Posted on 02 September 2007.
ESPN College Basketball Analyst and former duke basketball player and assistant coach, Jay Bilas, shared his thoughts and opinions on the Hokies, ACC, and how to lure College GameDay to Blacksburg.
Bilas is one of the hosts of ESPN’s College GameDay, and does color commentating for ESPN, ABC, and CBS during the NCAA Tournament.
Jay answered the questions below on Thursday, August 30, 2007.
TechHoops: How do you see Virginia Tech finishing in the ACC this year?
Jay: I think Virginia Tech will probably finish in the bottom third of the league, primarily because of the experience lost, especially at the guard spots. This will be a very young team, and that will really hurt in ACC play, especially on the road. I believe that Virginia Tech will have to overcome the same difficulties that florida state had to deal with when they came into the league. Both brought in strong teams, but really had to adjust to recruiting against other ACC powers. It is a difficult adjustment, and it takes some time.
TechHoops: What is your opinion of ACC expansion? Which of the 3 new programs will be the most successful 10 years from now?
Jay: I was not in favor of it for basketball, but that was not the reasoning behind the decision. Expansion was about football, plain and simple, but it has worked out just fine, and each new school has been a good addition. Long term, I think boston college probably has the best chance to be highly competitive in the league. bc has been very solid in the past in the Big East, has the best history, and perhaps can make some headway being the only ACC show in the Northeast.
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Posted in Home, Q & A
Posted on 02 September 2007.
Posted in Around the World (Wide Web)
Posted on 02 September 2007.
The Hokies men’s basketball team concluded their preseason games in the NCAA/OUA Tip-Off Classic with a 79-52 victory over the university of windsor for a second time in two days. For the weekend, VT averaged just under 80 points per game and averaged giving up just under 60 points a game in defeating the u of windsor twice and the london (Canada) all-stars once.
Senior Deron Washington had 18 points in the final contest and led or tied for the scoring lead in each game. For the three games, Deron averaged 18 points per game and was the unofficial MVP. He is Tech’s active leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Malcolm Delaney paced the baby (freshman) Hokies with 15 points in the final game. He was the leading scorer among the freshman in two of the three contests. Hank Thorns chipped in 12 in the final game, giving him double-digits in two of the three games.
Tech shot the ball well in the tournament, especially from three-point range. This will be a huge key this season for the Hokies who did not shoot the three very much this past season. With the lack of experience, the Hokies will need to find ways to get extra points, and the three ball is a big key to that.
The Hokies also outrebounded their opponent in two of the three games, something that likely will not happen much this season with the lack of experience inside.
Tech basketball is now done until practices begin on October 12th.
NOTE: u of windsor was the Ontario champions last season in the Ontario University Athletics league (OUA) and had most of their team back, including three OUA all-stars (ie: they were pretty good by Ontario standards).
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Posted in 2007-08 Season, Game Recaps, Games, Home
Posted on 02 September 2007.
The Hokies men’s basketball team won their first two exhibition games of the season, defeating the london (Canada) all-stars 70-65 and then beating host university of windsor 88-69.
As expected, the two games were mostly the Deron Washington and A.D. Vassallo shows for the Hokies. Deron scored 36 points in the two games. A.D. added 35 points and pulled down 21 rebounds over the two contests, including 13 boards against the london all-stars. Vassallo continues to show his rebounding skills, helping make up for his lack of quickness on defense.
Of the freshman, Jeff Allen probably had the best day. He had 27 points on the day, including a double-double in the first game (15 points and 11 rebounds). Freshman guard Malcolm Delaney, my pick to be the best of the freshman bunch this season, led the baby Hokies with 15 points in the second game against windsor. Mighty-mite point guard Hank Thorns (listed at 5’9″) reached double digits with 10 points as the Hokies blew out windsor.
Tech hit 11 of 21 three’s in the windsor game, a good sign considering VT’s lack of experience and depth inside. The Hokies also won the rebounding margin, something I do not expect to happen much in ACC play this season with Tech’s lack of height.
The Hokies wrap up the preseason exhibition matches on Sunday with a game against powerhouse windsor all-star team (yes, that was sarcasm). But the experience the freshman are getting, as well as how much this is helping show Seth Greenberg what these guys can do and how they play together, is invaluable.
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Posted in 2007-08 Season, Game Recaps, Games, Home
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