AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > January > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNo defense for underachieving Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
There are 41 days until Selection Sunday, and Georgia Tech has a choice: It can figure things out and grow into the force its talent insists it should be, or it can get ready to play a home game in the no-account NIT.
The team that infamously can’t win on the road suffered a serious reversal Sunday, losing to Virginia Tech here. An NCAA invitation seemed fairly assured two weeks ago when the Jackets beat Duke and Florida State, but they haven’t won since and look to be getting worse, not better.
The Hokies made 58.3 percent of their first-half shots Sunday and then, defying belief, did better in the second half. This tells us that the Jackets, for all their skill, have nobody — well, nobody except Mario West — willing and/or able to defend. This tells us that Paul Hewitt, for all his tender love, hasn’t yet reached these guys.
Hewitt tried a little motivational tack Sunday, having his players’ names struck from the backs of their jerseys. Afterward he said he’d wanted his young men “to get lost in the game,” to focus not on individual stats but the greater good. The Jackets succeeded only in getting lost on defense. Thaddeus Young, a freshman, didn’t score a basket until the 35th minute. Ra’Sean Dickey, who’s a junior and should be past such oscillations, had no points in 19 minutes.
Yes, Virginia Tech has a nice squad, but somebody has beaten the Hokies. (Five somebodies, actually, including Western Michigan, Southern Illinois, George Washington and Marshall.) Having lost their last two games by an aggregate 31 points, the Jackets should have hit the floor spitting fire. Instead they did the thing they’ve come to do best (or, more precisely, worst): They fell nine points behind in 5 1/2 minutes and wound up chasing the game.
What’s wrong? “I have no idea right now,” Young said. “I know we’re playing hard. We’re getting down and it’s hard to keep coming back.”
If the effort isn’t at fault (and that’s a big “if”), then the focus is clearly absent. How else to explain Young making a splendid move and missing a lead-pipe layup that would have cut the lead to four? How else to explain the 6-foot-3 Jamon Gordon being allowed to drive 35 feet against a presumably set defense for a dunk that put the Hokies ahead by nine inside the final three minutes? How else to explain Virginia Tech making a season-best 59.5 percent of its shots against an opponent that should have been determined if not desperate?
“You have to have a great sense of urgency,” said Hewitt, speaking of the ACC in general, but so far Tech hasn’t demonstrated one. The Jackets act as if their hype — which, once upon a time, was pronounced — will grant passage into the Big Dance, but the way they’re playing, nothing is certain.
The 2004 Jackets played for the national championship without a single man as gifted as Young or Javaris Crittenton and maybe even Mouhammad Faye, but those Jackets played and (above all) defended with a controlled fury. The nice thing about going to a Final Four is that it allows a program to sign higher-profile recruits. The trick is in getting McDonald’s All-Americans to guard people the way Isma’il Muhammad and Anthony McHenry did.
So far, Hewitt hasn’t found a way. There’s still time, but another bad week could leave the Jackets too far down to recover. And there is, sorry to say, precedent for such a fizzle: In 2002-03 a Tech team with hotshot freshmen Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack didn’t win a road game until March and landed in the NIT.
You wouldn’t have believed such a thing could happen again so soon, but neither would you have believed this team would be 2-5 in ACC play. Even if it means taking away the Jackets’ jerseys and making them work skins against shirts, something needs to change.
Permalink | Comments (52) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
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By Josh
January 28, 2007 08:17 PM | Link to this
Forget the dance. These kids just aren’t ready. Watch out next year, though.
By D FENCE
January 28, 2007 08:19 PM | Link to this
Too p** to post a sensible reply. Don’t need a name on the back of a jersey to find motivation or play some “D”. How about benching these starters and subs and playing the walk-ons. We are gonna lose anyhow. That’s how you send a message. No defense….no play. Not by removing names from jerseys….Come on Hewitt. Pay me your salary and I can come up w/ something a bit more creative than that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By what the hell?
January 28, 2007 08:31 PM | Link to this
Dickey and Smith are the most inconsistent players I’ve ever seen. Dickey needs to stay on the bench. 18 one game, 0 the next. Smith just disappears. It’s painful watching Tech basketball; again. I swear it seems like they have never ever practiced together. Looks like Clinch hurt a lot more than I thought. This team has no direction.
