Friday will not exactly represent my first trip to the town of Blacksburg, VA. By my estimates, I have probably made about 100 trips there in my lifetime. This is based on the fact I’ve been to 84 straight home football games, about 60 of which have been since my graduation, along with many other trips to basketball games and going back to school as a student. I’ve also probably spent over 1000 nights in the town. But tomorrow, without a doubt, will be different. It will be my first trip back since the massacre as it will be for many of us.

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September 2, 2007
Hokies sweep in exhibition basketball | HokieHaven.com

August 31, 2007
Recruiting Update | Roanoke Times

August 30, 2007
Canadian men’s basketball 2007 season begins | Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech basketball team to face Lancers | Vancouver Sun

August 27, 2007
Sleeper Prospects: Virginia Tech’s Dorenzo Hudson | Rivals.com

Bracket Announced for Great Alaska Shootout | HokieSports.com

The schedule and pairings for the Great Alaska Shootout have been announced. Tech will play eastern washington on November 21 at 9:45PM Alaska Time, which means 1:45AM Blacksburg Time. The winner will go on to play the winner of the michigan-butler matchup at 9:30PM (Blacksburg Time) on Friday, November 23.

Unfortunately, the Hokies game against the eagles (that’s eastern washington) is not televised. If they win their first rounder, then the Hokies will be on ESPN360 for the second round game.

The complete schedule can be found here.

Opened January 3, 1962 with a Victory over alabama 91-67

Dedicated on September 17, 1977

Capacity: 10,052

Highest Attended Game: December 3, 1966 vs. purdue (11,500)

Perfect Seasons at The Cassell:
– 1961-62 (10-0)
– 1965-66 (10-0)
– 1972-73 (11-0)
– 1975-76 (14-0)

Yearly Records at the Cassell

That’s a winning percentage of 78% all-time in the Cassell!  It truly is one of the greatest home advantages in the land.  In the 46 seasons of games in the Cassell, the Hokies have only had one losing season at home.  That came in 2000-01 during the stokes era.

In Tech’s first home game this year against Elon, the Cassell surpassed the 4 million mark in attendance.  Keep in mind, this counts tickets sold/given out and not actual fannies in the seats.  But still a historic milestone.  The mark entering the 2007-08 season was approximately 3,993,500.  The record for attendance in one season was 2005-06 with 165,973.

More History/Info

All right, let’s take a look at the Hokies’ schedule for this season…

ACC Breakdown

* indicates that lone game is a home game

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The 2007-08 basketball schedule is finally out, and there are not many surprises.

Tech opens with elon on November 9th at 7PM. Expect this game to be packed due to the football game against f$u the following day. The highlight of November has to be the Great Alaska Shootout. Any Hokie who makes that trek is a true fan. What a road trip. The Hokies could face the likes of gonzaga, michigan, or butler in the Shootout. It should be awesome.

December is filled with teams close to home (home being Blacksburg, of course). Thank goodness the December 1 game against unc asheville is home. The first weekend in December has been a horrific date in recent history for Tech basketball. In ‘05-06, there was the loss to duke (do I need to go into more detail here?), and in ‘04-05, there was the 72-68 L to vmi. December ends with a trip to the Big Apple against hofstra and then either st. johns or marist. Ho hum. The exposure at MSG will be good for recruiting, but the opponents are not too exciting. In fact, December has to be the least appealing month on the schedule.

Aside from the wake game on December 23rd, the Hokies dive into ACC play in January. A trip to “The John”, Hotlanta, and Chestnut Hill are going to be extremely tough. Good thing we have easy home games against md and duke this month.

Do the heels have Feb 16 circled on their calendar yet? CBS does. That’s right, the Hokies are playing on CBS in a regular season game for the first time in who knows when (Niemo - look this up)? This could be a very embarrassing moment for the Hokies on national TV.

March closes out with wake, a trip to clemson, and the ACC Tournament, of course. Why do we always close against clemson?

Complaints aside, I am excited that the schedule has finally come out. I’m sure we will have a more in depth analysis in the near future. For the full schedule, check it out in the left column.

[Niemo’s Notes: Nothing in the Media Guide about the last time we played in a regular season game on CBS.  Also, Wick, keep in mind not only are we ending with clemson again, but we are opening with wake for the 2nd year in a row.  Both were at home last year, both are on the road this year.]

The slightly good news is that six of the seven members of the 2007 Virginia Tech basketball recruiting class have enrolled at VT and are attending classes (at least we hope they are).  The lone signee not to make it is guard Dorenzo Hudson.  He was not approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse, and will have to wait until the second semester, at best, to enroll at VT and be eligible to play.  However, he can begin playing as soon as the first semester is over, placing him on the team in mid-December if all goes well.

The other hang-up is that J.T. Thompson has not been ruled eligible to play by the NCAA yet.  The NCAA is still reviewing his status.  But, J.T. is able to practice with the team in the mean time while enrolled in classes.  If he’s cleared by the end of August, he can play for the Hokies in the tournament in Canada over Labor Day weekend.

Random Note: Hank Thorns is the only freshman to have chosen a major - Marketing Management.  Go Pamplin!

Random Note #2: J.T. Thompson’s real name appears to be Jeremy Kadeen Thompson.  I assumed the “T” in “J.T.” was for his middle name but must be for his last name if the university’s online directory has him listed correctly.

Random Note #3: Niemo has only arm-curled one of the current freshman, Jeff Allen.  He failed on his attempt of Malcolm Delaney due to back problems (caused by Jeff Allen).

For more on the recruits: Roanoke Times Article

August 24, 2007
Looking for replacements | ESPN.com

Tech, U.Va. unveil men’s hoops slates | Richmond Times-Dispatch

August 23, 2007
Virginia Tech releases 2007-2008 basketball schedule | HokieHaven.com

Men’s basketball schedule released | Collegiate Times

Hokies announce 07-08 men’s basketball schedule | HokieSports.com

Virginia Tech Releases Men’s Basketball Schedule | TechSideline.com

August 22, 2007
Basketball: Hokies eager to see what they’ve got | Roanoke Times

Tech’s hoops team may get forward | Richmond Times-Dispatch

August 21, 2007
Hokies’ Hudson to Sit Out Until December | Washington Post

Tech at Windsor on 9/1 at 7PM | Toronto Star

While all hotels in Blacksburg are 100% booked, the Collegiate Inn of Blacksburg is only offering our rooms to buyers of units and by special offer.

As a special incentive to TechHoops.com readers, the Collegiate Inn of Blacksburg have created a block of rooms for the ohio, w&m, and unc football game weekends. The blocks are called “TechHoops” and will be valid until Friday, August 24 so call 540-552-7001 while they are still available!

The Roanoke Times is reporting that Dorenzo Hudson won’t enroll at Tech until the second semester, which means he won’t be able to play for Tech before mid-December. Hudson did not make the admissions deadline for fall semester, and has not been approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. File this in the “Another tough blow to the Hokies roster” for the upcoming season.