Categorized | 2010-11 Season

Are We In?

Posted on13 March 2011.

I don’t mean to date myself (especially because I still have street cred with the youth of America), but I have the lyrics to Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again stuck in my head.  I will paraphrase but – Here we go again, possibly walkin’ down the only road we’ve ever known (the NIT).  Are we walking along the lonely street of dreams again?  Or will we find what we’ve been looking for? (A NCAA Tournament bid.)

Personally, I think we are in.  Here’s why:

  • 11 total ACC wins:  Yes, only 9 were in the regular season, and 10 in the regular season weren’t enough last year.  But without having doing any research, I will all but guarantee you no ACC team has ever won 11 games during the regular season and tournament and not made the Big Dance.  Look at gt last year – they were 7-9 in the regular season, won 3 in the ACC Tourney, and got in.  I have to think 11 is enough, even in a very down year for the league (reputations mean a lot).
  • 3-2: VT was 3-2 against the top three teams in the ACC.  Even in a downyear, that means something.  The win over duke, and two over florida state, reflect well.  And while the Committee will likely miss this fact, VT had a shot to beat unc at the very end, on the road.
  • 21 wins: With our schedule (90th), that ain’t bad.
  • penn state: The nittany lions with their run in the Big(12)10 Conference have vaulted into the top 50 of the RPI, giving VT an extra top 50 win.
  • Tech has two neutral site wins against top 75 teams in four chances.
  • VT is 6-4 in their last 10 games: Anything over .500 is good down the stretch since there are few cupcakes this time of year in a power league.
  • 3 more teams get in this year: We would have been one of the extra three that got in last year, and three years ago, and I think we will fit somewhere in around the last few in this year.

These things are borderline NCAA-worthy:

  • VT is 2-5 against top 50 teams.
  • Tech is 6-8 against top 75 teams.
  • The Hokies are 8-8 against top 100 teams.
  • Jerry Palm had us in, on the bubble, but not one of the last four in (so somewhat firmly in — #11 seed) after Friday’s action.  (and bc, who beat us twice, out).
  • Joe Lunardi has us as the second-to-last team in.  #12 seed in a first round game (Tuesday or Wednesday in Dayton).

A few things are also working against us…

  • florida state: with their loss to us, they dropped out of the top 50 of the RPI.  So instead of 4 top 50 wins, VT has just 2 (duke and penn state).
  • RPI: #61 – good, but not great.  Very borderline.  Plenty of teams with higher RPIs won’t get in.
  • VT has just one road win against a top 100 team.  Not sure this is that big of a deal though.  Neutral site is a better judge and VT is 2-2 in neutral site games against the top 75.

And, oh nelly, if Tech had just been able to close out the purdue game, which we had won, or the game at unc, VT would be a lock.  Both teams are top 12 RPI teams.

Again, I think we are in.  Is it just blind, biased optimism?  Maybe.  Is it me wanting it so bad for these seniors?  Probably.  But I really think we have put together a NCAA Tournament resume.  We deserve the job. Especially when they are hiring 68 this year.  While it is no sure thing, I think we will finally find what we’ve been looking for.

This post was written by:

- who has written 1106 posts on Tech Hoops.

Niemo is a member of the VT Class of '98. Attended every home basketball game during his 4 years at VT after missing the first home game. Has attended 122 straight VT football home games (every game since '94), eclipsing the 100 mark in September of '09. During the final home basketball game of his senior year, he was brought onto the court and was awarded 2 passes to the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament in Philly during a timeout. The Hokie Bird made the award on behalf of Athletic Director Jim Weaver. Niemo was known to be in the front row of every home game with his familiar red afro hairdo. Niemo currently lives in DC and speaks the Hokie gospel as often as possible. He watches over 50% of all ACC games, making him one of the most knowledgeable experts on ACC basketball.

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  • Fruitpie The Magician

    I know its not supposed to play in as a factor, BUT I gotta think that the committee will have some subjective feelings when considering us, and while we may have to play in Dayton – I think we are in. Let’s hope Richmond pulls out the win versus Dayton as to not steal an at-large bid. These seniors deserve it…Go Hokies!

  • JT

    Here is the breakdown: If dayton wins, four of the following teams get in; if dayton loses, that number goes down to 3:

    1. Clemson
    2. Georgia
    3. Saint marys
    4. Hokies
    ————
    5. USC
    6. Alabama
    6. BC
    7. Saint marys

  • JT

    Sorry, saint marys should have been deleted from last line.

    Anyway, I think our fate rides on the dayton game, and then a little luck after that. I still can’t figure out why anyone would take the hokies over a group that includes boston college, and my gut is to go against the bracketologists on this one – I value head-to-head record of equal teams, and bc has that over us.

    But, according to the experts, we may get in this thing. It’s a sad, sad field when we’re debating over teams with rpi in the 60′s.

  • Danram

    I was just watching GameDay and they were all talking about how the bulk of the field for the tourney is already set. So if ESPN’s Joe Lunardi still has us as one of his “Last Four In” then I think that we’ll get in. He no doubt talks off-the-record to people close to the process and has a good idea of who’s in a who’s out. So if he still has us in, I feel pretty good about our chances.

