[thesportscritic]

No doubt. I'm just stating the fact, that's all. VT figures to be back to a middle of the pack ACC team at best this year, though.

i know you are stating the facts. they did lose dowdell, jamon gordon, coleman collins, chris tucker to graduation. so they could be in the middle of the acc this season

[jimflamesfan]

I agree that it would be tough to get a win against VT now, b/c they're much better than they were when they were at the bottom of the Big East. But I was just pointing out the fact that we have a history of playing them well. To say we have "very little chance of winning" I think is a little too pessimistic.

Maybe more like, "the odds aren't with us, but it could happen."

Didn't VMI beat Tech last year or the year before?

And it's a funny part of LU's sports history...when we had teams that went something like 4-20, but we still beat VA Tech.

[TIMSCAR20]

I agree that it would be tough to get a win against VT now, b/c they're much better than they were when they were at the bottom of the Big East. But I was just pointing out the fact that we have a history of playing them well. To say we have "very little chance of winning" I think is a little too pessimistic.

Maybe more like, "the odds aren't with us, but it could happen."

Didn't VMI beat Tech last year or the year before?

And it's a funny part of LU's sports history...when we had teams that went something like 4-20, but we still beat VA Tech.

More VT/LU history. The Vines Center records for attendance has VT in the top 5 I believe. Hildo's team beat Tech I believe as well but I will have to check the books. I know there was one in the Vines that went down to the final play but Tech won. Also when I coached in 97 we had VT by 12 late in the game at Cassell before Aluma got in foul trouble. And that team was ranked in the top 10! We were better than them for 35 minutes or so. Basketball is not like football when the bigger named teams are just so much stronger and faster that the underdogs have very little chance. How can anyone say that we don't have a chance to win at Tech? They are an ACC team but far, far, far from unbeatable. They are going to have to play decent to beat us IMO and not just mail it in....Also give Tech credit for going on the road in state. Most of the big boys don't like to do that. They will play in state teams but only at home. Virginia will go to Richmond once every 20 years or so or they will play Tech in Richmond on an obviously neutral site....VMI did beat Tech a few years ago. It was Deron Washington's Freshman year. The Cadets were chanting Washington! Washington! and totally got in his head. It was really wild.

[olldflame]

I was a witness to the first win we had over VT on Jan 25, 1993 at Cassell. Hildo and Parrish Hickman had big games. Julius was in foul trouble, but was a beast when he was in there. The Tech fans reaction was about an equal mix of anger and disbelief.

[shukcb04]

different VT team than back then.

as sportscritic has stated, VT is a heck of a lot better than when Liberty was beasting them.

plus middle of the pack ACC would still be first or second in the big south easily mostly every single year.

[Realist]

different VT team than back then.

as sportscritic has stated, VT is a heck of a lot better than when Liberty was beasting them.

plus middle of the pack ACC would still be first or second in the big south easily mostly every single year.

Second maybe

[paradox]

different VT team than back then.

as sportscritic has stated, VT is a heck of a lot better than when Liberty was beasting them.

plus middle of the pack ACC would still be first or second in the big south easily mostly every single year.

Second maybe

That possibilty came to a crashing halt after Greg Marshall bolted for Witicha State

[Realist]

as sportscritic has stated, VT is a heck of a lot better than when Liberty was beasting them.

plus middle of the pack ACC would still be first or second in the big south easily mostly every single year.

Second maybe

That possibilty came to a crashing halt after Greg Marshall bolted for Witicha State

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Peele just landed a three star. That will go along with another three star in Faison.

[paradox]

Hey, I'm a big Randy Peele fan, however, a guy like Marshall doesn't come around that often in a conference like the Big South. Greg was special.

[paradox]

Also, who's gonna replace Bradshaw in the post. And who steps in for Martin?

[Realist]

Also, who's gonna replace Bradshaw in the post. And who steps in for Martin?

Not sure, but I also remember asking myself how they were going to replace Lewis and Wooten. By "rankings", the players coming in now are better than the ones they've ever recruited.

[paradox]

Well, you're starting out with a very good senior backcourt. So, you should be able to, at the very least, go deep into the conference tournament. But I gotta think that it's gonna be awfully hard to replace Martin and Bradshaw. Winthrop may have reached its peak with that group from last year.

[Realist]

Well, you're starting out with a very good senior backcourt. So, you should be able to, at the very least, go deep into the conference tournament. But I gotta think that it's gonna be awfully hard to replace Martin and Bradshaw. Winthrop may have reached its peak with that group from last year.