By what the hell?
January 28, 2007 08:32 PM | Link to this
Dickey and Smith are the most inconsistent players I’ve ever seen. Dickey needs to stay on the bench. 18 one game, 0 the next. Smith just disappears. It’s painful watching Tech basketball; again. I swear it seems like they have never ever practiced together. Looks like Clinch hurt a lot more than I thought. This team has no direction.
By Hokie in SC
January 28, 2007 08:39 PM | Link to this
“Five somebodies” as you put it. Did you look at the schedule to see what part of the season most of those losses happened? VT has a veteran squad and is playing well. GT will be SCARY fine w/time. There’s a lot of young talent that’s still finding their way.
By Upset
January 28, 2007 08:50 PM | Link to this
I figure Hewitt has this year and next, afterwhich he’s gone. Obviously the guy can’t coach - never seen a team that is so unskilled and uncoached in the basics - FT shooting, blocking out, good spacing, movement without the ball, NOT dribbling into double teams and traps. No, the effort isn’t there, but watching this team, clearly the players don’t know what to do at all. I say Hewitt is out of here.
By Techincal
January 28, 2007 08:53 PM | Link to this
After watching today’s game I think it’s now past time to ditch Dickey. I’ve watched every televised game he’s played in at Georgia Tech, and I’ve come to the conclusion that unless he’s putting up 14 to 16 points a game, then he’s a complete non-factor. We’ve all seen his limitless offensive potential in such games as the one at Michigan State last year and at times this season, but we’ve seen his passive attitude have ill effects on the team much more often. I hope Paul Hewitt can somehow teach this young man how to assert himself when things aren’t going his way, or either put him on the bench and play a team that doesn’t rely on the unreliable Ra’Sean Dickey.
By Techincal
January 28, 2007 08:54 PM | Link to this
After watching today’s game I think it’s now past time to ditch Dickey. I’ve watched every televised game he’s played in at Georgia Tech, and I’ve come to the conclusion that unless he’s putting up 14 to 16 points a game, then he’s a complete non-factor. We’ve all seen his limitless offensive potential in such games as the one at Michigan State last year and at times this season, but we’ve seen his passive attitude have ill effects on the team much more often. I hope Paul Hewitt can somehow teach this young man how to assert himself when things aren’t going his way, or either put him on the bench and play a team that doesn’t rely on the unreliable Ra’Sean Dickey.
By Seriously?
January 28, 2007 09:07 PM | Link to this
Hewitt aint worth a @#$%. This team gets worse with every game. Dickey and Smith have gotten worse since their freshman year. Morrow shoots 3’s, otherwise he couldnt take a p@#$ without somebody holding his hand. I want to physically vomit watching Hewitt’s basketball teams. If you want proof he should leave, look no further than the year after we went to the NC. With those players we should have finished no worse than 11-5 in the conference. We had to struggle to even get into the tournament. Hewitt can thank Jack for every ounce of success he’s ever had. I’ll throw him his going away party if he got fired tonight.
By kl
January 28, 2007 09:11 PM | Link to this
Young is another Randolph Morris, another guy that Hewitt wanted badly. Unfortunately, he is a lot more hype than talent. It took four yers for Morris to live up to his potentian and it may take Young even longer since he doesn’t have a decent coach to help him. At least we don’t have to worry about another school trying to hire Hewitt away anymore.
By noel malone
January 28, 2007 09:20 PM | Link to this
Okay, I’ve had it with this bunch. Dickey, Morrow, Smith, and West should be a veteran nucleus, with help from Young, Crit, and Faye, but it just isn’t there. Was I fooled into thinking that they were good enough to compete in the ACC? It sure looks like it. I’ve never seen any team have so much trouble getting into an offense. And how many inside points did VaTech score - way too many. Is there any way this team can get it together and go 6-4 the rest of the way and have a shot at the NCAAs?
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 28, 2007 09:31 PM | Link to this
The biggest difference today between GT and VT — every time VT had the ball, players were constantly moving both on and off the ball, putting pressure on the defense, and getting easier shots. Every time GT had the ball, the players who didn’t have the ball were standing still and watching, waiting for the guy with the ball to get stuck somewhere until they had to bail them out. You can’t get easy buckets when there’s absolutely no offensive motion. The talent is clearly there to win, but the effort is not there and the coaching is not there.
