The Hokie Hotline (football and basketball season)
When: Every Monday from 7:00-9:00 during football season, 7:00-8:00 during basketball season.
Where: Click here for a list of radio stations, and to find the link for listening to the show on the Internet (look to the right on the hokiesports.com page that loads when you click the link). You can see the show in person at Awful Arthur’s in Blacksburg.
Seth Greenberg
- NC State was a good win. You don’t want to dig yourself an 18-point hole very
often, but that game was what the ACC is all about. There have been a number of
big comebacks in the ACC. There is no quit in the players and coaches in this
league. - The Hokies showed the resiliency to make plays and get stops when they needed
to in the second half. They had to battle a lot of obstacles. - NC State made some tough shots to get out to their big first half lead. The
Hokies started shooting the ball too quickly once they fell behind. Tech didn’t
make State react to them defensively. Their post players were able to catch the
ball too deep in the post. - If Greenberg had it to do over again, he would double team Tracy Smith in the
post. Ben McCauley is hard to double team because he’s such a good passer. - Greenberg didn’t like Tech’s shot selection in the first half. They were
playing too fast, and at times had the wrong people shooting the ball. Jeff
Allen got in foul trouble, and that hurt. However, the biggest thing was poor
defense. - Greenberg wished the technical foul had never happened. You don’t want to
give away two points in a close game. He was upset on a foul called on Victor
Davila the play before, and then obviously wasn’t pleased about the foul called
on Delaney. - Victor Davila is going to be really good. He’s got good footwork and he can
score. Greenberg needs to get his motor running a little bit more and get him
tougher. - If Tech doesn’t rebound the ball in their next game, it could get ugly.
Georgia Tech is an excellent rebounding team. They go to the glass really hard.
Tech has to go after rebounds and force turnovers. The Yellow Jackets don’t do a
good job of protecting the ball. - Georgia Tech is an extremely athletic team. They have gotten a lot better
since Mo Miller returned from injury. They have lost three ACC games in
overtime. They are much better than their record indicates. - Hank Thorns is doing alright. He did not have a concussion after the big hit
he took on Sunday. He’s a little bit shaken up, but he practiced on Monday. - Malcolm Delaney is playing at a high level right now, but he’s turning it
over a bit too much. He’s got to be stronger with the ball and keep his dribble
alive a little better. - Tech’s recruits are playing well this year. Ben Boggs is hurt, but no one has
a better work ethic, and he’ll get to where he was before the injury. Manny
Atkins is having a very good senior season, and Erick Green has been playing
well also. Cadarian Raines’ Petersburg team is undefeated. - Terrell Bell played some big minutes on Sunday. He had a big block and
breakaway layup in overtime, and he also secured the opening tip in overtime,
which set the stage for a fast start. - The Hokies have to do a much better job in defensive transition against
Georgia Tech. The first five minutes of the NC State game was pretty bad.
Georgia Tech’s post players really run the court hard, so the Hokies have to do
the same. - VT isn’t the only team that has lost some close games this year. Close games
are the norm in the ACC, and around the country as well. ACC teams play really
hard and they don’t quit. Who would have thought Clemson would have blown a
19-point second half lead to Florida State at home? - When playing Georgia Tech, you have to make Gani Lawal move to catch the
basketball. You can’t let him catch it down deep. The Yellow Jackets’ post
players turn the ball over a lot, so you have to double team them because you
expect them to turn the ball over. - Gary Williams is a great coach. It’s ridiculous that he’s taking so much heat
at Maryland this year. He has won a National Championship there. He has done a
great job of tweaking his offense to fit his personnel this year. - You want to create a winning culture, and you want to create a winning
environment. Cassell Coliseum is a winning environment. It’s a great homecourt
advantage. It helps the Hokies win. - Dorenzo Hudson made a big play when he finished off the break on Sunday. He’s
got to get his shot release a little bit quicker and a little bit higher. That’s
something the coaches are currently working on with him. - Greenberg’s goal is to get J.T. Thompson playing similar to Sam Young of
Pitt. He needs to attack, be confident shooting the jump shot, and be a
hard-nosed, aggressive player. - Thompson has a chance to step up and be Tech’s fourth scorer. Hudson and Bell
need to combine for 12 or 14 points per game. Thompson has to be that 8-10 point
per game guy. Victor Davila is another guy who can score, but his playing time
will depend on matchups. Once he gets to the point where Greenberg can play him
more, Davila is going to be a big-time post scorer. - Malcolm Delaney hit a huge jumper from the left wing in overtime. Jeff Allen
did a great job of setting the screen for that play. He got a great angle. - Greenberg believes anyone with a .500 record in the ACC this year will get in
the NCAA tournament. They are the #1 league in the RPI. With so many Top 50
teams in the ACC this year, 8-8 should give you enough quality wins to get an
invitation. It’s not like that every year, but this year is a little bit
different. - Tech can’t worry about the NCAA tournament. They have to stay in the present.
If they don’t stay in the present, things can go south quickly. - Tech is #1 in the ACC in conference games in field goal percentage. However,
they are just 10th in field goal percentage defense. That stat doesn’t sit well
with Greenberg. The Hokies are winning in a different way this year, but they’ve
got to improve defensively. They’ve also got to box out and prevent offensive
rebounds. It’s tough to guard a second shot. - Tech has won a lot of games in just 4+ years in the ACC, but they can’t take
a step back. Winning is the first thing that gives you credibility. The new
practice facility will give Tech something tangible to show a recruit. The
Hokies won’t have to walk a recruit through “Michael Vick Hall”
anymore. The new building will reflect the commitment that the school has made
to basketball.
Monday was Day 1,535 of Virginia Tech’s continuous possession of the Commonwealth Cup.
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