AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > December > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USJackets evolve at Bulldogs’ expense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Early returns had been mixed, but that’s what happens when a team’s two best players are freshmen. Georgia Tech beat Purdue and Memphis, two pretty good squads, but lost to Miami — which just was felled by mighty Binghamton — and Vanderbilt. Six weeks into the season, it was hard to know what to make of the Jackets.
We know somewhat more today. We know Tech has enough skill and enough of a developing mesh to handle a solid Georgia team in a way nobody had. We know also that the Bulldogs, for all their upgrades, still lack the sort of transcendent player Tech has in Thaddeus Young. Admittedly, that isn’t the greatest of sins. There aren’t many Thaddeus Youngs anywhere, not even in the NBA.
Some guys score because they shoot a lot. Young, who had 24 points Friday, scores because scoring is second nature. He has every sort of shot — he opened the game with a dunk and essentially ended it with a 3-pointer inside the final five minutes — and all the moves an 18-year-old could hope to have. Young hasn’t been the focal point of Tech’s offense to date, but he will be come March.
“He’s really good,” said Paul Hewitt, speaking of Young, “but he hasn’t even scratched the surface.”
For Tech, that’s a reason to be cheerful. Here’s another: The Jackets’ prized rookies — Young and point guard Javaris Crittenton — are beginning to grasp what Division I basketball requires. “It’s a big difference,” Young said. “[In high school] it was easy because I was so much bigger than everybody else.”
The trouble with young and gifted players is that they enter college having only a passing acquaintance with defense. The losses to Miami and Vandy smacked the Jackets upside the noggin: If you don’t guard somebody, you can’t win as big as your assets suggest you should. Tech defended for long stretches Friday with a ferocity unseen since the Final Four run of 2004. That’s progress.
True, the Bulldogs were without Sundiata Gaines, their clever point guard, and that diminished them at both ends. Without Gaines to pressure the ball, Tech was free to run its halfcourt sets, and rarely has it run them better than it did this night. The Jackets either scored off backdoor cuts or got fouled — Tech took 15 first-half free throws to Georgia’s four — and the capacity to score easy points ultimately wore the Bulldogs to a frazzle.
Said Young: “We watched them on film and saw they don’t even look at the ball. They look at the man. We expected [the backdoors] to work the first couple of times before they picked up on it, but they never did.”
Georgia, meanwhile, was getting nothing easy. Gaines’ absence forced Mike Mercer, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, to move from the wing to the point, and Mercer is far better at receiving than distributing. He had a nightmare game — seven turnovers, no baskets — and Georgia was lucky to be within four at halftime. Soon its luck was gone. Tech embarked on an 18-4 run, Young scoring eight of the 18, and that was that.
As encouraging as winning was — “Great for the alums,” Hewitt said — the victory still fell short of being a watershed. The game featured nearly as many turnovers (36) as baskets (42).
Even after Tech had established its superiority, its sloppiness kept the Bulldogs within theoretical reach. A night like this hinted at what the Jackets can do if they apply themselves; at issue is whether they’ll apply themselves as a matter of course.
If they do, they’ll be playing in the NCAA tournament, playing beyond the first weekend, maybe beyond the second. Georgia is likely a Big Dance invitee itself, and Georgia had no answers for Tech’s talent. This was a needed first step for the Jackets, who collectively have only begun to scratch the surface.
Permalink | Comments (49) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By wes
December 22, 2006 11:47 PM | Link to this
Congratulations to the Jackets for their 100th all-time win over the Bullpups!
Here’s to 100 more!
THWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By rambler
December 23, 2006 12:22 AM | Link to this
As good as Thaddeus was, and he was really good, I thought that Mario West was the star of the game. He played great defense and had some very key shots that went down.
I agree, if this team plays defense, it can go a very long way.
By Drew
December 23, 2006 12:27 AM | Link to this
Dear Mark, Quit putting UGA’s Basketball Team in the tournement when they havent even played a conference game!!!!!!I’m sure we will hear more of your whining (as usual) when they dont make it again. Gonzaga graduated all of their good players!!!! Your such a homer!!!!!!
By Matt
December 23, 2006 12:33 AM | Link to this
GT has lost six straight football games to UGA and 13 of the past 16 games.
Nice win Nyerds.
By Drew
December 23, 2006 12:46 AM | Link to this
Your right Matt, you guys have dominated us Jackets the last few years. But, we do have a football national championship in that span. And one more thing, since were talking history, why dont you look up UGA’s football record the last 16 years against the SEC elite. I’ll give you a hint at what you’ll find, losing records everywhere!!! Now that Reggies gone, we have a chance next year!!!!! Go Jackets!!!
