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Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball

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University
  
Virginia Tech

Nickname
  
Hokies

Home
  
Away

Head coach
  
Buzz Williams

Conference
  
Atlantic Coast Conference

Location
  
Blacksburg, VA

Student section
  
Cassell Guard

Away
  
Alternate

Arena/Stadium
  
Cassell Coliseum

Division
  
Division I (NCAA)

Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball httpssmediacacheak0pinimgcomoriginals97

Colors
  
Chicago Maroon, Burnt Orange

Profiles

The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg. As of August 5, 2015 the floor is known as Virginia Tech Carilion Court. Buzz Williams has been the head coach since 2014.

Contents

The Hokies have made the NCAA Tournament 9 times, the most recent appearance coming in 2017.

Early years

The Hokies' first intercollegiate basketball game was played January 22, 1909, resulting in a 33–26 win over Emory & Henry College. During the 1909–10 campaign, the Hokies completed the only undefeated season in school history by posting an 11–0 mark.

From 1921 to 1965, Virginia Tech was a member of the Southern Conference.

In 1973, under coach Don DeVoe, Virginia Tech defeated Notre Dame to win the NIT.

Stability under Moir

In the 1970s and 80s, Virginia Tech saw its most sustained period of success under head coach Charles Moir. The Hokies appeared in four NCAA Tournaments in Moir's tenure as coach from 1976 to 1987. In 1978, Virginia Tech joined the Metropolitan Collegiate Athletic Conference after many years of being an independent school. Moir coached 11 seasons and holds the all-time wins record at Virginia Tech with 213.

Changing conferences

Bill C. Foster took over as head coach in 1991.They won the 1995 National Invitation Tournament under Coach Foster.

The Hokies remained members of the Metro Conference until 1995 when they joined the Atlantic 10. In five years in the A-10, the Hokies won one regular season championship and appeared in the 1996 NCAA Tournament.

Foster was replaced by Bobby Hussey prior to the 1997–98 season. After two years, Hussey was replaced by Ricky Stokes.

From 2000 to 2004, the Hokies were members of the Big East.

Success under Greenberg

Virginia Tech saw a resurgence of its basketball program under coach Seth Greenberg who was hired prior to the 2003–04 season. In 2005, Virginia Tech joined the Atlantic Coast Conference.

During the 2006–07 season, Virginia Tech beat Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium and also beat top-ranked North Carolina in Blacksburg. The Hokies went on to beat fourth-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill that same season. The Hokies earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament that season as a #5 seed and beat Illinois before losing to Southern Illinois.

In January 2009, Virginia Tech beat #1 ranked Wake Forest, the last unbeaten team in Division I in the 2008–09 season, marking the Hokies fourth defeat of a top-ranked team. The Hokies finished the 2008–09 season with a record of 23–8 and were snubbed for the NCAA Tournament partially because they had one of the worst nonconference schedule strengths in recent memory. They received a bid to the NIT where they advanced to the third round before losing to Rhode Island. The following year Virginia Tech added another victory over a top-ranked team on February 26, 2011, when it beat #1 Duke, 64–60 in Cassell Coliseum. But, they again received a bid to the NIT, just missing out on the NCAA Tournament.

New Era

After a disappointing 2011–12 season and after nine seasons with a record of 170–123 at Virginia Tech, Greenberg was fired. James Johnson replaced him shortly thereafter. Greenberg has the second most wins all-time at Virginia Tech behind Moir.

The Hokies beat 15th ranked Oklahoma State on December 1, 2012. Star Erick Green led the team to its first nonconference home defeat of a ranked opponent since 1995 by scoring 28 points. After two seasons with a record of 22–41, Johnson was fired.

Virginia Tech hired Marquette head coach Buzz Williams as head basketball coach on March 24, 2014. Though the 2014–15 season was difficult, the 2015–16 team finished with a 20–15 record and advanced to the second round of the NIT. Finally, in 2016-2017, the Hokies broke through and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament with a nine seed, falling to Wisconsin in the first round.

Retired jerseys

The following players have had their jerseys retired by Virginia Tech.

NCAA Tournament results

The Hokies have appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–9.

NIT results

The Hokies have appeared in 13 National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 25–11. They were NIT champions in 1973 and 1995.

References

Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball Wikipedia