AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > February > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThings coming together for Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Georgia Tech is primed to break upward. That wretched road losing streak, spanning almost two calendar years, needs to go away, and it should soon enough. The Jackets are getting a sense of themselves. These past three victories — all in Atlanta, the latest over Connecticut in the Georgia Dome — bore the look of a corner having been turned.
Here was Jim Calhoun, UConn’s Hall of Fame coach, on the Jackets’ defense Sunday: “Quite frankly, we couldn’t make a basket … They locked us up and didn’t let us run stuff … For a team that gives us 48 percent [in field-goal percentage defense against ACC opponents], they didn’t play like that.”
March Madness in Atlanta:
Check out the AJC’s Final Four pageThe Huskies didn’t make their ninth basket until the game’s 28th minute, by which time they were 17 points in arrears. This was a game both teams needed for NCAA resume-building — “Whoever won was going to benefit,” Calhoun said — and Tech seized it.
Calhoun on his team’s youth and why it’s no excuse for losing: “No. 1 [for Tech] — and I know his name — he made plays, and he’s a freshman. The young guy from Tennessee, he made plays.”
UConn recruited both Javaris Crittenton, No. 1 in your program, and Thaddeus Young, who’s from Memphis. They signed with Tech, and there was your difference Sunday. Those two are so gifted that, on their good days, they lift everyone around them. The Huskies, who a year ago had so much talent they didn’t know what to do, now conspicuously lack a Crittenton or a Young.
Tech has both, and bit by bit the Jackets are grasping how to blend youth with seasoning, stars with role players, offense with defense. “It depends on the night you catch us,” coach Paul Hewitt said. “Some nights we look like a great team, and sometimes you think, ‘Are they even being coached?’ “
Clearly, these guys are. After losing at woeful Wake Forest, Hewitt found two bench guys - D’Andre Bell and Alade Aminu — willing to hustle and make plays. Bell scored six of Tech’s first nine points Sunday, and Aminu had three first-half assists. Hewitt also promoted Anthony Morrow to the starting five, and suddenly Mr. Catch-and-Shoot shows signs of becoming an offensive player of some versatility.
Morrow scored 10 points in 2 1/2 minutes to break open the game before halftime. The first six were standard-issue — he hit a trey from the corner off a curl and made three free throws after being fouled by Jerome Dyson — but the final two baskets were revelatory. Morrow drove the baseline and shot off the dribble and then, on the next possession, scored off a post-up move.
“I felt like I had to be aggressive in every way possible,” Morrow said, and his assertiveness stood in stark contrast to the stagnant way the Jackets lost to Virginia Tech and Wake two weeks ago. Even without Lewis Clinch, there are a slew of good players on this roster. Even with freshmen as their leading scorers, the Jackets still have everything they need to play in the NCAA tournament.
Everything except a road victory, and that’s about to come. The Jackets play at Florida State on Tuesday and then at Duke five days later. (And the Dookies have already lost three times at home.) Tech seems poised to take either or both.
Said Crittenton: “We’re putting the pieces of the puzzle together. We know we haven’t gotten a road win in a good minute.”
Hearing, Hewitt laughed. “That’s slang — ‘good minute.’ He [the questioner, who in this instance was me] isn’t that young. He might not understand.”
Actually, the point was rather clear. After four consecutive losses, each more egregious than the last, Tech has gone to work. And now it needs 40 good minutes in Tallahassee or Durham and it will be positioned to make something big happen come March.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Final Four, Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
Comments
By ben
February 11, 2007 08:18 PM | Link to this
Not so fast. They didn’t look as good as UConn looked horrible. Let’s take ‘em one at a time and not read these press clippings. Bradley will be waiting in the wings to rip you up once you stumble- which could be against FSU or Duke…or both.
By Wrek
February 11, 2007 08:34 PM | Link to this
GT is awesome. I love GT. They’re improving every game and going to the NCAA tournament. Sweet!
By gt student
February 11, 2007 08:48 PM | Link to this
Ill take the win. The future looks bright, but the turnover situation must be addressed. Good defense today. Can’t wait to see the Jackets surprise some people in the coming month.
