Seth Greenberg
Zack Conway
One.
That is the number — just one NCAA tournament appearance in the last seven seasons. Virginia Tech basketball head coach Seth Greenberg began his head coaching career here in 2003.
Since becoming the head coach, Greenberg has had only one NCAA tournament appearance in the last seven seasons. Need I say more? Any other college basketball coach would be fired by now due to the immense lack of production.
March Madness comes at the same time every year, and it always seems to be straight madness for the Tech basketball team. Tech has been left out of the tournament the last four seasons. There is only one person at fault — Greenberg.
Greenberg has flat out been unable to produce at Tech. We all understand that the ACC has some of the toughest competition in college basketball, but by the way the seasons have gone, the Hokies are not cutting it.
Last year the Hokies knocked off No. 1 Duke, but then followed that with two straight losses to Boston College and Clemson. The team has just not looked good game in and game out.
Consistency has been a huge problem for the Hokies, and the head coach is to blame. It is Greenberg’s responsibility to have the team ready each and every game. When you play hard one game and lousy the next, you do not deserve to play in the big dance.
Not only have the Hokies been left out of the big dance for the past four years, but their play on the court is questionable. At times it looks like a high school team is playing an NBA team.
If you look at the teams Tech plays and how they defend them, there is one common denominator — zone defense. Tech is unable to beat the zone. Some of that falls on the players, but if the players don’t know what to do, then you have to look at the coach.
The game against North Carolina is a prime example of this. The Hokies were living and dying by the three. In the first half, Tech made some ridiculous shots, and UNC knew the Hokies couldn’t keep it up, so in the second half they played a 2-3 zone. Tech couldn’t make the shots, and no adjustments were made.
This has happened continuously — when the Hokies make shots, they look great, but when they start missing, no alterations are made and they spiral out of control. This all falls on Greenberg.
He has to be the one to pull his players aside and tell them what to do to break the zone. It is the coach’s job to make adjustments both in the locker room and on the floor.
Greenberg has made Hokie basketball relevant, but without any NCAA tournaments to show for it, he needs to go. The Hokies need a proven, veteran coach who can lead a team to the NCAA tournament.
Tech is without a doubt a football school, but that is no excuse for a basketball team that, at times, is uninspired and lacks coaching. All nice things need to come to an end, and Greenberg is a nice thing.
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A version of this article appeared in the Jan 27 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Firing Greenberg is out of the question. This isn't Duke, nor UNC. We can't expect to be contenders every season. Virginia tech hoops wasn't even on the map when Greenberg took over. Since joining, the ACC, we have the 4th most wins in the conference. Sure we only have one tournament appearance, but frankly, we should have had 3 or 4. Don't punish Seth for the committees mistakes. And no, I'm not being a homer, go back and look at the resumes of the teams that made it instead of us the last few years. How anyone can be calling for Greenberg's job is beyond me.
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I could not disagree with you more. Why can't we be a Duke or a UNC. We turned it around in football under the correct guidence, the same can be done in basketball. Do your research & see where Tech b-ball used to be in the world of basketball. Winning the Metro that included teams like Louisville, Cinncinati, Fla. St. and Memphis. I know that was in the past, but it can happen again. No one has a problem with Seth winning the big games, it's the loses to the lowly Wake Forests and the consistant bad coaching down the last seconds of a game.
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VT football still isn't at the same point as Duke and UNC b-ball who both have multiple championships. It's taken 15 years to become a perennial top-25 team in football. To expect that from basketball after only a few years is absurd, especially when we haven't seen a player in basketball up to the caliber that Vick was in football.
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I dont believe that firing Greenberg is the solution to our issues this year. Like the other comment says; we are not Duke or UNC. Greenberg is a good defensive minded coach who is working with a good team. Hes certainly not the same level as Coach K or Roy Williams, but Greenberg has brought our program to the brink of breaking into the upper echelon. His recruiting is now bringing in top level talent and I believe well get there under him
Having said that, our offensive struggles are not just a result of us being a young team. Watching them I see 1 key issue that is causing our O to be stagnant; there is almost no off ball movement. You watch teams like UNC and all 5 players are constantly moving; their offense is running 3 passes ahead, setting off ball screens for players who arent immediately getting the ball.
Our offense on the other hand, has way to much standing around. Players move with only one pass in mind. And if that breaks down then it simply results in Eric Green going iso before the clock expires.
Some of that is youth yes, but it also has a lot to do with the type of plays Greenberg is teaching in practice. He needs to think more than one pass ahead on his play design. If he does that, then all of the pieces are going to come together.
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His record of mediocrity is unacceptable. He was not the right choice to begin with. He lucked into the ACC. His ability to recruit is above average to very good. His ability to win with that talent is spot on average.
He has had his time. 8 years now with Tech and a 165-113 record, and 64-68 ACC record. NCAA once. Yawn. We shouldn't reward a coach in the ACC with this track record. We should be looking for young CLEAN aggressive coaches with proven ability to coach up the talent they bring in.
So long as we have Coach Greenberg we will continue to be average. The mantra of "next year will be our year" has warn out.
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Nice article Seth...I'm surprised the CT allowed you to publish under Alex's name
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These writers should do a little research before they write. Kind of hard to take them seriously when they get their facts wrong. Greenberg has been at VT for NINE seasons, not seven. This is the start of his 9th season. He started in 03-04, last year we were in the Big East.
And oh yeah, it's time to move on. Regardless of the players, the team looks exactly the same as it has for the last 4 years. Above average on defense, poor to absolutely dreadful on offense. Delaney/Allen/Bell's class never overcame those problems, what makes you think these new kids will? It's not a youth issue or a talent issue, its a coaching issue. He's taken the program as far as he can. Nothing wrong with what he did, but if you want to be better, it's time to look elsewhere. If you want your ceiling to the the annual NCAA bursted bubble team but have a guy who's friendly offcourt, keep him. Simple as that.
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