Virginia Tech

Last year was very disappointing for Head Coach Seth Greenberg. He thought his team came to school under motivated and uninspired on the defensive end of the floor. As a result, they gave up 42% field goal shooting and 71 points per game to their opponents and wound up going 19-15 for the year. It marked the second straight year that the Hokies flirted with an NCAA bid but were left out of the dance. Greenberg vows that the defensive mind set will change for this team. It must if they are to be competitive in the ACC.
The loss of high scoring A.D. Vassallo will be a difficult void to fill. Greenberg does have a good inside-outside combination coming back. 6-3 Malcolm Delaney returns at the wing with his 18 point per game average. If they can move him off the point, it will free him up to be more explosive. 6-7 Jeff Allen is one of the top post players in the league and could be a double-double guy if he matures and gets his emotions under control. Two key players that need to step up are Victor Davila and Dorenzo Hudson. Davila’s minutes were limited last year but, at 6’8”, he could play multiple positions and blossom as a scorer. Hudson is explosive and could help to supply some of the scoring void left with the departure of Vassallo. Up front Tech is thin. Lewis Witcher is hardly a wide body and averaged only 8 minutes a game. J.T Thompson battled injuries last year and needs to regain the form that saw him play well as a freshman.

The incoming class could provide some much needed help. 6’4” Erick Green gives them size at the point and reminds some of former Hokie Zabian Dowdell. If he emerges as a capable floor general it will free Delaney up to score more. Cadarian Raines is a big body but is coming off an injury and will not be full strength until December. The sleeper of the group is 6’4” Ben Boggs. He is tough, nasty, and a relentless worker. Greenberg lights up when he talks about him and thinks he will be an immediate contributor.

Greenberg plans to open thinks up this year offensively, having worked in the preseason on more motion offense. They will still run their sets but he wants to give this group more freedom. The real key is this team’s development of a tenacious defensive mind set. Greenberg said regaining that edge from a couple of years ago is the main priority. They have two all-league performers in Delaney and Allen back. They must replace the scoring of Vassallo. Could Davila be that guy? Green needs to step up early and be a viable option at point. If all these things happen, Tech could reach 20 wins again and be in the hunt for a tournament bid.

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