:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35476604/dell.0.jpg)
s
Here's a run-down of Tech's past NCAA Tournament appearances:
Overall Record: (6-8)
|
Year
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result/Score
|
|
|
First Round
|
Toledo
|
W 82–76
|
|
|
First Round
|
Western Michigan
|
L 67–77OT
|
|
|
First Round
|
Jacksonville
|
W 70–53
|
|
|
First Round
|
Western Kentucky
|
W 89–85 OT
|
|
|
First Round
|
Temple
|
L 57–60
|
|
|
First Round
|
Villanova
|
L 62–71
|
|
|
First Round
|
UW–Green Bay
|
W 61–49
|
|
|
First Round
|
Illinois
|
W 54–52
|
Virginia Tech's eight NCAA appearances are far behind Kentucky (53), North Carolina (45), UCLA (44), and Kansas (43). But is tied with schools like Baylor, Bradley, Saint Mary's (CA), Morehead State, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Auburn, Valparaiso, South Carolina, Southern, Southern Alabama, and Eastern Kentucky. (Not proud of that list). George Mason, Austin Peay, and Furman have six appearances!
Unfortunately, I'm only able to recollect Tech's 2007 tournament appearance and the great guard play of Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon (two of my favorite Hokie hoop players of all time), AD Vassallo, and the emphatic jams of Deron Washington (my favorite to watch play even though he flopped more than LeBron does today). Seth Greenberg did the best with what he had that year, but ultimately it wasn't enough to advance further in the big dance.
Highlights from the First Round game versus Illinois (A great comeback victory):
But hey, look at that. Tech did advance to the Elite Eight back in 1967! Which I doubt anyone reading this remembers. But it is a bright spot on a dim Hokie history on the hardwood.
Virginia Tech in the NIT:
Overall Record: (24-10)
NIT Champions: 1973, 1995
|
Year
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Result/Score
|
|
|
First Round
|
Temple
|
L 73–88
|
|
|
First Round
|
New Mexico
|
W 65–63
|
|
|
First Round
|
Georgetown
|
W 83–79
|
|
|
First Round
|
Fordham
|
W 69–58
|
|
|
First Round
|
William & Mary
|
W 85–79
|
|
|
First Round
|
Georgia Tech
|
W 77–74
|
|
|
First Round
|
Clemson
|
W 62–54
|
|
|
First Round
|
Temple
|
W 60–50
|
|
|
First Round
|
Morgan State
|
W 94–62
|
|
|
First Round
|
Duquesne
|
W 116–1082OT
|
|
|
First Round
|
Quinnipiac
|
W 81–61
|
|
|
First Round
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
W 79–54
|
If only the NIT was the NCAA tournament, am I right?
Unfortunately, again I can only recollect when Tech was a bit mediocre with the short comings in the NIT. I thought we had a real shot at winning some of these NITs in the 2000's with Malcolm Delaney. To me, the NIT is Tech's history. Historically, Tech is a great NIT team that is near the last to cut from the NCAA Tournament and that's where the Hokies have been for many years.
Hokie Greats:
|
Name
|
Number
|
Position
|
Career
|
|
|
12
|
G
|
Virginia Tech’s first Olympian. United States Olympic team (1988). Selected in the second round of the 1990 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Played 14 NBA seasons.
|
|
|
20
|
F
|
Currently an assistant coach at Virginia State University.
|
|
|
30
|
G
|
First round pick in 1986 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Played 16 NBA seasons with five different teams.
|
|
|
44
|
F
|
Played in the NBA for ten years. Former head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.
|
Dell Curry Highlight:
In the last game of his career, former Hokie Dell Curry put on a show.
The history of Virginia Tech basketball is a brief discussion. The Hokies aren't consistent, switched conferences over the years, and aren't quite good enough for the NCAA's. But all that looks to change with Buzz Williams at the helm. Are the best years to come?
For additional reading, check out VT's history vs #1 ranked teams here. A bit of a longer read, but rich with history.