Johnson Keys Miami in Homecoming Win Over Virginia Tech

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Reggie Johnson's homecoming couldn't be going better. Pass the barbecue and extra sauce.

Johnson, Miami's powerful and passionate big man, helped the 12th-seeded Hurricanes upset fourth-ranked Virginia Tech 70-65 in Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinal play Friday. It was UM's second consecutive victory over a higher seed and advances it into Saturday's semifinals for the first time against No. 1 Duke.

The Hurricanes (20-12) again survived without Dwayne Collins, the team's leading scorer and rebounder who is out with an injured leg. Don't worry. Johnson, a redshirt freshman from nearby Winston-Salem whose parents' home is a 15-minute drive from the Greensboro Coliseum, has helped fill the void.

In a big way.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson, who scored a career-high 22 points in UM's opening-round victory over No. 5 Wake Forest, took his game inside against the Hokies. He registered a team-high 12 rebounds to set the tone for the Hurricanes' physical, athletic, crash-the-boards style.

Brace yourself. They out-rebounded the Hokies 46-29.

UM also attacked the basket about as aggressively as it has all season. Not even an early 10-point deficit could stop the Hurricanes from believing they would win what has been one of the tourney's more exciting games. It also featured nine ties and eight lead changes.

"Coach Haith said it," forward Dequan Jones explained. "These past couple of days that has been the emphasis. Rebounding and getting out to the loose balls. If we can get those, we are at a great advantage."


GAME BALL GOES TO:
UM's Durand Scott.

The freshman guard scored a game-high 17 points and chipped in six rebounds (all defensive) and two assists. Scott eads all ACC freshmen in assists and is top six in rebounds and assists.

Scott scored nine of UM's final 11 points and sliced to the basket without hesitation or fear.

"The coaches put the ball in my hands and I just wanted to go out there and make the best play possible," Scott said. "I know I am a good driver, I know what I am best at so my main focus was to do what the coaches wanted me to do and it came down my way."

HEART GOES OUT TO:

Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney.

Delaney, a first-team All-ACC selection who had scored in double figures in all 16 ACC games this season, struggled badly and finished with just seven points against UM's zone defense. Delaney, who also leads the ACC with 17 games overall of at least 20 points scored, never could find his rhythm.

Delaney made just 3 of 15 field goals and was 0 of 8 from beyond the arc.


KEY ELEMENT:
Banging the boards, baby.

Paced by Johnson, the Hurricanes out-rounded the Hokies 46-29, 34-20 on the defensive end. Eight UM players had at least two rebounds each.

In victories over Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes hold decisive edge in rebounding (85-63) and have scored 70 points in the paint.

"I think the one thing we put on the scouting report the last two days was rebounding," Haith said. "Maybe 500 times we put it on a sheet of paper. As you well know, it's hard to rebound out of the zone. But our guys have done a great job of blocking out, holding their responsibilities and just really coming up with loose rebounds."

WHERE TO FROM HERE:
Bubble Trouble for the Hokies?

Despite its soft, soft non-conference schedule, Virginia Tech's 23 victories should be enough to gain entry into the NCAA tournament. Right?

Still, it was a disappointing exit for the Hokies. They earned a first-round bye and had beaten UM in their past two tournament meetings.

WHO'S GOT NEXT:
UM meets Duke in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. semifinal. The Hurricanes fell to the Blue Devils 81-74 at home on Feb. 17. Duke is playing for a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed. UM is playing for a ticket to the Big Dance.

"We know this, for us to make the NCAA tournament we have to win the (ACC) tournament," Haith said. "We are driven by that. If that gives us an extra incentive to do the little things we have talked about all year, then let's keep doing it."


SOUNDBITE:
"It's simple math. You miss a lot of shots and there's going to be a lot of defensive rebounds." Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg.