Alright, enough whining, TechHoops.com fans, I’m back from sabbatical.  I guarantee at least 90% new material in every article… but there’s only a 50% chance of that.

OK, so I’m back… what to write about…

THREE POINT LINE

Just a reminder that the college three-point line moves back a foot next year from 19′9″ to 20′9″.   This is the first time the NCAA has “officially” moved the line since it instituted it across the board back in 1986.  The Southern Conference was the first to use a three-point line (conferences can supercede NCAA rules for conference only games, as can tournaments).  The ACC also tinkered with a three-point line that was actually less than 19′9″.  In other words, it was shorter than the top of the key!  Yeesh.  Maybe if they went back to that, VT could actually hit a few.

The funny/annoying thing about the line moving is the Hokies finally became a three-point threat at the end of the season.  Well, I should say two guys were: Malcolm Delaney and A.D. Vassallo.  Even Deron Washington finally started hitting a few.

On the season, VT hit 192 threes in 35 games, or 5.49 per game.  That ranked 11th in the ACC, ahead of just maryland.  But Tech hit eight or more three-pointers in four of their final seven games and averaged 7.4 made per game over that span, including 26 in their three NIT games.  So what happens?  The line moves back a foot.

I see this move a good thing for Virginia Tech overall though.  A.D. still has the range to hit threes from 21 feet, and it will make other teams worse.  Plus, with the line out, defenses will naturally extend out a bit, leading to more room for Jeff Allen and J.T. Thompson inside.  Plus, Hank Thorns could have more room to slash and dish.

I haven’t been in Cassell yet to see if the line has been moved yet on the main court and practice courts, but I know Seth Greenberg said he was planning to do it quickly, and the sooner the better so the guys adjust.  They will either get better, or realize maybe they aren’t three-point shooters anymore.

FYI: The line is 23′9″ in the NBA (22′ in the corners) and 20′6″ in international play, including the Olympics this summer.  So the Olympic distance is actually less than college now, although the line is moving out to 22′2″ in 2010. For more on the three-point line, go to Wikipedia (shocker they have a page JUST about the 3-point line): Wikipedia’s Tribute to the 3

FIRST BLOOD

You all learned about my respect and admiration for Rambo back in February.  Well, while at a comedy last week that I’m embarrassed to admit I was at, I saw a preview that changed my plans for this coming week.  For ONE NIGHT ONLY, First Blood (aka: the original Rambo), is being shown in “select” theaters around the nation.  One night!  One chance!  Crank up Eminem’s song Lose Yourself. This is your one last chance at history!

The biggest debate for my buddy and me is whether to see it locally or drive out to Manassas, VA to see it with REAL Rambo fans.  Smuggle in the tallboys!  I know I’m not going to Tyson’s Corner to see it.  If I saw anyone in a sportcoat there, I’d have to punch them, and I’m sure I would.

For more info and theaters showing it near you, go to http://www.fathomevents.com/ and select First Blood from the Event drop-down list.

RECRUITING

Tyshawn Taylor, a four-star point guard prospect VT was hot-and-heavy on last Fall, has committed to National Champ kansas.  He had previously signed with marquette but was granted a release after Tom Crean left to coach three scholarship players at indiana (yes, they really only have three guys left from last year’s team, plus five incoming recruits). 

The Hokies are still in the running for five-star prospect Deshawn Painter.  Painter is transferring from Booker T. Washington HS in the ‘757′ to Hargrave Military Academy for his Senior season.  He is ranked the #3 Center and #22 overall prospect in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals.com.  He would REALLY fit a need for the Hokies.  His cousin, Vinston Painter, is enrolling at VT next Fall and will be an O-Lineman on the football team.  Let’s hope they are close. 

The Hokie’s quest to have a T. Taylor leading their football and basketball teams continues as Tech continues to recruit 2008 point guard prospect Tyshawn Taylor from Jersey City, NJ. Taylor was a marquette signee but has since been granted a release from his letter of intent with former marquette Head Coach Tom Crean moving to indiana. VT is considered one of five schools in serious contention, including 2008 National Champs kansas.

