don't overlook the coaching factor, and you guys have a very, very good one. I've been telling y'all that ever since his first year. He makes chicken-salad out of chicken-something-else. Consistently.

So does our Tony Bennett. There is no substitute for good coaching. They picked us to not be in the national conversation???? Seventh in the ACC?? What happened???

Sure, we're the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed. But we went 31-3 beating 7 Sweet Sixteen teams along the way and went 17-1 in the ACC (which team did we lose to, Hokies?).

What I'm saying here is two things: if you play UVa or Virginia Tech in basketball, expect a rock fight; expect a rock fight unless either of us gets complacent.

Somewhere after our first game, you went from a high-flying offense, porous defense to a rock-solid tough basketball team. Yeah, you lost a couple players (my fave being Devin Wilson; his heart is as big as a watermelon). But you picked up Landers Nolley (spelling?).

I expect you guys to pick up where you left off last year, and build on it. So, to your point, O&M, with all due respect, your coach is gathering talent. Nickeil Alexander last year. Nolley this year. You're going to be better in 2018 than you were in 2017.

It won't be long--so long as Williams stays in Blacksburg--until you can regularly challenge Duke and UNC. I take that as a good thing.