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AUDIO: Hokies Cant Shake Flu

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It's that time of year when germs are everywhere and Virginia Tech knows about it all too well.
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For over a month, the Hokies have had at least one player inflicted by the flu. First it was senior guard Erick Green, before Virginia Tech played West Virginia. Then sophomore guard Robert Brown picked it up, followed by walk-on guard Will Johnston.
The illness still hasn't left, causing coach James Johnson to change his practices and giving plenty cause for concern as the Hokies host Wake Forest Saturday.
"We've still got tomorrow and shoot-around on game day for these guys to hopefully come around and start feeling a little better," Johnson said. "But you sit in the film room and watch film and you've got everybody coughing. It's a little discouraging."
Brown missed last week's game against Boston College as he got sick again, but he played Saturday at Georgia Tech and is still slowly recovering. Johnson said redshirt freshman forward Joey Van Zegeren and junior forward Cadarian Raines have also come down with the flu this past week.
As a result, Virginia Tech took Sunday off, practiced Monday, took Tuesday off, and practiced yesterday and today during a week with no games.
It doesn't get any better with the absence of freshman forward Marshall Wood, who's still recovering from a broken bone in his left foot he suffered during a loss to Georgia Southern Dec. 15. Johnson said Wood is competing in non-contact drills in practice, but won't be ready for Saturday.
"There haven't been any changes as far as what he's doing in practice, so I anticipate not having him," Johnson said.
"He's participating, doing some five-on-zero stuff, but hasn't done anything live yet. He's done some post-perimeter, some shooting work, but nothing up and down or live."
It's been stocking up on Nyquil and plenty of medicines the past month for the Hokies. This week's rest will help, but it still hasn't rid them of the dreaded flu bug.
"We got some guys sick and banged up, so this gave us time to rest and get back on our feet," Green said. "Hopefully, we can get ready for Saturday."
CLICK HERE To listen to Johnson's afternoon teleconference with local media: COACH JAMES JOHNSON PREWAKE FOREST PART 1
COACH JAMES JOHNSON PREWAKE FOREST PART 2
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