By realist
January 28, 2007 09:31 PM | Link to this
This team is as bad a team as I’ve seen in a while at GT and not only won’t make the NCAAs, it will struggle to make the NIT. The whole staff should be shown the door.
By John Conklin
January 28, 2007 09:35 PM | Link to this
Mark, your article is spot on. There were strides / flashes in this game of a team that could play decent basketball. Ball movement looked better at time. However, you cannot play decent teams and win with Jeremis and Dickey shooting threes and Thaddeus playing like an 8th grader. Cheerio on the inbounds plays. Any thoughts on a replacement coach?
By ben
January 28, 2007 09:42 PM | Link to this
Strangely, it’s a lot like the football team. If you don’t have a playmaker, you have a team that looks lost and misdirected. Jack and Bynum gave us two at once. Crittenden is only a freshman, but a freshman without a clue. Marbury was brimming with confidence and not for one game looked like a freshman. Texas has two freshmen- DJ Augustin and Kevin Durant that play out of this world together. Were they ranked a lot higher that Jevaris and Thaddeus?
By Observer
January 28, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
Is Chan now coaching the bball team?
By Bill
January 28, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
This team is going nowhere until it commits to playing DEFENSE. How many dunks have they given up the last three games? I think it is probably 15-20. Maybe this team is just not as good as projected or it is not being coached very well. AT this point in the year, you are who you are and the Jackets are NIT bound.
By By 2004 Team
January 28, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
2004 Team included Jack,Luke,M Lewis, Ishmail,BJ Elder,McHenry, and Bynum among others. So far, this years edition is not even close to that group from a team or individual perpective. Mr. Bradley, who on this year’s team would have started over that 2004 group? As of right now,nobody in my estimation. One team competed for a National title, and one team is trying to escape the bottom third of the conference. Your recollection Mr Bradley is as sketchy as our defense. Go back and check some of the box scores by Elder, Jack, Lewis, Luke, Bynum, and Ish. They were the real deal.
By MoWreck
January 28, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
I wanted to pose a question and just throw it out there and see what other people think about it. Do anyone think that Jevaris and Thaddeus are just going thru the motions this year until they can turn pro? And, does this affect the other guys playing? I sometimes think them coming in and playing right away may have hurt the other guys, Smith and Dickey in particular. Smith was one of my favorite player last year and he just not getting it done this year. I’ve always thought West was one of the best defensive players in ACC. Wonder what kind of offensive player he could have been if played the point all year … what has become of Bell? Of course, none of this speculation could be true … just wanted to throw it out. Sometimes, because of losing you can dig a hole and find a hard time getting out of it and that seems to be what we are doing. We need some WINS and a quality one wouldn’t hurt.
By Scott Grant
January 28, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this
Thank you, Mark. It means a lot for someone in print to spell it out. You’re completely on the mark, I couldn’t be more frustrated as a Tech fan because of it. A far cry from the 2002-2003 team.
By BUZZ
January 28, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this
Chan coaching behind the scenes? Looks like it! As i said in an earlier post, these are the worst upper classmen,(sorry A-Mo), i’ve saw in awhile. Mo should shoot the ball more an dickey & smith do not deserve to wear the ol’ gold & white. I don’t put all the blame on them because it’s a group effort. It appears to me that the kids don’t want to be there. Things are just plain ugly, an i am done w/ basketball til’ next season. I hope the baseball team won’t let us down.
By VPI97
January 28, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this
The Hokies are 16-5 with wins over UNC & Duke and currently stand atop the ACC standings. You’d think they’d get a little credit for winning in Atlanta rather than the GT contingent assuming that a loss to Virginia Tech equates to a horrible coaching job by Hewitt.
No offense, guys, but in this season Virginia Tech has a better basketball team that Georgia Tech. That’s why the result was as it was today. Next year, it’ll be different, so save your lamentations about losing to the Hokies until you see if it happens again next season.
By Bobby Buzz
January 29, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
Four words: To many TICKLE PILES!!! We need to keep this team away from the general studentbody.