Taylor had been considered a three-star recruit and #101 overall in the Class of 2008 by Rivals.com but was bumped up to a four-star ranking, #77 overall, and the #11 point guard in their newest ratings.

At this point, it is unknown how Virginia Tech could take him. VT is currently maxing out all 13 scholarships for next year based on returning players and the three signees they have coming in for next season. Someone would have to transfer, quit the program, get a medical waiver (keep a scholarship but it doesn’t count against your 13 since they are unable to play due to medical conditions), or a recruit will have to not enroll.

Months ago I decided to take today off from work, similar to what I did one year after the attacks of 9/11, for personal reflection on an event that touched me deeply. Like with the Virginia Tech shootings, 9/11 impacted me indirectly, but very profoundly. I worked and lived a mile from the Pentagon. I saw the smoke rising off the Pentagon from where the plane had hit it that morning. I walked from my apartment later that day and saw the hole. All of those images made it extremely “real” to me.

Last year on this day, I was returning from a friend’s wedding in St. Louis. A trip of such happiness quickly turned to bitter sadness. Before heading into work, I started getting flooded with texts to check out the news. I began watching, and sat there stunned as the newscasts kept raising the death toll to unfathomable numbers.

In the days following, I struggled with my own grief. Why did this event make me so sad? I had long since graduated from Virginia Tech. Though I had friends that were neighbors of some of the victim’s families, and others that were taught by professors lost in the shootings, I had no connection to any of the victims or families. I almost felt guilty for being down in the dumps, when I couldn’t even imagine the pain the victims’ friends and families were feeling.

Then, it hit me. I realized how deep and strong my love for Virginia Tech was. It dawned on me why this event hurt so much. Virginia Tech, and all who have attended or worked there, are family. They are my brothers and sisters. It occurred to me that the pain I felt so deeply was because I truly felt like I had lost 32 siblings in those shootings. Though I will never know the excruciating sting this tragedy had on the blood-relation families or direct friends of these victims, I now have a better understanding of how deeply my fondness of Virginia Tech runs.

In the year since, my bond with VT has only grown stronger. That is due in part to my realization of my feelings. But more so, it has to do with the way the Virginia Tech community has reacted. Instead of being torn apart, Hokies have bonded together more tightly than ever. We have not let this define us, instead, it has driven us to do more. I only hope we can represent those who were lost proudly. And the outpouring of support from other communities all over the world has touched me and strengthened my belief in the human spirit.

Upon waking this morning, after realizing the news outlets were barely covering today’s events at VT, at least in the morning hours, I decided to read the biography of each victim on VT’s web site (Victims’ Biographies). It was extremely sad to read about the accomplishments, hopes, and dreams of each person. It was sad to see what might have been, and know it would never be.

One thing stood out in particular. It was in the biography of Mike Pohle, Jr. Mike struggled with a speech development issue early on in life, leading to teasings from other kids. As a result, Mike appreciated the struggles of others. “Based on his own experiences and even with his athletic success, Mike befriended those who felt they did not fit in or who were lost in the crowd with no one to turn to. It was instinctive for Mike to help; it was his calling,” stated his biography.

I only wish Mike had met Cho before that fateful day. Maybe, with such a wonderful person as a friend, this tragedy that still saddens all Hokies would never have happened. Going forward, if we all reach out to someone in need, the outcasts or “lepers” of society and show them the same courtesy we show everyone else, instead of fearing them and further isolating them, we can avert a similar situation, or at least make their blue days a little brighter. I know I could improve in this area.

To the 32 victims, here’s thinking of you. You are not forgotten, and never will be. You will always be an inspiration to me to enjoy life and to do more.

You may be wondering what classifies as a “basketball” movie.  Well, I’m being pretty liberal here.  Let’s count anything that focuses on a basketball player, a team, or just has a lot of basketball in it.  It can be a comedy, drama, or documentary.  Pretty much, everything is fair game.  So without further adieu, let’s get to the list.

