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Thursday, November 16, 2006
Gifted freshmen rekindle dreams at Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
The last time Georgia Tech had two freshmen this talented, nothing good came of it. Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack arrived at the Flats and saw a season of vast promise go utterly flat. The Jackets of 2002-03 wound up in the no-account NIT and Bosh wound up leaving after one collegiate season, and to this day Paul Hewitt rues the missed opportunity.
“That team,” he said Thursday after his latest team beat Georgia State 103-74, “was good enough to do some great things.”
So is this team, which is similarly headed by two freshmen of immense gifts. Javaris Crittenton is a point guard on the exalted order of Jack, only more polished offensively. Thaddeus Young is more a small forward than Bosh, who was primarily a post player, but Young is like Bosh in that he scores almost effortlessly. For the Jackets to go places this season, the rookies have to light the way.
But there’s more to it than that. Hewitt learned as much four years ago, and he’s teaching the lesson now. Two freshmen can’t take a team anywhere worthwhile if the veterans aren’t willing to ride along. Meaning: No griping about the ballyhooed new guys getting all the ink and all the shots.
“Our shot selection was a little curious in the second half tonight,” Hewitt said, and at first this sounded like a demanding coach looking for nits to pick. (Tech did, after all, lead by 28 at halftime and by 41 with 10 minutes left.) But then Hewitt summoned a darker memory.
Dec. 15, 2002: Tech was playing Tennessee in Philips Arena and had the game all but won. Inside the final 10 seconds a Jackets player took a rebound and, with Bosh and Jack open down the floor, “held onto the ball so he could get fouled,” Hewitt said.
Asked to identify the player, Hewitt declined. But it will come as no surprise to anyone who watched that season disintegrate that the player was Ed Nelson, who had such issues with Bosh that he transferred to Connecticut even after Bosh had declared for the NBA.
Nelson held the ball, got fouled, missed a pair. Tech lost on a last-second heave from midcourt. “That Tennessee game sunk the season,” Hewitt said.
Nothing of the sort has happened to these Jackets, not that the first three games were any measure. Said Young: “The games we’re playing now, we’re supposed to win. I’m looking forward to the games where we’re underdogs, games against Duke and North Carolina, to see what ACC and NCAA basketball is like.”
Chances are, Young will be pleased by what he finds. He and Crittenton can play for anybody, against anybody. What’s needed is for some incumbents to accept lesser (but still essential) roles. What’s needed is for juniors Ra’Sean Dickey and Anthony Morrow, to pick two names, not to worry about scoring points but about winning games.
“When we first came in, there was some disagreement with each other,” said Young, speaking of the reception by the older Jackets. “But we’ve found out we had to play together. Or we could have been upset [tonight].”
The Jackets weren’t upset Thursday. They played together quite nicely. Crittenton scored all 18 of his points in the first half and contented himself with distribution thereafter. Young scored 12 second-half points on only five second-half shots.
“They make plays that are almost indefensible,” said GSU coach Michael Perry. And then: “This [Tech] team is as good or better than the team that went to the [2004] Final Four.”
That team was led by Jack but was without Bosh (and, not incidentally, without Nelson). That team had less talent than its immediate predecessor but a much happier mesh. If these Jackets can find anything approximating that sort of internal bliss, they’ll be playing deep into March. And not in the no-account NIT.
Permalink | Comments (37) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
Falcons fall again; Jackets win quietly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Defining the greatest rivalries depends largely on where you slurp ‘n burp. This became apparent when I learned the London Observer listed Fischer-Spassky as No. 1, followed closely by India-Pakistan cricket. Somehow, the dweebs did not include my more obvious choices of Ali-Frazier, Batman-Joker and Kate Walsh-Selma Hayek, which I guess isn’t so much a rivalry as it is a slow-motion mudwrestling match on an endless loop in my head.
Some rivalries are balanced. Not so with Deer vs. Deer Hunters. The hunters have seemed better prepared for the “dangers” of the “sport” after being reminded that most of last year’s hunting accidents were self-inflicted gunshot wounds, which sort of makes sense since the deer never seem to have their AK-47s with them.
There was the boy who shot his uncle, I guess because he thought that mole on the man’s head was an antler.
Fortunately, deer in Michigan and Ohio are safe Saturday. There’s the major distraction of a football game between rivalries who almost never shoot each other.
