Associated Press

Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney (23) drives past Wake Forest's Ishmael Smith. Tech beat Wake, but the Deacons got the bid.

Dear Editor,

In reference to a previous letter [March 16, "Qualifications mirky after Tech snub,"] the writer evidently doesn't follow NCAA men's basketball.

Virginia Tech doesn't need to be defended. The saying is if you want to be the best you have to play the best.

In my opinion, Tech's major fault was allowing Coach [Seth] Greenberg to do the scheduling for his team. I guess Coach Greenberg figured if he could get 20 wins and be playing in the ACC, he would be guaranteed a spot in the NCAA.

I say put the scheduling back in the hands of the athletic director. Why allow this basketball head coach to make a major mistake? Evidently he didn't think his team or his coaching ability was that good.

Coach Greenberg did the scheduling like his judge of talent (see the Curry brothers). If Tech played a better home schedule, Coach Greenberg wouldn't have to write letters to the student newspaper begging students to attend the games.

What does it take to get in? Playing a tough nonconference schedule. It's more important to do so when your conference is at it's lowest point in history.

Willie R. Thomas Christiansburg

Hokie fans need hankies

All these Hokies complaining about Virginia Tech not making the NCAA men's basketball tournament are reminding me of one of my favorite Joe Cocker songs: "Cry Me A River."

Tom Fitzgerald Roanoke

Hokies failed to realize the obvious

Just 2 quick points:

Did the Virginia Tech basketball team not realize it was in an NCAA play-in game against Miami in the ACC tournament? I haven't heard that stated in exactly those terms, but it should have been obvious. Second, concerning the possible West Virginia games in Washington and Charleston, W.Va.: Does Seth Greenberg not realize that Charleston is closer to Blacksburg than it is to Morgantown?

Mac Smith Roanoke

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