The Top Shelf Six Pack

1. Hoosiers (1986) - Based on a true story - Plot: A small town team with just six or seven players battles for the Indiana state title (there’s only one division) - The gold standard for basketball movies.  It is also one of my Top 10 favorite movies of all-time in any category, maybe even Top 5.   Based on a true story in a basketball-mad state about maybe the greatest Cinderella/David beating Goliath team of all time.  Sure it is sappy, but it is also extremely uplifting.  The musical score is great and the acting is superb.   And Coach Normal Dale (Gene Hackman) is a Bobby Knight you can actually love.  Basketball scenes are well done.  Rewatchability: 10 - Seriously, if it is on, I’m watching it.  Or at least seeing where in the movie it is.
2. Hoop Dreams (1994) - Documentary - Plot: A filmmaker follows around two high school basketball players, one of which is a phenom, for four years, detailing their lives, too - Believe me, this movie is close to #1.  The thing that drops it down is that because it is a documentary, it is slow at times and very long.  But the concept of following a high school phenom and a slightly above average player around for all four years of high school was brilliant.  This was reality long before Survivor and all the other reality TV shows came along.  The real life drama that these two kids, and their families, face in Chicago is spellbinding.  And there’s a stunning twist during their senior seasons.  Random drinking game: take a drink every time someone says “downstate”.  You won’t make it to the end of the movie if you do.  Real basketball footage.  Rewatchability: 6 - I have watched it twice since I saw it in the theater.  It is worth watching every four of five years and laughing at the clothes from the late 80s/early 90s and remembering the story.  But it is slow.
3. He Got Game (1998) - Drama - A Spike Lee Joint (guys get that) - Plot: A high school phenom (Ray Allen) goes through the recruiting process with eveyone telling him where to go, including his dad (Denzel Washington) who was let out of jail just to lure him to go to a state official’s alma mater - I walked out of this movie thinking to myself, “Man, I wish I had practiced basketball every day so I could have gone on college recruiting trips.”  (I’m referring to the three-some scene)  The story is very good and draws you in.  Of course Denzel Washington’s acting is brilliant but Ray Allen puts forth an amazing performance, too.  The movie is a nice look at how everybody wants something from a talented star.  Not much in the way of actual “basketball” action, yet the whole movie is about life off the court.  Rewatchability: 8 - Like I said, the story really draws you in and makes you root for Jesus and his dad.
4. White Men Can’t Jump (1992) - Comedy - Plot: Two basketball players (Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes) hustle games for money and drop a thousand one-liners - By far the funniest basketball movie of all time.  I still use quotes from this movie: “It’s too easy!”  Coincidentally, Woody is in the least funny bball movie, too, Semi-Pro.  This movie will have you laughing the entire time and the basketball scenes are decent.  Would be #3 but He Got Game has more plot and a greater message.  Rewatchability: 10 - I’ll watch it any time it is on.
5. Above the Rim (1994) - Drama - Plot: A high school kid wants to overcome the streets and make it to play for Georgetown - I’m biased to this movie because I’m in the crowd in the final scene.  I think you can see my hat.  Anyway, this movie is a cross between He Got Game (even though it came first) and Hoop Dreams.  It is sombering watching Tupac, who actually does a good job in this movie.  Basketball scenes are average, but the story keeps you hooked.  Rewatchability: 5 - I haven’t seen it on TV too much lately.  I need to dial it up on Netflix.
6. Finding Forrester (2000) - Drama - Plot: A really smart and really good high school basketball player befriends a reclusive writer as he adjusts to an uppity school - This is the least “basketball-ish” of these six movies.  But since it is based on a basketball player, I’m counting it.  Quality acting with Sean Connery and a good supporting cast.  And what’s funnier that hearing Connery, in an English accent, say, “You’re the man now, dog!”  Rewatchability: 4 - Haven’t watched it again since I first saw it.  Hmm… should I add it to Netflix?