In short, Michigan and Ohio State both are really good. They’re the two best teams in the country, albeit that conflicts with SEC bylaws. Only two individuals separate these teams: 1) Buckeyes QB Troy Smith (26 TDs, four INTs); 2) coach Jim Tressel, who is 4-1 against the Wolverines. His predecessor, John Cooper, was 2-10-1. They’re still looking for the body.
The line is 7. Not too much for Bambi vs. Winchester. Too much for these two. Buckeyes win but won’t cover.
FIVE PACKS Pros, Cons The Birds: Watched practiced the other day. Two players ran into each other. So in case that happens again in Baltimore and you’re wondering, “Why is it Falcons players always run into each other?” well, it turns out they practice that sort of thing. Hey look, I only have to give 4 1/2 points! Ravens cover.
Colts at Cowboys: Tony Romo is dating Jessica Simpson. All that tells me is he’s closer to being in her league than Peyton Manning’s. Indy only has to cover 1, and will.
Redskins at Bucs: With Clinton Portis out, T.J. Duckett becomes Washington’s starting running back, prompting Joe Gibbs to say: “He’s 260 pounds, so I think he’d be a good pass protector.” OK. It’s officially time for Joe to say bye-bye. Bucs cover 3.
Chargers at Broncos: San Diego scored 42 points in the second half last week to beat Cincinnati, 49-41, setting up a really big game with Denver. So: Marty Schottenheimer. Big game. Where have you gone, Earnest Byner? Denvers covers 2 1/2.
Raiders at Chiefs: Randy Moss says he’s dropping passes because he’s not happy. Funny. I thought that’s what paychecks were for. K.C. covers 9 1/2.
Institutions
Duke at Tech: The Jackets will play four more games. This ranks fourth in importance. Shouldn’t the hobbled Reggie Ball be iced? It would increase the chance he’ll overthrow only seven receivers in Athens instead of 12. Tech wins. But gimme the 27 and Duke.
Va-Tech at Wake Forest: Last week Wake was an underdog to FSU, which was three games worse in the standings, but won 30-0 in Tallahassee. This week, it’s an underdog in a home game to the Hokeys. These lines must be the wishful thinking from ACC TV executives. But what the hay: Va-Tech wins and covers 2.
Roll (Over) Tide: Auburn-Alabama used to be a pretty good rivalry. Now it’s just the Green Mile for the ‘Bama coach. Mike Shula is 0-3 in this game. One more loss and he gets a set of steak knives. Auburn is coming off the Georgia debacle. Duck. Tigers cover 3.
Western Mich. at FSU: Offensive uncoordinator Jeff Bowden will get a $537,500 buyout on top of his $141,000 salary through August. So I’m assuming this means if he had actually directed a touchdown drive last week, he would’ve been given the Bahamas? Yikes. Pays to know daddy. ‘Noles cover 16.
Tropical Depressions at Virginia: Miami actually needs a win to become bowl eligible, which is to assume the parole board approves the travel. ‘Canes cover 3.
BOO CHIP INDICATORS
Last week: Not quite perfect.
Specifically: 5-3 straight up, 2-6 (ugh) against the line.
Annual report: 63-35 straight up, 47-50-1 against the line.
Permalink | Comments (57) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC
Tech won’t lose to Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
I’ll admit it. The scores from last Saturday — Tech 7, Carolina 0 and Georgia 37, Auburn 15 — gave me pause. I’ve thought all along (and by all along I mean going back to the summer) that the Jackets will beat the Bulldogs. But now Georgia finally beats somebody and Tech barely beats nobody, and what did that do to my prediction?
After some (but not all that much) internal debate, here’s the answer: Nothing.
I still think Tech will win.
This isn’t one of those throw-out-the-record-book rivalries. In GT-vs.-UGA, there aren’t many out-of-the-blue upsets. Of the Jackets’ last four victories in the series, all have come when the Jackets were already ranked. And every single time a ranked Tech team has played an unranked Georgia team — according to the Jackets’ media guide, it has happened nine times, the first in 1943 — Tech has won the game.
I know they’re playing in Athens, but that doesn’t matter, either. Over the last 50 years, Tech has won as many times (seven) in Sanford Stadium as in Atlanta. This, in sum, is a series where there’s only one determinant: Is Tech really good? This year it is.
