Assuming we are in the NCAA tournament with the win over a ranked Miami last night, what do you all think is a successful run in the tournament?
Obviously getting eliminated in the first game would pretty much dampen things, but where would you be ok with the Hokies bowing out of the tournament?
Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4, win the whole thing....
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Yes.
Getting there.
Winning any games would be icing on the doughnut.
Due to the injuries, I have a hard time seeing us win more than one game. Even with a favorable match up this team is bound to get gassed.
Buzz has been doing a phenomenal job, but he's been coaching with one hand tied behind his back.
In the ACC tournament possibly, but in the NCAA's we get a day off between games and then 4-5 days.off after winning 2. We have looked pretty good in the 2 day turnarounds with travel involved so I don't really worry about that in the tournament. The ACC tourney is probably a different beast and I imagine we would be pretty gassed if we played 3-4 games in 3-4 days.
I do not think a Sweet 16 run is that out of the question with the right matchups. The press that would bring would be huge for this team. I could see the VT bandwagon filling up very fast in that scenario.
Oh it could happen if it shakes out right, my point is just that these guys are going to likely hit a wall at some point through no fault of their own.
We just beat Boston College on a Saturday, traveled from Boston to Blacksburg on Sunday, and then beat Miami on Monday. The NCAAT is set up so our first two games would be in a single location, either Thursday and Saturday or Friday and Sunday.
While it won't be easy, if we can manage to pull a 6-seed by beating Wake and stealing a spot in the ACC semis I wouldn't sleep on our ability to make the Sweet 16, at which we'd have another 5 days between games 2 and 3.
Dude it has been so long this is a happy to be there moment
We have to get there first. But I would love a at least a first round win.
Anything short of a championship is a disappointment
I think we definitely have to win a game. I hate the whole "validation" mindset but for a program that was supposedly snubbed three times in the past decade and isn't a tradional basketball power, I think winning at least a game should be the bare minimum.
Sweet 16 would certainly be nice and would exceed expectations especially if you consider we're likely to land between a 7-10 seed and thus have to beat a #1 or #2 seed in the 2nd round to advance to the 2nd weekend. Those teams get a lot of press coverage in the week off between games and I think that could really help with recruiting and laying a permanent foundation for if and when Buzz ever leaves.
I just want to be playing when UVA is not
You have to imagine they do some analysis into teams sharing similar markets. They would be dumb to have VT/VCU/UVA playing during competing time slots.
He means he wants them to lose before us.
I don't get it
The fact that Miami just moved to a "lock" in this morning's ESPN Bubble Watch update and we stayed in the "should be in" category goes to show the level of disrespect the overall basketball expert community has for the Hokies. We could without a doubt use a sweet 16 run to switch to switch the narrative to the likes of LOLUVA, who drops 5 of the past 6 before the past two wins and still stays in the top 25 and talks about getting a 3-4 seed.
Miami moved to a lock because they got a quality loss
We're still "should be in" because.... ummm... Yeah, I got nothing.
We've been handing out quality losses for a solid two years now
B-but muh pack line defense.
I counter that with their inefficient offense. 35% from the field against UNC.
I like how UVA basketball only got good after copying VT's football strategy. Always a lagger, never a leader.
So we can expect them to continue to stagnate on offense in the coming years?
Yeah but only in the last 3 seconds of the play clock after a timeout and a delay of game penalty.
They pretty clearly state that the consideration is after the past week of games where they knocked off UVA and Duke.
So wins over Virginia and Duke gets Miami into Lock position?
Man, sure would be nice to have that on our resume...
It'd also be nice to have another win against a "Lock"... like, say... Miami
Miami's non-conference SOS is 262nd. VT's is 302nd. Miami's also had a slightly harder conference slate (Duke 2X, NCSU 2X, and will play FSU 2X to wrap things up vs. UVA 2X, BC 2X and Clemson 2X). Also their win against UVA was @UVA. They both have 4 wins against top 50 RPI teams. They're pretty similar but Miami's just a smidge better on paper. Both are likely in.
And if the roles were reversed you would be clamoring that going 2-1 against top 40 opponents in a week with wins over Duke and UVA should absolutely put us in a lock position. Miami got a bump because they were on the bubble without those two wins, and then got them within a few days of each other. We needed those two wins just to get into the "Should Be In" category.
It's clearly not based on RPI where the Hokies (34) moved ahead of the Canes (37) after last night's game
You can see a direct comparison of the two resumes at cbssports.com. There's very little (IMO) to differentiate the two.
