Seth Greenberg sizes up Virginia Tech, UVa men's basketball
Virginia coach Ryan Odom, right, talks with Chance Mallory, left, during a game last season. UVa welcomes back four of its top six scorers.
Player retention is the reason Seth Greenberg is optimistic about the Virginia Tech and Virginia men's basketball teams.
"The whole key right now to being competitive at the highest level is retention," the ESPN analyst and former Hokies coach said in an interview earlier this month at ACC media days in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Everyone thinks it's the portal, but really it's (retention)."
The Hokies, who open the season Nov. 3, welcome back starters Ben Hammond, Amani Hansberry and Tyler Johnson from last year's 19-13 squad.
"I look at those three guys as culture creators," Greenberg said. "Three guys that are invested in the program, that care about the program.
"You have a guy who can guard the ball. You have a guy who's a matchup problem. And you have a guy that is in a lot of ways committed to … being a glue guy and doing all the dirty work. Man, that's a great place to start.
"Having those three guys to coach their locker room, set the tone, understand where Coach (Mike Young) is coming from is so important. And then you're adding guys.
"They've got Virginia Tech guys. Mike knows who can play for him. You can go after the shiniest, nicest car or you can go after a guy that (is) going to give himself to the program and be about winning. I think that's what they've done a really good job of."
The Hokies are seeking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
"I picked them as one of the sleeper teams in the league — or one of the teams that does not get enough respect," Greenberg said.
Greenberg is high on Tech newcomers Jayden Curry (Oklahoma State) and Isaiah Elohim (Florida Atlantic).
"I like Curry because I like his toughness," Greenberg said. "The Elohim kid, he's a Mike Young player because he's going to create space. (With) how Mike plays, you can't have enough shot makers in space."
ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg likes the maturity of Virginia Tech and Virginia.
Greenberg said Virginia Tech can finish among the top seven or eight teams in the ACC standings "without a doubt."
"And I think the league can get eight teams (in the NCAAs)," Greenberg said. "I like (the Hokies') pieces. I like their depth."
The NCAA Tournament is expanding from 68 teams to 76 teams this season.
"The expansion of the tournament means you've got to probably stay away from the bad losses," Greenberg said. "The opportunity to get back to the tournament is right there in front of (the Hokies) because they do have experience and they do have toughness and they do have maturity."
Young has a new boss to impress in new Tech athletic director Brian White.
"Mike's not worried about new boss, old boss. He's worried about, 'How can we be the best version of ourselves?’" Greenberg said. "There's going to be stretches where you're going to get punched in the face and people might lose their minds. Mike's not going to be one of them. He's going to keep his team moving forward."
UVa coach Ryan Odom returns eight players from last year's 30-6 team, including four of the top six scorers — Thijs De Ridder, Sam Lewis, Chance Mallory and Johann Grunloh.
"Their culture … might be bigger than the problems in college basketball," Greenberg said. "It doesn't mean you don't need money, but guys are staying because of Virginia. They're staying because they're playing for Ryan. They're staying because they know they can win. They're staying for the experience. To be able to return those four guys and others — you retain guys that aren't playing as much as they want to be, and also (retain) your key pieces that you know everyone's trying to recruit right off your roster. That speaks to the culture.
"(Odom has) done an incredible job of being demanding, … holding guys to standards, figuring out a system that is fun to play, that people enjoy. That enables them to recruit the players they're recruiting and connect with his team."
The Cavaliers, who open the season Nov. 3, are ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.
ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, left, shown on the ACC Network's set at ACC media days earlier this month in Charlotte, N.C., likes the maturity of Virginia Tech and Virginia.
"Their goal's got to be to try to get to the Final Four," Greenberg said. "If you're going to be in the top three, four in the league this year, then you have the potential to make a very deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
"Louisville, Duke, Virginia, Miami — they'd be my top four (in the ACC) right now. (North) Carolina right in there with them. … N.C. State's probably with (Virginia) Tech as maybe being undervalued."
Greenberg likes the maturity of the Cavaliers.
"Are they going to miss (Ugonna) Onyenso? I think they will. Are they going to miss Malik (Thomas) and the shot making? They could. But they've got some guys that can really shoot it," Greenberg said. "They've got enough depth, and Chance is a physical, tough leader.
"Thijs is good, but Chance is going to be one of the best players in the league, too. He's a competitive little guy."
Duke returns Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer. Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell and highly touted freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje have come aboard.
"(Duke has) great size, great length, great versatility," Greenberg said. "(Ngongba is the) best defender in college basketball. I think Cayden's going to have a monster season as the leader and play-starter. Patrick and Dame might be the best defensive ball-screen defenders together in the country. … Blackwell, he's an elite, elite scorer. … Boumtje is really good and he's only 17."
Virginia Tech's Amani Hansberry is one of three starters back from a 19-13 squad.
Louisville has added Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras, Arkansas transfer Karter Knox and former Oregon point guard Jackson Shelstad.
"Shelstad's got to make good decisions," Greenberg said. "Bidunga can guard anyone. Folgueiras is very, very good. Karter Knox can defend on the perimeter and make shots and come up with 50-50 balls."
Miami welcomes back Malik Reneau and Shelton Henderson and has added freshman Caleb Gaskins, former Georgia center Somto Cyril and former Villanova point guard Acaden Lewis.
"Miami is really good," Greenberg said. "You get Reneau back. Cyril's a monster. Gaskins, the freshman, is terrific. Acaden Lewis is very, very good. The Henderson kid is a really good two-way player."
Mark Berman (540) 981-3125