Six Pack of One-Timers (see them once)

• Blue Chips (1994) - Drama/Comedy - Plot: College coach becomes corrupt to win - How can a movie with Nick Nolte, Shaq, Larry Bird, Bobby Knight, Penny Hardaway, and Dick Vitale stink?  Not sure, but this movie found a way.  But watching Shaq play a college freshman is pretty entertaining, as is bribing a recruit with a tractor.  And the basketball scenes are great since they have a NBA all-star team on one college team.
• Teen Wolf (1985) - Comedy - Plot: A high school kid adjusts to being part wolf - Classic “what were the writers smoking” 80s comedy.  A wolf playing high school basketball is more believable than Michael J. Fox as a basketball player, yet somehow this movie works.  Funny and entertaining.  You just have to put on your 80s glasses and remember: it doesn’t have to make sense. 
• Rebound: The Legend of Earl “The Goat” Manigault (1996) - Based on a true story - Plot: A high school can’t-miss prospect misses because of drug abuse - This is NOT the Martin Lawrence movie.  It is a very sad story, and because it is mostly true, really gives a good lesson.  But the acting is poor, budget is low, and basketball scenes aren’t very good.  Read up on The Goat.  The legends about him, if true, are incredible.
• Through the Fire (2005) - Documentary - Plot: Sebastian Telfair, a high school point guard, has to figure out if he wants to go to college or the NBA - Read the book, The Jump, instead.  It is 100 times better.  This movie is a like a Subway sandwich: no meat.  But still worth trying to get through once.
• Coach Carter (2005) - Based on a true story - Plot: A strict disciplinarian coach whips an urban LA team into shape - See my Glory Road comments below and wash, rinse, repeat.  At least this movie has Samuel L. Jackson and isn’t “hurrah for everything”.
• Baseketball (1998) - Comedy - Plot: Two losers invent a sport to get chicks and not suck - I think it is pretty darn funny, especially the taunting.  But it isn’t really a baseketball movie, so it is down here.

Disappointments

• Basketball Diaries (1995) - Leonardo DiCaprio gives a great performance and I knew this movie wasn’t really about basketball, but it still stunk overall.  The one or two basketball scenes are awful and the rest of the movie is just about drunks and JO’ing.
• Semi-Pro (2008) - Will Ferrell, but not funny.  He’s forcing things now.  He’s the new Adam Sandler.   Needs to go back to being a supporting star, not the main guy.
• Glory Road (2006) - Based on a true story - Plot: Texas Western, with an all black starting lineup, beats an all white team - A poor man’s Remember the Titans without Denzel Washington.  Way too sappy.  A classic Disney puke fest.  Would be better as a documentary with interviews and old game footage. 

Haven’t Seen:

• Love & Basketball (2000) - If it was “Basketball & Love”, I might watch it.  But it isn’t.
• A Season on the Brink (2002)  - I refuse to ever watch this because ESPN made it, they showed 4,142,387 commercials about it leading up to it, and I hate Bobby Knight.  Plus, if I watch an ESPN movie, it is like saying it is OK for them to do stuff like this.  Next thing you know, they are like MTV (no music videos).

Summary - there really hasn’t been a good college basketball movie yet.  Shocking, especially considering how big the NCAA Tournament is.  Blue Chips was crap, as was Glory Road.  And A Season on the Brink is a better book than movie.  All the top movies are about high school kids or teams (five of my top six are high school based).  I smell an untapped market!

Nice look ahead to next season for the Hokies including scheduling updates: Roanoke Times Article - 4/2/08

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T CHECK THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM, OR FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN, THIS WAS AN APRIL FOOL’S DAY GAG…

In a shocking decision, the NCAA has ruled that the famous “Henson Heave” should not have counted because Les Henson stepped on the baseline before firing his famous 89′3″ world record shot to win the game at florida state on 1/21/80 by a 79-77 score. There was no three-point line back then so the score is being put back at 77-77, erasing the buzzer-beater. The game will now be recorded as a tie.

Take a look at the second replay towards the end of this YouTube clip. If you look closely, it does appear that Les Henson clearly steps on the line before firing the miracle shot.

As many of you know, the NCAA instituted instant replay years ago to help with buzzer-beaters and questionable three-point shots. Referees can use video monitors to review controversial plays to ensure the correct call was made. Replay was used to validate that Deron Washington’s layup at the end of the uva game was out of his hand in time.

Well, now the NCAA has even started reviewing shots after games. For example, a dunk at the end of the ucla vs. texas a&m game in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament was overturned hours later because it was after the buzzer.

For more on the NCAA’s decision, visit this link: Read more

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Pictured are the first people in line on the EVEN side entrance to the Cassell for the ole miss game. These students were there since a little after noon on Wednesday, waiting five hours just to get in.

