As a sports fan, you will always remember your team's monumental moments. Glued to the old couch in my parents' living room, I watched a live press conference as Tyrod Taylor committed to Tech. Due to a third-grade bedtime, I pretended to be asleep and desperately clung to Bill Roth's radio call while Michael Vick lead a furious third quarter comeback in the Sugar Bowl. I nervously practiced my trumpet before a high school band competition when Frank Beamer kicked Michael's brother off the team a few years later.
It a personal thing, different for everyone. Some memories fade, others get replaced by something more recent or prominent, but then there are the ones you know you'll remember forever.
I will never forget the day that Whit Babcock hired Buzz Williams; the moment Virginia Tech basketball changed forever.
My girlfriend and I were driving on a particularly desolate patch of road between Blacksburg and Richmond, and all of a sudden my phone exploded with texts like "OMG BUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZ!!" I scrambled to Twitter, saw four separate writers confirm the rumors and spent the remainder of the weekend sporting the type of smile usually reserved for someone who just lost their virginity.
The Virginia Tech men's basketball team's last seven years is succinctly summarized by a Seth Greenberg-lead plateau and a Jim Weaver-lit, James Johnson-inherited dumpster fire. Yet despite the fact this team hadn't been in the national conversation since 2007, Whit Babcock went out and made a hire that was finally going to make Hokie hoops reverse course. He finally made the athletic department commit to the program.
The most important job that Buzz had upon arrival in Blacksburg was recruiting. It was obvious that he needed to give his attrition-riddled program a face-lift, and do so quickly. He's done a remarkable job not only signing highly touted players, but bringing in highly touted players that fit what he wants to do (kind of the opposite of the now-infamous Hokie class of 2011).
VT hoops coach Buzz Williams said that as long as he is here, he and his staff will recruit every single day— Jimmy Robertson (@jrobIHS) November 12, 2014
In my opinion, his most important job was a different kind of recruiting. Buzz Williams will always have the ability to go out and get the players he wants. He's just that kind of coach, a guy who can sell you on himself. As much as he needed to reel in prospects, Williams needed to bring the fans back into the fold more. Phrases like "culture change" get thrown around so much that they start to become a cliche, but that is exactly what Buzz had to undertake the minute he took the job.
By the time Buzz and company take the floor on Friday night, it will be exactly 34 weeks (one week short of eight months) since his hiring was announced on March 21st. Since that day in mid-spring, there have been nothing but positive stories coming out of Cassell.
Watch Buzz wow students at a pep ralley!
Buzz signed a top-25 class in his first month on campus!
Watch Buzz's team go through boot camp! They're so gritty!
Buzz signed a top-25 class again!
All of the above is the result of one kind of recruiting effort or another.
But here's the thing. When the first whistle blows and the Hokies officially tip off against Maryland-Eastern Shore, all of that stuff goes away. It's easy to get swept up into the Buzz Williams hype machine during the offseason, but now it's time to play the games. Now comes phase two of the Buzz Williams experience.
I think that when talking about Buzz phase two, it's important to start with one very simple fact about the Hokie basketball squad this season: this team will struggle.
It's undersized and full of young guys, a combination that has killed teams with more talent. It's also plays in the ACC, the toughest conference in college basketball. There will be growing pains, there will be mistakes and quite frankly there will be ugly basketball. If you were hoping for a better television product than the one that you saw over the past three years, you will be severely disappointed.
This isn't an article to slam the Virginia Tech basketball team. It's not one to bring anyone down as a fan or say that they shouldn't be excited for this team. What I said above was just a disclaimer to what I'm about to say.
I think that they're going to be much better this year, we just have to embrace the ugly. Embrace the growing pains. If this team, under this coach, will ever find success, it will be by doing both of those things.They'll succeed by diving on the floor, by packing the paint and by playing a game more physical than one we've seen on Saturdays this fall.
It's going to be a grind, it's going to be tough to watch, superficially it will look no different than the past few years. However, this season there is one important distinction. Playing ugly is going to be the plan.
That's the only way that I can see the team have any semblance of success this season. They need to try harder than their opponents, Buzz needs to out coach his counterpart every night and the entire team needs to focus on the little things. If they do all that, the games will be ugly, borderline unwatchable, but will also be the biggest sign of an improved team. If grinding out games is the gameplan, it means that your team can be in most of its games, whether they should be or not.
