How Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks’ ‘dreams come true’ with Final Four berth

SEATTLE — Kenny Brooks likes to tell his Virginia Tech team to “stop and smell the roses.” It was fitting, then, that when there was no basketball left to play on Monday night, his top-seeded Hokies having defeated No. 3 seed Ohio State 84–74, he savored the moment he worked tirelessly to accomplish. At 8:41 local time, Brooks placed his left foot on a ladder positioned under the basket closest to Virginia Tech’s bench and began his deliberate climb to the top. He embarked on a slow ascent, one that mirrored the journey of the 54-year-old coach, who took over an ACC bottom-feeder in 2016 and in seven years guided it to the program’s first-ever Final Four berth.

At Virginia Tech, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” is a school anthem of sorts. So it should come as no surprise that as Brooks reached the final step of the ladder, the song echoed over Climate Pledge Arena’s loudspeakers. He snipped the net off entirely from the rim it had previously hung on. He waved it at his players, the school’s band and the dozens of others wearing maroon who had flooded the arena’s floor. In all, it took Brooks 59 seconds to get his feet back on the ground. Every second was well worth it.

WE GOIN’ TO DALLAS!!! pic.twitter.com/zsqYyMNN3w

— Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball…