It’s all business for the Hokies

-- BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg needed just one moment earlier this week to send the message that he would no longer tolerate deviance from his rules.

During Tuesday's practice, the Hokies' first after Sunday's 69-44 loss at Duke, a player talked back to an assistant coach. Greenberg immediately told the player to go to the other end of the court and run a "17" -- a sideline-to-sideline sprint drill -- with strength and conditioning coach David Jackson.

J.T. Thompson, a sophomore forward, watched this transpire and realized Greenberg was serious about the contract he gave to his players this week.

He had them read and sign it, as he has in previous seasons. The contract, players said, addressed playing hard and listening to the coaches in practice without talking back. It also banned players from bringing cell phones to any team function.

Between Greenberg's words and actions, the Hokies understood him clearly.

"He won't tolerate some of the small stuff that he was tolerating," sophomore point guard Malcolm Delaney said.

Thompson said: "I know now to not even think about saying something because I ain't trying to run."

Greenberg realizes the importance of fully focusing his team for the next two months. The Hokies are 0-1 in the ACC, and games such as today's 4 p.m. home meeting with Virginia are ones they almost have to win if they want to make the NCAA tournament.

With four practices between the Duke game and today, Greenberg thought the time was right to become more stern.

"Just reminding them of the essence of the culture of the program," he said. "Making sure they don't compromise the culture of the program."

Greenberg said he wasn't disappointed with Tech's practices before the Duke game. But players said they noticed a much-needed change in practice this week.

Greenberg pitted his starters and contributors against each other more often, rather than having those players practice against the walk-ons.

"It's making practice a lot better than what it was before," Delaney said.

And there was much less chatter than in previous practices, players said.

"There's been times where people in practice are not really paying attention and goofing off," Thompson said.

Sophomore wing Dorenzo Hudson said: "Sometimes people had something to say back [to the coaches], and I guess he just got really fed up with it."

The new tone of practice will matter only if the Hokies can translate it into success in games. To that end, Greenberg is demanding more of senior wing A.D. Vassallo, his leading scorer, and sophomore forward Jeff Allen, his third-leading scorer.

Vassallo sat out the last 6:22 at Duke because he "didn't play with enough sense of urgency," Greenberg said.

The next day, Greenberg had "a long talk" with Allen in one of the coach's regular one-on-one player meetings. He told Allen what he wanted to see from him.

"He's got to play with greater energy," Greenberg said, adding that Allen practiced well this week after that meeting.

With 18 years as a head coach on his résumé, Greenberg understands a coach can change his tone but so often and can come down hard on his players only so many times.

Results, above all else, will prove whether his timing was right.

"You can't beat them over the head seven days a week, 12 months a year," he said. "You've got to pick your spots. I thought this was a good spot."