TY GARLAND:

Update:  It’s official Hokiesports.com Announcement 

And here are some not so flattering words from TG about SG (not awful, but not flattering) in this Roanoke Times Article

It appears the third-leading scorer all-time in Philadelphia Public League history will no longer be a Hokie.  Sophomore Tyrone Garland appears to be on the move according to the Washington Post and other sources.  No official announcement has come from VT yet, and he’s still listed on the official roster, but with the semester over, now is the time for players to make their move if they are going to.

Garland has shown he can score.  Predator always attacked the rim with intensity.  He scored 13 in the opener this year while filling in for the injured Erick Green, and then notched a career high 18 versus monmouth.

But the big issue was his defense and outside shooting.  Ty, quite frankly, played defense with his hands instead of his feet.  He was slow to react and either fouled the opposing guard when they drove, or got beaten like a rented mule.  From the outside, I’ve never seen someone bank so many 3-pointers.  He was just 29% from deep in his 1+ years though.  Greenberg, being a defensive coach, has gone with freshman Marquis Rankin since Rankin came back from injury two weeks ago.  Rankin appears to be much quicker on defensive, something Seth covets, and may be a better facilitator with the ball, something you need from a point guard.  At Ty’s height and with his lack of shooting ability from the outside, he isn’t a true ‘ACC’ shooting guard.  That forced him to play the point, which wasn’t his strength.

That said, I liked the kid and will miss him if he is leaving.  He made the All-ACC Academic Team, and was this year’s Paul Debnam, cuttin’ a rug in the team huddle after introductions.  Garland always played hard and brought a Philly toughness with him.  Best wishes to him.

Garland would become the third Hokie to transfer in a little over a year.  Ben Boggs transferred after the first semester ended last year (to Bryce Drew U — valpo).  Manny Millions Atkins transferred to georgia state after last season.  But believe me, this isn’t a Randy Edsall-type situation.  These players saw the writing on the wall and elected to move on down the road to find more playing time elsewhere.  We’ll see where Garland ends up.  With his Philly background, I wouldn’t be stunned if he went to la salle, st. joe’s, or temple (all offered him out of high school).  He needs a place where he can play more at the off-guard position.

18 ACC GAMES:

The ACC has announced that they will go to an 18-game league schedule next season even if pitt and ‘cuse are not in the league.  Seth was against this (at least until they join) as it handcuffs what you can do out of conference.  pitt and syracuse may not join the league until as late as the 2014-15 season, but either way, it’s 18 games.

The ACC has not yet decided if they’ll have divisions in basketball like the SEC does.

So, this has me thinking — VT was the first team to win 10 regular season games and not make the Big Dance two years ago.  Last year they won 11 total games (including the ACC Tourney) and still didn’t get a bid, also a first.  Will the Hokies become the first team to win 12 (13, 14…) games and not make the NCAAs?  Ugh, I don’t look forward to having to write that article.