Are Seth Greenberg (VT BBall Coach) and Buzz Friends, Share A Similar Background

[Tugg Speedman]

VT beat Duke.  After the game they interviewed Seth Greenberg, VT's head coach.  He was horse from screaming, talked about getting "50/50 balls" and how they break the game into 10 four minutes games.  

He sounded like, and even looks like Buzz (Greenberg also shaves his head).  Buzz is a bit unique, and rarely talks in the mannerisms and cliches of a typical head coach.  That is why Greenberg sounding so much like Buzz made me notice.

Can anyone add any color here?  Are they friends or share a similar background?

[texaswarrior74]

Greenberg is the biggest whiner in the ACC....I hope that his similarity to Buzz ends at appearance and game strategy.

[nyg]

Greenberg has been a head coach for the past 20 years.  Long Beach State, South Florida and Va. Tech.  Buzz has a way to go for coaching background similarities.

[bobnoxious]

Let's not forget the fact that he singled MU out during a television interview when asked about his teams chances of making the tournament and who might be ahead of them on the bubble

[Jay Bee]

He was horse from screaming,

This is strange.

[Eye]

I'm gonna bet without looking that Buzz has been in about as many NC2A tourney's so far as Greenberg in a whole-bunch-fewer seasons.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm gonna bet without looking that Buzz has been in about as many NC2A tourney's so far as Greenberg in a whole-bunch-fewer seasons.

Pretty damn good Eye.  Very close you are.

Seth has 3 NCAA bids and Buzz has 2 thus far in their careers.

[Eye]

Thanks CBB. For all the (more unwarranted than warranted IMHO) grief Buzz has gotten at times this year, he's miles ahead of Greenberg as a coach IMHO. Point is they may have similar backgrounds and approaches, but if Buzz isn't considered a significantly better coach than Greenberg by the time he's done, I'd be shocked.

[GGGG]

And "50/50 balls" and "breaking the game down into four, ten minute quarters" aren't exactly revolutionary coaching concepts.

I also think people are being a little harsh on Greenberg.  He's coached at Long Beach, South Florida and Virginia Tech.  All are pretty crappy programs...especially the last two...and he's won enough there to keep people happy.  I have two pretty good friends that are Va Tech fans and they are plenty satisfied with Greenberg's record to date.

[Thomas' Danish Delight]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310570259

"Get to the next play"...very wise words...where have I heard that before???

Seth either bit that sound bite listening to the Buzz Williams Soundboard

http://www.gomarquette.com/tickets/buzzquotes.html

or he watched our Marquette Revealed: Boot Camp episode.

[Blackhat]

I know we like to be MU-centric here, but Greenberg was a head coach at a DI university when Buzz was still popping zits in high school.

I'm sure he's used the phrase before.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Thanks CBB. For all the (more unwarranted than warranted IMHO) grief Buzz has gotten at times this year, he's miles ahead of Greenberg as a coach IMHO. Point is they may have similar backgrounds and approaches, but if Buzz isn't considered a significantly better coach than Greenberg by the time he's done, I'd be shocked.

The only thing I would add that is important is where they coached.  Greenberg had a tough road and has widely been hired to turn Programs around and make them competitive.

I was a student at KU when he brought Long Beach State into Phog Allen and beat us.  He's done a good job of making Va Tech competitive as well as his other stops.

[mikem91288]

Wait Chicos went to KU too? Is his other full-time job posting on their board?

[pbiflyer]

Seth has one of my all time favorite quotes from a coach. After a 70-something to 30 something whipping by MU at USF, in his post game he said "Some days you're the dog, some days, you're the tree. Today, we were the tree."



My other favor all time quote was PJ Carlissimo, when asked if reaching the Final Four was beyond his wildest dreams. His response "My wildest dreams don't involve basketball."

[Eye]

Seems like Greenberg's teams at both USF and Va Tech always got/get hyped to be the next coming threat to the top of their respective conferences, but underachieve(d) and played in the NIT much more often than not.

Now that I've looked it up, he's made the NC2A's ONE time in 14 years in major (BE/ACC, 1 of 7) or closer to major (C-USA, 0 of 7) leagues. At some point you gotta get over the hump, even at USF or Va Tech.