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DEL.ICIO.USDerrick Favors brings hope to Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All they wanted to know inside Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night was the answer to a simple question: Is he coming? That’s all. Oh, and if their Yellow Jackets ended their shaky ways in the ACC against lordly Duke, well, they wouldn’t mind that, either.
But is he coming? Inquiring minds wanted to know, ranging from your average screamer in old gold and white to the person who would benefit most (hint: the head coach) from Derrick Favors bringing his splendid gifts from South Atlanta High School to the extremely needy basketball program at Georgia Tech.
He’s coming. The top recruit in the nation according to Scout.com is coming to the Jackets, and just so you know coach Paul Hewitt is ecstatic. He just can’t say it. Nobody around the Jackets can say anything about their 6-foot-9 gem in waiting, because it would violate NCAA rules until he signs in April.
So, before, during and after the Jackets showed how far they haven’t come by turning a wonderful spurt throughout much of the first half into a dreadful fade near the end of a 70-56 loss against their No. 3-ranked opponent, there was non-verbal joy everywhere among Tech officials. A wink here from associate athletics director Wayne Hogan. A nod there from athletics director Dan Radakovich.
Mostly, there was a little extra bounce in Hewitt’s step, especially with his Jackets trying to escape a third season of mediocrity in four years.
“I think he’s going to be real happy. He might get emotional a little bit,” said Favors, referring to Hewitt after choosing Tech over Georgia and North Carolina State on Wednesday at his news conference at ESPN Zone. Hewitt was at Favors’ South Atlanta game on Tuesday night at Eagle’s Landing, but Favors said he purposely avoided his future collegiate skipper.
Said Favors, easing into a grin, “I just wanted to mess with his head a little bit. I think deep down, he probably knew I was coming.”
Hewitt isn’t saying. If he could have said something about Favors, it would be something like, “We needed that big guy right now.”
For the longest time, the Jackets looked nothing like the 0-2 bunch in the conference that dropped games to mediocre Virginia and beatable Maryland. They used high energy and exceptional defense for an eight-point lead of 25-17. They had much help from a highly charged crowd doing its poor man’s version of Cameron Indoor Stadium with a steady diet of noise and chants favoring the hometown.
Then Duke became Duke in the second half, with Kyle Singler making shots and grabbing rebounds when Gerald Henderson or Jon Scheyer weren’t. It also didn’t help the Jackets’ cause that they continued their season-long embarrassment by failing to understand that it’s called a “free” throw for a reason. They missed 12 of 19. Then again, only four teams in the country are worse at the foul line than Tech.
Suddenly, the only buzz in the crowd was Tech’s mascot by that name. That is, until the man of the moment strolled down the aisle toward a seat about five or six rows behind the Jackets’ bench. The more Favors came into view with 14:53 left to play in the game, the more the crowd roared. It didn’t matter that Tech trailed 33-38. It didn’t matter that Favors likely will join Stephon Marbury, Chris Bosh, Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young as one-and-done Jackets.
What mattered was that Favors represented hope. At 9-7, and with three losses in their past four games, that’s exactly what the Jackets need most.
That and Favors’ talent.
Permalink | Comments (66) | Categories: Tech/ACC
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By O'brien
January 14, 2009 10:31 PM | Link to this
TM, I am glad that Favors chose GT. But in the long run, is he really going to make us any better?
Will he help us make free throws? Will he help us reduce turnovers? Will our guards know how to get him the ball?
If the team does not start playing any better this year, Hewitt might not be around next year.
By Old Fashioned Ray
January 14, 2009 10:36 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately for GT,my school since 1950,four stars,five stars,six stars,etc. do not make a TEAM. Need chemistry—unselfish,team orientation. I fear that we’ll just have a bunch trying to “hog” the ball and the spotlight. After all,the mighty NBA is the primary goal,not a quality mind-expanding GT education. I hope I’m wrong.
