NCAA berth is likely with victory over Duke
Coaching college basketball is like the sales contest in the movie “Glengarry Glen Ross.” First prize (the NCAA tournament) is a Cadillac Eldorado. Second prize (the NIT) is a set of steak knives. Third prize is “You’re fired.”
At Virginia Tech, Seth Greenberg has little reason to worry about job security. But he is building an impressive collection of cutlery.
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After settling for the consolation prize three straight seasons, the NIT is a sore subject in Blacksburg, especially these days with the Hokies back on the NCAA tournament bubble.
At home against No. 1 Duke (26-2, 12-1) on Saturday night, however, Virginia Tech (18-8, 8-5) has a chance for deliverance on a big stage as Cassell Coliseum hosts ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
“It’s probably one of the biggest games in school history — ‘College GameDay,’ No. 1 at home,” Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney told reporters after Tuesday’s win at Wake Forest. “It’s definitely the biggest game of my career.”
| Up Next |
| No. 1 Duke at Va. Tech |
| When » Saturday, 9 p.m. |
| Where » Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, Va. |
| TV/Radio » ESPN/106.7 FM |
It’s also big for Greenberg. After going 4-1 against ranked teams in 2006-07 and guiding Virginia Tech to an NCAA berth, Greenberg has won just three of 20 games against ranked teams.
This year, with the ACC in the doldrums, Virginia Tech has had few opportunities for a signature victory. Its only games against ranked teams came in the first month of the season, losses to Kansas State and Purdue. They are 0-5 against teams in the top 50 of the RPI.
“You want to win all your games, top-50 game or not,” Greenberg said. “The [NCAA selection] committee looks for reasons to eliminate you, which is what they have to do because it’s extremely difficult selecting the field because the culture of college basketball has really changed.”
With Duke coming to Blacksburg, Greenberg has had to deal with another source of irritation — the Curry brothers.
Early in his career, Greenberg was second-guessed for failing to offer a scholarship to Stephen Curry, son of Virginia Tech’s all-time leading scorer, Dell Curry. Curry went on to an All-America career at Davidson and is now blossoming in the NBA.
On Saturday, Stephen Curry’s brother, Seth, another player Greenberg failed to offer a scholarship coming out of high school, will start in the backcourt for Duke.
While beating Duke would seal the Hokies’ bid, a loss would not seal their fate. Virginia Tech’s final two regular-season games are against fellow bubble teams Boston College (16-11, 6-7) and Clemson (18-9, 7-6).
“The next three weeks, for about 50 schools, it’s going to be torture for their fans and anybody associated with college basketball, listening to the changing landscape from game to game,” Greenberg said.
No one knows the feeling better than the Hokies.
