AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDefense key to turnaround
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Paul Hewitt said he might start Anthony Morrow in place of Mouhammad Faye Saturday against Clemson yet also said he thinks the key to Tech turning it around will be defense.
Can’t argue that defense has been an issue, as the Jackets during their four-game losing streak have allowed shooting percentages of 47.3, 50.0, 59.5 and 54.3 percent. FSU hit them for better than 50 percent in the game before that too.
What astounds me most is the frequency with which opponents are getting to the basket. Against VT, it was everybody, including guards driving, but against Wake it was mostly the Deacons’ bigs, either Visser, Weaver or somebody else. Tech has been whipped on the defensive glass, too.
Wake missed just 21 shots Tuesday (out of 46), and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds or better than 50 percent of their missed shots. That’s a two-part ratio/recipe for disaster.
Tech’s had nine turnovers in each of the last two games so they’re not wasting as many possessions without at least getting up a shot, but they’re still not taking as many good shots as a team - any team - needs. In the second half against Wake, the Jackets were as good as in three weeks at attacking the basket. The results were big halves by Dickey and Smith, and Tech got to the free-throw line 22 times (as opposed to once in the first half). That HAS TO continue, especially since the absence of Clinch means this team can less often count on stroking jumpers for the bulk of its points.
Must win? I’d say so. Same with Tuesday against N.C. State, and next Sunday against UConn. All winnable if the Jackets show up and play with passion and purpose intertwined. Passion’s not going to get it done alone. Even if they play hard, but too loose, it won’t work. Clemson’s the league’s worst rebounding and free-throw shooting team. But then Wake is the league’s second-worst free-throw shooting team and they outscored the Jackets by 13 at the line Tuesday.
Comments
By GTFan
February 2, 2007 04:02 PM | Link to this
Let’s start talking football….
By ga_tech_92
February 2, 2007 04:26 PM | Link to this
Whoever wants to win the most, will win. Let’s see if they actually want to win bad enough to do it.
By Ramble ON!
February 2, 2007 04:32 PM | Link to this
You think by now, he might have a starting line up. Why don’t we just put their names in a hat, and draw five?
By Jim
February 2, 2007 04:35 PM | Link to this
I’m curious to see if they can beat a full court press this time around. I was at the game at Clemson, and it took until halftime and ~15 turnovers before they were able to get it right.
By 91Wreck
February 2, 2007 04:53 PM | Link to this
Did anyone see “Pros vs. Joes” last night? The Joes had to play Tim Hardaway in a one on one game. Time and time again Hardaway took the slow, lumbering Joes to the hole and scored with ease. It looked eriely similar to all of our defensive efforts of late. Maybe the Joes were really Dickey and Faye in disguise. LOL!
By OG-T
February 2, 2007 08:39 PM | Link to this
He-itt laughed off that we’re in desperation mode, and the season is going down the drain.
Bobby Knight is not the beacon of disposition, but I don’t think he’d be laughing right now. Or Coach K., or Roy Williams. Damn right they’d be serious.
If we lose, I just want to see the GT name compete with passion and effort from the players, and preparation and guidance from the coaches that gives the team a solid chance to win.
That’s not too much to ask, or laugh about.
By Lev Bronstein
February 3, 2007 12:08 AM | Link to this
“Whoever wants to win the most, will win’, says one writer above, an oft-heard and very silly cliche. There’s much more to sports than “will to win”, even if that were measurable, which it usually isn’t. All the good attitude in the world won’t compensate for poor offensive concept and poor defensive fundamentals. Tech’s defense is awful; many of the guys don’t react and move their feet when the ball switches sides, don’t help each other, and tend to play for low-percentage steals and interceptions rather than hunker down and do the nitty-gritty work of unrelenting man-to-man defense. They’ve improved only minimally throughout the season, though their base talent level seems as good as most, and if they don’t get better in the last month, I hope the AD will have a serious meeting with the coach about what changes need to be made to allow this group of players to perform more toward their potential. Hewitt appears to be an upstanding inidividual of unusual personal character, but whether or not he is an ACC-level basketball coach is an open question at this point. His record at Tech is very ordinary, perhaps less than that, and the credit earned by the improbable run to the Final Four (all against lower-seeded teams) will only cover mediocrity for so long. This is the 3rd disappointing season in 4 years, all characterized by disarray, inability to settle on a lineup, lack of offensive concept, and failure to improve as the season progresses.
I hope the last month brings evidence of cohesion and concept. If those elements are present, it will look like the team is ‘trying harder’, and - by the way - they’ll win a few more games too, which always has a positive effect on ‘attitude.’
By p
February 3, 2007 08:13 AM | Link to this
Defense is not the problem. Teaching an offense system is the key. Tech’s scattergun offense only works against bad teams that they tower over or can run past. How many passes can one team throw away on a break trying for the sportscenter dunk?
Why can’t Tech get an open 15’ jumpshot at the line? Why can’t they get a 12’er from the corner? Why can’t they set a pick?
Hewitt is a ‘recruiter’ not a good coach. That much should be obvious by now. Talk about lack of defense now shows he can’t coach either end.
Break out the Jim Harrick tapes out to find out how to turn kids that NO ONE wanted into a NCAA tournament team. I’d never recommend him, but the man could COACH.
Another top 3 recruiting class. Another year sitting at home in March for Tech. And yet another year for a .500 coach.
By OG-T
February 3, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
Let’s get “Lev” and “p” from the entries above, I’d jump in myself, and I think we would have a coaching staff that agrees on practice, preparation and game methodology.
Lev is correct, from what we know, He-itt’s (no “w”) character, especially his off-court principles, are top shelf. He’s very likable. Fans want him to be successful. But Lev hit it on the head, He-itt’s ACC record is very underwhelming, considering the talent he’s had.
The season is not over, true. Fact is, if a team makes the ACC Tourney, the season is “not over.” However, expecting an 8 seed to run the table in three days — including getting past UNC — is a fantastic dream, but a improbable reality.
True basketball fans get a sour spot in their gut, a bruise in their heart, and an erosion of morale — not because of the losses — it’s the loss of heart, preparation, and game-day coaching.
This team and coaching staff is not delivering, they seem to be digressing.
Hope the AD is reading this.
By stings to lose
February 3, 2007 07:43 PM | Link to this
The coach “delivered” and looked smart today…now we hopefully will cool that hot NCSU!
By GT
February 5, 2007 02:07 PM | Link to this
ACC basketball….go figure.