By bring reeves back
January 29, 2007 04:01 AM | Link to this
Im a tech fan and always will be! Loosing clinch has hurt more than i expected, and young and crintennton clearly arent ready for the NBA. That said we will get a true point guard who can bring the ball up the floor next year, maybe move jarvis over to the 2 guard spot, and with clinch and morrow coming off the bench to score this team will be very good next year! We can still do some good things this year, but looks like unless we win the acc tourney the big dance is out of the question.
By WFC
January 29, 2007 05:56 AM | Link to this
I agree with most of what is posted here but I don’t think that lack of effort was the problem. In the game I watched, GT absolutely pounded the offensive boards, a true indicator of effort. Tech’s usually decent shooters just had an awful game. I still say that Crittendon will be a very good point guard but is currently paying the price for having played against inferior competition in high school (“single A” level.)
By 2D
January 29, 2007 07:27 AM | Link to this
When will SOMEBODY rail Coach Hewitt???
Instead, the only shot at a Tech coach was directed to Chan Gailey. PLEASE!!!
Coach Hewitt is living off of one magical run. Assuming this team continues down the current path this is what he will have accomplished.
Coach Gailey has never had a losing season, never had a losing conference record, made a bowl game every year and since divisional play began never finished worse than third. Before that, never worse than a tie for fourth. Toss in an ACCCG appearance, a team that has improved each year and an upcoming top 10-15 recruiting class (which is much more difficult in football than b-ball) and I wonder which Tech Coach should be on the hot seat.
Keep in mind, the only Tech Coach that I believe actually earns his paycheck is Coach Hall. I am merely insisting that if people want to “Can Chan” the should probably think out “Pink Slipping Paul” first.
By Mike P
January 29, 2007 08:59 AM | Link to this
If Hewitt cannot turn this around and get an NCAA bid I think his future will be questioned here. One thing is for sure, Young and Crittendon are no where near ready to even think about going pro. I hope they are studying! This team should gel in the next 12 months (hopefully in the next 2).
By dave
January 29, 2007 09:28 AM | Link to this
I agreee that gailey has gotten all of the “bad coach” criticism whereas Hewitt seems to be the favored one. Look at his overall record and you will see that it is maybe average. Bobby Cremmins resigned with a better average than Hewitt. I think Hewitt knows basketball but cannot get his players to respond. It is time for the AA to recognize there is a deeper problem than saying we have a freshmen team. Any other coach in the ACC could have taken this team and won one of the away games. I hate to admit it but the UGA coach would have had a better record with this team than Hewitt.
By Ramble ON!
January 29, 2007 09:35 AM | Link to this
2D hit the nail on the head! Felton is by far the better Coach. I bet he’d leave the fleabags in a heart beat to come here. I think Jarret Jack, was the real ‘coach’ when we went to the NC game.
By splitatom
January 29, 2007 09:40 AM | Link to this
I watched most of the second half of the VT game and [disturbingly] noticed that when we tried to run our pitiful half-court offense, everyone was just standing around looking around at each other for someone to make a play. Sure is easy to defend that offensive scheme. Conversely, on the VT side, I see them running around under the basket trying to get open, setting screens, etc. Hmmm, are we: (1) out of shape? (2) too concerned with trying to run “set plays” in order to find our rhythm [that worked about as well as nailing jello to a tree] or, (3)are we waiting for an upperclassman to step up and save us [that won’t happen either]. I’m convinced that after yesterday’s pathetic performance we couldn’t beat a Div-II team. How many times did their guards drive in the paint, draw “everyone” to him and dish off for a dunk? We sure didn’t show much intelligence.
Also, Coach, instead of rolling your eyes and shaking your head on every bonehead play, maybe you should be trying to [positively] motivate your team that I promise you, WILL bring out the best in each individual. At this point, we need to somehow circle the wagons and try to salvage a very dismal season.
We looked like a bunch or Reggie Balls out there.
By O Verit
January 29, 2007 09:47 AM | Link to this
I have always liked Hewitt, but even before the 2004 season his teams have all displayed common characteristics that smack of poor coaching: chronic turnover problems, players that don’t seem to improve significantly from year to year, no half-court offense or set plays. Worse, ever since Marbury the hallmark of Tech point guards has been hot-dogging: crap like going between the legs or behind the back when it’s not necessary. I saw Crit get picked when he went behind his back against NC, it was beautiful. Hewitt is a good recruiter but is probably the worst game coach I’ve ever seen. Instead of adjusting when things don’t go his way, he rolls his eyes and puts his head in his hands. For those Hewitt apologists out there, ask yourself how his 2005 team, with virtually all the key players from the NC run the prior year, almost missed the dance altogether. He may have coached his way out of his dream job with the Knicks, which is where I hoped he would wind up. This team will definitely not be dancing this year, and look no further than the coach for the reason.
