AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > January > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech displays a clear case of composure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Let’s get this out of the way: As the howling increased and the seconds decreased Sunday inside the lovely madhouse that was Alexander Memorial Coliseum, the youngsters of Georgia Tech used clutch plays on offense and defense to shock the veterans of Boston College for the Yellow Jackets’ biggest basketball upset since they silenced the Cameron Crazies two seasons ago at Duke.
Now forget all of that, because what made this Tech’s most successful victory in years is what happened after the game.
Nothing. Not for the Tech players who calmly sauntered off the court with barely the hint of a smile despite the stands emptying onto the court around them in a delirious scramble.
Nothing. Not since Tech’s next game against something called Centenary is followed by a bunch of real teams on the road at North Carolina State and Wake Forest before the Jackets meet the formidable likes of Clemson, Maryland at home and Boston College on the road.
Nothing. Not with these Tech players maturing enough to realize that their fifth win in their past six games only means something to historians and to those in the ACC who don’t realize that staying with yesterday can get you beat today.
“I told the guys last week after we beat Vanderbilt to just calm down. You can’t have that swagger,� said Tech’s Jeremis Smith, among three sophomores in a starting lineup that includes a freshman and a lone senior. Actually, Smith only gave part of the reason why the Jackets responded with more shrugs than hugs after defeating their 11th-ranked visitors picked to finish second behind only Duke in the conference. Here’s the rest of the reason, provided by fellow sophomore Anthony Morrow: To those in Tech’s relatively mellow locker room, this wasn’t an upset.
Said Morrow, “Coach [Paul] Hewitt during the course of practice before games, he breaks things down so much for us to let us know that, no matter who you play, if you play them the right way, it shouldn’t be a surprise that you beat them. You play with a high level of energy. You go hard. You box out, rebound, defend, and you win.�
Sounds like what just happened to push Tech to a 60-58 victory, an 8-4 record overall and 2-0 in the conference. In other words, despite the Jackets losing their top six players from a group that reached the Final Two in 2004 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season, they expect to do nothing less than what they did to Boston College.
That is, the Jackets played stifling defense down the stretch of the first half to turn an eight-point deficit into an eight-point advantage early in the second half. As Boston College coach Al Skinner said of a Tech bunch that outrebounded his supposedly tougher Eagles 33-23, “They did a good job of bringing it to us physically. … They worked their tails off. They hustled.â€?
If that wasn’t enough, Tech freshman Lewis Clinch came off the bench after missing five games with a leg injury to nail a huge 3-pointer from the corner inside the final five minutes. Then there was Zam Fredrick, in his first year as the Jackets’ point guard, sinking his 3-pointer with 33 seconds left.
But back to Morrow, whose 15 points were nearly secondary to this: With Tech leading 58-55 after Fredrick’s bomb, Boston College tried to counter with one of its own from sharpshooter Tyrese Rice. The thing is, every time he sought to launch his 3-pointer from the corner, he kept facing every inch of Morrow’s 6-foot-5 stretching a few centimeters away. “Yeah, yeah,� said Morrow, easing into a chuckle. “I tried to make sure that he couldn’t even see. I wanted to keep my hands high so that he would have a hard time shooting over me.�
Then Morrow stopped chuckling, because he had a bigger point to make. “I know, myself, I can do better, because I did let Rice get a deep 3 at one point. Like Coach said, we’re still not clicking on all cylinders right now. So we can play better defense down the stretch.�
Translated: The streaking Jackets aren’t full of themselves.
Good.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Comments
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By ben
January 8, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this
I blogged last week Tech wouldn’t stay within twenty. I apologize for my lack of faith and reaffirm my great respect for Hewitt. I can’t believe that was the same bunch that stumbled out of the gate. Wow!
By wes
January 8, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this
I’ve always agreed that Hewitt is the perfect-fit for Tech…even before the NCAA Championship run. However, this was a home game for Tech. I’m still doubtful on making the tourney. BUT, if Coach Hewitt gets this group into the Big Dance, NBA teams and others will be beating down Tech’s door. As a huge Tech fan, in some sick way I wouldn’t really mind this being a down year. Is that wrong?
Hewitt 4EVER!!!!!!
