AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTime running out for Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The screen story I alluded to Friday that was to run Sunday was pushed back to Tuesday for reasons too convoluted to bother with here. Stay tuned for that.
Tech played better against Virginia Tech, by far in some areas, but shot horribly, both because if the Jackets’ wide-ranging impatience in trying to get the ball inside either for a scoring attempt or a kick-out pass. Plus, they ran into a good team whose backcourt played really well.
Virginia Tech’s in first place in the ACC for good reason. Zabian Dowdell is really, really good at controlling the pace of the game, the Hokies are ridiculously patient in working their offense, and hey, they beat North Carolina and won at Duke.
You look at their early season losses (neutral sites to Western Michigan, Southern Illinois and Georgia Washington), plus at Marshall (two of these losses by a one, another by three and one by five), and you see how improved they are now and that might be a source of hope. Then again, they fell on their face early.
Georgia Tech’s running out of time to keep falling.
Tech’s not going to win often when Javaris Crittenton shoots 19 times, nor when the inside games is absent offensively. Don’t be shocked if Zach Peacock replaces Dickey at Wake Forest.
I’m no basketball wizard, but when teams double and trap Javaris (North Carolina and Maryland did this a lot, VT did not, instead doubling down more often perhaps because their staff figured Tech would prepare for the former and to save wear and tear on their guards as well), Tech’s offense can hardly get started.
What would happen if he moved to the shooting guard position and West ran the offense? West isn’t going to draw all those double teams, methinksnot. Would that open more passing lanes?
I know nothing. Just ruminating, to use everybody’s favorite word.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball
Comments
By Burdell's Brother
January 29, 2007 04:19 PM | Link to this
Sounds good to me, what else have we got to lose?
By tony
January 29, 2007 04:51 PM | Link to this
It’s time to face reality gang…Tech looks like a YMCA team against some of the better teams. You can have all the talent in the world but if you can’t bring them together, that’s falls on the coaching staff. Perhaps we would be better off without Hewitt. It appears he is just biding his time for the Knicks job that is sure to be vacant at year’s end.
By jjgrogan
January 29, 2007 04:53 PM | Link to this
The real fun in sports is over coming adversity and come backs. So, we have a chance to have some real fun. I’m really pulling for the coaches and players to author a great story here and get things going in the last 10 games, the ACC Tourny and the NCAA. Winning is fun and losing sucks, so I know all these guys are hurting now. I hope they have the character, drive and make the effort to reach their full potential THIS YEAR! Go Jackets!!
By me
January 29, 2007 04:58 PM | Link to this
GT could still beat the Hawks in a seven game series.
By Burdell's Brother
January 29, 2007 05:02 PM | Link to this
Tony,
I know the Knicks are not the smartest organization in the world, but who would be stupid enough to hire him coming off back to back losing seasons??? Nice analysis!
By Matt Winkeljohn
January 29, 2007 05:48 PM | Link to this
Update:
Dickey to remain in starting lineup.
Matt
By Charles
January 29, 2007 06:23 PM | Link to this
Not to throw away this year, but… Next year may be like the Final Four year. We may lose Thad Young (like Bosh), but we will gain Lewis Clinch (Will Bynum?). GT will once again be predicted at the bottom of the pack in the ACC, however, we will have a couple of key seniors in Dickey and Morrow (like Clarence Moore and Marvin Lewis) for experience, plus a more comfortable sophmore PG Crittenton (like Jarrett Jack). I guess what I’m trying to say is that time is not running out; in fact, we need to give this team MORE time to develop.
By scott
January 29, 2007 06:52 PM | Link to this
I agree with Tony. Hewitt has said his dream job is to coach the Knicks. Also, the Knicks obviously don’t care about who they hire or how much they pay them. Isiah Thomas stunk as a coach and single handidly ran the CBA into bankruptcy. Turning the franchise over to an uneducated ex athlete with a previous history like that, the Knicks could not do any worse.
By 85jacket
January 29, 2007 09:03 PM | Link to this
My daughter’s 11U AAU team understands the man-to-man defense better than these student athletes.
By Go Tech!
