Once again, the NCAA Tournament field of teams was announced without the inclusion of the Virginia Tech Hokies.

For the fourth consecutive season, the Hokies were positioned as one of several bubble teams.  However, with a late-season win against Duke and a decent showing in the ACC Tournement, it seemed as if Tech had turned the corner.

Following the omission of his team from the Big Dance, VT head coach Seth Greenberg had this to say:

“[I'm] just disappointed. You almost wonder if someone in that room has their own agenda and that agenda doesn’t include Virginia Tech. Just plain and simple. I totally wonder it, if someone in that room has an agenda. The explanation was so inconsistent with the result that it was almost mind-boggling.

“I guess they even brought up our non-conference schedule. Kansas State, Purdue, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Penn State, St. Bonaventure that was supposed to be big and Mississippi State that was projected to win the SEC. I’d say that’s a pretty significant slate and challenge. So they must not have looked at it very closely. But I guess they did. I feel for these kids. Doesn’t take away from what we accomplished this year … but it’s extremely disheartening. You would hate to thing that politics would be involved, but it makes you wonder. [...]

“Probably another reason they need to open up that room, or at least give each and every school, ‘This is our criteria. This is what it’s going to be every year, and this is how we’re going to make choices.’ Because in the end, it isn’t that. There’s a human element to it. And that’s why you wonder, in that human element, if someone in that room has an agenda. Again, that’s just a question.”

Seth is certainly broken-hearted, and how could he not be?  When was the last time that an ACC team suffered the same number of losses as a CAA team (VCU), and the CAA team gets invited?  Has that ever happened?  UAB was a surprise selection as well, with 8 losses playing in Conference USA.

That aside Seth Greenberg knows that his team did not do everything in its power to lock up an at-large bid.

After three years of being on the bubble, Greenberg should have known that the Hokies weren't guaranteed a spot in the field this year.

The Hokies had a great, seemingly-signature win over then #1 Duke at the Cassell Coliseum.  With two games remaining, winning either one would have distinguished Virginia Tech as a 10-win ACC team – clearly seated in fourth-place in the conference (a spot that eventually stolen by Clemson).  Instead of fortifying their status as a deserving team, Tech lost both games – they got hammered at home on senior night to Boston College (who was also snubbed), and loss on the road at Clemson.  Two losses to two other bubble teams certainly did not look good to the committee, thus proving that the Hokies could not win games in desperate situations.

One can only imagine how frustating that must have been to Greenberg.  He had a team that was talented enough to upend the Blue Devils, yet unfocused enough to squander the opportunity presented by failing to seal the deal.

But Greenberg’s emotions were assuredly going to run high with this particular team.  With Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen both concluding their VT careers after this season, the road will promise to be long and hard for the Hokies recovery.  The previous two times that the Hokies made the NCAA tourney – 2007 and 1996 – was a process of roster maturation.  Virginia Tech had classes of players who grew together, culminating in comfortability and enhanced team chemistry.

Unfortunately for Seth, even with two of Tech’s best individual performers in the history of the program, he was unable to generate enough chemistry between them within a four-year span that would culminate in a single NCAA Tournament appearance.

It becomes an even sadder state of affairs if the remaining Hokie roster is examined.  Veteran swingman Terrell Bell will also be on the way out at season’s end, leaving only two of the current starters.  Center Victor Davila has proven one thing during his tenure in the program – that dunking isn’t easy…even for someone that’s 6’8″.  Rarely can anyone say that they’ve been blocked twice by the rim in a single game – but Davila can.  Sophomore guard Erick Green gives the team hope for good things.  He blossomed out of neccessity, and his confidence has soared with each game.  However, based on the remaining pieces, Green will have his work cut out for him as the sole true playmaker on the roster.

While Greenberg seems to be a spirited, motivational coach, there’s only so much that he can do to resurrect Virginia Tech basketball.  Seth would appear to be a player’s coach, one who would be appeasing to top-rated prospects.  But the real problem with Tech’s recruiting is obviously its lack of basketball pedigree.  There have been very few Hokies in the NBA, and VT has yet to establish a high profile in hoops like it has in football. 

To make a long story short, it should be at least another four years before the Hokies find themselves on the bubble again.

For Greenberg, nothing can be more hurtful than knowing that he wasted a chance that only comes along once every leap year.

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