Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic presents golden opportunity for VCU

Jim Swing
Sports Editor
The Commonwealth Times’ Sports Twitter

As a mid-major program, opportunities to schedule a high-major school in what is virtually your own backyard are few and far between.

So when Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the first ever Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic Wednesday morning, which will take place at the Richmond Coliseum, VCU men’s basketball head coach Shaka Smart had a gleam in his eye.

Smart and the Rams are matched up against in-state foe Virginia Tech for the 2013 round of the classic, pinning two of Virginia’s top programs against each other on a neutral court.

With the never-ending struggle of trying to schedule home/neutral court games with high-major schools, the event presents a golden opportunity for Smart and the program.

“No question, we’d love to play anyone from the ACC,” he said. “The only way you can get those games, if at all, is a one time deal at their arena.”

The last time VCU and Virginia Tech met was in 1995 at the Coliseum. The two schools have split the all-time series at 10 wins apiece.

Although the matchup presents a possible gem for the Rams, it may pose only a potential risk for the Hokies who could be dealt a major blow with a loss to a mid-major school.

When Hokies’ head coach Seth Greenberg took the podium, he joked about facing VCU at the Richmond Coliseum on a “neutral court”, mere blocks away from VCU’s campus.

“We are really excited to come to Richmond to play a neutral court game against VCU,” Greenberg said in a sarcastic manner, turning towards Smart who was standing behind him.

Smart played along minutes later when it was his turn to address the media.“For us to have the opportunity to play against an ACC team in Coach Greenberg’s Hokies on a neutral court is just phenomenal for us,” he said with a smile.

It’s no surprise that Greenberg isn’t ecstatic about the circumstances when, in a radio interview earlier this year, he decisively shook off the notion of scheduling a series with another Colonial Athletic Association team in Old Dominion.

Formerly an assistant at Clemson and Florida, Smart said he understands what it’s like to be a part of a major program and not want to take the risk of falling to a mid-major away from home.

“There’s a perception at that level that maybe there’s not that much to gain,” he said. “I think the fans maybe when you’re at that level expect you to just go out and automatically win.

Now at VCU, Smart is quick to jump at an opportunity such as the classic, while others may not be so quick to bite.

“There were some people that weren’t as fired as up we were to be involved,” Smart said. “I think that it’s great that everyone’s jumped on board and we should have two years of terrific basketball.”

The doubleheader event will feature eight schools from the Commonwealth of Virginia, taking place in December of 2012 and 2013 and will benefit Virginia’s Food Banks.

George Mason and Richmond will tipoff in 2012 along with Virginia and ODU later on that day while Hampton and James Madison will be showcased in 2013 alongside VCU and Virginia Tech.

The governor resurrected a style of event from the Richmond Times-Dispatch Invitational, which featured four state teams competing at the Coliseum from 1976 to 1991.

VCU and Virginia Tech met on four separate occasions over the course of the Times-Dispatch Invitational.

“It’s some exciting matchups reuniting,” the governor said. “Some rivalries here with our great Virginia schools will be terrific and hopefully if it’s a success and the fans embrace it, we can build on that in future years.”