January 29, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this
I like hewitt and hes a great coach, but if he leaves for the Knicks id like to se bobby cremins back!!!
By Ramble on!
January 29, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
Hewitt blew his chances at the Knicks job. Even the Knicks aren’t that dumb.
Reality has been slapping me in the face since last year. That was the worst Basketball at GT since Dwayne Morrison. This year is on the brink of becoming last years.
Mario West seems to be the only one playing with any heart. Sad and painful to say.
By Scooter11
January 30, 2007 08:30 AM | Link to this
A little off the subject, but condolences to the Tech family for the loss of John O’Neill. Every school needs its major supporters from the “Old Guard”.
By cltgtfan
January 30, 2007 08:48 AM | Link to this
Ok, time to get off the can Hewitt bandwagon. 3 losses in a row (all to ranked teams and 2 on the road) does not spell the end of the road for a good coach. Yes there are some obvious struggles and yes much of that ultimately falls on the coaching staff, but to think that really good coaches do not go through things like that from time to time is ridiculous. Hewitt has a lot to figure out to get this team headed in the right direction, but I for one think he will ultimately be up to the task.
By SouthGAGTFan
January 30, 2007 09:29 AM | Link to this
You guys that want Hewitt gone are a bunch of idiots. Be careful or you might get what you wish for, and after a few years you will be calling for that coaches head as well.
I’ve never seen anything like the faction of GT fans who are never happy. For crying out loud, CPH took us to the pinnacle of college basketball just three years ago and now you want him gone? That is what I call a true fan!!
By INcredibility
January 30, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Charles, I agree. And I’d rather start at the bottom, ranked last in the ACC, and surprise everyone than start off ranked in the elite only to fail miserably as the season goes on. It’s more fun being the underdog! If that’s our place next year, so be it. I’m not really counting on anything spectacular happening this year. And that’s ok.
By INcredibility
January 30, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
P.S. - I agree, SouthGAGTfan, let’s not throw Hewitt under the bus here. He has done a lot for our basketball program. Whining about him makes us look like … well, like the UGA fans who whined enough to have Felton complain to SEC officials. Sheesh.
By ND
January 30, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
One trip to the FF does not make a great or even good coach. We have every right to ride Hewitt. His teams stopped improving the last month of last season. I will be at the game tonite and the worst part is I fully expect to be disappointed. I like PH but at some point the team has to play like they have some sort of idea how to win…and that has to start w/ the coach. This team has gotten worse as the season has progressed. How is that possible??
By yurtle_the_turtle
January 30, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
I like Hewitt too, but his teams have been riding backwards the last two seasons and don’t show any signs of getting better. This year’s recruiting class was suppossed to make us better but hasn’t. Next year’s class isn’t highly touter, so I don’t know what to expect. Listen, Hewitt coaches in the ACC. That alone should bring in a good crop of recruits but he hasn’t really dented the talent level than much. I am not calling for a change yet but in two years from now, if things don’t improve…..
By John
January 30, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Be careful what we wish for? He came from Sienna! Do you think the teams that play in Sienna’s conference are the same caliber as the ACC? He is WAY over his head and it shows. We are not idiots….we are realists.
By ben
January 30, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Point guard. It’s all about the point guard. If you ain’t got one, you lose. If you got one (Chris Paul), you win. It’s that simple.
By GT Fan Jeff
January 30, 2007 02:43 PM | Link to this
The current state of the GT mens basketball program is probably the result of ONE of the following:
(1) Every team we have played the past three games is apparently MUCH BETTER than they were rated. (2) GT is apparently MUCH WORSE than they were rated. (3) Paul Hewitt is doing a poor coaching job.
I vote for number 3, but what do I know, right?
By yellowblood
January 30, 2007 06:02 PM | Link to this
This is the worst team Hewitt has put on the floor- not talentwise but togetherness-wise. They act as if they have never seen each other. No movement in half court either defensively or offensively. A non-existent low post game on both ends.
By dave
January 31, 2007 05:30 PM | Link to this
The only thing that Hewitt does well is to hold up a finger or fingers which I guess is to signal a play. The point guard passes the ball the same as Reggie Ball. He can’t find a receiver. I think the players are beginning to look like quitters.