I can’t say enough about how incredible it was the way our student body supported the Hokies in the NIT. That’s what it is all about. That’s what helps build your program. duke is known as much for the cameron crazies (NERDS) as they are for coach k and the players they have had. No recruit wants to go to a school that is half full for most games and half full arenas hardly inspire a team. Well, the fans certainly had the Hokies amped up for each NIT game, that was obvious.

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Zach “Barefight” and crew once again were first in line at the tennis court side entrance to Cassell, arriving around 2 PM Wednesday to give the rebels hell.

The three games drew 29,000 fans exactly, just 541 under the maximum capacity for three games. That’s 98% full over the three games and that is 98% awesome. But it was the students that led the charge. For each of the three games, they accounted for approximately 60-70% of the crowd. Normally they get only 3,000 tickets, and did get 3,000 free tickets to each game. But the students doubled that number for each game, coughing up the $5 to see Tech play. Hats off to you, students. Without you, the Cassell would have been half full, and the team might have played half as hard. Instead, we got maximum effort and two blow out victories before falling to a more veteran and physically superior team.

Thank you, students. We need to figure out how to get more of you into games next year when alumni and fans eat their tickets, leaving the Cassell 25-40% empty.

Notes:

• Thanks, Zach, for hooking DuffHokie and me up with money seats at the ole miss game. Good to see running this site is finally paying off somehow!
• Charlie - nice meeting you. Keep up the support.
• To the guy that designed the Hokies on Fire shirts - congrats to you on designing such a big hit. Just make sure next year’s designer comes up with something original… just teasing you. The shirts were sweet, I just hate those heartbreaking wake forest types (long story).
• Props to the students that spelled out VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY on their chests. Very creative, took a lot of coordination, meant they had to give up better seats to get everyone in a line, and was just plain sweet.

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I got a real treat on Wednesday, getting to meet David Jackson. He played at VT while I was there and was a member of the 1995 NIT Champion Hokie team. David later went on to play Slamball on Spike, a game that combined basketball with a car wreck.
I told him the story of how a former professor of mine loved him and used to ask each class how many times he fell on the floor (he was the Big Flopper before Deron Washington patented it). I always knew and ended up getting a 108% in the class with all my extra credit.
DJ now helps out with the team as a trainer.

Now, for uva. They drew just 16,334 fans for their three home games in the CBI. That’s just under 5,500 per and about 4,000 less than VT. Also, the Roanoke Times states that uva only drew 150 students for their first CBI game. 150! Ha! Yes, I realize the CBI is a new tournament with no TV coverage, but still. That’s a big discrepancy. Thank goodness we’re Hokies.

For those of you that were worried about TechHoops.com going into hibernation until next October, worry not!  The only Big Apple I’ll be seeing is the water tower off I-81 in Mt. Jackson, VA, but I’m not letting that stop me!

Spring football practice may have started Wednesday and the 2007-08 basketball season ended, but we will still continue pumping out Pulitzer-quality articles!  And I, Niemo, guarantee each article will contain at least 33% new material!  [Disclaimer: not a guarantee in the lower 48 states]

Here are just some of the articles we have on tap:

• 2007-08 Season in Review
• 2008 ACC Recruiting Class Breakdowns (by each school)
• The Greatest Basketball Movies of All Time
• The Program: A Look Forward
• 2008-09 ACC Previews
• And more Proof ricky stokes was the Worst Coach Ever

Along with new features:

• Grading of each returning player’s attributes (shooting, defense, etc)
• The Weekend Warrior’s Road Trips
• Recruiting updates
• USA Basketball: Pursuit for something better than bronze in the 2008 Olympics!

And whatever else we pull out of our… hats.  Remember, arm wrestling and arm-curling don’t have an off-season.  And neither does the Weekend Warrior.  Keep on coming back and we will keep giving you quality time killers for work or study breaks… or at least we’ll give it a noble effort.

FYI: The site will be down this weekend while our beloved web host makes updates that I’m sure will be super.  But fear not, we have not packed up and headed for Mexico.  We should be back up by Monday.

THE SETUP

“There’s a tradition in tournament play, not to talk about the next step until you’ve climbed the one in front of you…” -Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers.