Sweet 16
We both have very similar resumes, including quality wins over UVA and Duke. They beat UVA on the road, and also beat UNC, who many consider to be a one seed. Our win means we split the season series, so that UNC win is what separates them from us. I think it's a fine line between their "lock" and our "should be in", but I think that's all it is.
While I agree the UNC win is the most obvious difference, I would also disagree that the cbs sports comparison is the same. We have a higher RPI, won 4 more rpi 51-100 games than them and have a better overall record. But my gripe is really more about the media perception than anything, because in reality both teams our tournament locks. Buzz even referred to the media snubbing in his postgame interview.
It's definitely a perception thing, but I can understand why it's like that. One win over a top 5 team is more impressive than the 4 51-100 wins. It just catches your eye. I think the difference between the two is very close though, and that's just that guy's opinion.
Where's the credit for our quality loss to Louisville?
It's there, but it's not the same as beating UNC. Again, I think the margin between us and Miami in this case is maybe a few teams, and it's just one writer's opinion. I've seen other writers say that we are locks for what that's worth.
Getting there. End of story. For a program that hasn't been in 10 years, there's no need to get greedy. If we do win a game or 6 then that's just extra awesomeness. This program just needs to get there.
Guys like Jay Williams, Jon Rothstein etc. have preached that VT is not a team you would want to play in March. But for me personally, just getting back there is a success for me. It's been 10 long, excruciating years.
Obviously, simply getting there is huge. However, a first round exit wouldn't do much to silence the doubters. A trip to the Sweet-16 would be huge for our program. Winning one game would make me happy, though.
I thought Greenberg last night at halftime made a very valid point. "One bad voice in the room of the selection committee can do a lot of damage". I was like Hmmm. The committee is all about match ups and they will go out of their way to make it hard or easy on a program. For example, last year I thought Syracuse should not haave been in the tournament and they end up going to the Final Four, why because of their coach. This year it will be Michigan St. So, my point is to predict without seeing the match ups is difficult and we will be in the toughest bracket, so i am really happy with 1 victory.
Greenberg knows nothing about the selection committee. I got 7 years of proof.
Disagree. He has intimate knowledge of how to piss them off and is a case study in how a coach should not act during Selection Season.
Here's hoping that they get LOLUVA in their first game.
This year it could easily be Syracuse again, especially if they lose to GT on Saturday. They have a boatload of bad losses but apparently that doesn't matter because they beat some ranked teams at home.
We're in year 3 of Buzz Williams. 36 months ago we were a 9-22 team on the season, and right now we look to be a Lock for the NCAA Tournament playing some of our best basketball of the season while some of our better players are out with injury. Just getting there is a hell of an accomplishment for this program, and any win would be icing on the cake.
I'll reserve judgement on how many games we should win once we make the Tournament til I see the seeding. I think we'll be a nightmare matchup for anyone in the first round, and depending on where we go, I could see us sneaking into the Sweet 16, but I don't expect it. That being said, I have a feeling this year is just a stepping stone toward where we eventually will end up under Buzz. Assuming he sticks around, I think we have a long tournament run in this program within the next 3 seasons.
Really depends on placement in bracket and matchups. While, just getting there is enough, I do want more.
If an 8 or 9 seed, I hope they're in the west and get a chance to face Gonzaga or PAC12 in the 2nd round. All the other 1-seeds are probably too much for VT. If a 7 seed, then a PAC12 or team like Baylor in the 2nd round. The West would probably the best place for VT (or really, any team seeded 3 or above). I think Gonzaga and top 3 PAC12 teams are good, but overranked due to conference weakness.
Of course, if they get hot on the 3-pt line, they can hang with and potentially beat anyone. They were so close with Louisville, a likely 2 seed.
Simple.... being one of the field of 68 teams
Does anyone know what the chances are of being slotted in Greenville? That would be awesome and unfortunately really the only realistic destination for a huge Hokie turnout--I know I'd make the trip.
Greenville games:
1 vs 16 in the South: Nope
8 vs 9 in the South: Possibly--but aren't there rules about teams from the same conference not playing in the 2nd round? So, if UNC gets slotted as the 1 seed in the South, we are then not eligible to get put in this game correct?
5 vs 12 in the West: We'd likely have to make a run to the championship of the ACC tournament to get bumped up to the 5 seed.
4 vs 13 in the West: Nope
So basically that 8 vs 9 South matchup is our only shot and we'd need someone to bump Carolina off that 1 line, correct?
The only way UNC gets bumped off the 1 line is to bomb out of the ACCT in their first game badly or Louisville winning it and beating them out for it.
The rules about teams not meeting in the 2nd round doesn't apply if a conference gets more than 8 teams which might very well happen for the ACC.
