Hokies discuss loss to UNC
Greetings from back in Atlanta, where after writing my game story and my sidebar looking at potential NIT foes for VT, I am ready to do some blogging about Tech’s 79-76 loss to UNC.
“That’s … been my career …. at Virginia Tech, just losing close,” AD Vassallo said.
Some may think VT may still have a long shot at making the NCAAs, but it flat out won’t happen in my opinion. Not since they lost to UNC. IF they had won today, they would be in. But they did not. 18-14, 7-9 with no quality nonleague wins and only one win in the ACC tourney doesn’t cut it. The last 7-9 ACC team to make the NCAAs was NC State in 2005, after State made the semis. Even after today’s game I do not think VT will be among the top 50 teams in the RPI.
VT’s resume includes two top 30 RPI wins (at Wake, at Clemson) and that’s it for top 50 wins unless Boston College climbs five spots back into the top 50 after playing Duke tonight. Two wins vs Miami are good wins but not top 50 wins. VT will have only 3 wins against the 2009 NCAA field. VT also has losses to No. 100 Seton Hall and to two sub-100 teams, UVa and Georgia.
Without the UNC win, VT’s resume falls a bit short on top 50 wins. Especially since VT has lost 7 of its last 9 games and 9 of last 13.
VT is a lock for the NIT though. I would guess a 2 seed, not a 1 seed, but we will see.
Will the Hokies be able to get up for the NIT after falling short of their season-long goal of the NCAAs?
“As long as we get to play, we’re going to be fine,” Malcolm Delaney said.
“If we go to the NIT, … we’re still going to play our game,” JT Thompson said. “We’ll be able to bounce back.”
As for the UNC game, Tyler Hansbrough came up big again. After scoring 26 points and grabbing 9 boards in last year’s semi, when he had the game-winning shot in the final second, he had 28 points, 8 boards and 3 steals today.
He helped UNC make up for the absence of injured point guard Ty Lawson. Despite what Seth Greenberg and Malcolm said after this game, there is a huge difference between Bobby Frasor running the show for UNC and Lawson. For UNC to win without Ty, and to win despite shooting just 36.1 percent in the 2nd half, says something about the team’s depth and ability.
UNC did outrebound VT 44-33.
“We just couldn’t get a defensive rebound when we needed to get one,” Greenberg said. “We competed at a very high level. I thought we took great care of the basketball. But we just weren’t tough enough when we needed to (be). We were battling guys six inches taller than us. We thought we were blocking out but I guess we weren’t blocking out well enough because they kept on jumping and getting the rebound.
“But I’m really proud of our guys. I thought we competed really hard. … We put ourselves in position to win. We just weren’t able to finish.”
Hansbrough scored with 36 seconds left to give UNC the lead for good at 77-76.
VT called timeout. Malcolm passed to AD in the corner, but AD was double-teamed. He passed it back out to Delaney, who was fouled by Wayne Ellington. It was only UNC’s 4th foul of the half, so a non-shooting foul.
“I was just trying to catch it and go one on one as fast as I could, and Hansbrough just helped out,” AD said. “I was looking for Jeff (Allen) because I knew if he helped, somebody had to be open. I couldn’t find him and then I saw Malcolm at the top.”
Seth called timeout again with 22.3 seconds to go. Hansbrough fouled Malcolm with 16.6 seconds left.
AD inbounded the ball to Malcolm. The first idea on the play, said Seth, was for AD to get the ball on a quick flare screen so he could go one on one. It just didn’t work, said Seth.
Malcolm drove and tried to pass it out to Dorenzo. But JT intercepted the pass in the lane because he did not know Dorenzo was behind him. JT was going to pass to AD, but Hansbrough got his hand on the ball and UNC got possession on the held ball with 5.2 seconds left.
“I was hoping for a foul but they called jump ball,” JT said. “I did (get fouled).”
” I passed it to Zo but JT was wide open in the middle, so he grabbed it,” Delaney said. “They sinked in to him and AD had the open shot. He was trying to get the ball to AD, but he couldn’t lift his arms up.”
Seth obviously thought on the sideline that JT was fouled.
“What I saw doesn’t count so it makes no difference,” Greenberg said. “What they (the refs) saw is what happened.”
