Tech

By GT

February 28, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this

You don’t see too many sumo wrestlers waddling out there on the court though God knows in those baggy clothes there might be one or two, you never know now days. You think about Cremins and his thin line of 5 or 6 players and you wonder how these guys could ever get tired. Whatever at the end of the game they look ropadoped and in the ACC that is when the good get going. Anybody see where Mark picked Scott and Anderson on the all time ACC players list and left out Price. And talking about Scott how did that fat man last a whole game and these guys are looking gassed coming out of the locker room after the half?

By WaCoJacket

February 28, 2006 06:18 PM | Link to this

Thanks Matt for looking into my “slow down” question. I know most teams do it, but we suck when the young guys slow down. I wish we would keep the pedal to the medal until we get a 30 point lead or so. We get close to 20 and slow things down and give our leads away.

The don’t looked gassed to me. They look lost when trying to run set plays and intentionally trying to melt the clock. It’s like all 5 guys are taking turns looking at Coach Hewitt and then throwing the ball out of bounds (or carrying/walking/etc)

By toemeetsleather

February 28, 2006 07:20 PM | Link to this

coach hewitt has the jackets primed to sweep thru the acc tourney and make the jacket nation proud in the ncaas…SHOCK THE WORLD……..GOOOOOOOOOOO JACKETS!!!!

By Haywood Jablome

February 28, 2006 07:50 PM | Link to this

Tired? No. Bad? Yes.

By Ty

February 28, 2006 10:12 PM | Link to this

Haywood….the ‘bad’ ship has left the dock….signed, sealed, and delivered.

I concur that this young team struggles in the slow-down. I attribute it to two things:

1) The defenses have a better chance to react to the slower offense (which is why fast break points come more easily), and

2) The old ‘no point guard’ logic. Not going to waste time outlining this one (again), but it goes without saying that having a ball-handler who can single-handedly handle typical defensive pressure is invaluable in the ‘slowdown’ mode (remember those ‘4 corner’ offenses of Dean Smith? It wasn’t the Dougherty brothers handling the ball!)

For the ‘stretch run’ (win or lose), I’d like to see 40 minutes of running and trying to ‘out-hussle’ and ‘out-run’ the other guys.

By arktechfan

March 1, 2006 12:22 AM | Link to this

since you are running low on material, perhaps we should take a look at next year, with Young, Crit, Peacock and Sheehan coming on board. We’ve got eight players coming back next year, plus the above four makes 12. Who among these are going to get playing time? Will there be a transfer or two? Dickey, Clinch, Smith, and Morrow appear to be a lock, with West and Fredrick getting plenty of playing time. Working Young and Crit into this group will be no problem. Where does that leave Bell, Aminu, Peacock and Sheehan? What do you think, Matt? Anyone else?

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 08:11 AM | Link to this

Good Blog again Matt, here are my thoughts. I don’t personally think they are tired, save for maybe one or two guys maybe on certain games where they play more than they are used to. We seem to have such depth, I can’t see us being tired really.

Good post arktechfan, here are my thoughts.

With Theodis gone, I see Aminu stepping in and getting a few of those minutes…with Dickey and Smith getting the lion’s share (still)…then Peacock and Sheehan getting a small amount their freshman year. Sheehan in particular looks like he needs many moons to pass and gain some weight and strength (listed at 6’10”, 200…very thin :)

I agree West will see many minutes along with the 4 sophs, clinch, zam. I think we’ll see Young and Crittenton worked in pretty quickly, but only if they are working hard and things mesh (/prays for great mesh).

I think that leaves us with Bell and Paco to talk about. I think Bell is another Mario West type guy in that he hustles and there will always be pleanty of minutes for a great hustler on a PH team. Every time someone starts slacking and resting on their mad skillz…we’ll see Bell. I am not sure why we haven’t seen more of Paco lately, maybe PH is working with him on some things…but he was a decent distributer and plays great D…which I also think will find him some minutes.

In closing?…sounds like I think everyone will play…and with the amount of guys waiting to play………..the guys on the floor better hustle or they will seeing the Pine.

looking forward to the new blood and the Sophs going to Jr……and I see West having a great year.

