Virginia Tech
October 13, 2003 04:50 PM | General
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2002-03 Record: 11-18
Postseason: None
Big East Repeat Opponents: Georgetown; Rutgers; West Virginia
Non-Conference Schedule: New Hampshire; Western Carolina; Virginia; Morgan State; Old Dominion; Ohio State; VMI; Radford; Towson; William & Mary; East Carolina
Head Coach: Seth Greenberg (213-170, 13 years)
Players to Watch: F, Bryant Matthews (17.3 ppg.); F, Carlos Dixon (13.8 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)
Bob Gibbons Top 300 Newcomers: Jamar Gordon (#107); Zabian Dowdell (#166)
Preseason Capsule
Forward Bryant Matthews is hoping to lead Virginia Tech to a Big East tournament berth this year
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Seth Greenberg’s first season in the Big East will also be his last. The new coach joined the Hokie program before Virginia Tech decided to leave the Big East along with Miami and later BC for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Greenberg’s main objective this year will be to build a competitive basketball team that has won too infrequently in Big East play. In three Big East seasons, the Hokies have yet to qualify for the Big East tournament in Madison Square Garden.
Greenberg is looking to change that with a roster comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores. One of Tech’s two seniors will be the cornerstone of the team in 6-foot-7 Bryant Matthews.
Last year Matthews became the first player in Big East history to lead his team in scoring (17.3 ppg.), assists (64), steals (48) and blocks (34). Matthews started every game last year and averaged nearly 35 minutes per game.
Dixon, also 6-foot-7, has a nice perimeter game averaging 13.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. However, he once again suffered a preseason injury and his availability for the start of preseason practice is doubtful.
Tech has some size to offer in Philip McCandies, Allen Calloway and freshman Coleman Collins, but one big man expected to help Tech this season left school at the start of the fall semester in 6-foot-9, 240-pound Dimari Thompkins of Lakeland, Fla.
Backcourt newcomers Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon were both considered top 200 recruits.
Virginia Tech has a relatively easy non-conference schedule but does have tough out-of-league games against Ohio State and Virginia. The Hokies’ three Big East repeat games are against Georgetown, Rutgers and West Virginia.
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