By We Suck
January 29, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Please lay off Gailey. I understand your point, but at least his teams have a philosiphy and they stick to it. Hewitt’s teams have rarely looked like they know what they’re doing. He needs to be fired now. He has a losing record in conference, and even his best teams were around .500. We have never had a dominant team with him. We were destroyed in the national championship game by UCONN, a team we had beaten earlier in the year. And as several have pointed out, look no further than the hack job he did with our team the year after the Final Four. What did he finish? 8-8? I could have coached that team to 11-5.
By maybenextyear
January 29, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Have you ever seen a team with so much talent be so consistently average. 2 blue chippers and solid veterans and we can’t buy a win. Paul Hewitt really has been exposed. We had a lucky run to the national championship in 04’ and since then we have done absolutely nothing. I would like to officially declare my allegiance to the Dawg nation. I am so tired of being a loser. I am embarrassed to have anything with a GT on me or my car. I am just glad we don’t play Georgia again. If they would have had Sundiata Gaines we would have got handled the last time. I would like to invite all other Techies to make the right decision and walk away from being an average, pathetic loser. I hate to do it but it has gotten to this point. So here it is, my official GO DAWGS! Man that felt good.
By GT80
January 29, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Coach H is still a fine coach, but right now he is struggling to find a combination of players who will do the right thing. I fault him from going away from his old philosophy of playing 10 guys, pressing continuously and always pushing the tempo. What happened to D Bell? And Mario only played 16 minutes? Also, I kept seeing Peacock adn Crit switching at the perimeter, only to have Peacock get beat off the dribble by a guard, then having Smith come over to block the lane and his man get a dunk. Geez guys, play tough D, fight through some screens and get on the boards. Unfortunately I don’t think Paul or the players are reading the blogs to get any of our words of wisdom.
By J Holliday
January 29, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
I just don’t understand why everyone wants to throw coach Hewitt under the bus here. How quickly we forget. This is the same guy who took a team that really wasn’t very good to the Final Four not long back. Coaches simply can’t wave a magic wand and make guys get it. I think Tech is lucky to have him. He is a class act. Put the blame where it belongs. On a group of kids that just simply refuse to play defense. Or on the lack of leadership (West, Dickey). It’s that simple.
By T-Bone
January 29, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Wow! I was completely shocked by that performance yesterday. After losing big to UNC and MD, I thought for sure the Jackets would come out with some pride and show everyone what they’re made of. Unfortunately, they’re made of cotton. I’m so tired of hearing about this being a young team (B.S.)! Look at Duke. Look at UNC. Even Texas, who lost all of their players from last season, is going to be a tournament team. Losing Clinch hurt Tech offensively more than Coach Hewitt wants to admit, but if you rely on offense to win games at this level, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Allowing a team to shoot 60 percent in your building is embarrassing and ridiculous. Right now, this team is playing like last year’s. The only difference is the higher expectations.
By crs
January 29, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
The two best players are freshmen and losing Clinch, far and away the best upper classman cost this team both depth and scoring. Also, Peacock being out for stretches has hurt as well on the interior. I thought preseason this was a borderline NCAA team. After the early tournament I thought they would finish in the top 5 in the ACC and be a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney. At this point, I think this is probably a 15/16 win team who can probably steal a game maybe two in the ACC tourney. Their RPI last week was 32 so if they can put together a modest winning streak, who knows. That early tourney really helped this team from a strngth of schedule standpoint. Its a little too early to throw in the towel. They are 2-5 in the ACC. 7-9 in the conference probably gets them in the NCAA. As far as criticism of Hewitt, its unfair, losing Jack to the NBA really hurt this team last year as did losing Austin to the Yankees. This year with three freshmen in the lineup at times, its tough, these kids have to learn. Give it some time and see how they close out the year. Look at UGA and GT in football this year, UGA finished with three big wins, Tech closed with three losses and the perception of both their seasons totally changed.