By little ben
February 11, 2007 08:57 PM | Link to this
How anyone, even the most diehard Tech nut, could have the rocks to predict a Tech road win at FSU or Duke is beyond me. I’m a fan of this team, but until they win away from GA, I’ll still be a skeptic. We must finish our season no worse than 6-3 (and that includes a win in the first round of the ACC tournty) to make the Dance.
By Bill
February 11, 2007 09:24 PM | Link to this
Obviously, they have to win at FSU or Duke this week. Both of them are in dire situations. Actually, Tech has a better chance at Duke right now. Win one of those and 8-8 will be within reach. This 8-8 will have quality wins if they get there and will be enough to get a bid to the NCAA. Their RPI and SOS will rise after the last six, especially with a 4-2 close. The ACC will get 7 bids..and it will be a dogfight with 5 teams for those 3 last bids. Would really help if Georgia and Purdue win a bit more.
By Bill
February 11, 2007 09:47 PM | Link to this
I am cautiously optimistic about the Jackets at this point. They still must prove they can win a road game and there are two great chances to do just that this week. Nice contributions being made from Bell, Aminu and others. Let’s make a run to the tourney.
By noel malone
February 11, 2007 09:47 PM | Link to this
Let me join the “not-so-fasters”!!! This bunch still has a hard time getting into an offense. Tech looked good because UConn looked bad. Crit is good - thank goodness. Thaddeus has a lot of maturing to do. It would be foolish of him to go pro after this year. I’d settle for 3-3 the rest of the way, and maybe an ACC tourney win. 20-12 should get us into the NCAAs.
By John
February 11, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
A huge win? U Conn stinks! UNC beat Wake Forest by 37 points yesterday! Wake beat us by 10! Do the math. We won’t be winning at FSU or Duke. FSU just lost a tough one at home today to BC. They are ticked and definitely will not lose 2 in a row at home. Bad timing for us, huh? And Duke has lost 4 in a row so they def will want to kick our butts when we arrive. Bad timing … times 2!!
This game was brutal to watch. Even the announcers said so. And Packer said what I wrote in here weeks ago. Our team is filled with athletes but no real pure fundamentalist when it comes to the game of basketball. Hewitt needs to lay off the track stars in the future and recruit some Mark Price’s and JJ Redding’s.
By HelluvaEngineer
February 11, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
While UConn played absolutely horribly, and I admit GT did not look exceptional, there are still a number of differences that one has to feel that the team has “turned a corner”:
(i) defense has picked up… especially interior defense. jeremis smith has really played well defensively forcing a number of turnovers. (ii) the jackets are FINALLY getting the ball inside on the post and have something that at least resembles an off-the-ball offense… the punchline: they are taking higher percentage shots (iii) they are finally playing with the intensity that they ought to be playing with; I think Aminu has done an exceptional job since Hewitt has gone to him; he is seemingly rail-thin but plays much bigger (thanks to that sick wingspan!)
In all, there are signs the team is finally starting to gel. Of course, it’s all moot unless they get >= 1 road W coming up; they may need 2. At least 7 games left (including 1 ACC tourney game); IMO, if they go 4-2 in remaining ACC games, they are in great shape.
By Reid
February 11, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
Who is JJ Redding?
When you can’t correctly name one of the most overhyped players in recent ACC history AND you quote Billy Packer as an authority on non-NC-basketball (if you’d quoted him about JJ Redick, you might have something because he’s such a Dook homer), that’s just bad commenting… times 2!!
No need to set up the WFU-UNC-GT comparison: we lost badly enough at Chapel Hill on our own. But that team three weeks ago was much different from the mix of players we have on the floor now, the players playing 40 minutes of defense and actually passing the ball.
Why does everyone just assume that because a team shot poorly against us that they are bad? Dook and UNC have been making headlines for twenty to forty years by making teams shoot poorly - by playing defense. Congratulations to a maturing Jackets squad - Bring it on home!
By Tech Fan Mike
February 12, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this
LOL @ GT will win at FSU and/or Duke. I’d love to see it but let’s be reasonable. We couldn’t win at Wake Forest, who is just puke awful. I’m talking worst team in the ACC over the last three or four years awful. If we can just go 1-1 against FSU and Duke I’ll be shocked.
