With the torches and pitchforks already out for Beamer and Co., Buzzketball is just around the corner. On the surface, there is a lot to be excited about. Finally getting Seth Allen on the court, the development of the Sophomore class. A really unknown 7 footer coming in. A top 25 recruiting class. Devin Wilson being the only scholarship player from the previous regime (good catch VT_Fencer), but he's assimilated into the mindset that Buzz is building. It's Buzz's boys now.
Expectations:
1) Handling our business the way a power conference team should: We've lost to Radford, USC-Upstate, and struggled with handfuls of lowly teams. Really eager to see if we can start handling these teams with ease, the way ACC teams should. First four games are Alabama State, Jackson State, VMI, and North Carolina A&T. I'd love us to cruise in these setting up our first major test against Iowa State.
2) Signature Victory: We've only got two out of conference, in Iowa State and West Virginia. We have a plethora in conference. A win over just one of the conference blueboods would be nice.
3) Close games: A little more experience, hopefully we can change some of these close Ls into Ws. Also, let's stay in games against big teams. Too many blowouts the past few season.
Comments
Devin Wilson is the last scholarship player from the previous coaching staff. Otherwise, yes, Buzz has all of the players he wants in place.
I still think 2016-2017 will be the year we make a run at the Big Dance, but this year I think we have a shot at finishing near .500 in ACC play and winning a couple of ACC tournament games.
I saw Devin Wilson at the free Brad Paisley concert, dude is bigger in person than he looks on TV. Maybe he added a little from the weight room since last season, but he looks tough and ready.
Checkout the offseason workout videos on Buzz's website. Those boys have put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this offseason.
Absolutely LOVE that Buzz does it with them
Man, these guys are probably in the best shape I have ever seen a VT basketball team in!!
That was freaking awesome. #BUZZ
Love that Buzz is using the Beamer Barn. Perhaps it's too hopeful, but calling Cassell the Buzz Barn has a good ring to it as well.
Ummm, Sorry but that is Rector Fieldhouse.
I expect an NIT run this year.
I think that's a reasonable expectation. And it's also what I would deem as a successful season given the youth and raw talent we appear to be riddled with
I see what you did there.
The future of VT Basketball indeed looks bright. I look forward to some solid improvement this year.
Can I deal with one disappointing season at a time please? Not even thinking about Buzzketball right now.
2015 will end with 4 or 5 losses, but Tech will be in good shape for a 2nd year coach, 2016 opens with ACC home games and I could see an upset signature win followed but .500 in the remaining ACC schedule make it to the 3rd round in the ACC and NIT
Yeah but those were just exhibition games so no worries.
Boo
Watch out ACC, Buzz is locked and loaded!
I'm sure buzz will be setting phasers to destroy.
via GIPHY
#GETBETTER
That is all.
Personally I am super stoked about the basketball team this year. An NIT run 2 years removed from James Johnson? Who would have thought that? These kids are buying into what Buzz is selling and they are a very close knit team. If you don't follow Buzz on Twitter I suggest that you do.
Buzz unlike some in our Football program puts an emphasis on recruiting.(what an epiphany) But along with Recruiting and coaching he makes these boys into men. Whether it's showing them how to stand for the National Anthem and what it means to be an American or the summer #VTRaw workouts. I cannot wait until he starts his Bootcamp this year.
These kids are jacked now just search #VTRAW on Twitter. Greg Donlan is one of the ones that has made the biggest difference. Like I said teams take on the mentality of their coach and I know that a Buzz Williams team will be tough and will not be out worked by the other team. They might lose because of talent but their toughness and work ethic will make each game close.
If you don't remember the dumpster fire we were in 2 years ago just do a quick youtube search. Also while you are out there on the WWW go to Buzz's Official Webpage and take a look. http://coachbuzzwilliams.com/
Anyway my expectations are for us to hover around .500 in ACC play and to dominate OOC because Buzz does not see them as exhibitions. My guess is that we are 10 - 2 OOC with a win over WVU and losses to Saint Joes and Northwestern or Iowa State. My guess is that we go 9 - 10 in ACC play and win 2 games in the tournament. Making us 21- 13 before the NIT or Big Dance. If we can pull a couple big upsets in Conference Play and win 3 games in the ACC tournament we may be able to make it to the NCAA tournament other than that I see us in the NIT tournament.