After Hansbrough made two foul shots and UNC fouled again, Tech inbounded the ball with 3.5 seconds left. AD, guarded by Hansbrough, missed a trey at the buzzer.
“I jumped up over him. I had a good look. It just didn’t go in,” AD said.
Hansbrough did not pump his fist and run down the court in jubilation like he did after scoring the winning bucket last year.
“I don’t want to redo that because I took a little crap for it,” he said.
AD had 26 points and 10 boards, but got in foul trouble in both halves. Malcolm was just 5 of 15 from the field and had 17 points. Jeff got in foul trouble in both halves too, and had nine points and seven boards.
Ellington had 16 points and four treys for UNC.
“We tried to take away Ellington and Hansbrough,” Seth said. “We just didn’t do as good a job taking away Hansbrough. We did a pretty good job on Ellington.”
Hansbrough scored the final six points that his team scored.
“He’s just a fierce competitor,” Seth said.
VT was called for 20 fouls to UNC’s 14, and three of those UNC fouls came in the final 40 seconds.
“I guess we foul and they don’t,” Seth said.
After losing to UNC in last year’s semis, Seth made a national splash when he said anyone who didn’t think VT was one of the 65 best teams in the nation was certifiably insane. He wouldn’t lobby for his team this time.
“You guys can have some other village idiot give you a good story,” he said.
It was yet another close game in what has become a great series between UNC and VT.
“We … didn’t have one of our crucial players, Ty, so we had some other players step up,” Hansbrough said. “They’re a tough team. AD’s a really tough player to guard and Delaney and Jeff Allen, those three guys are really good players. They create a lot of mismatches and they’re tough to guard. They’re a legit team.”
March 13, 2009 - 5:49 PM
Greenberg needs to at least attempt to show some decorum during matches. The jacket throwing stuff works for the A-10 crowd, not the ACC. At least maybe he’s getting the “village idiot” stuff now. VPI&SU played hard against UNC.
Same old same old – In the ACC, when you play UNC or Duke, no matter who you are you are not going to get any close call in your favor – That’s a fact, a way of life – We just have to accept it – Had the non call on the foul on JT been in UNC’s favor then Has goes to the line – ACC Refs are
fearful of Coach K and Coach Williams wrath – At least Roy is a Gentleman and not the cry baby type – Just give Seth time and teh Hokies will get their revenge!!!!!!
Good job Hokies – Sometimes the ACC Refs run out of Breath and can not blow their whistles!!!
Virginia Tech played so hard to have a coach to act like a complete fool on the sideline.
What coach should Greenberg copy personality-wise during games?!
Ralph, there’s nothing wrong with wearing you emotions on your sleeve. I like how he will go to the mat for his team.
Maybe Greenberg wouldn’t throw his jacket if Tech wasn’t always playing 5 on 8!!!!!!!
Last basketball comment this year. Two things. After two years ending the same way, they need to realize that the pre-conference games mean something. Greenberg needs to recruit a center that’s an offensive threat and at the minimum, two pure shooters. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll be having this same conversation next year.
What do you think about Greenburg? Has he gotten the job done for Tech? I think Tech is by far the toughest school to recruit for in the ACC! I’d say he’s done a very good job, but he may have taken Tech as far as he’s going to.
It is little wonder that Hansboroug leads the NCAA alltime in free throw attempts. He has three babysitters watching out for him at all times. He nearly tore Thompson’s arm off and gets a jump ball. He gets a charge call with legs spread wide. The calls that gave Vassalo and Allen their fourth fouls were bad with the guy leaving his feet to get a charge against V and a minor touch to Hans by Allen. When two teams play as hard as these two did and one team only has three teams fouls going into the last two minutes something is going on. As for Greenberg’s tantrum, it happens in the heat of the moment and I would much rather have someone show his heart than be an iceberg. If these guys ever learn to close then the ACC is going to be in a world of hurt. IF UNC is #1 then Tech is #2.
just remember vt. up by 6 with 2 mins to go you turn the ball over force jump shoots going to the hole. not one time run the clock down. come on man wear is the coach. on the sideline call play. so it is not the players all the time you can’t be dancing on the sideline wend you are winning but choke at the end. i all ways wounder why players leave vt. i know now.
The Greenberg family can now get revenge against UNC on Thursday in Greensboro.