By mickey

March 1, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this

Someone needs to tell “toemeetsleather” that there is no such thing as a “jacket nation”, there is only the “nerd herd” which constantly tries to break out of its corral but never escapes because the herd members all go in different directions and constantly fight with and work against each other. This is just another year of no NCAA championships for the herd, just like all the other years.

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

mickey mickey mickey – you brought down the thunder all by yourself.

Now, allow me to educate you on a real athletic program.

Recent History: Our basketball team went to THE Championship game a couple years ago, no small matter of being the 2nd best team in the land…has UGA ever been even as good as 2nd best?…no. Our Football Team has one at least a share of a National Championship in the past 15 years, can UGA say that?…no. So much for recent history in the big two sports.

How about being respectable? It took over 120 years for Tech to see it’s first probation, even then the NCAA said it was “inadvertent�. UGA has had much more serious punishments and much more often.

How about the history of the Athletic programs? Well in just over 120 years, Tech has won twice as many National Championships in Football…and gone farther than UGA in Basketball…UGA can’t compete. Tech holds the record also for the most lopsided football record in history of 222-0, UGA has nothing comparable.

How about Coaches and innovative contributions to the sport that every team has tried to emulate since? - Let’s talk about John Heisman, if you don’t know what he looks like, you might come to Tech and see his statue near where the men play Football. What did he do while at Georgia Tech: Invented the Center Snap (somewhat important, I think you guys copy us still on this one), Helped Lead the campaign to legalize the forward pass (you guys ever pass the ball much?…oh you can thank Tech for sharing that tip with you), career winning percentage of .799 at tech, he was the first coach ever paid (so you can thank us for coming up with the idea of paying a good coach also)…shall I go on?

It’s laughable dude, Tech owns you and your history. Just because you have been able to cheat your way to victories and stealing ideas for years from us is no reason to brag. I understand in recent years you folks have had a pretty good football team and have even found a way to beat us, but let’s not remember who taught who how to do such a simple thing as snap the ball then pass it. Respect your elders and you’re off to a good start. Remember we have had more impact in college football and basketball in recent years than you…and years ago we taught you how to simply play the game….so save your Tech bashing for another century when you have something to brag about that amounts to substance and history.

By Bradley G

March 1, 2006 12:25 PM | Link to this

GATech92, c’mon. Why are you opening yourself up for a flood of “information” from UGA fans? Yes, your information is right…to a point. You provide info that is small in stature in comparison to UGA’s accomplishments overall. You mention real athletic department? How about UGA’s being the only school in the country with four of its sports programs being #1 in its sport right now. You want to compare UGA football to Tech’s? Why not compare the last 25 years when using the 15-year term? B/C it makes your program look better. You’re right about the overall basketball program. But I, too, can manipulate the numbers and say UGA has owned Tech in basketball the last couple of years. Don’t open up this Pandora’s Box, my friend. When the dust settles, UGA has more sports accomplishments than Tech hands down.

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

Bradley G - the answer to your question of why would I say those things is this “because I was defending my School after mickey was trying to knock us down”.

Yes, I am aware of UGA being good in some sports. I am really only interested in Football and B-Ball though, both of which we have a richer tradition of than UGA, so I illustrated this fact.

Also, why would I talk about things that UGA is better at?…that wouldn’t really serve my purpose of defending my school against slams would it? It would be like my coming to a UGA blog, dissing you guys, then in response you tell me how great Tech is…not-a-gonna-happen.

For the record, I know and respect many UGA people and I never go out of my way to put UGA down, unless someone comes here to this blog and does it to Tech first. It’s called payback…and my facts were pretty significant I think…unless we want to talk about GymDogs, TennisDogs or other /yawn sports.

By RamblinWreck04

March 1, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

Sure these guys are bad to watch, but if I’m not mistaken….Tech was in this situation when Elder and those guys came in. Two years later and they were in the Nat’l Championship. It will get better eventaully, so all we can do is wait for next year.

