BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) – On Thursday, March 21, Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks announced that Hokie women's basketball center Elizabeth Kitley has torn her left anterior cruciate ligament and will not play in the remainder of the NCAA Championships. announced. Kitley injured her knee against the University of Virginia on March 3, and she had missed a game since.
Fans told WFXR that Kitley is the heart and soul of the team and brings it together. She is a formidable force on the court with rebounds and wrap-ups, and is said to be the true embodiment of the Hokie spirit. Without her, she says they are hopeful but nervous heading into the NCAA Tournament.
“I hope things go well, but it's not encouraging to see something like this happen this season,” Virginia Tech student Hannah Campsie said.
“I'm devastated that she won't be able to play. She and Georgia are one of the best one-two punches in the country. I truly think we can still do great things. But obviously this is a huge loss for us and we, the whole town, are really devastated,” said another student, Jack Ramory.
Kitley posted on his Instagram that he didn't expect the year to end the way it did, but is proud of his team's accomplishments so far and looks forward to watching them compete. .
But that wasn't the only thing that excited the Virginia Tech basketball world Thursday. Kenny Brooks, who coached the Hokies for eight years, may have interviewed for the Wildcats' head coaching position, according to reports from Kentucky. Brooks addressed these rumors at a press conference.
“So I'm not on Twitter anymore. I still have an account, but I don't do it. Yeah, there's a lot of speculation and talk and stuff going on right now. Obviously, if I'm successful… People are interested, but again, what I'm looking at is what we're doing now and how we're doing it. My kids are That's the most important thing to me. I haven't heard that story or the radio host who's talking about it, but right now I'm trying to go to practice and I'm going to go out here and there's nothing in my head other than the Hokies. Marshall is the only one in the area,” Brooks said.
Fans say they would like to keep Coach Brooks in the Berg if the rumors are true, but are hoping for the best.
Virginia Tech student Liam O'Driscoll said, “I know everyone switches and takes the best chance, but I hope he stays, but if he doesn't give his best…'' If anything, he was a great figure in the tech world.”
If he leads us in the opposite direction, we don't have to be so angry,'' Ramory similarly argued.
Despite Kitley's injury and rumors about his future, Tech fans are still holding out for the rest of the season.
“I'm optimistic. I just hope for the best,” Campsie said.
I'm really excited, I'm really optimistic and I'm just looking forward to March Madness,” O'Driscoll said.
The next Hokie women's basketball game will be against Marshall University on Friday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m.