What a bunch of crybabies! This is why we didn’t want you in the ACC in the first place. You guys cry when you lose and show no class when you win. Your players are thugs and your fans are babies. The sad thing is that I know a lot of Tech grads who don’t act that way and frankly they wish you guys would go chear for some other team.
vt. will never go to the ncaa tournament the ncaa do not like greenburg the pros dc not like him the league don”t like him his team don”t like him he have lost all respect when you dog your players this is what you get think about it 4th in the acc last year and did”t make it 2009 7th and they took 7 teams think about it you are not going to the big dance with greenburg it is not the players it the coach just ask the sr.
Lighten up Greg. I know good Tar Heels and bad Tar Heels. There’s good and bad in every family. C’mon now, remember all the Tar Heel fans whining that they would have won the football game if your QB hadn’t broken his ankle? Every fan base does it.
Justafan just when I was starting to like you you start busting my chops. If you want to tell some people to lighten up start with your own fans. Just read all the whoa is me comments before mine. We got cheated, blah blah blah. Yea there was a big conspiracy that caused Tech to lose 9 or 10 of its last 11 or 12 games. That’s my only point. When you guys win you talk trash and when you lose it’s always someone elses fault. True Tar Heel fans do not blame a loss on anyone but themselves. This is something that comes with winning. When you are a winner you also know how to lose. Tech hasn’t learned how to do either at this point but I have hope for you. I think you’ll eventually understand how to win and lose with class.
Greg, I heard so much crying from the holes, after VT beat them in football this past season. Everything from Ron Cherry this to the old if yates hadn’t been out of the game whine, so save it. All I heard from Roy Boy today at his press conference was the “we’re injured more than everyone else” line. So just save it, holes whine and blame just like everyone else. The reason you wouldn’t want us in the ACC, because you want ever see a championship in football.
CWS thanks for proving my point. Calling us the holes is real classy. You might want to follow Justafans lead and tone it down a bit.
Hey when you have some spare time go out to the NCAA website and look for the Division I Championships page. There is a drop down box where you can select your University and see how many championships they have won. Don’t look to hard though because you will not find Virginia Tech or VPI listed. You know why? Because you have never won a championship in any sport. That’s pretty sad don’t you think? Don’t worry though, UNC will still share the money we get from winning championships with Tech. Sure you guys go to bowl games and share your money but guess what, UNC has been to plenty of bowl games too. When is the last time Tech contributed anything else to the conference?
And as for Roy Williams, he has more class in his little finger than you have in your little pea sized brain. Roy is always the first one to step up and congratulate another team. Your boy Seth never says anything good about the other team. You didn’t even listen to Roy’s press conference. You’re just spouting off about what you heard some Duke fan say. Good luck in the NIT. I hope you win it. After all, it’s time you guys started chipping in money from something besides football.
Greg, me thinks you doth protest too much. Don’t call people crybabies and then complain that someone is busting your chops. My point was that there are good and bad fans in every program, Heels included. As far as class goes…. I remember in 2007 when the Hokies beat the Heels twice in b’ball…..there were a lot of classless comments coming from the Chapel Hill faithful. There were nasty comments about the Hokies, refs and the world at large. All I’m saying is, don’t throw stones.
I’m sure you have noticed, as I have, that some of the worst of the fan bases seem to be attracted to these blogs. That doesn’t include you and I though.
Now Justafan you know I was just giving you a hard time. That’s what makes college sports so much fun. I concur on the general statement of the folks who turn to these blogs for their place to vent. It’s a lot like the people in Jenny’s blog who complain about Roanoke and they don’t even live here.
after the duquesne game. i stop crying yes the ref was bad. a lot of call went against vt.and the unc game you right we still should have won the game. 2 mins a go but in the nit. duquesne was foul all night going down the strech of the game the refs. save vt. 2 time out left you call back to back time out 2=3 min left in game that smart. i think vt coach is a choker. vt fans joy me and stop crying a coach that lies to his players is no good. go vt.
Once again Greg we are in agreement. I follow very few pro sports anymore. I much prefer college football (most of all) and basketball.
Also on the Roanoke complainers. Even though I now live in Salem (with the beautiful people), I grew up in Roanoke and still think it’s a great place to live.