By Eddie
December 23, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this
Any win over Georgia is sweet. It was approaching ridiculous the way the Dawgs have dominated Tech. It is OK to lose if they are better (as long as Tech is competitive). But the Jackets have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory even when Tech was the better squad in baseball, basketball, and (this year) football.
By shc77
December 23, 2006 01:51 AM | Link to this
Mario West was the catalyst that drove the Jackets to this win. After the Dawgs came out on fire hitting 7 of their first 7 shots, he came into the game and forced two quick UGA turnovers, setting the defensive tempo for the rest of the game. Similarly, just a minute and a half into the second half, Clinch was benched in favor of West after the Jackets started the half sluggishly, and Mario sparked the Jackets again.
Thaddeus Young finally looked like a McDonald’s All-American tonight, despite the non-call on his double-dribble breakaway layup. Javaris Crittenton still looks a bit lost trying to run the point. He made a silly—not to mention potentially dangerous—play on a breakaway by trying to do a reverse double-clutch two-handed jam instead of just laying it up or dunking it like normal, and he got fouled hard for it. I can still see Coach Hewitt’s expression after that play. Not happy at all.
Not to take anything away from the Jackets’ win, but the Bulldogs looked like a lost team without Sundiata Gaines, at one point losing the turnover battle 8-1. Having to use Mike Mercer at the point totally took him off his game. And where has Billy Humphrey gone? Totally disappeared the past few games.
Anyway, it was a good game overall. Good win for the Jackets. They really turned up the defensive intensity after the first 4 minutes of the game. Great to see that finally. Also nice to see everyone playing with some sportsmanship, especially Dickey on that somersault by Brown (or was it Jackson).
By Herb Bell
December 23, 2006 02:39 AM | Link to this
Amazing! A story about a big rivalry game … and nowhere is the final score even mentioned! Duh.
By Sam
December 23, 2006 04:37 AM | Link to this
Great article, Mark. The Jackets have the chance to become something special if they continue to work hard and jell as a team. UGA has a formidable team this year and is just a player or two away from regaining their lofty status of a few years ago. These are two class programs with two top notch head coaches and it was fun watching them go at each other. It is going to be interesting to see how the season pans out for both teams. College basketball is alive and well in the state of Georgia!
By Edward
December 23, 2006 04:43 AM | Link to this
DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………..
VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JACKETS! Were clearly the better team and if you put them on a neutral court TECH wins by double digits. You can’t say enough about the Freshemn and Super Mario! TECH was a far superior team!!!!!!! I hope to see the puppies in a tournament when it matters b/c they would be some much easier than a mid major.
By Wedgie Evans
December 23, 2006 05:50 AM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, how dare you suggest that the Jackets are evolving? Surely God was intelligent enough to create them that way to begin with!
Seriously, though, it’s nice to see that the defense has at least improved. This Tech team still has a long way to go but they have the talent to hang with anyone in the ACC.
About Thaddeus Young though… he really needs to take care of the ball better. He’s got amazing talent but if he can’t improve his handles he’s not going to be able to use it efficiently.
By JohnGTfan
December 23, 2006 06:37 AM | Link to this
I thought it was a great win for Tech…and to be honest, UGA did everything to help us in the first 5 minutes…make every shot they threw up there. Paul got the TO and got in their ###. Mario came in, who if he keeps playing like this is by far the MVP of this team, and really stepped up the intensity. I want to see this every night. Coach Hewitt makes sure this is the best conditioned team on the floor, every night. So there is no need to wait until you get behind to get fired up for a big game. The turnovers are going to be there, we start 2 freshman. These kids are still learning. But around February, oh my goodness this team is going to be dangerous.
I’ll take my hat off to UGA, they fought hard and never gave up(thanks to Tech’s constant fouls late in the game). I’m certain Coach Hewitt will address that. But is it really necessary for UGA fans to come here at discuss the Tech/UGA game? LOL I believe this blog was about last night’s BASKETBALL game.
Great job by those kids last night, and I was so glad to see Dickey play like a man inside, and not a boy. If he would go to the basket hard every night like he did against UGA, that opens up so much for this offense. Let’s hope he studies his game from last night and builds on it!
By JohnGTfan
December 23, 2006 06:42 AM | Link to this
I meant discuss the Tech/UGA football game
By T
December 23, 2006 06:59 AM | Link to this
Hey “different breed of dog” guy… sorry your team lost … Georgia may be a “different breed” this year.. but they still lost to Tech at AMC
By TW
December 23, 2006 08:03 AM | Link to this
Congrats to the Jackets. Wait till Felton gets the talent, and he will, that Hewitt now has. Switch coaches last night and the Jackets win by 50.
