Similar to a typical Redskins season, the preseason was filled with hope -- the anticipation of a new season, bolstered by a generally positive finish of the non-conference schedule. There were also some (at present, false) indications that the Hokies' new highly-touted group of freshman would be able to make immediate impact on a team that just lost two irreplaceable stars, Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen; and a key contributor and understated playmaker, Terrell Bell, aka, "T-Bell" (or as I referred to him, "The Black Panther").
Well, after having played the first six games of ACC play, it's quite obvious that "we aren't in Kansas anymore". The season has barely started, but it's already over.
Other than Erick Green, the Hokies seem to be lost in space. During most of their games, they seem to be good for one-half of play; the other half is a disaster -- consisting of either a lot of sloppiness leading to too many turnovers or a lack of offensive production (compounded by a lack of rebounding awareness), or both. During the first few games of ACC play, the team would come out of the gate quickly, only to lose focus or stamina in the second half of game. More recently, and more disturbingly, the offense has been sleepwalking through the first half of games: no energy, a lot of standing around, no penetration, and no in-the-paint scoring. And with no second-chance opportunities (due to a lack of board presence), opposing teams have padded a big lead up front, leaving the Hokies deep in a hole by halftime. Usually by the end of the second half, after an exhausting effort, the Hokies get close enough to make the score look "respectable", but it's a loser's facade. Losing is losing, and this season's team is starting to get used to it, although I'm sure that more senior members of the team, like Dorenzo Hudson and Victor Davila, aren't comfortable with it.
Seth Greenberg, one of the smartest basketball minds in the business, is still juggling line-ups, benching former starters, and generally shuffling the deck to try to find something that will work. I think that he has run out of combinations, none of which have worked.
Last year, Malcolm Delaney would will his team to fight and overcome, even during a non-productive outing for him personally. This responsibility has been thrust upon Erick Green, and he is still growing into this role. This was evidenced in an article published earlier this year in the Washington Post, in which Green admitted the following:
“I was just blending in, not talking, and Coach (Seth Greenberg) was trying to get me to understand what being a leader is about,” Green said. “How I have to be there every day, even on the days I don’t want to be there or don’t feel like talking or feel like practicing. I still have to come because these guys are looking up to me. He taught me a lesson and it’ll never happen again.”
"...when you step on the court you should already be fired up. Someone shouldn’t have to tell you: ‘Get up. This is a big game.’ . . . It should just come natural. We’re young; I’m not gonna use that as an excuse. But these young guys don’t really know what it’s like right now. So we got to get them ready.”
Anyway, all the Hokies can do at this point is try to work on selected elements of their offense and defense playbooks and try to extract something positive out of this lost season. Maybe they can actually steal a game from someone every now and then, or catch someone short-handed, like they did UVA.
Does all this sound familiar? It should; it's been the Redskins' mid-season mantra as long as I can remember. (But "just wait 'til next year!")
Go Hokies!!
