GETTING INSIDE

Virginia Tech goes into the season with an ACC Player of the Year candidate (guard Malcolm Delaney) and one of the league’s strongest and best inside players, Jeff Allen.

Delaney was second on the team in scoring at better than 18 points a game, and led the team in assists with 152. Allen, 6-foot-7, was the No. 3 scorer at slightly under 14 points a game and hauled in better than eight rebounds.

What the Hokies need is a third scoring option to step up … and they could be back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

The question is, who will that be?

The best bet seems to be forward J.T. Thompson, a 6-6 junior who missed 10 games at the start of last season because of a hernia injury. He averaged only 6.5 points a game for his 24 appearances, but doubled that over the last four games. He had 21 points in a first-round NIT victory over Duquesne.

If not Thompson, more scoring could come from forward Victor Davila, who flashed potential as a freshman, or senior forward Lewis Witcher.

Coach Seth Greenberg sees A.D. Vassallo-like potential in freshman Manny Atkins, but it’s not likely Atkins will step in as the team’s leading scorer, a role Vassallo played the last two seasons.

Junior Dorenzo Hudson is a returning starter in the backcourt to complement Delaney.

The big hurdle for the Hokies might be on the mental side. They barely missed earning an at-large bid to last season’s NCAA field, mostly because of their inability to post the kind of signature non-conference victory that would have enhanced their chances.

They came close, losing by one point to Xavier and by two to Wisconsin in the early going, but those close defeats and an inexplicable loss at Georgia left them little argument when they finished with 19 victories overall and at 7-9 in the ACC.

NOTES, QUOTES

• The Hokies have moved into a new practice facility adjacent to their home arena of Cassell Coliseum. The 49,000 square-foot building had a price tag of $21 million.

• G Malcolm Delaney averaged nearly 37 minutes per game for the Hokies last season. He is the leading returning scorer at 18.1 points per game and made 86.9 percent of his free throws.

• F Jeff Allen needs to ease up a bit. He was whistled for 115 fouls last season, 28 more than anyone else on the team, and fouled out of seven games.

Last Year:   19-15 overall, 7-9 in the ACC; lost in second round of NIT.

Head Coach:   Seth Greenberg (career 320-255); seventh year at Virginia Tech (107-85).

Quote To Note:   “We have a terrific opportunity in our non-conference schedule to find out more about ourselves.”—Coach Seth Greenberg, noting early games against Temple, Iowa and Penn State.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Freshman Manny Atkins heads a solid recruiting class for the Hokies and will be a great addition as a wingman. Another freshman, Erick Green, can provide backup at the point. The class took a blow with an injury that will delay 6-9 Cadarian Raines’ progress, but the frontcourt will get a boost from the debut of 6-11 Gene Swindle, who sat out his first year on campus as a redshirt.

Key Early-season Games:   The Hokies have a trip to Philadelphia on Nov. 27 for the Philly Hoop Group Class, where they will open against Temple, but the Owls have several key losses from last year’s team that won 22 games. The Hokies play Delaware the next game. The Hokies go to Iowa on Dec. 1 for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and have another trip to Big Ten country when they visit Penn State, last season’s NIT champion, on Dec. 12.

Program Direction:   Coach Seth Greenberg has had the Hokies on the bubble for NCAA consideration in recent years but they received that coveted at-large bid only in 2007. That could change if the newcomers come through. The Hokies figure to be at least a mid-pack ACC team and could break into the top four if the breaks fall right.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Malcolm Delaney, G Dorenzo Hudson, G-F Manny Atkins, F Lewis Witcher, F Jeff Allen.

Roster Report:  

• F Cadarian Raines, a 6-9 freshman, required surgery for a broken foot and will be out until December. Raines was considered a candidate for early playing time based on his rebounding strength.

• F Allen Chaney transferred from Florida last spring and is not eligible to play this season. He should challenge F Jeff Allen in practice with his post-up ability and also can play on the perimeter.