In case you were wondering what I’m getting at with that quote, the ”next step” for the Hokies is a return trip to Madison Square Garden, the self-proclaimed “Most Famous Arena in the World”, and two games in New York City with a shot at VT’s third NIT Championship.  But there is no next step unless the Hokies TCB against the ole miss rebels first on Wednesday night at the Cassell.   

The rebels enter this game having defeated uc-santa barbara 83-68 and nebraska 85-75 in overtime on Monday night.  Both games were at Oxford and the nebraska game didn’t end until 11:30 PM Eastern, meaning the rebels have to travel to Blacksburg and play less than 44 hours later.

FYI: We know this will be Deron Washington’s and Marcus Travis’s final home game at the Cassell, though because it is supposed to be treated as a “neutral site” game, there is no smoke-screen as the team comes out or Welcome to the Jungle during introductions.

THE PREGAME

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Expect fans, especially students, to be waiting outside the Cassell hours before gametime. Here’s a photo of the first students in line on Monday before the uab game, braving 30 degree temperatures for hours before getting let in. Zach “Bearfight” was rewarded for his dedication with an honorary arm-curl.

THE GAME

The ole miss rebels jumped out to a 13-0 start this season, including a win at clemson.  Then they hit the SEC schedule, and limped home with a 7-9 record in conference play, killing their NCAA Tournament chances.  The rebels were an impressive 5-3 against RPI Top 50 teams, defeating five different teams, but that wasn’t enough to overcome a losing conference record and a loss in the first round of the SEC Tournament. 

Unlike uab, the ole miss rebels are not a one-trick pony.  They have several options on offense, both inside and outside.  They are led by their court general, freshman #12 Chris Warren.  He is a waterbug on the court that can drive and score (leads the team with 15.5 points per game) or dish (4.5 assists per game) or shoot from the outside (hits three threes per game at a 38% clip). 

Warren’s main target inside is senior #44 Dwayne Curtis, averaging 15 ppg and 9.4 rebounds per game.  The dude is a load, weighing in at 262 pounds (too light for me to arm wrestle).  If Witcher is too slim to handle him, Allen or Diakite will have to pick him up, though that risks putting the Big Donut, Allen, in foul trouble.  Fellow senior #40 Kenny Williams is another big’un inside at 6′8″, 240 lbs.  All he averages is 8.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg.  In other words, Tech will have to do a much better job boxing out on defense.  They gave up several 2nd-chance points to morgan state and uab early in those games.  And hope VT is hot again from the floor since offensive rebounds will be tough to come by.

The rebels have two more players averaging in double-digits.  Both are 6′5″ sophomore wings in #14 Eniel Polynice (10.9 ppg) and #33 David Huertas (10.4 ppg).  Polynice is a slasher but a poor outside shooter (look for him to drive), while Huertas is more versatile, shooting 34% on threes accounting for half his buckets.

This ole miss team scores a lot of points (almost 80 per game) and get a lot of rebounds.  The Hokies must crank up the intensity on the defensive end and force the rebels to play in the half court set, limiting transition buckets.  Then, VT needs to clean the glass and limit second chance points.  If VT can keep mississippi under 70, the Hokies win.

THE NUMBERS:

Series: Tied 1-1; but VT won at ole miss, 61-59, in the 1982 NIT

• VT is 10-0 all time at the Cassell in NIT play
• Home teams are 20-6 thus far in the NIT but both home teams (cuse and arizona state) lost in the quarterfinals on Tuesday

STREAKS:

Cold: Hank Thorns is 1/9 in the NIT

Warm: Senior Deron Washington is 9/17 in NIT play (53%) after shooting just 41% on the season.

On Fire: Since the start of the ACC Tournament, Malcolm Delaney has hit 21/31 (68%) from the field and 12/16 (75%) on three-pointers

En Fuego: A.D. Vassallo is 17/23 (74%) in the NIT including 7/12 on threes (58%)

Read more »

It’s Angel Daniel Vassallo Day!!! (apparently) 

Vassallo Article on Roanoke Times: Roanoke Article

Article on Vassallo’s Pedigree from Richmond Times Dispatch: RTD Article