By TJS
January 29, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
We’ve given Coach Hewitt to do the job right,so far that has NOT happened. Oh how do we miss the days of old. Would someone call Bobby & beg for his return to Tech. The Bleeding has to stop.
By John
January 29, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
An NCAA bid seemed fairly assured after the Duke game? Are you kidding? If you knew anything about basketball, you knew Duke just had a very, very bad day. They have one of those a year. We seem to have many. We took 30 more shots than Va Tech today! 30! Needless to say, most of ours did not make it through the round hoop. I have written before about the fundamental aspect of the game - GETTING THE BALL THROUGH THE HOOP! Hewitt’s teams are not too good in this area. Free throws are awful too. Hewitt recruits athletes instead of players that can actually shoot the ball. Remember Mark Price, Dennis Scott? We need to get back to those days. Their are millions of high school basketball players. Can we not find 5 that can shoot the ball? Apparently we have an AD that will make us continue to suffer with Gailey as football coach. Hewitt needs to win every last game or I am going to suggest he be gone too! We are essentially in last place in the ACC as we were last year. Let’s give another coach a chance….we can get much worse.
By John
January 29, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Should say, ‘we CAN’T get much worse’.
By Old Dawg 55
January 29, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this
If you have the basic talent (and having read their recruiting resumes, we did) then it is up to the coach and staff to perfect those talents. Discipline with tactics developes a team…as much as the media and “analysts” like to take shots at Bob Knight, this is the type of coach that Tech needs to fully optimize our players. You can’t just recruit five and turn them loose!
By Ramble ON!
January 29, 2007 01:04 PM | Link to this
This VT game was very foreseeable. We don’t have a leader on the team because Mario West sits on the bench too much. He’s the only one who seems to want to, and he played 16 minutes yesterday?
Last year the team admittedly quit…that’s 100% unacceptable and the Coach has to take the blame. I can see it happening again.
By INcredibility
January 29, 2007 01:10 PM | Link to this
Hey - we can’t go anywhere from here but up, right?
By Tired
January 29, 2007 01:28 PM | Link to this
I think we all appreciate the type of man Hewitt is and respect the type of recruiter he has been, but isn’t it past time we look at what type of coach he is? He became the coach in 2001 and has made the tournament three times. During that span, he has had one team overachieve which was the 2001 team when he somehow coaxed points out of Darryl Labarrie, but lost in the first round of the NCAAs. We had the one great run to the finals, but got completely walked in the championship game almost to the point where we didn’t belong.
Other than that, nothing. He had the 2003 team with Bosh and Jack and Elder and Muhammad and all of the other pieces that would become the championship game team, plus Bosh mind you, and got nothing out of them. He had the national runner-up team and barely got them to the tournament where they got blitzed by Louisville.
He keeps saying that he didn’t have this team ready to play. Why? When will they be ready? We use the excuse that this team is young. Compared to who? West is a senior, Smith, Dickey, and Morrow are all juniors. In college basketball these days that is a veteran team. Doesn’t the bulk of the career outweigh one season? Doesn’t the chronic underachieving and poor, sloppy play outweigh what looks more and more like a fluke rather than a sign of things to come?
At this point, the recruiting doesn’t make up for the shortcomings on the court. And Felton is putting together some recruiting classes that are pretty good and those guys are actually producing.
By Harper
January 29, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this
At least Chan Gailey can win on the road!
We’ve beaten 3 top ten teams on the road in the past 2 years:
@Auburn @Miami @VT
By O. Verit
January 29, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this
I am so tired of this culture of mediocrity at Tech. Our goal should NOT be just making the NCAA every year. That should be a GIVEN…and it used to be the norm. Given the talent Hewitt’s teams typically have, they should make the tournament every year (at least a .500 conference record and 18 wins overall), and every 3-4 years see a Final 8/Final 4 run. I am sick and tired of hearing about how tough the ACC is…just take that weak crap out of here. We used to rule the ACC with teams far less deep than Tech. Besides, we’re in the ACC and it’s not changing anytime soon. I can understand an occasional off year, but this looks to be the second year of missing the dance altogether, and the third disappointing season in a row. I’m also equally sick of hearing Hewitt talk about our “young” team. Who ISN’T young! This is college ball, not pro…the superstars are only going to stay 2 years anyway before they bolt for the NBA $$$. Look how dominant Tyler Hansbrough was for UNC last year as a freshman. According to Hewitt, his players need 8 years to develop, so it’s not his fault. Look, I like him too, but he’s worse than Gailey…he’s reduced a perennial ACC leader and NCAA Tournament threat (and a favorite team of TV broadcasters) to a bottom-feeder. I cringed yesterday every time the announcers talked about how we were getting consistently beat in the half-court offense, and how our guys weren’t moving without the ball. I like Paul Hewitt too, but he’s simply not getting it done…when we miss the dance this year, he needs to be shown the door. I am O. Verit!
