Sports Reporter
Wednesday, 3/18

7 pm
RECOMMENDED
*VIRGINIA TECH - 8 Points ( DUQUESNE looses by 1 )
[Duquesne, plus the points.] The Dukes have two critical qualities needed to win on the road: (1) a solid, vet point guard in Aaron Jackson, a kid who can put up 25+; and (2) a team that can score the ball. During their run to the A-10 final, Duquesne had four guys average double digits. Add these factors to their overall athleticism and you get a team that can compete with a good ACC club. Coming off a "near miss" vs. a Ty Lawson-less UNC may have some thinking that the Hokies are a bit better than what is reality. This team was also in the NIT last year - so the motivation might not be quite what it was in the 2008 tournament. Lastly, Dukes coach Everhart, as well as one of his assistants, are Vtech hoops lettermen who want nothing more than to "show up" in Blacksburg.

VIRGINIA TECH, 75-74.

RECOMMENDED OVER 204.5
PORTLAND over *INDIANA by 3
An offense that is highlighted by rapid fire pace and excessive three-point shooting hosts one of the league’s most efficient offenses. Indiana’s recent success was predicated on Danny Granger being out of the line-up; with the talented scorer back, ball distribution and movement has suffered, along with Indiana’s winning ways.

PORTLAND 114-111

BEST BET
MIAMI over *BOSTON by 6
As we’ve noted before, Dwyane Wade is putting on a show this season that can be rivaled by few other players. However, he was noticeably slowed in their last effort, a loss to Philadelphia. Now with two days off and facing a Boston team decimated by injury, Wade should put on another show for the Beantown crowd.

MIAMI 89-83