By Go Jackets
February 12, 2007 12:32 AM | Link to this
UConn is a very good defensive team and a good rebounding team. Everything else about UConn is awful, but those two parts have been good every year.
Not every team will have a 7’3” guy inside and lead the Big East in blocks. Now, if only we didn’t lose to Miami and Wake…
By HelluvaEngineer
February 12, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this
While it’s early to say so, I don’t think it is fair to compare this team with the team that played at Wake. Even more so, I don’t think it’s fair to Wake to compare them to Duke.
Wow… ESPN “Bracketologist” Lunardi has an unprecedented NINE teams in from the ACC including the Ramblin’ Wreck as an 11 seed. Can’t read anything into this now given the fact that we HAVE to win at least one road game, but could you imagine NINE teams from a conference in!? The best part of this is that nine teams would negate the rule that no teams from a conference can play each other until a regional final! How great would that be to see an ACC-ACC sweet sixteen matchup…
By YouSayItAll
February 12, 2007 02:04 AM | Link to this
I find it slightly amusing that, in trying to find a standard of comparison, no one forgot that Tech lost to Wake, but seemingly everyone forgot that we already beat Duke. I’m as skeptical as the next person about our team winning on the road, but try and remember Tech’s history. I recall one year, not too long ago, when Tech had but one road win before 2/19. That season we went to the final four, and along the way we won at Duke (breaking the nation’s longest home winning streak at that time, somewhere around 40 games, I don’t remember exactly). Duke was also a final four team that year.
Granted, these are not the same jackets as the ‘03-‘04 team. And I would give anything to see Luke dominate the post like he did in the final four against OSU (19 points, 12 boards), or see Jarrett Jack hit clutch baskets like he did in the ACC tournament win against UNC (17 points, including the game winner with no time left…down by one he hit a 14 foot floater in the lane…it was a thing of beauty). There were guys like Will Bynum, Marvin Lewis, and B.J. Elder, who on any given night could step up and dominate.
Those guys may be gone, but they left a legacy that we can remember and the current jackets can regain. Crittenton is every bit the point guard Jack was, except probably more talented. Thad Young can take over the way B.J. Elder could, except he’s taller, faster and more versatile. The combination of Dickey, Peacock and Aminu gives us depth in the post, more scoring prowess, and more defensive ability than Luke could provide. Morrow is a better shooter than Marvin Lewis was. Jeremis Smith is a better defender that Ish was. Mario West is a better “energy” guy that Clarence Moore was (granted, Moore was a better shooter, but he wasn’t clutch - he bricked a wide open three to win at the end of the first OT in the loss to UGA).
The point is, this team has the depth and the talent to be every bit as good as that team was. So what’s the big difference? This team is a year early. We made a lot of rookie mistakes at the beginning of the season. We turned the ball over. We didn’t play defense or hustle. We couldn’t break the press.
To anyone who has watched the recent games…when was the last time you saw Tech turn the ball over because they couldn’t break the press? It’s been at least four games.
We learned from the losses and are ready to make the stretch run. Are we good enough to beat UNC? Probably no. But we can beat an FSU team and a Duke team, two teams we’ve already beaten, and can come home knowing we’ll only have to go 2-2 to finish the ACC regular season at 8-8. And that’s enough to make it into the tourney.
And if you still want to harp on the Wake loss, remember it came 2 days after the loss to VaTech, we had lost 3 in a row, it was on the road, and it was an 8 o’clock tip on a Tuesday night. That’s tough for a kid of 18 or 19 years of age, regardless of the opponent.
Hopefully it won’t be so tough this Tuesday.
By Nono
February 12, 2007 06:25 AM | Link to this
I had a dream last night I was late for Calculus class again and all these brilliant asians who never went to a single damn game were staring at me as though I was the idiot, but all I could think of was, you nerds are busting the curve, get out of my class. Just like it was ‘84 all over again when we beat UConn in the final four match up.