By jackets fan

March 1, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

If the problem is fatigue, then how would doing more conditioning help them out? If you can’t lose 6 pounds playing 30 minutes of basketball every 3 days, plus practice in-between, then it aint going to happen. Plus, with Tech’s lack of size down low, Jeremis needs to be as strong as possible. Actually I think part of the problem is Hewitt’s constant substitutioning. A guy goes in and a minute later he comes out. He needs to stay with a lineup for longer periods of time (foul situation permitting). It’s kind of like a gas tank in a traffic jam. You waste more stopping and going than you do if you are going all out for long stretches. Plus it would promote some continuity on the floor. Having played basketball before, I know that it is discouraging to go in the game only to be pulled out after a couple of possessions, before you have an opportunity to contribute.

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

If we don’t loose people to transfers…and everyone keeps working hard…these guys are going to be AMAZING together…super deep…super talented…super JACKETS!!

good point RamblinWreck04

By RamblinWreck04

March 1, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

Maybe this team wouldn’t be so “tired” if thats the word if Hewitt would put some of his other bench guys in. From what I hear, Aminu has a scholarship… and he doesn’t play. They should just put him and others in for some “learning minutes” to give the other guys a break.

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

jackets fan -

I’ve wondered about that myself. The angle I wonder about is “getting in the groove” or “getting the feel of the game” or “getting warmed up” etc. I see that he substitues sort of offense/defensive guys on dead balls, which makes sense…but what are people thoughts on this? Is being substituted so much more of a negative (flow of the game) or positive (rested in theory)?

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

RamblinWreck04 -

I have just assumed that Aminu and Diaw haven’t earned Coaches confidence enough to get much game time this late in the season. They were getting some minutes earlier in the season, so I’m guessing he has been working with them on some important things before getting them back in the game at important/tight/acc games.

Does anyone have any insight on why Aminu and Diaw haven’t seen many minutes of late?

By RamblinWreck04

March 1, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Yeah, I do. It comes down to the issue of substitution. Yeah, sure they’re young and inexperienced but in 3 years they will be the top class at Tech. But if they don’t get game experience, they will be right where they are in 3 years….bench warmers.

By RamblinWreck04

March 1, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this

right where they are now in 3 years (last sentence).

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this

It will be fun to watch and see how it all unfolds. I’m still a believer that we can make a run in the ACC Tourney (yes it’s a long shot), stranger things have happened.

By GM

March 1, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this

It would be amazing to get 2 wins in the tourney. 4 is unimaginable. Tech has shown numerous times they can play with anyone in the country. Problem is…actually winning games hasn’t been figured out yet.

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this

I agree with what your saying GM, but I have blinders on and believe we can doooo it!!

By GM

March 1, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

Once the players start believing they can win, they should be really good. Can I borrow your blinders?

By Ga_Tech_92

March 1, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

I just had a dream. How cool would it be to have a PG come into GT with the goal of breaking both the all time assist per game record (KA at 6.98) and the all time steals per game record (MP 1.9)…then stay for four years to blow out the all total record for both stats.

Hey, these blinders are AWESOME, here try them out!

By GTBYNC

March 1, 2006 07:00 PM | Link to this

Diaw and Aminu don’t get as much playing time b/c of 2 reasons….GT is too deep at 2 guard and small forward. Clinch is a scorer and Frederick does nothing but play 2 guard. We are three deep at the positions Aminu and Diaw play, plus they still make freshman mistakes more often than the others. (while I am not an expert on PH and have no first hand knowledge, it is MY OPINON that they are still playing too young to gain valuable floor time. Therefore, he explicitly limits their time on the floor until the mistakes can be remedied. yes, the others make mistakes but not as often when comparing the number of mistakes made to time on the floor. The cream of the crop has risen to forefront and the folks that garner the majority of playing time now is the future of GT.

By Ga_Tech_92

March 2, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this

GTBYNC - That is basically what I thought, but Aminu is more a PF/C than small forward. We are a little thin at PF/C (like most teams), so I expect to see him when people get in foul trouble/injuries/next year after Theodis is gone. Paco got a start at PG and can play either position, but we have a ton of guards your right.