The 2009-10 basketball season tips off on Friday night with “Late Night with the Hokies” in Cassell Coliseum. Admission is free, and the activities will begin at approximately 9pm. It will be fans’ first chance to catch a glimpse of this year’s team, and their only chance until the Hokies tip off on November 15 against Brown.
“Late Night with the Hokies” will feature both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. There will be a three-point shooting contest, as well as a men’s and women’s 2-on-2 competition. There will also be skits performed by members of both teams, and a Dancing with the Stars competition. The event will conclude with the men’s team playing a 10-minute scrimmage.
The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team loses small forward A.D. Vassallo, who averaged 19.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 36.7 minutes per game last season. Cheick Diakite is also gone, and he started 22 games in the post for the Hokies last year.
Malcolm Delaney is back for his junior season after averaging 18.1 points per game as a sophomore. Joining him is power forward Jeff Allen, who averaged 13.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
New players on this year’s team include 6-4 wing Ben Boggs, 6-4 point guard Erick Green, 6-7 wing Manny Atkins, 6-9 post Cadarian Raines and 6-9 post Allan Chaney. Chaney is a sophomore transfer from Florida who must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. Raines is expected to contribute, but he’s out for all of the preseason with a fracture in his foot.
“Late Night with the Hokies” will begin after the volleyball game against Georgia Tech, which begins at 7pm.
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