I think winning a game is a must. Every year the talk is "this team deserved to be in over this team". The ONLY way to validate your right to be in the dance is to win a game (or your conference tourney).
Winning bigly.
Any wins are great.
I think winning the first game is my expectation. 1 and done would be disappointing, but just slightly since it's been a decade since we've gone dancing. Winning 2 and getting to the Sweet 16 would be huge for the team/program/school, certainly exceeding expectations and cementing a stellar season.
I'll withhold judgement until we're seeded and see our path. Not all brackets are equal.
Being selected doesn't really mean much beyond "you had a decent season", so winning at least one game would make this a great year. It's already a good one.
I'd also accept making it to the semis in the ACCT.
I agree that we're probably in, but will feel infinitely more secure if we can beat Wake and end the season with single digits in the loss column
A Sweet 16 trip would be a wet dream
I Sy what you did there
I think we need to Outlaw puns involving our basketball players
Buzz kill
I'm all Ford the pun trend...wait, wrong sport
You'll surely rue LeDay you used a football pun on a basketball thread
Man, is this gunna go on all LeDay?
you got Rob'd
No worries, you almost got over the Hill.
Sy, this is so last season.
You can Kerry it from season to season
No way. I'm Allen on puns.
That's exZachly how I feel. Justin the last few weeks though
It's okay, he has Bibbs.
As far as it takes to beat Kansas, avenge the 2008 Orange Bowl, and give me something to shove in the face of my arrogant in-laws who can do nothing but gloat about their basketball team and Mark Mangino.
Just remind them that Mangino used gym towels to wipe his ass and just left them on the floor for janitorial to clean up. True Story.
wow what an absolute butt wipe amirite?
Somewhat unrelated but I just took a peak at the TV with our Lady Hokies in the ACC tournament. Period came to an end and it was 13-9 and I thought that was the ugliest basketball score I've seen in a while.
I had NO idea that the women play 4 quarters rather than 2 halves.
hrm, sounds like a perfectly normal halftime score...if you're playing against LOLUVa
I get a very Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog vibe from this comment.
Well the second quarter didn't go so well for the Lady Hokies, from up 14 to only up by 2. The collapse happened early this game.
Well shit, not looking good to take the kids to a 2nd round woman's game. Tech now down 4 to Clemson and look like shit out there.
Clemson up 8 with 5:28 to play I think the Lady Hokies have been done in. Shame really thought they were something special when the season started.
I can remember when the men's basketball also played four quarters.
I think the draw would be great for the Hokies
Oh dear god that draw would be perfect for us. Get by Northwestern in the first game, and we'd be a very trendy 8 over 1 pick to beat Gonzaga. If we could pull that off, who knows how far we could go, though a potential matchup with FSU in the next round would be troubling with their size.
Its also worth noting we have been in Lunardi's Bracketology every week since December 1st. We peaked as a 7 seed after the win over Duke, and are currently an 8 seed.
Get FSU out of there and that's the perfect draw.
perfect? probably not. The best option/draw we've seen? I say yes!
Gonzaga is very good, but they are definitely the #1 seed you want to get.
This bracket would be what I would consider a best case scenario for sure though.
I saw that this morning, I know it's unlikely Lunardi's prediction would be the actual draw, but give us that draw and watch us dance, at least giving Gonzaga a scare if not taking them out.
CBS's latest has us in with a 7 seed. Playing Xavier. Most likely 2nd round opponent, UCLA.
Lonzo Ball terrifies me
I agree Lonzo Ball could be a terror and UCLA's offense is incredible. But they barely play any defense. If we are flaming from the 3 point line again, we could hang with them for a while.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bubblewatch
Most recent Bubble Watch finally has us as a "lock". But its actually more egregious than simply taking this long:
*cringe* purple *cringe*
sigh...
In other words, Lunardi spoke with someone who is on the committee and was told VT is going to not just be in, but they're comfortably in. His description is right, teams don't go from "should be in" to "lock" without playing, hence, someone spoke to him.
Except this isn't Lunardi...
Purple and Orange are Clemson's weird shades. I'm offended.
The tournament is such a crapshoot with varying brackets and a one game test where hitting a hot team or having a slightly off night could mean a loss, you can't judge a whole season off of one game. I think any season where you make the tourney is a success. Unless you lose to a lower seed year after year and completely shit the bed, eventually you'll make a run. There's just too much luck involved to take one years tourney results as a state of the program rather than their entire body of work. Every year we make it will be a successful season in my mind. Anything else is just a bonus. Of course I want to win it all, this year I doubt we make it out of the first weekend, but I think we can win our first game.