    The wild card is the Dayton-Richmond game. If Dayton pulls the upset and steals a bid, then that takes away a spot for an at-large team and things could get dicey for VT.

  • Kirk

    if dayton wins, ur may be out. I think ur has to win. won’t affect us. ur resume is weaker.

  • King

    I think we’ll get in as one of the play-in teams. FYI, those games will be part of a double-header on Tues & Wed, & will be aired on truTV (formerly Court TV). Not making that up.

  • LuvzAznChix

    Gotta say, I’m NOT liking how this is turning out so far… to quote a movie, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

  • King

    F*#%!!!!! This sucks. There’s gotta be some d-bag Wahoo on the Selection Committee. Only explanation.

  • Chris

    I’m simply at a loss for words.

    I won’t even bother in filling out a bracket this year. The fact that UAB and VCU made it in over VT and Colorado is a joke. Every year the committee finds a way to **** the bracket up… This one is the worst though.

    Whatever.

  • LuvzAznChix

    Wham Bam! WTF was THAT!?

  • LuvzAznChix

    YAAAYYY!!! We get to play more home games! Sorry-but this is reality. Tech has to win @ the VERY least 23-25 games plus have a better RPI against top 50. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it goes. Tech just doesn’t have the RPI OR the rep that the other teams that were picked in front of them. So, until Greenberg & Co. can: 1) win @ least 23-25 games 2) make @ least to the ACC semis & (most importantly) 3) get a much, MUCH better RPI than these other teams selected over it, NIT IS the ONLY reality. So, just be thankful they’re even playing in the postseason and @ home. They had a decent run this year. It is what it is. Bottom line: Tech is NOT A HOOPS SCHOOL. I’m sorry, but they’re just not good enough to play in the tourney (not since Zabian & Jamon left anyway). And Greenberg & every fan & player needs to accept that. Trust me, they & everyone else will feel MUCH better about themselves if they accept the TRUTH. You gotta stop lying to yourself at some point.

  • ryan

    Not a hoops school? That’s [word removed]. tell that to the #7 Recruiting Class walking on to campus next year and the injured redshirt kids as well.

  • King

    If Virginia Tech is not a hoops school, then why did College Gameday come to Blacksburg for the Duke game? Look, it takes time to build a program. Tech is moving in the right direction. We’re consistently winning 20 games per season, we just built a state-of-the-art practice facility, & we are bringing in top notch assistants. If next year’s recruiting class is any indication of the direction that the program is heading, then I’d say the future looks bright. We got screwed this year…again…but don’t give up hope. We are Virginia Tech. We will prevail. An NIT championship would be a nice swan song for the graduating seniors. Let’s support Seth & the boys and bring a title back to Blacksburg.

  • Zack

    [removed name of other poster as we will not tolerate call outs, but I thought this comment was solid in defending our team], I have been noticing a few of your comments for the last few weeks and it seems as if you are not very familiar with the sport of basketball. Saying that this team (or the last three) are not good enough to play in the tournament is insulting to both the players and (real) fans. Tell that to #1 Wake or #1 Duke that these teams can’t compete. Tell that to the rest of the ACC who has watched VT finish in the top four the majority of the time we have been in the ACC. Tell that to our ACC all-conference players. Virginia Tech has deserved a bid in the past and will get a bid in the future no thanks to pessimistic and uninformed fans like yourself.


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2012-13 Schedule

November
11/10 Hokies 80, etsu 62
11/12 Hokies 69, rhode island 50
11/15 Hokies 95, vmi 80
11/19 Hokies 96, unc-g 87
11/23 Hokies 87, appalachian state 76
**ACC/BIG Ten Challenge**
11/27 Hokies 95, iowa 79
December
12/1 Hokies 81, #15 oklahoma state 71
12/8 wvu 68, Hokies 67
**Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic**
12/10 Hokies 70, mvsu 49
12/15 Georgia Southern 78, Hokies 73
12/22 Hokies 66, bradley 65, OT
12/23 colorado state 88, Hokies 52
**Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic**
12/29 byu 97, Hokies 71
January
1/5 maryland 94, Hokies 71
1/9 boston college 86, Hokies 75
1/12 Hokies 70, georgia tech 65
1/19 Hokies 66, wake forest 65
1/24 virginia 74, Hokies 58
1/27 clemson 77, Hokies 70
1/30 miami 73, Hokies 64
February
2/2 unc 72, Hokies 60, OT
2/7 maryland 60, Hokies 55
2/9 Georgia Tech 64, hokies 54
2/12 virginia 73, Hokies 55
2/16 nc state 90, Hokies 86
2/21 duke 88, Hokies 56
2/24 Hokies 80, fsu 70
2/27 miami 76, Hokies 58
March
3/2 Hokies 69, clemson 61
3/5 duke 85, Hokies 57
3/10 wake 90, Hokies 79
**ACC Tournament in Greensboro**
3/14 vs. nc state, 2:30 p.m.
3/15 Quarterfinals
3/16 Semifinals
3/17 Finals

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