NIT-picking Hokie Basketball

Considering the depths this program was at prior to Seth Greenberg's arrival in Blacksburg, it seems kind of trite to complain about the Hokies going to the NIT for the second consecutive season this year. But since complaining is kind of my shtick, I'm going to do it anyway.

Tech lost at the buzzer (again) Saturday to FSU, 67-65. It was a typical Virginia Tech game. The Big Three One and Overrated Two were the only three players in double figures, the Hokies failed to answer the bell, then fought back to make it close.

This year's Hokie team has been able to play to the level of its competition more so than any team I can remember. How can the same team that beat the No. 1 team in the country on its home court be taken to the final minute by Georgia Tech and later get curb-stomped by UVa, the two worst teams in the league? How can this team constantly get beat on last-second baskets?

Simply, I don't think this team is as tough as they'd like you to believe. Yeah, they play tough defense and will work hard on the boards, but as far as mental toughness, I just don't see it. Exhibit A would be Jeff Allen's gesture toward the Maryland student section last week.

This Hokie team should be an NCAA team. They have the talent. When you have two guys who are as talented as Allen and AD Vassallo are supposed to be and you combine them with a guy who will probably go down as the best point guard to come through Virginia Tech in Malcolm Delaney, you should be able to win enough games to make The Tournament.

But this team has failed to close the deal. It's lost five of its last seven games and is about to face the top four teams in the league standings, three of which have already beaten them this season.

It's over. Because this team has failed time and again to get quality wins other than the one over Wake, it is doomed to the NIT. An 8-8 ACC record is not going to get this team into the Tournament. If it can win three of the next four games, giving them three quality wins and a 9-7 record, it's possible. But there is no way that's going to happen. But I'm sure all four games will be close. The Hokies are good at doing that.

Praying for Ryan Miller

Speaking of games that both define a team and ruin a season, my Sabres won't be making the playoffs this year. Not having a rooting interest in the playoffs sucks, but at least they get me through June in the battle against college football's offseason.

Goff shots, nothing but goff shots

Brendon de Jonge continued his solid start to the PGA Tour season with a Top 10 finish over the weekend. With de Jonge and Johnson Wagner already succeeding on Tour and Jurrian van der Vaart starting his post-VT career, we may start to see more Hokies at the top of leaderboards in the near future.

VT hockey team wins conferece

The club-level Virginia Tech hockey team won its conference tournament over the weekend. The Hokies beat Duke 5-2 to capture the ACCHL Tournament. The Hokies have won five of their last six games. Tech may or may not be competing in its regional tournament for the right to make nationals. We don't know and I find the final Southeast regional rankings to be a little odd.

Linkage

- Annette thinks Macho Harris is going to be one of the toughest players to replace in the ACC next season.

- Scalp 'Em has the opponent's view of the FSU win over VT.

- BCO was too busy gambling (OK, it was for charity) to watch Tech's loss.

2008 No. 4 - Drew Weaver at The Masters

We're counting down the Top 10 moments in Virginia Tech sports from the 2007-08 season. The moments are judged on level of pride it brought to Hokie Nation, how great the accomplishment was and how much attention it brought the Hokies.

No. 4

As the reigning British Amateur champion, junior golfer Drew Weaver was able to participate in the 2008 Masters. The event was viewed by millions around the world on ESPN and CBS.

Weaver was shown prominently the first two days of the telecast, being interviewed in Butler Cabin and featured by ESPN on SportsCenter and during the telecast in the following piece:



Weaver also wrote a diary for the official Masters Web site while staying in the fabled crow's nest. All amateurs playing The Masters are allowed to stay in the cramped space while participating.

Weaver's stay was short, however. He missed the cut as he fired a 76 on Thursday and an 80 on Friday.

Hokies invade Augusta

Current Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver and former Hokie Johnson Wagner are in the field for this week's Masters in Augusta, Ga. Weaver is in the field as the defending British Amateur champion and Wagner punched his ticket by winning last week's Shell Houston Open.

Wagner is paired with 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler and Steve Flesch. He tees off at 11:18 AM EDT Thursday and 8:11 AM Friday.

Weaver is paired with 1976 Masters champion Raymond Floyd and Jonathan Byrd, a former All-American at Clemson. He tees off at 12:46 PM EDT Thursday and 9:28 AM Friday.

Both are scheduled to compete in Wednesday's Par 3 Contest.

As an amateur, Weaver gets the honor of staying in the famous "Crow's Nest" on the grounds of Augusta National. You can follow his week at the tournament in his online diary at Masters.org. He was also featured on ESPN this week.

Former Hokie wins on PGA Tour

There will be two Hokies in The Masters next weekend. Johnson Wagner won the Shell Houston Open Sunday to capture his first PGA Tour win and earn a spot in the field for next week's Masters in Augusta, Ga.

Current Hokie Drew Weaver will also participate next week as the reigning British Amateur champion.

Wagner shot a one-under 71 Sunday at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas, to finish the tournament at 16-under par. Wagner led the tournament wire-to-wire after tying the course record with a nine-under 63 on Thursday.

Wagner was a third-team All-American in 2002 while with the Hokies.