Have some faith, the committee will pick Tech and it will be a higher seed than we really deserve——-if we play decent in the ACC tourney that is. Please, all I ask is don’t do an Atlanta Brave move Hewitt——lose in the first round and then brag about 15 years of championship runs, duh Cox you really should have put it together at least half a dozen (thats 6 for UGA students——-as in the number of dollars per hour you will receive in your first drive-thru job out of school ) times. And no, you don’t deserve the Hall of Fame.
By WFC
February 12, 2007 06:29 AM | Link to this
It’s a strange year in the ACC. Thereis only one “great” team (UNC)but every other team in the conference can be tough to beat on a given night. NC State is living proof with victories over upper echelon teams (VT & UNC) with GT beating them right after. I would love to see “challenges” between the ACC and any other conference right now.
GT is a year away from being a very good team but has the opportunity this year to build a strong foundation for a very strong run in 07-08. Memphis is everyone’s darling right now but many people seem to forget that GT hung 65 points on them in the second half earlier this year, a foreshadowing of what’s to come. Also, give Hewitt some credit for developing the role players (Aminu and Bell) that every good team needs.
By jacketnation
February 12, 2007 06:46 AM | Link to this
Good job Jackets
By theedge56
February 12, 2007 07:18 AM | Link to this
I am glad they won and continued to show the tenacity on defense over the last three games. The win helps to show how the ACC middle stacks up with the Big East middle and will help Tech in the quest for the dance. They must win road games to help ease the selection committee’s conscience about the Jackets. The game in the Dome counts as a neutral site game.
The two things that continue to be a constant are the turnovers and spacing/movement in the half court. About half of those turnovers in each game are unforced errors normally caused by guys trying to make the spectacular pass or play. The commitment to move continually in the half court and using offensive spacing to spread out the defense need to be the same as the commitment to defensive intensity.
By T
February 12, 2007 07:49 AM | Link to this
I am glad Tech won, and give my congratulations, but the truth is, both teams looked terrible.
By Bobby Cremins
February 12, 2007 08:28 AM | Link to this
Nice win, and there are signs of improvement, but we are young and we need to lower our expectations for this year. If we make a run at the ACC or get to the big dance fine, but there should be no disappointments with the fans this year.
The win over Duke, Clemson, and UConn are huge, but basically indicate the team is talented and improving, but they are not national title contenders, YET.
Hewitt is a solid coach and will continue to evaluate his players, and take this program where it needs to be in 3-5 years in terms of competing for a national title (barring players jumping to the NBA).
He is doing a solid job of recruiting and coaching, and needs to be extended another 5-10 years, easy.
What’s the good word?
By coach
February 12, 2007 08:37 AM | Link to this
Billy Packer is the most negative announcer on TV. He thinks the game hasn’t changed since he was a guard at Wake Forest about 100 years ago. Georgia Tech finally played great defense which is what Coach Hewitt has been trying to teach these young guys.
Packer thinks the only way to win is to run a half court motion offense and outscore the other team.
Next time you watch a game with Packer calling it, make a chart and find out how many positive things are said about anyone.
By GTA
February 12, 2007 09:31 AM | Link to this
to little ben: Anyone that doesn’t have faith in his home team to win a game on the road, however difficult it may be, is not a true fan.
By HelluvaEngineer
February 12, 2007 09:57 AM | Link to this
Being that I was at the GaDome, and refuse to buy TiVo, what exactly did Packer (and Lundquist) say yesterday? Anything interesting? I am for the most part not a Packer fan at all… I’d rather have Bill Raftery calling the FF… hel1, I’d rather have Aaron Neville call the FF.
HUGE game wednesday… go Jackets!
By DisplacedHusky
February 12, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
As a UConn fan, let me just say UGH! We looked awful.
However, it appears to me that both of these teams are struggling. I disagree with Coach Calhoun that Ga Tech’s defense stifled UConn. The Huskies didn’t attack the basket even though there was ample opportunity to do it and didn’t get set in the post (although Tech deserves credit for pushing our big man, Thabeet, around).
UConn’s guards weren’t squaring up to the basket and weren’t moving enough.
Tech’s D was good, but it wasn’t lights out. There were holes. UConn just didn’t take advantage of them.
