It began innocently enough. On the coaches weekly gabfest, Mark Selig, the Harrisonburg Daily News-Records JMU snoop, asked Smart if he ever talks to the players about trying to be the best program in the state.
Greenberg declined to bite. Sort of.
If you think that Smart threw baking soda into the vinegar, imagine the buzz that Drexels Bruiser Flint created when he told one of the Philly s over the weekend that he thought his Dragons were the best team in the city this season.
I can comment on the ACC, its a battle, Bennett continued. The physicality, the size, the talent level, theres essentially great challenges you ce top to bottom in the ACC. That doesnt take away anything from any league, the CAA. I know one ofTempest in a Virginia Teapot tech schools in wisconsin the toughest leagues is the one youre playing in. I certainly respect Shaka and hes entitled to his opinion.
The reality is that, if you go by the numbers, if you go by postseason, if you go by even guys going to the NBA, the best programs in the state are in the CAA, and its really not even close.
Scheduling between Tech and Virginia, and the states CAA trio is rare. ODU hasnt played Virginia Tech since 2007 and hasnt ced Virginia in a regular-season game since 1996. Mason has ced Virginia seven times and the Hokies just twice -- the last time in 1992.
I dont understand what the big deal is, Flint said playfully. Why wouldnt I say that if I think weve got a good team? Thats the thing I dont get. Why wouldnt I say that? But thats Philadelphia towards Drexel. Of course, youre going to get some feedback. People are going crazy, like, how can you say that? Weve got a pretty good team. Thats how I can say it. But it is what it is. No big deal, no big deal.
George Masons Paul Hewitt was pulled into the fray, as well. He was asked for his perception, from his time at Georgia Tech, on the states ACC schools versus CAA programs.
The Dragons (17-5, 9-2 CAA) have won 15 of 16 and have recovered nicely from a poor start. Theyre vastly improved from the team that lost to Saint Joes in November, their only game against another Philly school.
Hewitt, in his first year in Faix, said that Tech and Virginia both have major-college talent and might be better athletically and at certain positions than their CAA counterparts. But he mentioned -- correctly -- that Virginia had made two NCAA appearances and Virginia Tech one during his 11-year tenure in Atlanta.
Flint is both right and wrong. Hes right that it hardly rises to the level of profound revelation. But he and Smart provided more proof that sports talk, like nature, abhors a vacuum.
Tempest in a Virginia Teapot tech schools in wisconsin,And its not even close, Smart said to conclude the thought.
Asked if hed received any feedback about his remarks, Flint replied incredulously, Have I? Have I?
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Tech and Virginia dont want to play home-and-home series with ODU, VCU and Mason, when theyre willing to schedule them at all. The CAA schools believe, justifiably, that their programs merit give-and-take arrangements with programs from elite conferences.
Shaka is a very good coach, Bennett began diplomatically. I certainly respect him. Thats one mans opinion. I think its a very good league. I certainly respect it. We played George Mason, we played Drexel, who are two very good teams.
Like I said, that old adage: Whats the toughest league in America? The one youre in. Thats always the case. Having coached in the Big Ten, the Pac-10 at that time, and also here, also playing in a mid-major league where I was at Wisconsin-Green Bay, theres great basketball all over the country.
Virginia and ACC advocates will point out that the Cavaliers, presently the fourth-place team in the ACC, dusted CAA leader Mason 68-48 in early December. They also beat Drexel 49-35 at the Paradise Jam in November.
Troublemaker that Selig is -- and we mean that affectionately -- he then went trolling to the ACC coaches weekly teleconference to poke the cages occupied by Virginias Tony Bennett and the Hokies Seth Greenberg.
Hewitt said that, for better or worse, programs and coaches are judged these days by the number of NCAA tournament appearantech schools in wisconsinces and how r they advance. Based on that criteria, he said, the states CAA programs have been better than the ACC programs.
Smart answered that he had not and that wasnt a point of emphasis, but that he understood where the question was headed, given the Rams NCAA run last season and recent history. Then he went Dizzy Gillespie and improvised, expanding the parameters of the discussion.
More so in recruiting, is that a big deal, Smart said. Theres certain schools that you end up recruiting against and maybe schools that arent even in our league that kind of beat their chest and say they have the best program in the state.
Flint knows the city, and he understands that sometimes you have to push a button or two when youre the sixth team in a town renowned for its Big Five programs. Villanova (10-12) is down, Penn is ir (10-9), and Atlantic 10 teams La Salle (16-6), Temple (15-5) and Saint Joes (13-9) are having solid seasons.
Hewitt didnt have the CAAs number of NCAA appearances committed to memory, or in front of him. But he mentioned Mason, VCU and ODU as regular NCAA participants, as well as the two Final Four runs by the Patriots (2006) and Rams.
I really have no comment on it, he said. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Im sure Shaka is doing what he needs to do to promote his league and his program. Ill talk about ACC basketball, our program. I wont spend outside energy discussing anyone elses program.
VCU coach Shaka Smart initiated a My dad can beat up your dad piefight Monday, when he said that the states Colonial Athletic Association basketball programs were better than its ACC programs.
Greenberg omitted the kicker: ... until NCAA tournament selection time. The Head Hokie can go Joe Lunardi with the best of them when his team gets snubbed.
Since 2004, VCU and ODU have made four NCAA tournaments and George Mason three. Twice VCU and Mason advanced beyond the first round, and Old Dominion won a first-round game in 2010.
A debate about the states best program is an engaging little time waster, a moving target based on affiliation and criteria.
