AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRough road awaits Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech’s point guards combined Saturday at Maryland for 28 points, 10 assists, five steals and five turnovers and the Jackets still lost.
That’s an ominous sign to say the least.
When Coach Paul Hewitt gets that kind of production out of Mario West and Zam Fredrick (although occasionally they were on the floor at the same time and one played off the ball), Tech has 10 fewer turnovers than an opponent, and holds the other team’s top player (Nik Caner-Medley) to half the 20.1-point average he’s put up over the previous nine games you wonder: what’s it take to win a road game?
The Jackets are 0-9 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites as the Centenary game was played near Centenary, but not on campus, apparently. (I would consider the Georgia loss as a neutral site, personally, because it was at the Gwinnett Arena, but I don’t think it’s being counted as a neutral site game by the school.)
Anyway, it’s no secret why Tech lost. The Jackets had terrible issues inbounding the ball in crunch time, shot poorly (41.1 percent, 28.6 percent from three-point territory), and mismanaged timeouts again, similar to the UNC game. The most disappointing thing is that 11 of Maryland’s previous 13 opponents hit 40 percent or better from three-point land, and Tech - which generally shoots the three fairly well — hit six of 21. Morrow was two for 10. Ouch! Since hitting their first nine treys at UNC, the Jackets have made just six of 29 (20.7 percent).
Neither Fredrick or West (or anybody else) could solve Maryland’s pressure early in overtime when trying to inbound. A couple times, the inbounds pass went all of three or four feet across the baseline, to a player with his back more than 90 feet from Tech’s basket. I’m not Dr. Naismith, but when that happens, it seems to me that all it takes is two defenders to stand shoulder-to-shoulder behind the pass receiver, and he’s stuck. He can’t turn and split them because a foul will be called. He can’t dribble out of trouble right or left because the ball or dribbler will probably go out of bounds. Likewise, passing lanes left and right are very limited when that tight against the baseline. Beyond all that, off-the-ball players aren’t moving very well to get open in those situations.
Maryland hit just one of five field goals in overtime, but that one hurt. Ekene Ibekwe drove the lane off a sideline inbounds pass, dunked, and got fouled (D’Andre Bell becoming the third Jacket to foul out). Then, Ibekwe made his free throw, part of an 8-0 overtime run.
Maryland hit seven of nine free throws in overtime (when Tech hit two of two).
Overall, the free throw disparity was more normal by far than the UNC game, as Maryland shot 34, Tech 24. In regulation, Maryland shot 25, Tech, 22. It wasn’t like the UNC game, or heaven forbid, Northwestern’s loss at Ohio State Saturday where the Buckeyes took 30 free throws and the Wildcats just two.
But it was enough to matter, for sure. That’s going to happen on the road more often than not. Tech still could’ve won this game, though, with a couple more field goals (Tech hit 30 of 73), or at least by inbounding better in overtime.
It gets no better. Duke arrives Wednesday.
Gotta figure out how to hold onto a timeout or two until the final minutes of games and/or overtime. And if Jeremis Smith has a shot at the basket again like he did at the end of regulation, even though D.J. Strawberry did a heck of job getting back to get in the way, he either needs to go for the rim and hope for a basket/foul, or stop-and-pop. Kicking it outside to another shooter (Fredrick) won’t very often fly with time running down like that. Mike Jones blocked that shot to force overtime.
Interestingly, Jones moved into the lineup a few weeks ago when one of Maryland’s best defensive players (can’t recall his name) became academically ineligible. “I saw [Fredrick] wide open, and I knew D.J. was [inside],” Jones said. “I tried to get back as fast as I could. It feels good because I’m known for offense (he scored a team-high 21 points), but tonight my defense played a big role.”
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By MATT
February 20, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this
They played UGA at the Stegasourass, not at Gwinnet Arena. CHeck your facts. UGA played GA. State at Gwinnet Arena. They may have counted the Air Force game at a neutral site, because that was moved off campus.
By Matt Winkeljohn
February 20, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this
Matt, you are correct. Ga. played Ga. State at Gwinnett. My mistake.
I wasn’t covering the team then, and screwed up.
Matt Winkeljohn
By old Tech Fan (in NC)
February 20, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this
re DOOK…I’m sure JJ will be trying to score another record…If I could design anything for this game, I would box and one on JJ and worry him to death/at least make him anxious/and make the other dookies beat us. If we play our normal (?) game, they WILL! The season is already in the hole, so have some fun with this game.
By GT
February 20, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
Tech played a team to overtime on an away court, that kicked them pretty good at home,only a few weeks ago, that’s improvement. This team has some talent, Hewitt has said it and you can see it. Watching Duke last night against Miami they used the pick much better in the back court to get ride of a defender. Our guys leave too much room between them and the pick, where the defender can get between the pick and stay on the ball handler. It drives me crazy to see all the Tech players rushing up the backcourt to get in position for the offense and not looking back to see if their teammate needs some help. It’s like a parent not watching his kids when they are playing near traffic.
By David Duncan
February 20, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this
The Duke game is a no hoper. Put it in the book, Duke wins by 25 or 30 points. Tech has won its last game(over NC State) this season.
By K
February 20, 2006 06:06 PM | Link to this
Tech still has a shot for one more win since they have a home game against Wake Forest who is the only team that has looked worse than Tech this year. This will be the game to decide last place in the ACC and a chance to avoid losing to Duke in the ACC tournament.