By Herschel Talker
January 14, 2009 10:44 PM | Link to this
Baloney
By NEBRASKA JACKET
January 14, 2009 10:46 PM | Link to this
For all you hewitt haters out there he might not be the greatest coach in the world but we CAN NOT fire him and lose this terrific recruiting class. One of the best ever in the last 10 years is what I’ve heard. Maybe if he doesn’t perform next year but the losses r too high if we fired him now.
By elfamousburrito '99
January 14, 2009 10:50 PM | Link to this
Wow. Hmmm…Perhaps a one and done, but we sure could use that one; if it will save us from starting 0 fer in conference.
By Old Fashioned Ray
January 14, 2009 10:51 PM | Link to this
I wish we could get student-athletes who are committed to GT and a real education.
By buzzwrecker
January 14, 2009 10:51 PM | Link to this
I am so happy for GT and CPH. He has proven himself to be a top notch recruiter. Hopefully this amount of talent can overcome CPH’s lack of game management skills. You do not need to call a timeout with 10:00 left in the second half of the game to set up a press just because we made a 3. Can Mark Price please work with GT in the summer with free throws?
By GSUHatckAttack
January 14, 2009 10:51 PM | Link to this
He represents hope? Terence, how many times have I read about you screaming bloody murder about the menace “one-and-dones” are to collegiate basketball? Aren’t you the hypocrite, then, if you are excited about a one and done coming to Tech…
Go back to the Dawgs… they like you.
By George P. Burdell
January 14, 2009 10:55 PM | Link to this
I’m glad we have Favors coming, mostly because I don’t want to have to play against him, but this program is in pathetic shape. Hewitt will get the pass for this year and probably next year because of the recruiting class, but is that really in our best interests? Favors will be one and done, and we haven’t done a whole lot with that kind of talent to begin with. We’ll probably be good next year, but we aren’t building anything. I like the person Hewitt is, but it is time for him to go and unfortunately this only extends that exit.
By GSUHatckAttack
January 14, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this
Terence, how many articles have I read where you criticize the effect one and dones have on NCAA basketball? You hypocrite, go back to Athens… they like you there.
By gt_blume
January 14, 2009 11:04 PM | Link to this
just remember, Gailey got fired one season after landing his best recruting class ever…no pressure.
By Mike
January 14, 2009 11:13 PM | Link to this
Who can blame him? Georgia is going nowhere and without a point guard and shooting guard will be going further south next year.
By gt fan
January 14, 2009 11:39 PM | Link to this
correct me if im wrong but… werent many of those ph lovers saying that this was our year to make the dance again?
a front court of lawal aminu and peacock would be one of the best in the country they voiced often.
our experienced pg miller is poised to have a break out season. AND shumpert is a ‘beast’. they chortled to all who would listen.
‘wouldnt be surprised to see us at least make the sweet 16’ some said.
what a joke!
the last time we had talent along the lines of a favors was with bosh. you know… the team that always had 4 players standing around while they waited for bosh to bail out the play. i dont recall that team winning many acc games or even ONE ncaa game for that matter. obviously bosh did not walk on water.
the players change from year to year but the 2 things that remain the same are paul hewitt and his mantra of ‘waite until next year’. we have been a ‘team’ that consistently underachieves each and every year under ph.
we will have 5 freshman next year coached by a man who has not shown he can coach experienced players into any semblance of a team. 8 out of 9 years bare that premise out unless your a fan of ph.
we had crit young west and mo on our team 2 years ago… all 4 in the nba. on that very same team we also had dickey and aminu. dickey is playing european pro ball and aminu is good enough to land on somebodies nba bench.
by my count that is 6 players that are good enough to play professionally on one team yet that team accomplished ….
that is pathetic.
the only thing that landing favors accomplishes is that is extends the misery of the gt basketball program one more year.
ph needs to step down and do what he does best… chair the BCA. he certainly cant coach worth a lick.
hey terrance can you convince ph of his real calling? please! that way we can get a real coach at gt.