By theedge56
December 23, 2006 08:23 AM | Link to this
It was great to see the Jackets after letting UGAy shoot lights out in the first 5 minutes really clamp down on the perimeter. They did a great job scaring them off of 3 point line. Holding the number 2 scoring team in the country under 70 and finally showing flashes of Hewitt desired defense are good signs.
Now the bubble burst UGAy was without Gaines and the hurt them. Jackets don’t get over confident keep working on the defensive end and they will be ready for the conference.
By luvthejackets
December 23, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this
TW, what the hell are you talking about? What has Felton done in the past to make you even think that he is a better coach? Dominating at Western KY does not stand for anything. Felton’s teams play horrible defense. That is not the trademark of a good coach. You do not have to have great talent to play defense. Keep on dreaming buddy. Felton will long gone from Georgia in three years and it will not be because of a better job. It’s because he can’t win in major college basketball. It’s about like the difference between Jim Donnan and Mark Richt. There is just no comparrison!
By luvthejackets
December 23, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
to hell with georgia!
By TW
December 23, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
luvthejackets- clearly you did not watch much ACC ball last year…and to suggest that talent is not needed to play defense is a slap in the face of not only Michael Jordan, but the game of basketball itself…
By Kenny
December 23, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this
Oh yea,!!! we are a Basketball School Go Jackets 78-69 read it and weep.
By GT 80
December 23, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this
Best moment of the night was in the first half when we dumped the ball into the low post to Dickey, he got doubled and instead of forcing his way to the basket he turned, threw a skip pass across to the open man (Morrow I think) who nailed the open 3. He’s finally getting it! Beautiful big man passing and hard nosed D will win many games.
By Notenough
December 23, 2006 09:19 AM | Link to this
Good win, however, Hewitt saying the win was good for alums falls short of where his and his teams mind needs to be when they play UGAG. The game is now home and home because Dooley recognized that at a neutral court the Pooches would lose more than win. He knew that the game was important and made steps to keep up. Tech (because of Braine and his lack of emphasis to his Coaches) treats these like any other game. Get in the game Hewitt and treat it like a rival game it is.
By realist
December 23, 2006 09:22 AM | Link to this
It’s was pretty clear that UGA wins easily if they are at full strenght. But, hey, it was nice to see all the Tech fans happy. It is a very rare sight. They always have hope. Kind of like Charlie kicking the football.
By Realist
December 23, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this
It was clear that UGA wins the game if they are at full strenght. But, hey, good to see the teckies happy. It is a very rare sight. They always have hope (see recent football season). But like Charlie Brown, the ball always gets pulled away.
By GT hits 100
December 23, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this
GT has now whipped up on the Dawgs a combined 138 times when you include Football and Basketball. That’s a lot of Dawg kicking over the years. GO JACKETS!
By Kenny
December 23, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this
What is pretty clear is 78-69 Don’t cloud your vision. If is a much bigger word If You get beat down on the court. Go Jackets I Can see clearly now, the dawgs are gone.
By Todd
December 23, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this
For those of you using Gaines as an excuse, don’t forget that Tech’s leading scorer, Lewis Clinch, had 0 points, 0 assists and 0 rebounds. Clinch leads the Yellow Jackets and ranks sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring at 17.1 points a game. Having reached double digits in each game, the 6-3 guard from Cordele, Ga., also ranks fifth in the ACC in field goal percentage (57.3) and second in three-point percentage (49.1). He has scored at least 20 points four times this season.
By Carey
December 23, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this
Good win, but Georgia isn’t that good of a team. I know they beat Gonzaga, but their strength of schedule was still 321 out of 339 teams. Beating Memphis was much more of an accomplishment. And we’ll see how they do when they start playing teams like Duke and North Carolina.
By Realistically
December 23, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this
Realist…yes uga was not at full strength with S Gaines on the bench, but GTech’s top scorer, L Clinch, 18 ppg, played about 3 minutes and had zero pts, so I think that evens out. Tech won. uga lost. Merry Christmas.
By phipps
December 23, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this
Matt. Please check record prior to 1965 and the introduction of black atheletes to college football. When things were equal between Tech and UGA, we beat you guys on a regular basis. If you want history( you may not know what that is in the trailor park!)you can find plenty. With your president doing anything and everything necessary to help you thugs compete in the sec( juco transfers now, which your coach said he would never do-liar!), there is a good chance Tech will never beat you guys again, but smart people all know the playing field is not LEVEL. Now get back to washing dishes before you become homeless at Christmas time>>>>>>>>>>>
By phippsisadumbassracist
December 23, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
There you go again, Phipps. It is amazing how far we have come as a nation with people like you and Terrence Moore living in it. Neither one of you should be allowed to procreate.
