Virginia Tech Hokies - NCAA Basketball Betting

Two seasons ago, the Virginia Tech Hokies looked like they were ready to turn the corner. They had gone 16-14 overall and 8-8 in their first season in their new conference, the ACC.

With a solid threesome of junior starters coming back, the 2005-06 Hokies were expected to end VTech's streak of eight straight seasons without an NCAA tournament bid. This season was really the chance for the Hokies to make the leap.

In their fourth season under head coach Seth Greenberg, VTech returned five starters, including their Big Three: guards Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon and forward Coleman Collins. These three guys, all seniors now, have played literally thousands of minutes together on the court for the Hokies, and helped comprise one of the most experienced rosters in the ACC this season.

Nonetheless, Virginia Tech was picked by many observers to finish right around seventh in the conference, even in a watered-down year. The Hokies bounced through their non-conference slate, beating Old Dominion and Seton Hall but losing to Western Michigan, Southern Illinois, George Washington and Marshall.

Then VTech won six of its first seven ACC games, which included a win at Duke and another, in front of the home folks in Blacksburg, over North Carolina. The Hokies then stumbled through the middle of their ACC schedule. Consequently they've been a bit difficult to get a bead on.

Dowdell is a talent, and leads the team in scoring. Gordon averages five boards per outing (not bad for a guard) and possesses a complete game. In fact, the two are basically interchangeable at the two guard spots.

Collins is one of the best post players in the ACC, although his statistical production is down this season. Virginia Tech is playing great defense, holding opponents to right around 40% shooting from the floor, and they've got nine players averaging double-digits in minutes. Still, the Hokies are a bit thin up front and got outrebounded on the season, and their free-throw shooting is questionable.

Senior leadership and experience can do wonders for a team in the postseason, but just making it to the NCAA tournament this season must be considered a step forward.

Zabian Dowdell – Four-year starter and leading scorer.

Jamon Gordon – Another four-year starter who does a bit of everything.

Coleman Collins – Three-year starter who's depended upon underneath.

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