I'm wondering if this is the reason why Weaver let Seth go now. Maybe, he's been working behind the scenes on Shaka to the point where it looks favorable for V-Tech. At the very least, I would have to think Jim Weaver has a plan in motion because a "sane" person wouldn't fire Seth and risk losing players without having a plan already in place for his next successor.
<devildeac> anyone playing drinking games by now?
7:49:36<Wander> drink every qb run?
7:49:38<loran16> umm, drink every time asack rushes?
7:49:38<wolfybeard> @devildeac: drink when Asack runs a keeper
7:49:39 PM<CB&B> any time zack runs, drink
Carolina Delenda Est
I agree with this statement. VCU is more of a "national title contender" than Va Tech is right now anyway. No chance Smart goes to VT. It would take him at least 3-4 years to get them where he has VCU right now.
Glad to see Greenberg go. I got so sick and tired of ESPN doing a semi-split screen during Duke games with a camera on just him! Who cares, what has that guy done!
Believe it or not Tony Bennett who is starting his 4th year in ACC this year.
Figured Seth Greenberg was on the hot seat but not until after this season.
He did well given VA Tech history but time for a new face, since he never got them over the finish line.
Just handled very poorly announcing the press conference before they had the courtesy to tell Seth after 9 years there.
Real reason was with Seth gone, sum of coach K's years coaching in ACC again will exceed the ACC tenure of the other 11 combined.
It seems highly unlikely to me that VaTech can match the $$ Illinois offered and was turned down. And given that VaTech is a lesser job than Illinois, I'd expect they'd need to outbid Illinois to get Smart to listen. No chance.
I get Teague leaving is a reason that might get Shaka to move on, but it makes no sense he'd bolt now. VCU is going to be really good next year. His star won't dim in 12 months. Va Tech isn't an opening you jump at if you are already a coach of a top 25 team.
Last edited by Chicago 1995; 04-23-2012 at 07:12 PM. Reason: Typos
I respect Bob Greene for not wishing ill upon the recently fired Seth Greenberg.
I for one am grateful that Greenberg is no longer representing an ACC program or university.
The timing is peculiar indeed. I'm sure Duke will miss beating the Hokies, too. But now playing them won't be tantamount to a football game.
If we could handpick a new coach for the Hokies, it would probably be someone they couldn't afford or convince to come to Blacksburg, where bball is second fiddle on campus, and last chair in the league. Well, almost.
Here's hoping VT can make a hire worthy of the university and the conference. Time for ACC basketball to up the ante.
I remember watching Duke beat VT in the ACCT this year and thinking that it might be Greenberg's last game at VT.
Interesting, too, that those are 4 of the top 5 programs in the conference, as well. I can't recall a time when the coaches in our conference were collectively so weak after K and Roy. Until the coaching in the ACC improves, the quality of basketball will continue to struggle too.
I hear you on the bolded part, but on the other side of the coin, Greenberg was a "personality", and that part will be missed. He maybe came along in the wrong era, as he would have been a great fit in the ACC of the 70's with Lefty, Sloan, Dean, Terry Holland, etc. He has been on local radio here numerous times over the years and is a great interview.
When I first saw Seth that night in Cameron where he got tossed, I thought "man this guy is in way over his head, he belongs at a Middle-Elementary school", but he actually is not a terrible coach. His biggest issue (aside apparently from running off assistants) was the ability to win against Top 5 Duke and UNC teams in the very same season as losing to multiple teams not in the Top 100.
The whining at the refs became amusing to me at some point, but I do agree on the rough play. Our guys endured lots of bumps, bruises, elbows, and knees along the way. No excuse for that at all.
Well, maybe; another perspective is that needed changes have been made and that a new batch of talented coaches is on the rise.
Leonard Hamilton at FSU has proven himself; NC State and Virginia are on the rise; Maryland, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Miami show signs of improvement with coaches who have had success elsewhere.
Boston College, Wake, and now Virginia Tech are question marks. Then add national powers Syracuse and Pitt.
I'd say the ACC has been down, but is on the way up again.
I disagree with this, Bob. It's an ACC job. There's talent there. Didn't they just build a practice facility? The school is sports-obsessed and would embrace a winner big-time, although football will always be king. I liken the opportunity to Florida. Florida hoops had one final AP Top 25 poll showing in its history before Billy Donovan; that's what VT has right now, as well. Though VCU and GMU and ODU and Richmond have had nice runs and NCAA success, it's still a UVa and VT state ... a splashy hire like Shaka and the enthusiasm that would generate, and then keeping some of the Tidewater talent in-state (like the football team does) now that VT is ACC (the area that has produced Iverson, JR Reid, Alonzo) ... or the other talent that has crossed the border (Grant Hill, JJ Redick, Silent G, Joey Beard! just to Duke) ... even the hoops-rich DC market is saturated with VT coverage, even though Blacksburg is 5 hours away, because of the alumni base in NoVa and the football success ...
I would have fired him after the FSU game. That was a total debacle and an embarassment.
Ever since Greenberg mocked Greg Paulus for getting "tea bagged" in a post-game press conference (yes, he actually used that phrase) I lost all respect for him and have wished nothing but misfortune on him. Their program has a culture of thuggery and punkishness. Forget the fans, the players themselves carry this attitude and it starts at the top.
This is awesome.
Good riddance ... I never knew a coach who was so arrogant with so little to be arrogant about.
I've always said, he would ahve been fired a long time ago at a school that gave a darn about basketball (1 NCAA appearance ion eight years?)
That said, it is a tough job and I'd be very surprised if Shaka Smart -- who not only turned down Illinois (far more money), but also NC State ( a MUCH easier place to win).