I'm certain they haven't reached a peak. They aren't going to go 29-4 this year, but the years ahead look to be very good with the program recognition now and the recruits it's bringing in, along with the new practice facility.

[shukcb04]

winthrop hasnt peaked. they are still going to be a pretty solid team for years to come.

[Fumblerooskies]

Winthrop will do well...until Peele has to bring in his own guys...just look at the UNCG experience.

[Realist]

I love how people cite UNCG from 10 years ago as a reason that Peele won't do well. I guess Marshall should have never done well either, since he had no experience. Plus, Peele did much of the recruiting of the players in uniform now, and the ones that have just graduated. I'm more worried about Peele's in game coaching than his recruiting, he's one of the best recruiters out there. He's also going to run Marshall's system, so I'm not too worried about the rest either.

[TIMSCAR20]

different VT team than back then.

as sportscritic has stated, VT is a heck of a lot better than when Liberty was beasting them.

plus middle of the pack ACC would still be first or second in the big south easily mostly every single year.

Like I said, they were 9th in the nation when we had them on the ropes in 97.

[paradox]

Well, you're starting out with a very good senior backcourt. So, you should be able to, at the very least, go deep into the conference tournament. But I gotta think that it's gonna be awfully hard to replace Martin and Bradshaw. Winthrop may have reached its peak with that group from last year.

I'm certain they haven't reached a peak. They aren't going to go 29-4 this year, but the years ahead look to be very good with the program recognition now and the recruits it's bringing in, along with the new practice facility.

Certainly, Marshall left Winthrop in a much better state than he found it and you should cherish the Marshall memories and accomplishments. But you all are now offically in the post-Marshall era. I'm pretty sure that GM maximized the program in his tenure at WU. Peele's a good coach and he'll keep WU competitive in the Big South. Needless to say, success on the national scene is an altogether different story and is a tall task for any coach at this level. Again, Greg Marshall was/is special--as more than a few observers are of the opinion that he took things about as far as it's gonna go at WU.


....

[paradox]

different VT team than back then.

as sportscritic has stated, VT is a heck of a lot better than when Liberty was beasting them.

plus middle of the pack ACC would still be first or second in the big south easily mostly every single year.

Like I said, they were 9th in the nation when we had them on the ropes in 97.

This is true. Tech pulled away in the final minute or two.


In addition, the game was played in late January or early February--not exactly the time of year when a small conference school should be challenging a top-10 team. That game may have been Marcus White's finest moment.

Also, I think we won something like 10 out of 11 after that game to finish out the season before getting upset at home in the conference final


.....

[paradox]

I love how people cite UNCG from 10 years ago as a reason that Peele won't do well. I guess Marshall should have never done well either, since he had no experience. Plus, Peele did much of the recruiting of the players in uniform now, and the ones that have just graduated. I'm more worried about Peele's in game coaching than his recruiting, he's one of the best recruiters out there. He's also going to run Marshall's system, so I'm not too worried about the rest either.

Peele's a good coach. He'll maintain a solid program in Rock Hill. I don't think that he'll reach GM's heights, but that would be a lot to ask of any coach in this situation.


....

[Realist]

I hope the opposition keeps thinking that. I think the people who have seen the program up close realize that it can go further, if further means reaching the sweet sixteen and being ranked higher than 22nd. I don't disagree Marshall is special, but he also put limits on himself in his lack of connections in the game, and as many have noted on here, his somewhat abrasive personality style, in which Peele will offer advantages. I think Peele is going to get better players overall as a whole (though another Bradshaw is tough---but that's tough for ACC schools) and he is going to better the schedule and put WU in the position to win bigger games. I don't know if that will happen this year, but I think he can take it farther, he possesses some things that Marshall did not.

[Fumblerooskies]

He's also going to run Marshall's system, so I'm not too worried about the rest either.

The question remains, though...
...will RP STILL run after the officials down the tunnel after a game

[Realist]

I will miss his antics, from breaking WU's scorer's table to baiting officials by mimicking them enough to tech him up.

[paradox]

Ok, now let me get this straight: Randy Peele is gonna take Winthrop higher than Geg Marshall did.

Realist, I seriously doubt that even you honestly believe, deep down, whatever it is that you are actually trying to say

[paradox]

...

... What are you actually trying to say