By ben
January 14, 2009 11:45 PM | Link to this
Instead of diving for a loose ball, this team just watches as their opponent outhustles them. That, and the horrid free throw shooting makes this a team with absolutely no heart.Let’s hope that Favors is a hell of a defensive specialist cause he won’t see the ball in Hewitt’s offense.
By virgilshouse
January 15, 2009 12:03 AM | Link to this
ph is a terrible bench coach
By petew
January 15, 2009 12:59 AM | Link to this
The first time I read I thought “future collegiate skipper” referred to Favors.
By Michael
January 15, 2009 5:59 AM | Link to this
I just can’t get excited or hopeful about the “one-and-done” players. It’s like having the most beautiful girl in the room at your side. It feels good, but deep in your heart you know it’s not going to last. Give me a group of hard workers with chemistry like the 2004 group. I don’t pretend to be an expert, but that’s my two cents.
By drew
January 15, 2009 6:27 AM | Link to this
Yes, it’s good to get a blue chipper, but the catch is that he’s good for one year only.
Basketball is one of the ultimate “team sports”, and I wonder how much good it does, in the long run, to have these one year wonders. Before they even have an opportunity to gel as a team, he’ll be off to the NBA. I’d rather have a stable of GOOD players (see Duke), that’ll commit for four years, over a one and done super star that views his “college” career as one year warm-up for the NBA. Tech can hardly play as a TEAM now, and my guess is that Favors will do little to improve that.
And I could also do without all the drama associated with Favors’ decision. What happen to simply announcing where you’re going? Now we get ESPN press conferences with brief cases, bags, hats…makes for good drama, but does it make a good TEAM? Just based on his announcement, it appears to me that this is all about Derrick Favors, not GT.
Got team?
By Gordon
January 15, 2009 6:41 AM | Link to this
Unless Hewitt makes changes to his staff and brings in someone who can teach offense, it won’t matter. He can recruit and we’re not a bad defensive team, but our offense is horrible and is not improving. We will finish 13-16 at best. If Hewitt can’t or won’t do what is necessary to get into the tournament next year, he should be let go.
By jim
January 15, 2009 7:15 AM | Link to this
Big deal ! What did the other “one and doneers” do for the program? They moved on and Tech basketball was right back where it was before.
By Willie Coyote
January 15, 2009 7:22 AM | Link to this
Great recruiting class coming in next year…That may be Hewitts last chance. Come on CPH; get these guys in gear.
By BravesFan79
January 15, 2009 7:27 AM | Link to this
Favors and Lawal will form one of the best front courts in the nation next year! If Hewitt surrounds him with good 3 point shooters, and Bell comes back to add that defensive intensity, this will be a VERY good team!
Think about this fellow fans… GT basketball is actually closer to a national championship than in football, and that will always be the case as long as the bcs is in charge. Anyone who thinks a 1 loss ACC champ not named Miami or FSU would get in the big game over a 1 loss USC, Ohio State, OU, Texas, or SEC champ is kidding themselves…. sad to say as im a tech football fan 2.
So….our AD needs to put more $$ into HOOPS, and realize Hewitts shortcomings and strengths. Hewitt is a good leader, great recruiter….which would be the best traits of a head football coach. Now we just need a Offensive and Defensive Coordinator!!
Lets spend some $$ to get some quality assistants, and this will be a top 10 team next year!
By yurtle_the_turtle
January 15, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Derrik Favors for saving us from another abysmal night of GT Basketball. Your skills will be sorely needed. The bad part of your arrival on GT campus is that we’ll have to endure at least 3 more years of Hewitt’s coaching. My advice to you: pick up all the skills you can before coming to GT because Hewitt will not coach you up. Again, looking forward to seeing you.
Hewitt, you’re an embarrassment.
