Hokies Return
Experience, but Will Also Welcome Fresh Faces
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com,
TSLMail #487, June 3, 2011
Virginia
Tech's incoming freshman basketball class will enroll in school next month, and
we could see a few of them play a prominent role on the team this year. The
Hokies also bring back plenty of veteran players, so we should see a good
mixture of youth and experience on the court next season.
Here's a look at a
very early playing rotation prediction. Note that Allan Chaney isn't
included, because he isn't expected to be able to play for the Hokies this
season.
Hoops
Roster, 2011-12 |
Pos. |
Player |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
G* |
Erick Green |
6-4 |
185 |
Jr. |
W* |
Dorenzo
Hudson |
6-5 |
220 |
r-Sr. |
W* |
Dorian
Finney-Smith |
6-7 |
190 |
Fr. |
F* |
J.T.
Thompson |
6-6 |
210 |
r-Sr. |
F* |
Victor
Davila |
6-8 |
245 |
Sr. |
W |
Jarell Eddie |
6-7 |
209 |
So. |
F |
Cadarian
Raines |
6-9 |
238 |
r-So. |
G |
Ty Garland |
6-1 |
170 |
So. |
W |
Robert Brown |
6-6 |
195 |
Fr. |
G |
Marquis
Rankin |
6-0 |
170 |
Fr. |
F |
C.J.
Barksdale |
6-8 |
220 |
Fr. |
F |
Joey van
Zederen |
6-9 |
220 |
Fr. |
*Projected
Starters |
The Hokies should have a very experienced starting lineup, with the
exception of Dorian Finney-Smith. Erick Green started this past season and
should be one of the ACC's better point guards, while Dorenzo Hudson and
J.T. Thompson will be fifth-year seniors who have seen significant minutes
since their first year on campus. Victor Davila will also enter his third
season as a starter.
Off the bench, Tech
will have three sophomores with playing experience. Jarell Eddie and Ty
Garland got their feet wet this past season, while Cadarian Raines
redshirted after seeing action as a true freshman the preseason year.
Eddie could also end
up starting at wing for the Hokies, and expect true freshman wing Robert
Brown to see action this year as well. How deep a rotation Seth Greenberg
chooses to use remains to be seen. He won't play people he doesn't trust,
even if that means shortening his bench. It's possible that someone like
Jarell Eddie could be used in a combo forward role, if Greenberg doesn't
trust incoming freshmen C.J. Barksdale and Joey van Zederen to provide
post depth.
Expect Erick Green
to play between 30-35 minutes per game next season, if not more. There
won't be a lot of minutes available for a backup point guard, and it could
be an interesting battle between Ty Garland and Marquis Rankin.
Garland was a scorer
in high school who is still transitioning to running the point at the
college level. He started out strong last season, and then seemed to hit a
wall. Rankin is a terrific athlete, but he's not a shooter and he's still
somewhat raw as a player. However, he could be the fastest point guard in
the ACC from one end of the court to the other, and he has the potential
to be a very good defender.
Perhaps the biggest
concern will be finding someone who can knock down an outside jumper.
Malcolm Delaney was the only player on the team who could make contested
three-pointers. Erick Green and Dorenzo Hudson need space to hit outside
shots, and even then they are inconsistent from beyond 15-16 feet.
The Hokies have a
chance to be good, but between the lack of an outside shooter and
replacing Jeff Allen's rebounding, there are still plenty of question
marks heading into the season.
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Friday
Q&A: June 3, 2011
June 3, 2011
Football
and basketball are the topics today. Exactly how good is this
incoming freshman basketball class? Is the ACC heading in the right
direction? Are the Hokies done with facilities upgrades? All that
and more in today's Friday Q&A.
more
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Ohio
State: Could it Happen at Virginia Tech?
June 3, 2011
The
college football world has been gripped by the resignation of Ohio
State head coach Jim Tressel this past Monday. The scandals at OSU,
which have unfolded over the past few months, have brought a proud
program to its knees, and it's a reminder of how fragile success can
be if you're not doing things the right way.
more
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Big
Recruiting Weekend for Tech
June 2, 2011
Summer
recruiting camps have become an important recruiting tool for
Virginia Tech. The Hokies hold two invitation-only camps per summer,
the first of which is coming up this Saturday, June 4. Many
prospects will be working out in hopes of getting a scholarship
offer from the Tech coaching staff.
more
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Hokies
In Pursuit Of Minnesota OL
June 2, 2011
St.
Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, MN) rising senior Isaac Hayes
would like to have made his college choice by summer's end. With the
beginning of summer rapidly approaching, five schools currently have
the 6-3, 270-pound offensive lineman's attention.
more
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TSL
Audio: Chris Coleman on ESPN Radio Blacksburg, June 1st, 2011
June 1, 2011
This
week on The Sean Bielawski Show, Chris Coleman and Sean Bielawski
talked about VT recruiting and continued their discussion of the
October football schedule.
more
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The
Latest On Devin and Ronny Vandyke
May 31, 2011
Before
receiving his first scholarship offer, South County (Lorton, VA)
linebacker Devin Vandyke made a pact with himself. If he
reached double-digit offers, he wouldn't participate in any one-day
camps this summer. Thanks to recent offers from Syracuse and
Virginia Tech, the 6-1, 210-pound rising senior can look forward to
a camp-free summer.
more
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Beamer
Moving Up in All-Time Wins List
May 31, 2011
With
Jim Tressel's resignation as head coach of Ohio State on Monday,
Frank Beamer has pulled into second place in wins amongst active
Division I head coaches. Beamer has over 200 career wins to his
credit, and when you think about it, that's a pretty big deal.
more
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Milikin's
Stock Rising
May 30, 2011
Woodberry
Forest (VA) rising senior Carlson Milikin entered the spring
having committed to the University of Virginia for lacrosse. He
remains committed, but interest from major FBS-level football
programs is increasing and Milikin is interested to see where it
leads.
more
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