Tech

By pm

November 10, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this

Great Class of Recruits GT ! Coach Hewitt and his staff have done a commendable job coaching and recruiting. We are looking forword to this season.

By kudzu

November 10, 2005 05:18 PM | Link to this

I am stoked about not only this season, but the next season (with these new recruits), and especially the apparent direction of the program. The past couple of years were obvious building blocks for the basis for an outstanding RoundBall program; and playing in the final four has an obvious impact in recruiting. This is a process that is perpetuating. It’s going to be awesome competing in the ACC, and NCAA Tournament year after year, hopeful to land a Title.

By GreenJacket

November 10, 2005 07:08 PM | Link to this

Hewitt is an amazing coach and person. I think Tech’s basketball season will be better than predicted. The future looks very good.

By Gordon Pfeiffer

November 10, 2005 07:40 PM | Link to this

One thing I like is that Hewitt is evening out his classes. He inherited a senior-laden team when he came here and so lost a lot the next year. 4 years later (this year), the same thing happened. The last two recruiting classes have 4 players each, as does this next one. So we should avoid drastic losses in the future.

I saw the Jackets play last Sunday in an exhibition game and they are very athletic and talented. We will struggle some early because we are so young and they need to learn to play defense, but if we stay healthy we might keep our NCAA string going since the ACC is down somewhat this year.

I agree with the other posters that the future looks very good with Hewitt at the helm.

By wes

November 10, 2005 09:11 PM | Link to this

Recruiting is EVERYTHING in college basketball. Face it, if you’ve got the next MJ coming to your school, you’re going places.

It’s not necessarily the same thing with football. Football is more scheming and gameplans. Having a good recruiting class in football only makes it easier. However, it isn’t the end-all be-all of your season and seasons to come like basketball.

By bob montag

November 11, 2005 02:13 AM | Link to this

Actually, good coaching in roundball counts for just as much as in football.

You see mid-level basketball teams upseting “top tier” teams or even becoming a top tier team themselves by coaching.

Hewitt is a good example. We now see that getting to a Final Four with a team which was limited (not enough scorers) was a feat. And he faced an OK State team that was a winner because of Sutton(OK, a sleezebag, but a good coach). The other 2 teams in that Final Four had BOTH:

outstanding recruits and good coaching. Which is where Hewitt has now gotten GT. But talent with mediocre coaching (read: FSU, UFla, St. John’s, Texas) never gets far.

der tag

By GTMBA

November 11, 2005 03:38 AM | Link to this

Eddie Sutton made mistakes many years ago at Kentucky, but he is absolutely NOT a sleazebag. He is a class act, a hall of famer, and produces great teams every year with modest talent. Please show some class yourself by refraining from such insults.

By fasteddie

November 11, 2005 08:15 AM | Link to this

I would say that envelopes full of cash (wasn’t it to Kemp?) are not small mistakes. He is known as one who bends the rules. He is NOT in the hall of fame yet for that reason. He is the Barry Bonds of basketball coaching. Great record, but how did he achieve it?

By fasteddie

November 11, 2005 08:17 AM | Link to this

Was anyone at the Clemson football game when the camera put Hewitt on the big screen. He receiced a huge applause and Gailey just stared at it, knowing full well that won’t happen to him.

By Robert

November 11, 2005 12:31 PM | Link to this

I like Hewitt a lot - classy guy and a good coach. Wish we could get the same for football.

By Anthony Serna

November 11, 2005 09:08 PM | Link to this

Since day one, Hewitt has run the program in a way that any AD would relish. He wins, and he wins clean. I would rank Hewitt easily as one of the best 5 young coaches in America based on his total package. And give it up to his assitants, especially the two first-year guys, and Zaharis, who helped land the recruits. Paul is the man, but the fellas behind the man are key as well — especially considering he lost two of the key recruiters from his staff last year.

One question, do we have any more scholarships for the spring/late signing period?

By mtraininjax

November 13, 2005 10:50 PM | Link to this

Braine, you moron, Hewitt was/IS your best hire!

Challenging year for round-ball, but they will grow up fast, and heck 8-8 in the ACC would match many of the best teams in the ACC, I see a good year for 2005-2006, but an even better year next year! It really means something to a program that has a waiting list for tickets! Ahem, Chan…..

By T-Bone

November 14, 2005 02:28 PM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt, is, without a doubt, one of the classiest individuals in coaching at any level. I am a huge GT fan from Montana, and I had an opportunity to fly down to Atlanta for a game. Coach Hewitt set aside great tickets and wrote me a “Thank you” note for being such a loyal fan. How many coaches would do that? Not many, if any at all.

As far as the recruiting class goes, picture this starting lineup in 2007-2008: 1. Javaris Crittenton, 2. Lewis Clinch, 3. Thaddeus Young, 4. Jeremis Smith, 5. Ra’Shean Dickey. Off the bench - Aminu, Morrow, Bell, Sheehan, Peacock, Frederick. Tech is loaded for another run to the Final Four, and don’t count them out this season. The last time that happened, the Jackets made a visit to a little place called San Antonio.