By Dadgum
January 15, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
Glad Favors is heading to Tech. Now that is about as excited as I am going to get. Everyone knows he is a 1-year rental. That a program it doesn’t make. The way teh NCAA is set up you have to produce one and dones every year to run with the big boys. Either leave for the pros after high school or wait three years. Until that happens it will be extremely difficult to compete as a program year end and year out.
By JB
January 15, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this
Building gallow’s behind Stegman as we speak. It’s over.
By Buzzilla
January 15, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this
Sadly the NBA has destroyed college basketball. I know these kids have amazing talent and deserve to get paid by playing professionally in the NBA if they have the chance but Georgia Tech has suffered as much as any program when it comes to the early departures for the riches of the NBA. I’m glad Favors chose Tech but it feels a little empty when you know that he likely will be gone after one year which means what for the Tech basketball program? 1 year of an improved team that still likely won’t go deep in the NCAA tournament and then we’re back where we started. There’s only a handful of programs that can stay competitive with the revolving door of college basketball athlete’s. It’s made a mockery of the college game and sadly has reduced Tech basketball to nothing more than an exhibition team for these kids to showoff a little and then leave for the NBA (which is now a joke too).
By 2D
January 15, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
Favors coming to Tech is good and bad…
Good - Who wouldn’t want the best HS player in the country coming to their program.
Bad - This ensures that Paul Hewitt will get at least two if not three more years at the helm of the program.
Memo to DRad… Please don’t worry about losing recruits from next year’s class. CAN HEWITT and CAN HIM NOW! Assuming this is another year missing the NCAA tournament and sub 500 ACC year, Hewitt will have the following in nine seasons at Tech:
4 NCAA Tournament appearances 2 winning records in conference play 3 semifinals of the conference tournament
If a Coach with this resume was at ANY other ACC school he’d already have been fired. In fact, DRad fired Chan Gailey (urged by many of us) for accomplishing MUCH more on the football field.
Gailey never had a losing record (Hewitt 3 times). Gailey never had a losing record in conference play (Hewitt 6 times). Gailey always made the postseason (Heweitt 5 including the NIT).
Again, I reiterate… CAN HEWITT and CAN HIM NOW!!!
And here’s a name to go get… Sean Miller at Xavier. Take a look at the last several Xavier coaches that moved on…
Pete Gillen - Success at Providence and UVA Skip Prosser - Success at Wake Forest Thad Matta - Success at tOSU Sean Miller - Current success at Xavier includes NCAA appearances the last few seasons and top 10 rankings the last two
In DRad we trust!
By Jacket 56
January 15, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this
Just more proof that Hewitt can recruit, but he can’t coach. It’s time for Radakovich to let Hewitt go. He has been a mediocre coach at best outside of 2004 when we went to the championship game. He brings in great talent but it doesn’t seem to translate into W’s.
By HelluvaEngineer
January 15, 2009 9:21 AM | Link to this
Don’t get me wrong: while I am thrilled Favors is coming to Tech, only to complete one of the top national recruiting classes, I am still not that optimistic. After all, how many stellar recruits do we see coming in, only to underachieve. At best, this team next year will be one and done in the tourney, only for Favors (and probably one other player TBA) to bolt to the NBA (can’t blame them), and Tech to return for three seasons of mediocrity.
Paul Hewitt is a great man, and an outstanding recruiter. But he is a horrible X’s & O’s coach… hhis teams cannot defend, take a putrid shot selection, and consistently suffer mental lapses. How does Maryland (who they played Sat.), who was significantly undersized, shoot 9 more free throws than Tech!? Time and time again, we see his talent wasted.
By hop
January 15, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this
the good news will last only one year as he turns pro after his freshman year.
By mike
January 15, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this
One and done. Will he even go to class? This may give Hewitt another year. This will also just make techs graduation rate for b-ball players more of a joke. For all that tech wants to brag about being tough on academics, they are the school choice for one and done basketball players. Real student/athlete schools include, Duke, Vandy, Wake, Stanford.
