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Friday, February 9, 2007
Jackets turn to youth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, back to full-time basketball …
Methinks this week we’ve witnessed the complete handoff of Georgia Tech’s basketball team. By that, I mean this team belongs to its youngsters. The Jackets in the last two games appear to be growing up, yet getting younger at the same time.
It goes beyond the fact that Jeremis Smith (10 points) was the only upper classman to score in the N.C. State game, when two starters (juniors Ra’Sean Dickey and Anthony Morrow) didn’t score a point.
Paul Hewitt’s been saying since time immemorial that, for as ballyhooed as freshmen Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton are, the Jackets were going to go as far as their upperclassmen take them. Well, since no member of the upper class has been consistent (save the fact that senior Mario West gives great effort in every game), plus Crittenton and Young seem to finally be playing with authority at the same time for the first time, it’s time to move different dogs out in front of the sled (no slight intended toward anyone; just a saying).
Counting on Dickey to give you 15 and eight a night (he has the talent, dunno about the drive), or Morrow to stroke it every game (it’s beautiful when he does, confounding when he doesn’t) is like counting on the weather forecast; it’s wrong half the time. Smith’s going to bust tail, but do widely different results from game-to-game (stop faking so much, J, and just shoot).
So turn to youth.
D’Andre Bell’s about effort, and defense. Zach Peacock is about effort, and the occasional bucket. Mouhammad Faye, when he’s into the game plan, can be very disruptive on defense and sometimes — when he’s stroking — can boost the offense. Alade Aminu, as we’ve seen in the past two games, can get up and down the floor, be long, and has great offensive instincts.
For Crittenton, it’s never about effort. He busts it all the time, although not with the same level of ferocity as West on defense. Then again, West can interrupt the offense at times whether he’s “in sync” or not. Crittenton had a poor stretch during the four-game losing streak, but it was about trying too hard, obsessing about everything that went wrong, and not getting enough help from teammates (move, fellas!).
Hewitt said he thinks Crittenton’s starting to get more help from his teammates, and added, “I said to Javaris after the game, ‘There’s no reason why you can’t lead this team. I’ve been talking about the upperclassmen, but he’s starting to get comfortable with the leadership role.”
So if Crittenton is taking over as the heart of the Jackets, what about the soul? It needs to be Young, pardon the word play. Folks, we’ve seen only glimpses of what Thad’s capable of, although he’s obviously improved dramatically on defense from the first game to this one. He got by on length and athleticism on that side of the ball in high school. He’s learning that won’t get it done in the ACC. He even said that at times, “I’ve been going through the motions.”
But the other night against N.C. State, he was all over the place, especially in the second half. He was calling for the ball, which it’s easy to argue he should do more frequently. He was diving out of bounds for loose balls, making assists, scoring.
I love Brandan Wright of UNC, and Brandon Costner (a redshirt) of N.C. State is a matchup nightmare because of his size and the way he can shoot. Ty Lawson of North Carolina’s a pain, too, because he’s so fast - and it helps to be surrounded by talent. You think Wright’s numbers would look so good if he didn’t have Hansbrough drawing double teams?
Anyway, I don’t think there’s a freshman in the league with more game than Young, but there are at least four and perhaps five who’ve outplayed him to date. There’s enough schedule left to change perceptions. Changing perceptions about Young is not as important as changing the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s take on Tech. Young has the talent to blow people away. I’m not saying he’s Kevin Durant (nobody is, nor has there been a freshman like him in a long time), but there wasn’t much separation in high school last year, if any.
Getting the ball in Young’s hands on nearly every possession (he’s a fine passer, too) is second-most important to Crittenton staying on an even keel. And not by much. Attack! Thad, and many good things will happen.
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