We will definitely be better than last year, but I still don't have overly high hopes. The out of conference schedule is extremely manageable outside of ISU and WVU. But, I still think we finish a few games below .500 in the conference. This is the most talent we've had on the roster in a few years, but there's still a lot of holes and uncertainty. 16-17 is definitely the season to ramp up expectations. I think making the NIT this year would be big success.
I think you may be a year too early, but let's do it.
there's gonna be one every year, why not VT this year?
I fully expect us being undefeated heading into conference play. We play no one except a rebuilding WVU, and we get them at home. ACC, I expect a couple of wins we shouldn't get, and a couple of games where we hang in there with the upper tier teams and lose close. I expect 2 wins in the ACC tourney, and an NIT berth where we make a solid run. Outside chance at being ranked next preseason.
Iowa State will be a tough matchup as well, but otherwise I agree. I don't expect to see the same Radford/App State slip ups that we saw last season.
Dammit. Yeah. Not quite sure how I left out the one game I'm going to. Iowa State looks good on paper, but they're replacing a head coach too. They also seemed to play down to some opponents last year. Regardless, I'm excited to see this one.
I really do hope you are right about the non conference schedule. However I just can't see us taking Saint Joe's, Northwestern and Iowa State. If we go undefeated OOC and go 9-10 in Conference games with a couple wins in the ACC tourney. We may end up in the dance.
St. Joe's makes me nervous because they always seem to play well, and it's an away game. Totally unconcerned by Northwestern. And I just forgot Iowa State. That's going to be a tough one.
I am so pumped for basketball season this year. Not just seeing how much better Tech can be with Buzz and where our future is heading, but also with my Wizards! John Wall and Brad Beal gonna put on a show and bring in KD35 next year!!!!!!
I realize I'm just that blindly optimistic fan, but hey, if KD came home to DC I would be ecstatic.
National Championship for VT in 3 years and NBA Finals Champs for the Wiz in the same year?? That would make my life.
Still going to have some growing pains, but we'll be a more competitive team.
Really, 2016 and onwards will show how good a coach Buzz really is, when we have Buzz recruited upperclassmen taking leadership roles annually.
I really don't expect much from the program before then.
What's with the realism?
This is a hype-train stop.
Don't get me wrong... in 2016-2017 I expect us to make the Tournament, with Sweet 16 potential. 2017-2018 with a team chocked full of Senior 4* players, we'll be primed for a legit run. Like, Final Four potential kind of run.
And should that potential be realized, the sky is the limit for this basketball program. We're very quietly (though, not too quietly, as it is being openly recognized by people who follow the sport) assembling a roster that will be an ACC contender in a couple years. People are paying attention to Duke, UNC, UofL, and UVa for legitimate reasons, but we're stockpiling a team that can and will play at the top of the league once it matures. And this won't be a Seth Greenberg 'play to the level of your opponent, ride momentum to upsets' kind of team, it'll be the kind of team that can and will go out and win 23-25 games and legitimately compete for the ACC regular season and tournament crown.
We're just not quite there, yet. But we're getting close.
I agree 100%.
Time to get this baby rolling again:
I need to work on a Buzzketball version of the HYPE TRAIN...
Start small, the hype train is there but not quite ready for fully dipped hypeness!
I'll take my mini hype train for the moment....
could just be me but something looks a wee bit off here
inorite? green leaves on the trees...pretty "fresh" looking dead leaves on the tracks...strange
I was actually referring to the cattle guard. Why does a mini train need that? do the have miniature cows in Texas now?
But yeah, good catch on the leaves
more of a goat guard...and look at the dudes shoes!
that's a pretty big mini train so it's natural for him to need platform shoes to be taller. sheesh
Pretty sure it's more than just platforms...I think he's on stilts. Look at the leg:torso ratio...it's off
my yard has brown leaves in it year round. maybe there's something wrong with that...
Well, for the first time since EG left, we have a guy in Seth Allen that can consistently put up 15-20 points a game. I suspect that Hill will return around when conference play starts which should be huge. Every player is a year older, and a year wiser so I say around .500 overall is a pretty realistic goal for now.
Coming soon to Buzzketball
Scottie Pippen turned 50 last week. Yeah, feel old.....now.
NIT is a reasonable goal, tournament is the dream, being competitive in the ACC seems reasonable as well. Looking forward to roundball season for the first time in years...
We'll win a couple we shouldn't, lose a couple we shouldn't. I think we'll be around .500 regardless, and I'll be happy.
I'm really hoping for a NIT tournament birth, I think Cassell will regain some noise this year too, with a home court advantage we could.make some NIT noise.