Tech may face FSU without Barksdale

Heading into a game that will require all the muscle at its disposal, Virginia Tech's men's basketball team may be without freshman forward C.J. Barksdale.

Barksdale sprained his left ankle early in the second half of Sunday's 66-65 win over Boston College. Coach Seth Greenberg said Monday that Barksdale will be held out of practice leading up to Thursday's game at Florida State and will be a game-time decision against the Seminoles.

"He had significant swelling," Greenberg said Monday during a teleconference. "He's in a boot and we'll see the type of progress he makes."

The 6-foot-8, 232-pound Barksdale is playing 11.6 minutes per game, averaging 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds.

He made his first start of the season Sunday night for the Hokies (14-11, 3-7), earning a spot in the lineup during Saturday's practice.

"He was flying around," Greenberg said. "He was pursuing the ball on the backboards, he was chucking cutters, he was active."

That's what Barksdale was doing when he was injured against the Eagles.

Barksdale hurt the ankle coming up with a rebound with 17:43 left in Sunday's game. He limped to the bench. Moments later, he was helped to the locker room. He returned to the bench about 10 minutes later with a noticeable limp and did not play again.

If he cannot play on Thursday, the Hokies will be forced to challenge the Seminoles (17-7, 8-2) with only two big bodies: 6-8 senior Victor Davila and 6-9 sophomore Cadarian Raines (Petersburg).

"This game, the more physical bodies you have on board, obviously the better off you are, there's no doubt about it," Greenberg said.

The biggest reason for that? Bernard James, a 6-10, 284-pound senior bruiser, leads FSU in rebounding (8.4 per game) and blocks (2.2).

When the two teams met earlier this year — a 63-59 Seminoles' win in Blacksburg on Jan. 10 — James posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. He also blocked three shots and took over the game with his strength in the final minutes.

He had five points — including two dunks — grabbed two rebounds and blocked a shot in the final 3:27.

James teams with senior Xavier Gibson — a 6-11 248-pounder — to form a formidable frontcourt.

The Seminoles are fourth in the conference in rebounding margin, outworking opponents by 4.4 boards a game. They also rank second in the ACC in blocked shots, swatting six per outing.