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Thursday, February 16, 2006
Someone cry foul
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got to be short again, so I’ll get to the point:
Tech had to overcome more than Tyler Hansbrough (who’s an out-and-out beast) Wednesday night.
It’s a little weird to point out the 17-7 discrepancy in fouls in the first half since Tech led 50-30 at one point, and 55-42 at halftime. But that affected the way the Jackets were able to defend, and Hansbrough didn’t have to work nearly as hard on defense (often guarding Theodis Tarver) as Ra’Sean Dickey was limited to five first-half minutes by foul trouble.
If not for the gap in free throws (allowing UNC to shoot 16 of 21 in the first half to Tech’s eight of 11), the Jackets might’ve led by 25 or more. They were moving the ball and shooting it well, and UNC’s defense was lazy at best.
Dickey played just 17 minutes, scoring 13 points. If he plays 30, even 28, that’s quite a few more minutes where Hansbrough has to work on the defensive end. Plus, Dickey would’ve scored more and offered more inside-out balance.
None of this accounts for the Jackets’ timid offensive approach over the final 14 or so minutes (especially the final eight); nor their 19-10 rebounding deficit in the second half; nor the fact they had two assists and 10 turnovers in the final 20 minutes.
All the shooters went cold in the second half when the Tar Heels got in their faces. Tech didn’t adjust well and UNC did.
From my still limited experience I can say I expected, of course, UNC to have an edge at the foul line, but this was ridiculous. Hewitt to his credit said very little about this last night or this afternoon. He didn’t have to.
I don’t want to take away from Hansbrough, who, in addition to being ACC freshman of the year, will be a first team All-ACC player. He’s unreal. With and without the ball, he moves very, very well for a big guy. He also has a work rate that’s unmatched by anything I’ve seen in a long time, has some touch (although he didn’t use his jumper much last night). He’s very strong, too.
Yeah, he’s that good. Hewitt said Tech didn’t recruit him out of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
“If he was going to come to the ACC, he wasn’t coming to Georgia Tech,” the coach said. “He was either going to go to Kansas or Missouri, his local schools, or he was going to go play at North Carolina. Roy Williams knew his family from when he was at Kansas. He was recruiting the kid when he was at Kansas. He wasn’t one of those kids who fit in our program.”
Later,
Matt
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