This has been an infuriatingly consistent theme with Jamie Dixon's Pittsburgh teams, Virginia teams under Tony Bennett and early Greenberg-coached Virginia Tech teams. They grind games out and adhere to "the system". While the system for each of those coaches is different, the general principles are the same. Attention to detail, doing all of the things that their opponent won't and grinding out wins.
It's not a fun way to watch basketball, and for many people it probably won't look like the brand of "Buzzketball" they envisioned in March. But I'm confident that if this team plays the way I described above, ugly and attentive, they won't finish in the basement this season.
That may be a low bar to set, but considering what we've seen over the past three years it's both appropriate and attainable. Buzz already sold us on what the program will look like two years from now, but now it's up to us to watch them get there, growing and improving right before our eyes.
It may not look good now, but I don't think I'm alone in saying that it will all be worth it.
Comments
Great article Brian. Totally agree and love what Buzz is bringing to the table.
A pedantic question if I may, does the term "Buzzsketball" need the "s" in it? Why do I ask? Because it's the tits and I want to use it correctly.
I wonder after two years of "ugly" if people will treat Buzz like they treat Lefty right now.
Not a good comparison. lefty got fired after the dumpster fire he was part of in Auburn and has underwhelmed at Tech. Buzz had a solid Program and was competing for a big East title every year, not to mention making the Big Dance. Something we haven't done in too long.
Actually, Buzz has the best resume of any coaching hire ever made at VT. He's done more in 6 years than VT has done in basketball in its' entire history.
So, he's won a couple NITs, has he?
Before you say "Pssh" to that, remember that in 1973 - our first - the NIT was a Real Tournament. Even in 1995, the NCAA tournament didn't invite 2,321 teams.
I don't follow college basketball like I used to, so I'm not NEARLY in the Buzz Zone like everyone else, since my initial response was "who?" when he was hired. (To be fair, I would have said that if we'd taken someone from almost any of the 300+ D-1 schools.)
But I'm just making the point that stating obvious hyperbole doesn't help. We played basketball before the Internet and Virginia Tech sports blogs, just so you know. In fact, in the mid-80s there was more excitement about the Hurryin' Hokies than the football team.
Clearly, though, it will not take long for Buzz to pull VT to places it hasn't been before - as long he doesn't piss off the NCAA selection committee.
Probably not ... people far and wide are in LOVE with Buzz. He writes! He tweets! He plays the piano! He reads books! In many ways Buzz is the opposite of what's been seen in the men's basketball program over the last several years. And along the way he's won - although his production at Marquette was mixed (2009 second round NCAA, 2010 first round, 2011 Sweet Sixteen). He left Marquette when people started to question him. Buzz will have a longer leash at VT, but his methods are going to rub people the wrong way, and quickly. That leash may be longer, and winning will help ease some of the aggravation he's causing, but when things get tough Buzz seems to get going. I hope that's not the case here because the buzz - sorry, couldn't help myself - around the program is unlike anything I've ever seen, but Buzz is about Buzz ... he's all in until he stops needing you, and then he moves along.
That said, I bought tickets this year for the first time in 10 years. I'm excited about seeing what tonight looks and feels like. I'm just saying that, from where I sit, the shine is going to wear off of the Buzz train sooner than later, and I wonder if we're going to be feeling the same way about him then.
Hey, whoever had 'morning of the season opener' for the first attempted character assassination of Buzz Williams in the pool, you just won!
Yeesh, he hasn't even coached a game for us, yet.
That's fair - I didn't read it as that, but I can see where you're coming from. Fire away ... I earned that one.
Honestly that is the fairest assessment of him I have seen. Everyone is on the Buzz train, but they don't see what goes on behind the curtain. "Buzz is about Buzz" is about the nicest way you can say it and a couple of the assistants are the exact same way. But it is a take the good with the bad situation. Without Buzz, we'd still be stuck with JJ and a lot of the renovations going on in Cassell would not have happened as quickly. I just hope Whit doesn't let Buzz run over him the same way Greenberg use to do Weaver/Gabbard.
