AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 14
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Weird week at Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Seems like a weird week. Tech’s getting ready to play a game that, while not meaningless, doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, and for the right reasons. Obviously, the Jackets’ present ranking and future rankings stand to benefit from what would be win No. 9, and their bowl standing could be affected too. Maybe. Even if, no, don’t even think it, say things don’t go right Saturday against Duke, if the Jackets win in Jacksonville in two weeks, they’re in a BCS bowl.
Lose in two weeks, and, well, who knows? But their prospects would be made better by each win between now and then.
There’s a school of thought, of course, that quarterback Reggie Ball might benefit from a game off, that having a chance to mend would help the Jackets in the long run, you know, when they need him more. That’s not Chan Gailey’s school of thought, though. And so it goes.
I don’t think the Jackets’ other injuries are especially problematic (PR Tyler Evans, DT Elris Anyaibe, possibly) TE Michael Matthews.
As for basketball, gee, Tech looks pretty good. Sure, the schedule’s been soft so far, but the Jackets have done what good teams need to do in games like the first two, rolled.
Having a bonafide point guard makes a huge difference, having more talent helps, having competition at several spots sure doesn’t hurt, and an increased energy level is good for everybody.
As impressive as the freshmen are, and they’re mighty impressive, nobody’s jumped out at me more in two games than Ra’Sean Dickey. Talk about highly motivated? Coach Paul Hewitt says he didn’t start Zach Peacock to send a message to Ra’Sean, but one got sent anyway.
I think Hewitt’s plan to have a nine-man rotation where nobody’s guessing at their role is a good move, too, although it could see it shrinking to eight for some ACC games.
The 10th man, D’Andre Bell, looks kind of stuck without a position for the time being. He’s played a little in each game at No. 3 PG, but I don’t know if he’s got the handle for that spot. D’Andre can play, but I wonder if he’s not a two or a three. What do I know?