By Hamp
December 23, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this
Edward-
Nice win by Tech…but how do you say Tech would win by double digits on a neutral court when the did not win by double digits at home?
By Alabama Dog
December 23, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this
Congatulations Techies-You may have FINALLY found somrthing that y’all can beat UGA at (though not consistently). Good luck in the Gator Bowl-without a QB that hasn’t played ALL YEAR you’re going to need it! 15-12-that says it all!
By Judge of Ugliest Man Pagent
December 23, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
Hey Mercer…cut some more wings in your hair and get another tattoo. You look gggggooooooooooddddd!
By Kenny
December 23, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this
Alabama Dog, you are only as good as your last game 78-69. That says it all.
By John
December 23, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
Amazing how we still get UGA football posers posting in a basketball article. Here’s a Christmas treat for you: funny how your nemesis UF has bested you in all sports: football, basketball, and baseball. And now UF has a shot at two sports titles in a row because you Puppies can’t beat them in any sports. GT has solid programs in all sports as well. So we alum will treat this solid victory as another sports win over a one sport institution [sic].
On the game: I will agree that West was the catalyst. As the Mongrels were draining 3s, I got real concerned. It’s hard to beat a team nailing 3s early. But Hewitt’s call got the defense rolling. And it was truly the defense that regained and held the lead. But no slight on Young: the kid is amazing. I fell off the couch when he hit that 3 ptr. What a performance.
By Cottoneye Joe
December 23, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this
Is it okay to be critical of a basketball team without being called a racist,like the bigots did to folks on the ‘Bash Ball’ GaT site earlier this week?
Like 99, 100 is just a number.
By StAugDawg
December 23, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this
f*&# Ga Tech
By theedge56
December 23, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
Get a life Georgia losers go blog on your own article. AJC has your crap over about 90% of the sports page and 100% of the governors a$$. Go whine on one of those pages this is where real men comment on the Tech victory from last night! Not some victory from guys wearing leather helmets from before your parents made the mistake of either not wearing a condom or pulling out to late. Get a life!
By Al Braxton
December 23, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this
I realize that a majority of the JC readers are Georgia and Georgia Tech fans. However, there are also a lot of ACC fans that live in the Atlanta area and would like to see some reports on other teams in the ACC once in a while. I am referring specifically to UNC. I also realize it is early in the NCAA BB season, but at least post scores of the top 25 if nothing else in the sports section.
Thanks
Al Braxton
By Kenny
December 23, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this
78-68 Go Jackets. First to 100 wins
By Connie Lingous
December 23, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this
Great win for us alums of GTU, like Coach Hewitt said.
By Navigator
December 23, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
Hey the Gator Man was right, you hold the dawgs and make them squel or something like that. By the way where are all of the bragging red necks. They must have forgotten how to find the Tech blog, or more likely there mammas told them to turn off the computers.
By longtimedawg
December 23, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this
I JUST WISH REGGIE BALL PLAYED BASKETBALL TOO…..UGA PROBALY WOULD HAVE WON THE GAME GIVING HIS ABILITY TO DUMP GAMES TO THE MEN OF ATHENS!
GO DAWGS!!!!!
By Twin Dawg
December 23, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this
UGA sucks, always has and always will
By jojatek
December 23, 2006 05:57 PM | Link to this
Reggie Ball’s career at Tech has been disappointing and sad, to say the least. However, he does have an opportunity (albeit slim) to pick up a degree from a great, great school… let’s hope he realizes that before it’s too late. Keep you eye on the real “ball”, Reggie… history will be kind to you if you do…
As for Gailey: Our performance in last year’s Emerald Bowl and, more importantly, the attitude of our kids headed into that game, spoke volumes to me about this coach and his staff…
By Not disappointed
December 23, 2006 07:35 PM | Link to this
Great win Jackets!!!!
By jacketnation
December 23, 2006 07:47 PM | Link to this
Great win on the court. I was in Athens last night mouthing off to a few UGA students. It felt pretty good.
Now lets wish Reggie Ball farewell with a Gator Bowl win. Come on Taylor, You DA Man.
By SERENITY NOW
December 23, 2006 11:30 PM | Link to this
Why do all the idiots keep bringing Reggie Ball back into the picture? He’s done and lets move on. GT was the better team in basketball this year and UGA was best on the flats. The universe is finally in synch. Though I prefer GT to sweep. Maybe next year.