How terribly interesting. How would you say the players are reacting to Buzz and the new staff? Everything is hunky dory in the press, but is everyone buying into his intense style?
I would say the players are buying in just looking at the way they hustled and dove for balls tonight.
No reason to wonder. If we lose, yes. If we win, ugly or otherwise, no. It's all about the W's. No one would be complaining about Loeffspring if we were 8-1 and heading for a showdown with the 'noles in Charlotte.
Received an email earlier today stating they only had 80 student tickets left available. That means the student section could be the fullest it's been in years for tomorrows game!
It was pretty darn full for the Oklahoma St game two years ago. That being said I'm happy the students are packing it in for the first game this season!
The games won't be ugly as predicted. That doesn't mean we won't lose games, it means we have already seen multiple years of ugly games. Now we will see competitive games, not stall ball with someone pounding the ball for 20 seconds before heaving a desperation shot or flailing into the paint in an attempt to draw a foul before missing the FTs. We will see active defenses, and active offenses. Even if we fail to convert, our offense will be active. That is not ugly at all. Ugly is what we had.
What we will see is coherent basketball. We will be outmanned at times, and we might lose by big margins at times. Other times, we will surprise the opponents and our fans by how well we play. But we will play hard, we will play smart, and we will have a recognizable game plan. To me that is not ugly basketball at all. It's the foundation for a successful long term program. One that earns respect in the ACC. And that is a beautiful thing.
I don't think anybody will be disappointed this year. Only the misinformed are thinking we'll be dancing come March. We will be much improved from last year. We are predicted to finish last in the ACC in a few places so there's nowhere to go but up.
Kudos for a well thought out article. I can't recall being this pumped up about Hokie basketball in a long time!
An article full of grit and hope. You framed it just like you framed the team, gutting it out. Perfect metaphor. Well done! Buzzketball will be exciting. #support!
For the first time ever in my life the first thing I looked at this morning was what time Men's basketball plays today with excitement. And I seem to be more interested in the start of VT basketball then I am with the football game this weekend. I'm not sure how to feeling about this!
This must be how people at Duke used to feel all the time.
Used to. *sniff
"...sporting the type of smile usually reserved for someone who just lost their virginity."
Great line
Yezzir. Nailed it.
If you look at it in the right way even a bad season can be fun. Heck I'm all aboard the sixers tank.
But especially if these kids play hard, which I'm sure Buzz will have them, it won't be hard to forget about the W-L record in realizing that there's light at the end of the tunnel and our future is bright.
You were in THIRD GRADE during the Vick Sugar Bowl season?! FUCK. I hate being reminded that I'm old.
THANKS FOR RUINING GAME DAY, BRIAN.
I was in 2nd grade, if you wanted an extra helping
glad some of us are still young...
I was sitting in class with Vick and others during that era so at least some of us are old together.
Ha, old you say. I was getting ready to retire after 20 years in the military.
I said old, not decrepit
I had to laugh, senile as I am. Leg for you Sir.
Vick went to class? : )
Michael did, too bad Marcus didnt
Vick helped me move my couch once. No, we did not burn it!
My youngest kid was in 2nd grade. There, that should make him feel better.
I had a third grade son during the 1999 Sugar Bowl.
AND... I let him stay up for the whole game, eat ice cream, and listen to me hurl curse words at the TV.
Has a starting lineup been announced yet or is that a game time announcement?
I love being excited for basketball season again! Buzzsketball is back in Blacksburg!
Saw this video from the director of the MV's where Buzz attempts to play the trumpet with the pep band: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203912646154966
I expect nothing more than what is stated in this article. Ugly basketball wins games in Blacksburg. We don't have any Harrison twins from UK who are just gonna get delirious one game after another and hit huge shots in clutch moments. We don't have any flashy Kyrie Irving-type guys who end up on SC's Top 10. This is the 2013 Chicago Bulls of college basketball: scrappy rebounding, tough defense, smart shots, and a struggling offense at times. We don't have any superstars. But you know what we do have: heart. You can just feel this team wants to be great so bad, and that Buzz wants this team to excel way beyond its potential. We have guys who play lock up defense, take high percentage shots, and play according to their coach. If I see great defense, smart shots and hustle this year from this team, I will be satisfied. Winning will eventually take care of itself once these areas are mastered.