason is ensured a top four finish and first-round bye in the CAA tournament, which begins Friday at Richmond Coliseum. A victory would place the Patriots in second or third, depending on Northeastern's outcome against Old Dominion. The Patriots are only a game behind first-place Virginia Commonwealth, but the Rams would win a tiebreaker. George Mason also has an opportunity to clinch its fourth 20-win season in six years and secure the first undefeated home record in Patriot Center history.

TIGERS TAMED: Since Towson joined the CAA in 2001-02, the Patriots have defeated the Tigers 13 straight times, including a 71-59 road victory on Jan. 7. They are also building momentum heading into the CAA tournament with three wins in four games after losing five of seven. Wednesday's 53-52 victory at UNC Wilmington, capped by John Vaughan's layup with four seconds left, stopped a six-game road losing streak. The Tigers, who will finish in ninth or 10th place, ended a three-game losing streak Wednesday in their home finale, a 75-74 win over Delaware.

FOUL AT THE LINE: George Mason is second in the CAA in scoring defense (60.4 points per game) and has allowed an average of 51 points in the past three league games. Free throw shooting continues to be a problem, however. The Patriots have fallen to 10th in the CAA at 64.9 percent and have shot worse than 60 percent in six straight games (67 of 124, 54 percent). Before tonight's game, George Mason will honor its four seniors: guards Vaughan and Dre Smith and forwards Darryl Monroe and Chris Fleming.

-- Steven Goff