2008 Virginia Tech Hokies Basketball Preview

Head coach Seth Greenberg brought the Virginia Tech Hokies (21-14 overall, 9-7 ACC) to a fine finish, ending the 2007-2008 season in fourth place and coming close to earning a NCAA invitation. The club went to the NIT where they made it to the quarterfinals, losing to Ole Miss 81-71. This team, which sports a range of experienced sophomores, has a good chance of turning last year’s surprise performance into a rock-solid season of achievements.

Last season as a freshman, forward Jeff Allen (28.2 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 49.1 FG%, 60.7 FT%) produced immediately, but he was not committed to conditioning. He’s turned around on that matter and should be even more productive this season. The center spot could go to six-foot-nine, 218-pound junior Lewis Witcher (12.7 MPG, 2.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, 52.0 FG%, 65.2 FT%), who played well late in the year. Freshman forward Victor Davila is big bodied and ably scores in the paint. He’ll play immediately.

The loss of swingman Deron Washington (13.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.3 APG), one of the ACC’s most athletic players, is a big hit for the team. Swing may go to sophomore J.T. Thompson (18.4 MPG, 5.6 PPG,4.1 RPG, 0.4 APG, 54.8 FG%, 64.2 FT%) or sophomore Terrell Bell (7.1 MPG, 1.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 43.5 FG%, 66.7 FT%). Both have shown promise. A.D. Vassallo (34.3 MPG, 16.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 44.3 FG%, 76.0 FT%) is considered to be one of the best 2-guards in the conference. His three-point shot can devastate other teams. Sophomore Michael Delaney (27.3 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 42.0 FG%, 78.7 FT%) is someone who will be asked to shoot a lot.

Last season, Tech just missed the Big Dance. This year, they should be getting a chance to show their moves on the national stage. Although they are still young, the club garnered enough hard knocks and had enough good things happen to take it to the next level in 2008-2009. Greenberg, if he can keep this team together, may be sitting in the catbird seat for the next three years as the Hokies should simply keep getting better.