What will it take for Tech to "kick up" their basketball program?

['lag]

I had not planned to watch the Selection Show tonight; however, I did just to see who was "in" and who was "out". As the selections were announced I began to wonder what it will take for VT to become a player in the ACC and on the national level in BB. My conclusion won't make all you Greenberg fans happy but I think we need a new coach. The administration must also be "jolted" to want and make basketball a priority in Blacksburg. We cannot accept 8 NCAA appearances in the past 45 years as a standard. The NIT banners hanging in the rafters are embarrassing, outnumbering the NCAA appearances which spells out "we ain't so good in basketball." Some big time changes are the only answers for better days.

I would like to SG go through a season with a full complement of players. This is the third time I can remember the team ending up with 8 scholarship players playing. Imagine JT in there against Duke instead of a freshman forward. Might have made enough of a difference.

btw, VT won those NITs when they mattered, don't be embarrassed by them.

[PhotoHokieNC]

I had not planned to watch the Selection Show tonight; however, I did just to see who was "in" and who was "out". As the selections were announced I began to wonder what it will take for VT to become a player in the ACC and on the national level in BB. My conclusion won't make all you Greenberg fans happy but I think we need a new coach. The administration must also be "jolted" to want and make basketball a priority in Blacksburg. We cannot accept 8 NCAA appearances in the past 45 years as a standard. The NIT banners hanging in the rafters are embarrassing, outnumbering the NCAA appearances which spells out "we ain't so good in basketball." Some big time changes are the only answers for better days.

Like almost all "replace SG" posters, you make no real case for your suggestion. A recitation of where we've finished over 45 years isn't something you can hang on Greenberg. In the absence of proposing the name of an actual human who could do what no one else has done, ever, it's hard to understand why you think this is a good idea. SG's recruited new energy and has the loyalty, respect & affection of returning Tech players. Why would a new coach be a better part of that mix than Seth Greenberg?

[Hokie Flyer]

Like almost all "replace SG" posters, you make no real case for your suggestion. A recitation of where we've finished over 45 years isn't something you can hang on Greenberg. In the absence of proposing the name of an actual human who could do what no one else has done, ever, it's hard to understand why you think this is a good idea. SG's recruited new energy and has the loyalty, respect & affection of returning Tech players. Why would a new coach be a better part of that mix than Seth Greenberg?

Very well said.

[PineyGladeHokie]

I had not planned to watch the Selection Show tonight; however, I did just to see who was "in" and who was "out". .

The only thing that would force JW to make a change is if ticket and season ticket sales bottom out. Otherwise we all have to accept the fact that we are a football first school and nobody in a position to do something really cares if we have a mediocre basketball team every year.

[SteveInBaltimore]

There won't be any change until AD Jim weaver retires in the near future. TSL is pretty evenly split on how important making the NCAA is, or is not, in evaluating the program. Many believe being invited once in nine years is fine, and it's not really a good measuring stick. My opinion is that it is very important, along with graduation rates, conference record, overall record, attendance, beating UVA, and other factors. Jay Bilas says making the NCAA tournament is the "Holy Grail", which is overstating it, but the coverage given to the selection and all of the bracketology analysis speaks to the importance and popularity. I think Seth Greenberg has elevated VT basketball to the point where the Hokies can compete with and beat the burgerboy loaded teams of UNC and Duke, and I think the foundation is built for future success, but the snubs of the past leave me uncertain.

Don't put words in the mouths of those you disagree with, when you obviously don't actually understand their position. No one thinks it is "fine" to make the tournament just once in 9 years. We just feel that given the extenuating circumstances, how close we have come sevearl times and how many injuries we have had, that even though the bottom line result has not been "fine", we don't think it merits firing a coach who has several years left onhis contract and who has done great things for the program.

And most of us who don't want Greenberg fired now say that if this bunch of kids doesn't go to 2 or 3 tournaments, he should be gone then. He would have failed with two groups of young players in a row, and he would be closer to the end of his contract anyway.

[Hokie Dale]

Don't put words in the mouths of those you disagree with, when you obviously don't actually understand their position. No one thinks it is "fine" to make the tournament just once in 9 years. We just feel that given the extenuating circumstances, how close we have come sevearl times and how many injuries we have had, that even though the bottom line result has not been "fine", we don't think it merits firing a coach who has several years left onhis contract and who has done great things for the program.

And most of us who don't want Greenberg fired now say that if this bunch of kids doesn't go to 2 or 3 tournaments, he should be gone then. He would have failed with two groups of young players in a row, and he would be closer to the end of his contract anyway.

This is a good clarification post. I am in the wait to see what Seth does next year group. But I'm also one that thinks NCAA appearances are the best way to measure success. If you are not in the NCAA, you are really not relevant. However, I'm not sure you are right that most of the Seth defenders don't think not making the NCAA is fine. The impression I have gotten from a lot of the defenders' posts is that VT will never be any good in basketball no matter who the coach is, and we should be happy with the results he has gotten, even if they never get any better. I hope your impression is right and I reading too much into the other posts.

[hokiebob01]

I had not planned to watch the Selection Show tonight; however, I did just to see who was "in" and who was "out". As the selections were announced I began to wonder what it will take for VT to become a player in the ACC and on the national level in BB. My conclusion won't make all you Greenberg fans happy but I think we need a new coach. The administration must also be "jolted" to want and make basketball a priority in Blacksburg. We cannot accept 8 NCAA appearances in the past 45 years as a standard. The NIT banners hanging in the rafters are embarrassing, outnumbering the NCAA appearances which spells out "we ain't so good in basketball." Some big time changes are the only answers for better days.

You don't say what the new coach should do differnt. Change for the sake of change is pointless.

[HokieNoVA]

Relocate the campus to a more urban area.

[TabbHokie]

I think VT could well make the NCAAs next year, and could put a string of invites together, and I think the future is bright for this group. I also think if misfortune continues to strike Hokie basketball, and the team doesn't dance in the next three years, the program will be so damaged it will be very hard to overcome. The ACC has been down overall the last few years, and it looks like Maryland, NCSU, Clemson, BC, and UVA have all made good hires in the last few years, and will improve, and with Pitt and Cuse coming, the league will be much tougher than recently. If VT drops in to the 14-16 range in the conference, I'm not sure how we overcome that.

[DGHOKIE]

I realize that Seth's shooting percentage was down this year, and he didn't rebound very well. The injuries he sustained did little for his scoring average too. Assist to turnover average wasn't all that good either. Maybe we need a new coach that can play the post, not foul and never get injured. Seriously, he has recruited the best group of players (as a whole...... sure, every now and then we got a Curry or a Solomon....... but we have gotten more good players year in and year out over the past 4 or 5 years than we ever have. And we now play in the ACC...... very good competition against some very established programs. I don't think that a new coach will bring us 4 and 5 star players, on any continuing basis.......... and that's what it will take to achieve the goals we all have for the program.