The Roanoke Times I File March

The New York Post reported recently that Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg is among candidates for the St. John's opening.

BLACKSBURG -- Perhaps Virginia Tech fans shouldn't worry about the possibility that St. John's might be interested in men's basketball coach Seth Greenberg.

Greenberg's star guards certainly aren't fretting.

"He's not going nowhere because he ... made a promise to the team that he's going to be here," guard Dorenzo Hudson said Saturday about a talk Greenberg had earlier in the week. "He looked us in the eye and let us know that he's going to be here next year -- [we] don't have anything to worry about. So I'm feeling pretty confident."

Two weeks ago, the New York Post reported that St. John's would not retain coach Norm Roberts and that, according to the Post's sources, Greenberg was the school's top target among "realistic candidates."

Roberts was fired on Thursday, and Greenberg has again been mentioned by New York newspapers as a potential St. John's target.

Hudson said Greenberg reassured the team early this past week.

"I'm not worried about it at all," Hudson said. "Coach had a conversation with us, letting us know he ain't going nowhere.

"He told us he's staying."

Fellow junior guard Malcolm Delaney said Greenberg has reassured him and his father this past week.

"If I was in a situation where somebody offered you a lot of money and you needed it, then some people would take it, but if you gave your word to your players and their parents and you're loyal to your program, then that gives us nothing to worry about," Delaney said. "We're not even thinking about that type of stuff right now."

The Hokies (24-8) will host Connecticut in the second round of the NIT at 7 p.m. Monday.

Greenberg, who is reaping $950,000 in total pay this year, is one of the lowest-paid coaches in the ACC.

If Delaney opts against turning pro, the Hokies will welcome back all their scholarship players next season except for senior reserve Lewis Witcher.

"No matter what the [coaching] situation is, we've got a good team," Delaney said. "We've been together so long that we know team chemistry, and no matter who it is -- like I said, I'm pretty sure it's going to be Coach [Greenberg] -- but no matter who it is, we're going to have a great team.

"I'm going to be a realist [about the coaching situation]. Either way, we're going to be a good team."