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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 10-18;
4-12 in Big East (7th/East)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1996.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Dixon 12.2
Rebs: Taylor 6.5
Assists: Dixon 3.1
FG: Taylor 53.4%
3pt: Chase 42.3%
FT: Dixon 83.3%
01-02 Stats:
Virginia Tech | Big East
KEY LOSSES
Carlton Carter | 10.0
Joe Hamilton | 6.6 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Eric Branham | Senior
G | Brian Chase | Senior
F | Carlos Dixon | Junior
F | Bry. Matthews | Junior
C | Terry Taylor | Senior
Player to Watch
Carlos Dixon
Senior Forward
Four-year starter has some help around him this season.
DATE TO REMEMBER
In-state rival Virginia comes to town to resume a spirited rivalry that should be fun to watch with all the skill both teams have on the perimeter, and the big bodies (Taylor against Virginia's Travis Watson) in the paint.
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VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
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The Hokies are big, experienced and relatively hot, considering they won four of their last seven regular-season Big East games in 2001-02. But are they any good? They surely ought to be better than last season's 10-18 record, considering four starters return and a fifth player with starting experience, Eric Branham, has healed after breaking his hand last season. Coach Ricky Stokes has a number of interchangeable parts on the perimeter, with mid-sized wings such as 6-7 Carlos Dixon (12.2 ppg), 6-7 Bryant Matthews (9.9 ppg), 6-6 freshman Fabian Davis and 6-5 freshman Markus Sailes. The loss of 6-11 center Carlton Carter (10 ppg, 8.2 rpg) should be softened by the return of 6-8, 285-pound senior Terry Taylor (11.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and the addition of 7-3 junior college transfer Luke Minor. The Hokies led the Big East last season in rebounding margin at plus-6.8 boards per game.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Virginia Tech might not have a go-to scorer, but it has a number of players capable of averaging double figures this season, including proven scorers Dixon, Taylor, Brian Chase (11.3 ppg) and Matthews. Don't be surprised if Davis, the freshman, becomes another 10-point scorer (or better).
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The Hokies were atrocious last season when it came to valuing the ball, committing almost 200 more turnovers (536) than the assists (355) they handed out. Chase and Branham in particular have to improve on their assist-turnover ratios.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
The upward cycle should continue for another season under Stokes, but the Hokies don't appear yet to be an NCAA Tournament contender, at least not in what could be one of the better Big East seasons in years. An NIT bid isn't out of the question, though the Hokies will have to overcome an ambitious non-conference schedule featuring the likes of Virginia, Michigan, Florida State and St. Bonaventure.
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