By JIMMY DuPREE

jdupree@heraldsun.com; 419-6674

Here are a few leftovers from an all-too-swift trip to Blacksburg, Va., on Thursday.

When you're on the road and there's a snowstorm heading to town the magnitude of the one that hit Virginia throughout the day on Friday, you get out of there as quickly as you can after the game is over.

It had been 30 years since I had been to Virginia Tech's Cassell Coliseum, and I have to admit that I remember little about that first visit. The narrow, mostly two-lane Main Street in downtown Blacksburg had changed little, however.

Virginia Tech was brought into the ACC for its strength in football, no matter what anyone else wants to tell you. There's no need for serious discussion about that.

But at least when one of the league's historic heavyweights is in town to play basketball, that 49-year-old structure turns into a celebration of maroon and orange.

The fans -- even the ones not wearing body paint or costumes -- are loud and supportive, even if they nearly cost the Hokies a technical foul during their 74-70 victory over North Carolina on Thursday night.

Each seat had a hand-size towel with the image of Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg printed on one side. Never mind the cracks about the picture looking like "Uncle Fester" from the Addams Family or any of several others heard around the arena.

When fans were repeated unhappy about some of the calls by the officiating crews -- even Coach Roy Williams, during his postgame news conference, made reference to UNC's John Henson "getting the benefit of one call" -- some threw the knotted towels onto the court.

There was an announcement that further incidents would result in a technical foul against the Hokies. In a game in which the lead stayed around four points during the second half, every free throw could be critical. Need proof? Virginia Tech missed four free throw all night, UNC 10.

Yet an object landed near one of the officials, who looked at it until it was removed, at the 13:39 mark. Since no penalty was invoked, either he was hanging on the technicality that it didn't reach the playing surface or he was giving the Virginia Tech players credit for admonishing their fellow students or fans.

Either way, nothing else flew the rest of the night.

Well, until the final buzzer and Hokies celebrated just their second win over the Tar Heels at Cassell Coliseum.

As for UNC's night in the Hokies' castle (by the way, that's how the arena's name is pronounced ... not like the last name of former Florida State star Sam Cassell), the Tar Heels can't afford a pair of turnovers early in each half to waste possessions and they can't watch the ball float out of bounds, counting on referees to see it their way.

They certainly settled down and showed flashes of their various talents, which is why they were able to bounce back and lead by two at halftime. And when the Tar Heels were in position defensively, they didn't back down in the first half when the Hokies seemingly wanted to finish each drive with a highlight-reel dunk.

The Tar Heels clearly need another road win to gain confidence, and Sunday's game at Maryland -- weather permitting -- would be a good start (2 p.m., Fox Sports).

As for Blacksburg, I doubt it will be so long before I go there again ... but it was good to see the town's lights in the rearview mirror as the snow began to fall early Friday morning.

You may contact Jimmy DuPree at jdupree@heraldsun.com or 419-6674.