By crs
January 29, 2007 02:44 PM | Link to this
I think some of you need a reality check. Cremins had losing records three of his last four seasons, when Hewitt took over it was abysmal. This great reputation Tech has? Since when? Georgia Tech has never had the reputation of a Duke or Carolina, they have had some fine moments here and there but this has never been a consistent winner. Tech is a middle of the pack ACC team. Get over your delusions that this has been some storied program like a UCLA, it hasn’t. Hewitt isn’t a Roy Williams but he isn’t a Ron Jirsa either. Perennial ACC leader and NCAA threat, hahahahahahahahaha, when was this? The thriller dome is hardly the dean dome. Have a reality check about your coach, your programs history and your facilities.
By 2D
January 29, 2007 02:45 PM | Link to this
J Holliday… Are you kidding??? The team that went to the Final Four had very good players. Jarett Jack was a first round pick, BJ Elder was an all-ACC selection two years in a row, Luke Schensher was on the Bulls roster at the end of the season and the roll players like Marvin Lewis, Clarence Moore, et all played very hard. Not to mention, they played together, fought on defense and assumed their roles for the benefit of the team.
The current rendition does none of the above.
Coach Hewitt’s best coaching job was his very first year… He took a bunch of scrubs and got them to the tournament. The next year he took a bunch of freshmen and Tony Akins and nearly got them to the tournment with a second half push. After that it has been a little bit of excellence (the beginning and end of the 03-04 season) and a whole lot of heartache.
I never realistically expected this team to make a run to the Final Four, but I did expect a top 4 ACC finish and a run to the sweet sixteen. Quite frankly, I wonder if this team will finish with a winning record. If not, I fully hope and expect Dan Radakovich to begin the search for a new coach and when he is found to pink slip Paul Hewitt.
By 91Wreck
January 29, 2007 03:42 PM | Link to this
One other depressing thought - if Brad Sheehan isn’t good enough to be on the team this year (when Dickey and Smith are absolutely terrible) how bad must this kid be?
I don’t think we can expect a repeat of the 2004 season in 2008(assuming TY leaves - and right now it sure doesn’t look like he is ready for the NBA) for the following reasons:
I hope I am wrong.
By 90 Jacket
January 29, 2007 04:04 PM | Link to this
This is a poor coaching job, period. End of discussion.
Also, TY might go NBA just so he doesn’t have to put up w/ the negative press and losing seasons. Yes, he isn’t ready but he isn’t getting any better playing at Tech. And any richer either……
By MS
January 29, 2007 05:00 PM | Link to this
Lets remember a couple of things about the 04 squad. With Moore, Lewis, Jack, Bynum, and Elder, they could put 4 SHOOTERS on the floor at anytime. They all had to be guarded. Hewitt doesnt seem to understand that you cant run an offense when only two guys can shoot and have to be guarded. To echo what was said earlier, that is a recruiting issue. Great athletes who cant score and cant hit free throws are an offense killer. I really question the ability of the present staff to see what is needed in a hoops athlete. You look at the current UGA squad, and it doesnt seem like you can leave anyone open on that team, and they get guys open all the time. Why cant we???
By GT Fan Jeff
January 29, 2007 05:15 PM | Link to this
The current state of the GT mens basketball program is probably the result of ONE of the following:
(1) Every team we have played the past three games is apparently MUCH BETTER than they were rated. (2) GT is apparently MUCH WORSE than they were rated. (3) Paul Hewitt is doing a poor coaching job.
I vote for number 3, but what do I know, right?