By WaCoJacket
January 9, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this
Hewitt has kids he loves to stay around and he can’t do that in the NBA. You have to worry about the NY Knicks or Lakers. I doubt we’d lose him to any other teams. People love the ATL
By WaCoJacket
January 9, 2006 12:36 AM | Link to this
On to the game… CPH is a masterful coach. IMO his main flaw is over-coaching at times. He is on top of every situation and sometimes he tells his team too much. But that’s a small nit-pick. Great game, Great win, I’m glad we have Hewitt and I hope he remains for the next 20-30 years.
By Ricky
January 9, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this
Good win for the Jackets. Makes you wonder how they got killed by UGA
By sam
January 9, 2006 08:19 AM | Link to this
They lost at uga because they played horrible defense and with no intensity. That early in the season it was clear these young players had not bought into what it takes to win at this level. It would be interesting to see those two teams play again late in this season.
By lew
January 9, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this
Tech is gonna’ be o-kay.And,I can see that it has’nt come together just yet.Goooo Jackets.
By Jack
January 9, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
This game will prove to be a major building block. If we can win this game and go .500 in the ACC, we can definitely make the tournament. The Jackets always do better when others write them off anyway.
Great win, Jackets.
By jim
January 9, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this
the best thing is that coach hewlitt does not let his kids quite like our other coach does(gailey)
By GTDean
January 9, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this
Coach Hewitt is the MAN! Coach Gailey will do the same in football, just Wait!!! Hewitt is like a General…he knows how to put together a game plan!!!
By KC
January 9, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this
Hewitt is a class act and a marvelous coach. As a lifelong Tech fan I’d give a bit of my salary if it ever came to that to keep Hewitt coaching the Jackets. There really aren’t any better jobs in college basketball, just a few higher in profile. It’s the NBA you have to worry about. But, since Hewitt is a defensive minded coach, and they don’t play D in the Association, that should help keep him at Tech. The recruiting class we have coming in next year should keep him around for 4 more years at least. Go Jackets!
By Ron Roberts
January 9, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this
Wow, a Terrence Moore column with no mention of racial inequality towards African-Americans.
A new day has dawned.
By Mickey
January 9, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this
One of many things I like about Coach Hewitt is that I see him attending other Tech sports events such as baseball and football games and when the fans spot him, they applaud.
By GT
January 9, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this
Anything we do this year is gravy. Next year is one of the finest recruiting classes in Tech’s history. It’s good now and only going to get better.
By NotsoTinytim
January 9, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this
I’m astonished with the Jacket’s basketball and once again Paul Hewitt is such a joy to have around as coach. I do believe this young team will continue to improve. Great Win!
By chris
January 9, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
Like GT said this is only the begining. Hopefully losing only Tarver, and with the recruits we have coming in next year we will be a TRUE national power for a while. Please stay coach!
By Other Mark
January 9, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this
Please don’t compare Coach Hewitt with Chan Gailey. There is no way Gailey achieves anything like the level of success that we’ve seen with Hewitt. Hewitt’s players actually get better from game to game, season to season. He DOES have a game plan, but it is actually geared toward winning the game, not staying close.
Hewitt has taken a talented bunch and made a respectable team in just a few short months. This may not lead to the tournament this year, but Lordy, watch out for next year.
By rubin
January 9, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
It’ great to see where Coach Hewitt has the basketball program headed. It’s good to know that Tech has a coach that will continually strive to improve his team and players until they reach the national championship.
So Coach Hewitt can have a top 10 recruiting class and Gailey doesn’t even attempt to recruit anyone in the Top 100…makes one wonder what Gailey is actually doing at Tech, he doesn’t recruit and the players don’t improve at all
By Adam
January 9, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this
I just read Mr. Moore’s column about Jimmy Greek and coaching and I have read his column in the past. I just want to make the observation that if it weren’t for race Terence Moore would have nothing to write about. You take away race and he wouldn’t be able to write about sports, politics or anything for that matter except maybe for writing recipes for the food section. I bet even then he’d have problems.  He’d write about flour always being white and how wrong that is.   Wherever he went to journalism school he must have majored in race 101 and race 102.Â
By Big D
January 10, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this
Terence, they still want your job!!!!!!