By Claude
January 15, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
I love the yellow jackets, howz about U?
By GoJackets!
January 15, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
We need something like this to spark the program. Even if he is one-and-done it should help other top recruits sign. The comeback win over the “rednecks” proved to him that we are the better program. I hope he shows up ready to dominate b/c we will all be expecting big things from him. Great job on landing him PH!!!
By LAWTON
January 15, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this
Whats to get excited about? I cant stand college basketball anymore because the better the recruit, the SHORTER THE STAY IN YOUR PROGRAM. If tech doesnt win IT ALL next year, whats the point? Im tired of players using tech as a springboard to the NBA. Its a joke, the whole system.
By GT Fan
January 15, 2009 10:06 AM | Link to this
Lawton, it is fans like you that put the spark out. If you “can’t stand college basketball anymore” stop watching and posting! It is part of the game, get over it! Let’s back GT whether the player is out after 1 or stays for 4. A top recruit helps the program…period! Go GT, 98% of us are behind the team and program!!!
By Rob
January 15, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this
Paul couldn’t win if he had the USA Olympic team playing for him. DRAD needs to force hin to get some quality assistants and then get out of the way.
By GT66
January 15, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
We must continue to write Radacovich demanding he fire the coach. The recruits do not matter. We cannot delay getting a new coach because we have (on paper) good new recruits coming in. Last night was all the evidence one would need. Duke played their worst shooting game of the year (both free throws and field shots) and we still go buried. We shot 37% from the line and had 18 turnovers. Case closed.
By LAWTON
January 15, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
GT fan, its fans like YOU that is the reason atlanta is STILL known as LOSERSVILLE U.S.A. Tech has never won a college basketball championship, and you are ok with that. It extends to the pro sports, fans were OK that the falcons DIDNT show up in the playoffs against the cardinals. you people accept medicocrity, its beyond laughable. who cares, its about rings, something that the atlanta teams, college and pro, seem to avoid on purpose. sorry losers, lol, atlanta fans.
By GT66
January 15, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
I totally agree with GTFan. How you defenders keep defending his horrible coaching is beyond me. We have 9 years of evidence, what more do you need. BravesFan79 you must be kidding calling him a good leader. Leader of what the BCA?
By TECHFIRST
January 15, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
TECH NATION HAS TO BE EXCITED BOUT THE INCOMING BBALL CLASS WE WILL MAKE A RUN NEXT YEAR BUT IT WONT BE BECAUSE OF COACHING AS FOR THIS YEAR SAME OL DRAG I LOVE GEORGIA TECH I GUESS WE GOT TO LOVE HEWITT EVEN BY DEFAULT
By Not Excited
January 15, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
Interesting that we give “scholarships” to guys who are clear about their plans to stay no more than one year before going pro. Thanks but no thanks Hewitt and Favors. How far did Bosh, Crittenton, and Young get us with their one-and-done’s? Was the level of play that exciting for their short tour of duty down on the farm? I don’t think so. I wouldn’t miss any of them. Interesting how Duke avoids these kinds of guys. Aw, what does Krzyzewski know about building a strong program anyway? Keep up the good work Hewitt. I’m sure you know something he doesn’t.
By GT66
January 15, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this
GTFan 98% are behind the team, but only 2% are behind the program with Hewitt as coach.
By UGA is so last year
January 15, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this
Can he shoot free throws? Doubtful. We can’t fire Hewitt because of this recruiting class???? Why the heck not!? What say you about his last 6 recruiting classes? Why should next year’s be any different. I could care less that this goofball picked GT. I want Hewitt fired and now. The recruits can come to GT and play for our new coach or move on. We NEED change and it isn’t the players - it’s the coach!
By ?????
January 15, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
The same people satisfied with Hewitt have to be the same people that were ok with Gailey. I dare any of you to go back and look at the film from 04, a full court O runnin and gunnin! WHY? Regardless of who you put on that court, this coach CANT coach a half court O. Never has been able to. We are sitting on the best talent that this institution has ever had and this coach is going to have two seasons at the most to at least win an ACC title or you have to let him go. 2004 was a LONG LONG time ago.