By David Dummy
February 20, 2006 06:06 PM | Link to this
Hey, said the same about the heels game…
By MATT
February 20, 2006 07:36 PM | Link to this
Hey “K”
The Jackets are actually placed pretty nicely in the ACC tournament
By MATT
February 20, 2006 07:45 PM | Link to this
What i was really trying to say, before my post was added prematurely, is that the jackets are looking pretty good (in terms of draw, not play) heading into the ACC tournament if they can actually hold onto the 11th seed. I think that means hopefully beating Wake or Clemson, and then losing the rest. 4-12 ought to be good for the 11 seed. As the 11 seed , you would open up in with the 6-11 matchup, which could be FSU, UVA, MD, or Miami, all winnable games. If you win that, you would advance to play the 3 in the quarters and 2 in the semis if the brackets where true. Any of those I would consider winnable games in a down acc this year. As the 11 or (10), you would not have to play DUke until the CHampionship (hopefully someone knocks them off). As you can see, its better to be 10,11,12 seeds as opposed to 8 or 9, because you avoid the Dukies. WIth that being said, lets be realistic, its a long shot. YOu heard it here first.
Dook 88 Tech 61
By ND
February 20, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this
The students will get to storm the court Wed night.
By arktechfan
February 20, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this
Previous Hewitt teams have been notable for improving as the season goes along. Has this team really improved? Is Morrow really up to ACC play? Not only was he two for 10 from three, but two of those misses were in overtime, during which he committed two fouls. In addition to Morrow, can you say that Smith has improved? Is Hewitt instructing them and they are just not getting it? I’d like some comments. Finally, its looking like 4-12 to me, and what’s all this talk about doing well in the ACC tournament?? Such optimism!!!
By Jim O
February 21, 2006 07:58 AM | Link to this
being at the MD game, it was frustrating to see GT consistantly go to the corner for an inbounds pass while under a full court press. MD basically gave them that pass and then doubled teamed, and GT fell for it every time - forcing them to have TO’s - turnovers or time outs. You would ‘think’ they would have learned after the first one, two, three, etc, times it happened!
By GT
February 21, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this
Hewitt has proven he can coach, the question of whose to blame has to go on the players. Danm it’s like watching Ball play basketball. The coach thinks he has got the point across and can advance to other subjects and boom, the athlete transgresses back to the same bad habits that we thought were in the past. Sometimes talent makes the head harder. The individual talent makes the team secondary, he thinks he can do it by himself. This young team has too many players that fit that desciption. At a place like Carolina or Duke the player comes there to fit into a system, maybe not the case at Tech.
By crs
February 21, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
Take heart, the yellow jackets will have a fine team next year and will push for an ACC title. Jackets were one player, Austin Jackson, away, this year. Hewitt has done a nice job since his arrival. Zam will look mighty good as a sixth man scoring punch next year.
By Rags
February 21, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
To GT. I like Coach Hewitt, and I hope he stays at Tech. But I don’t know if the facts support that he “has proven he can coach.” I totally agree that much of the responsibility rests with the players. Great description - it is like watching Reggie Ball play hoops. But I am beginning to think Hewitt is a Bobby Cremmins type of coach - get a lot of raw talent, throw it on the court, and hope they can sustain two or three great runs per year. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it drives you crazy. It is absolutely not a recipe for consistent, winning basketball. This year he has a bad team, and does not seem to know what to do to remedy the situation. Yes, he went to the final four. But he also went 500 with the third pick in the NBA draft. Remember, Bosch was quoted as saying there was nothing left to learn at Tech. Translated, that means there was no offensive strategy that consistently put the ball in his hands when games were on the line. Not much has changed - we still do not have an identifiable offensive strategy. Hewitt himself has admitted he didn’t do a very good job last year. And we all can see that this year’s team is either not being coached, or (much more likely) not responding to that coaching. When a team does not listen, learn, and improve, that is coaching - just not good coaching. Finally, he does not think it is his responsibility to motivate 19 year old kids who are losing heart right in front of our eyes during their difficult apprenticeship in the ACC. Again, I like Hewitt and hope he stays, but I also think he has a long way to go to become the coach we want him to be. I think things will get better, but they would get better faster if he was a better coach. Just my thoughts.
By KD
February 21, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this
to:Rags Coach Hewitt can coach he just doesn’t have a point guard. In the ACC, you must have a point guard to win in this league, that has been true since the 40’s and 50’s! And in terms of Chris Bosh, he lefted not because of nothing to learn but he was a top draft pick. If you believe that comment then Forte, Gilchrist, and host of other early entries similar comments were believe by you!! Tech will get back to their winning ways come eight months from now when a true point guard steps on the FLATS!!!
By Rags
February 21, 2006 04:49 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the comments, I enjoy the dialog.
Yes, I agree, Tech needs a point guard. We really need two of them. But in my opinion a point guard on this year’s team is not the only problem that needs to be solved. Far from it. Right now Tech is not a good team, and a single player, no matter how good, would not make them a good team. Yes, Chris Bosh left because he knew he would be a high draft pick. But he choose not to stay because he was disappointed in the offensive philosophy - i.e. he felt he did not get the ball in critical situations. That is not my opinion, it’s what he said. Just look at the record that year. My point is that based on the product that is on the floor right now, both the team AND the coach need to improve. Just adding a point guard is not the simple answer. I think it ignores the other problems. I sincerely hope they get better, and I am confident they will. I just think if Hewitt were a better coach, they would get better faster. Again, just my thoughts. Hope to chat with you again.
By KD
February 21, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this
Once again, you do make valid points RAGS!!!If you are a top three draft pick staying makes no sense, but that doesn’t really help this year team so I will get to the point. Yes, there are a couple of problems ( defense, lack of shooters, and size in the middle) but, having a TRUE point guard helps cover up most of those problems. The first year BJ, ISH, and LUKE were at TECH, they did not have a point guard their record was worst then this year. Jarret Jack first they won eight ACC games in a row and finished 8-8 in the ACC, and we know what happen in the third year. So, having a TRUE point guard makes a world of difference!!!.