1) Some success in a strong mid-major conference (A10/CUSA) -- good

2) I like to look at how teams did before and after a guy was there. UNCC had been to 4 NCAA tournaments in 6 years before he was there, and he took them to 4 in his first 7, so he didn't significantly improve the program, but they stayed at a good level. Then, however, they missed for 5 years straight (which is the same thing Greenberg did and which had many people howling for his dismissal). It did lead to his dismissal. The team has been awful since he left, though. So that basic evaluation yields mixed results.

3) 54 years old -- would have liked to see someone a bit younger because I'd like to see someone who is going to be here a long time.

4) Experience recruiting NC area definitely a plus.

5) His last year there the team had a complete collapse at the end of the season, going from a likely NCAA invite to a losing season, capped by a huge blunder where he had 6 guys come out of the huddle in a tight game and was called for a technical which helped lose the game. For those who were concerned about frequent late season losses to teams we should ahve beaten in hte Greenberg era, that isn't good news.

6) I hope someone posts a picture of this guy so I stop picturing Lutz from "30 Rock".

7) Said to be known for his teams' defensive intensity (similar to Greenberg) and uptempo offense (not similar to Greenberg). Certainly sounds like he passes the Erick Green "no-Princeton-offense-or-I-will-transfer" problem.

8) Unknowns: what is his scheduling philosophy? Does he recruit "athletes" like Greenberg, or better pure shooters? Has he been able to find the rarest commodity, the true big man in the middle?

Overall, I had hoped for someone who could be described as young, and "up-and-coming". I don't think we have made any type of huge mistake here, but I am not sure we have improved at the head coaching position either. Obviously we have improved in what matters to Weaver, as Lutz will play well with others in the Athletic Department and boosters. My worst fear is that we might have another Bill Foster, who wanted one last coaching job, had on great recruiting class, rode those guys to an NIT championship and NCAA, then left the cupboard bare.

It's not a hire that is going to put fans in the seats in Cassell, so the only way to do that is to be winners in the ACC.

Bottom line. Eight years of Greenberg in the ACC, will the Hokies do better or worse in the next 8 years:

1) NCAA tournaments -- 1 -- I hope we can do better. I personally believe Greenberg would have done better in his next 8 years had he stayed, but I know others disagree. If Lutz doesn't do better he will have failed.

2) Winning seasons -- 6 -- that might be tough to top

3) Top 4 finishes in the ACC -- 5 -- even if you adjust this to "Top 6" finishes once Syracuse and Pitt join, I honestly think Lutz will have a tough time topping this.

So in my opinion, if we hire Lutz, we probably haven't improved significantly in quality of results except MAYBE in terms of NCAA appearances (which is the most important), but he's going to have to do it. Obviously there were non-basketball reasons for the change, but from a pure basketball point of view I'm not sure we are that much better off.

Hope I'm wrong. Hope he hits the ground running, invigorates the team with a an offensive style that has been lacking, and gets us to the tournament next year and several more years.