AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRandom thoughts on Saturday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Whether Tech was playing Wake Forest or not, the Yellow Jackets did several good things Saturday. Here are some random thoughts:
** It was good to see Anthony Morrow put the ball on the floor more than he has been recently, particularly in the second half. At one point in the second half, he drove the left baseline, and made a sharp pass from under the basket to Dickey in the lane for two easy points. Morrow also shot four three throws in the second half (when he scored 13 of his 16 points), which is half as many free throws as he took in the previous eight games combined.
“I think he’s been thinking a little too much,” coach Paul Hewitt said. “That’s probably my fault because we’ve been going over some things on tape, little breakdowns that he hadn’t been making until the last three of four games. You start thinking too much and all of a sudden your feet slow down, and your body is not as aggressive.”
Said Morrow: “The thigh injury was kind of in my head, but I think I had to be mentally tough those two days after the Duke game and get my head back where it was. I think in the first half, my head was still a little cloudy. In the second half, coach talked to me and tells me he wants me to be a great player, and make that transition from being a good talent to a great player.”
** Lewis Clinch can be more than just a solid scorer. He has a chance to be quite a consistent threat in the future, on both sides of the ball. He not only scored a career-high 20 points, but had three steals, four assists and five rebounds.
“The thing I talk to him about all the time is, he’s a great athlete,” Hewitt said. “I always remind him, ‘You’re a great athlete and you can make great plays off the ball. I don’t think he can understand just how much ground he can cover off the ball, especially when he’s on the weak side.”
** Another freshman, D’Andre Bell, played his best game in a while, scoring eight points on two of four shooting and four of five free throws in just 12 minutes. He also had two steals. He’s got a strange-looking release, but if it goes in …
** Mario West scored just three points, including the game’s first basket when he drove right to the hole. More importantly, he had six assists, no turnovers, four rebounds and a blocked shot (right after his basket at the other end). Guy’s a major hustler.
** Other than Eric Williams, particularly in the first half, Tech defended quite well. Wake shot 21 of 60. Players other than Williams shot 12 of 43. Some were out-and-out misses when open, but in the past two games against Tech, the ACC’s leading scorers, J.J. Redick and Justin Gray have gone 5-of-21 and 5-of-18.
** Wake stinks. And not for lack of talent. Problem is, their talent is almost all seniors in Williams, Gray and Strickland. They REALLY lack a point guard, and have almost no cohesion. Several times, mostly during deadballs, coach Skip Prosser would call a play from the sideline, and Gray would shake his head. That’s not a good sign. That’s got to be one of the worst cases of underachievement in college basketball this season. They don’t have the youth card to play, either.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Categories: Basketball
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By WaCoJacket
February 27, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this
Matt,
Can you get some answers on the slowdown offense as we’re trying to salt away games. Our team isn’t very good at this. Can we get some dialogue on why we keep doing this if all it does is reduce our leads and lose games.
We keep trying to low things down at the end of halves and games. It seems to make our team tighter rather than the expected result. We play much better when the flow is not interupted by offensive calls and players watching the coach. They seem to get tighter and play into mistakes.
By GT
February 27, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
I think Gray has got the NBA’s on his mind. I’m sure he talks to his backcourt mate from last year and hears the good stuff about the league and can’t wait to get out of Winston Salem. These coaches make the big money to try and keep the college kid from leaving and making big money. In many cases they are not into the education part themselves yet try to con the kid into sticking around 4 years and getting his degree. “I’m just thinking of the kid.” When a coach started making a million dollars a year, he stop thinking of the kid. That article about the Georgia men’s basketball coach and his clothes made me want to puke, but then maybe some of them should dress like pimps; that’s what they are all about.
By WDog
February 27, 2006 06:11 PM | Link to this
I don’t think any Tech fan should be throwing the word pimp around these days.
How many times have we seen an intentional, dirty play from a Jacket this season? The latest incident was a wicked—and intentional-elbow to the face from Jeremis Smith Saturday.
It appears Paul Hewitt has a certain type of athlete in mind in his recruiting strategy these days. Let’s just say individuals who probably have a tough time finding their way to the library and likely won’t be on the Forbes 500 list in ten years.