By Not Excited
January 15, 2009 10:50 AM | Link to this
GT Fan: “98% of us are behind the team and program!!!”
Ha! I seriously doubt that. Tech basketball has become completely irrelevant. I can’t give away tickets to their games.
By ?????
January 15, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this
And UGAy! Right Mike?
By BravesFan79
January 15, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
What we need to be pushing for is NOT for the AD to replace Hewitt, but to FORCE Hewitt to get BETTER Assistant coaches!
Im still shocked that Hewitt didnt do EVERYTHING possible to get the old defensive coach that was here in 2004 back!
Who else is willing to bet that DUKE and UNC have at least 4 assistants apiece that are better than ANY of ours!??
By Navigator
January 15, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Hewitt has done nothing since his first class that went to the finals. The most recent teams either didn’t play defense, selfish, or in the existing team can’t shoot free throws. Let’s finally be honest, Hewitt can’t coach his players, or these things wouldn’t happen. Now he’s trying to cover up his coaching staff’s lacking abilities by going after a one and done player to boost his program. I really think the administration needs to say NO to the coach and his one and done players.
By mike
January 15, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
Well Derrick go ahead and make a rest stop at GT on your way to the pros. None of these folks really care about your situation or have any idea where you come from. One and done and then you are a millionaire.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 15, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
HOPE?!?
If Hewitts coach next year, we could add Kobe to the class and we’ll still be a bubble team.
By Blk-GOP
January 15, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this
Why is everyone hating on Hewitt? Who can we get that’s better. It’s always easy to say fire the coach. But when we get to the final 4 next year i’ll be listening for all the hate.
By Corey
January 15, 2009 11:52 AM | Link to this
“They had much help from a highly charged crowd doing its poor man’s version of Cameron Indoor Stadium with a steady diet of noise and chants favoring the hometown.”
I resent this statement… We did nothing different than our normal routine for a big game in the student section. We are not, nor are we trying to be, Duke. I don’t know if this is a crack at our public school or if you are just as blind as everyone in the media in understanding that Duke is not the everything in college basketball. Its as if you have never been to a big Georgia Tech basketball game. Did you not hear the crowd against UGA, or remember the 2006-07 season when we were just as loud against these same teams… It has nothing to do with trying to be Duke.
By Blk-GOP
January 15, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
It seems in the state of Georgia expectations are always 2 high. Fire the coach if they don’t win the national championship. At that rate the only coach left in the state would be the coach of the womens Gymnastic’s team at UGA. Do your JOB coach Hewitt! FINAL 4 in 2010!
By Blk-GOP
January 15, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this
OH- yeah we could use a good point guard!
By UGA is so last year
January 15, 2009 11:57 AM | Link to this
Well stated GT66.
jk
By Captain Crunch
January 15, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this
Hewitt has turned Georgia Tech into the Georgetown of the ACC.
All black players and coaches—what a surprise since he is the president of the BCA.
Kind of ironic to see his team get stomped by Duke’s student athletes.
By brian
January 15, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
I don’t support a one and done. Bad move and waste of a scholarship. This will just further disrupt any attempt at forming team chemistry. Favors is clearly already an arrogant kid - just read his comment above about “getting in Hewitt’s head”. Great respect he clearly shows. As for the greater team issues I used to love basketball, now I dread going to the coliseum. I am in agony sitting in AMC watching us miss endless free throws (or airball them), not able to inbounds, not able to switch on screens, not able to run an offense, not able to even get the ball up court. It’s pathetic.
