Virginia Tech got a bit of bad news yesterday as it was announced that sixth man JT Thompson tore his acl in a pickup game on Monday and will miss the 2010-2011 season.
Thompson, who is a senior this season, averaged 7.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg last year for Seth Greenberg's team. Thompson isn't a great offensive player, but he provided the Hokies with defensive toughness and athleticism at the forward spot.
His loss will surely take a toll on Tech's depth for the upcoming year.
Its another bad break for a program that never seems to catch one. It seems like every year, Greenberg's club is on the wrong side of the bubble for one reason or another. With Malcolm Delaney and Dorenzo Hudson both returning, Thompson's loss shouldn't hurt their chances of making the tournament, but it puts a dent in the already slim chances the Hokies -- who many believe are the second or third best team in the ACC -- have of winning the conference's regular season title.
Here is the press release the school put out:
Virginia Tech forward JT Thompson has suffered a grade-3 tear in the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee and will undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday morning. The surgery will be performed by Virginia Tech team orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Marc Siegel at Montgomery Regional Hospital. Thompson suffered the injury on Monday afternoon playing in a pick-up game.
"I am extremely disappointed for JT, suffering an ACL injury that will result in a season-ending surgery," head coach Seth Greenberg said. "JT is a huge part of what we have been able to accomplish over the last three years. His work ethic, energy, toughness and skill level will most definitely be missed. At this time, we need to be there for JT. I am sure that players already in the program will step up when given the opportunity. We expect JT to have a full recovery and know that he will still find a way to contribute this season and be a leader next year."
Thompson, a senior from Monroe, N.C., appeared in all 34 games for the Hokies last season, starting three times. One of the top "sixth men" in the ACC, he was fourth on the team in scoring, at 7.3 points per game and third on the team in rebounding, at 4.6 rebounds per game. He recorded double figures in scoring nine times as a junior, including a season-high 17 points in the overtime win at Virginia.
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