By GT 94
February 27, 2006 07:24 PM | Link to this
A dawg talking about student athletes at Tech not finding the library or making the Forbes 500 list? LMAO! How many dawgs have been arrested in the past two weeks? One that was an underage, intoxicated athlete that was found passed out on a toilet in an Athens bar!
Please, do everyone a favor a head back over to the leg-humper blog.
By Rambin'Man
February 27, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this
These kids are progressing and I wouldn’t be surprised if GT went along way in the ACC Tourney. I agree that we have to find a way to close out games and the coaches need to find a way to relax the kids when they get a big lead. Time outs and play calling disrupt the game, but are a necessary evil. Youth breeds many ways to lose a game. Only time and maturity will cure what ails us.
I am very excited about the future of Tech basketball.
By Ga_Tech_92
February 27, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this
WDog, that was really weak.
Everyone else, AMo looked smooth on the FT line. I would love to see him getting more.
Loved Clinches game and do most of the games. Mostly because he has great skills AND hustles.
I really like our inside guys and as they get used to each other they are going to be really nasty to contend with. Who can guard Dickey? How does Jeremis out rebound his opponent when he is always giving up height? Theodis, props for staying for years big fella, solid player.
Mario West is going continue great play for us I think and his hustle and hopefully continues to be contageous more and more. Bell is a solid player. These guys driving for layups and dishing out to the shooters *closes eyes dreaming
Shooters?…Amo..Clinch, wam BAM thank you ZAM…we have guys who can shoot the ball.
What’s up with Dickey lately? He has been settling for somewhat long jump shots lately. I appreciate that it’s awesome that he can nail them, but comeon….pound that ball inside big fella! Use that jump shot to pull the defense in then drive past for a Shawn Kemp like Jam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The crowd goes crazy…Jackets Win!!!!!!!!
By Jefferson
February 27, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this
Tech is bad and they will be lucky to win one more game this season. Saturday’s game was one of the worst college basketball games I have ever seen. The game on Saturday featured two very poor teams. Period.
By Mike
February 27, 2006 09:37 PM | Link to this
Well, while you may feel Saturday’s game featured two poor teams, Tech did win by 15, and the margin was absolutley reflective of the play on the floor.
I am hopeful this represents a surge by this team. The talent is there, they have NOT given up (which is impressive and a testament to the coaches and the kids) and it would be nice to develop more confidence with success in these last two weeks.
Next year…watch out folks!!!!!!!
By Jefferson
February 27, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this
They are on a roll now!!! Wake and Tech are two very poor teams with RPI ratings of 113 and 139, respectively. Sorry if I like my college basketball to be entertaining. I am not a “homer”, so I am just telling it the way I saw it. Next year won’t be much better in basketball or football, in my very humble opinion. But here is some good news…I just saved a bundle on my car insurance.
By Senior Citizen
February 28, 2006 05:19 AM | Link to this
Too bad you didn’t spend some time at the Holiday Inn Express last night.
By Ga_Tech_92
February 28, 2006 10:19 AM | Link to this
Riddle me this:
When was the last time GT had 2 incoming 5-star recruits?
After 1 5-star this year (LC).
and followed up by 1 5-star commit for the year after already also…
anyone? anyone?
By gt80
February 28, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
Here’s a trend worth noting. Against Wake Zam played 13 minutes less and shot the ball 8 times fewer than in the Duke game. We must keep Mario running the point to keep this team moving. Too bad it’s taken all year to figure this out. Zam is the Gaileyball equivalent on the bball court, a slow plodding offense, unfortunately he can’t play Gaileyball like defense.
By GT
February 28, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this
Hey Jefferson, I hope you drive better than you think or that insurance is going to be canceled real soon.
By toemeetsleather
February 28, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this
jackets have the acc right where we want them…we have a great shot of taking the acc tourney then watch out ncaas….coach has really brought this team along…GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Jefferson
February 28, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this
Keep your shirt on GT 92. This year Tech basketball is Bad. Next year, we will just have to wait and see. Hey, with all those stars coming into the program, GT might just become the next Duke University. Just think, then Tech can be what it has always aspired to be… a basketball school. Maybe they will even hire Ted Roof after Gailey leaves?