The Hokies' 14th loss of the season doesn't remove the luster from a 21-win season.

Virginia Tech was 9-7 in the ACC and a top seed in the NIT. The season ended on Wednesday with an 81-72 loss to Mississippi.

Coach Seth Greenberg did his part to make the NIT a vibrant experience for players and fans.

After recovering from the initial sting of getting shut out of the NCAA Tournament, Greenberg wanted to ensure Tech students were still excited for basketball.

So Greenberg and some boosters bought 3,000 tickets to the Hokies' 94-62 victory over Morgan State in the first round of the NIT. Now Greenberg and Company purchased another 3,000 general admission tickets for Monday night's second-round win over UAB. After that allotment runs out, students can purchase tickets for $5. Greenberg's goal: Get 5,000 students to the home NIT games.

"We need to create the best atmosphere so we can become the best team in the NIT," Greenberg wrote in an open letter to Virginia Tech students. "Our home crowds have been invaluable in this outstanding season. ... As I always say, we are in this together."

Visitors hadn't had a great deal of fun -- or success -- against the fired-up Hokies, who were riled about being sent to the NIT, not NCAA Tournament. Then Ole Miss showed up and, with four players in double figures, tightened up defensively and limited the Hokies to 39.7 percent shooting.

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