See you in the NIT!
By GT Booster
February 12, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
I’m making the trip to Tallahassee tomorrow — I really feel like we’re going to get a win.
In my opinion, they should allow all the ACC/SEC/etc teams in the Big Dance with a winning record. There’s no way Tech is not a top 64 team EVERY year. (How hard would it be to have a play-in game for 65 to 128. Those teams are very unlikely to go more than a couple of games anyway — and it would give more teams and players a shot. It would also do away with the decisions to punish a team for being in a good conference — or even for being in a poor one and getting upset in their conference tourney.)
They could also pick LESS than 128 any year they think there are not a great enough number of deserving teams. (Which would probably be often.) This means there would be no “fence sitters” and all deserving teams would make it.
By DisplacedHusky
February 12, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
GT Booster — good luck in Tallahassee tomorrow!
I hear what you’re saying about the NCAA Tournament. UConn certainly would be on anyone’s list of teams from 1-65. But that’s not the point. It’s a chance to put the top teams in a bracket with teams from other divisions and other conferences and then see what happens.
Sometimes you’ll be surprised that a relatively unknown school has a better team than you think even though they wouldn’t be considered one of the Top 65. (See George Mason v. UConn, 2006).
Generally all of the teams with winning records in the big B-ball conferences make it (ACC, SEC, Big East, etc.) But if that was a rule, there wouldn’t be room for the George Masons, UW-Milwaukees and others in the tourney, which is what makes it interesting. Expanding it to 128 would water it down, IMHO.
I think Tech and UConn will both be very good next year, but this year, we probably aren’t Tourney teams (although I think Tech still has a shot).
By Bill
February 12, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
Displaced Husky…honestly, your team is a shadow of its former self due to defections to the draft. UConn can not shoot, they have trouble scoring inside and they are lousy FT team. However, you have the makings of a good team because of your defense. The kids will get better and the NIT will good for this year’s squad. Seems you like the taste of sour grapes because you may not see Tech in the NIT with you. At this stage Tech has a much better chance to go to the NCAA’s than most of your over hyped conference. Tech has work to do in order to make the NCAA’s, but it might be in the best interest to UConn to actually schedule a competitive early season game in order to prepare your team for the real difficult part of your schedule. Then maybe you could talk NCAA”s with some justification. Remember, eat those grapes slowly. The bitterness ruins your digestion.
By ben
February 12, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
You’re right, GTA, we’re going to the finals! Now, does that make an idiot like you or a true fan?
By Lovemydawg
February 12, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
When you beat a team that has lost 9 of its last 13 it is STUPID to say things are coming together.
By Ron
February 12, 2007 01:23 PM | Link to this
Anyone know where to view the Tech basketball roster? Went to the Tech site and they still have the 2006 football schedule and roster. A little behind, I’d say. Saw some basketball stats, etc. but no roster.
By T-Bone
February 12, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this
Lovemydawg, it’s not just the UConn game that has people optimistic. We beat a Clemson team that was the last unbeaten in the nation, and an NC State team fresh off victories at VT and against UNC. It’s also the WAY we’re playing at this point in time. The defense has improved and there is more of a sense of urgency. The players are working harder and playing well together. Does this mean that we are headed to the NCAAs? Of course not. It means there is reason for optimism.
By KneeJerk
February 12, 2007 01:37 PM | Link to this
ramblinwreck.com has player profiles
By Rick 91
February 12, 2007 01:44 PM | Link to this
It’s exciting and frustrating to watch this young team grow. They have improved exponentially over the past few weeks.
They control their own destiny regarding the NCAA tourney. So if Tech turns out to be a 11 or 12 seed, do you think any 5 or 6 seed wants to play Tech in the first round?
Probably not!
By Jeff GT
February 12, 2007 01:56 PM | Link to this
This was not a huge victory. GT played a mediocre (at best) UCONN team and GT’s outing was just as medicore. I still don’t understand what their trying to do offensively.
By steve
February 12, 2007 02:14 PM | Link to this
Dukes recent losing ways, especially w/a pair of home losses, does not bode well for the Jackets when they visit Durham soon. Hope I’m wrong.