By Hubert
January 15, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter if Favors is the reincarnation of Wilt the Stilt. I don’t need to watch a Hewitt-coached basketball game to know how it will go: 1. Play even for the first 5-10 minutes. Build 5 to 10 point lead but commit 10 to 15 turnovers in the process. Lead could be bigger if not for missed free throws. Hewitt spends most of this time yelling incoherently at players. 2. Turn the ball over another 10 to 15 times. Blow the lead before half time but go into the locker room even or even a few points ahead. Paul Hewitt typically spends this portion of the game rolling his eyes and blaming the refs. 3. Come out for the second half flatter than General Motors’ 2009 profit projections. Drop to a 7-10 point deficit. Paul Hewitt spends this time sitting on the bench with his head in his hands. 4. Play most of the second half clinging to the 7-10 point deficit. Hewitt burns all his timeouts with at least 5 minutes left to go in the game, ensuring there is no way we can ever catch up. 5. Lose game going away – 12 to 20 point deficit. 6 Repeat.
By TONY SHUMPERT
January 15, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this
With the class Coach Hewitt has coming in next year, I see him finally getting a RING. Yes, you heard it here first.
By Old Fashioned Ray
January 15, 2009 1:17 PM | Link to this
We could certainly use a younger version of Bobby Knight,to teach,install discipline,and be able to actually COACH!
By GT66
January 15, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this
Blk-GOP you are missing the whole point. No one has or is demanding national championships, but we do want a respectable and competitive ACC team which we have not had for years under his lack of leadership. No one hates Hewitt that I am aware of, but they think he is a lousy coach. The record is clear. Also, how in the hell can you conclude, assume and predict we will go to the final four next year? Favors is no better and probably not as good as Bosh and where did we go with him? The players can change, but until the coach is changed we do not have a prayer of being competitive. You also ask who can we get who is better. There are plenty of Paul Johnsons out there coaching basketball at small and large schools who coach circles around Hewitt right now. Someone earlier mentioned the Xavier coach and there are many others.
By gold, blue, white??
January 15, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this
I predict that Favors just may never set foot on the court for GT. If he leaves, perhaps he will take Hewitt, and even Felton (although he may be as good as gone). Let’s face it - this state will never be a basketball state akin to NC. This is always going to be football, with UGA packing in 93,000 every game and talking expansion of the stadium, winning Falcons packing the Dome, and Tech struggling to not have to offer embarrasing incentives to attract football “fans”. I predict that GA. State will pack the Dome before GT packs Grant Field on a regular basis in football. Fans are just going to have to reconcile themselves to the fact that mediocre basketball at the college lever is all we are ever going to get. Here is a thought - UGA gets a big time coach and winner for BB, and GT fades dead away. Horrors! Football, basketball, and yes, baseball now will spell doom for GT. Pride will come from academics, although GT has lost much ground to UGA there in the last 25 years, so what might the next 25 bring?
By reebok
January 15, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this
hard to get excited about a guy who’s going to play one season and jump to the NBA. instead of getting the so-called ‘best’ players, we’d be better off recruiting GOOD players who can play a system. IMHO, as always
By oledawg
January 15, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t Tech ever wonder why Duke is a consistent powerhouse program? Coach K never loses sleep over players like this. Duke has always,and will always be a team first. Nothing else matters. Nothing else should.
By Bill
January 15, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this
Heres how it plays out. Paul Hewitt will return for at least two more years due to the highly ranked recruiting class. However, GT will be a bubble team next year and underachive on the court. It will be blamed on youth and inexperience. Several of the recruits wil be one and done and the following year GT will be 8-8 in the league and again a bubble team for the NCAAs. This will be blamed on early departures. And so the cycle continues with CPH!!!!!
By The Facts
January 15, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this
Hewitt will not be going anywhere for a few years. Why you ask? The terms of his contract are too big. Plain and simple. After the Gailey buyout, plus the Paul Johnson contract, Tech fans will have to find more pocket filled boosters or else wait out the storm. Until then, at least we get to see a good crop of new players in here for one year. If Hewitt can’t do well with them next year, then his days and the years remaining on his costly contract will be numbered.