AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 12
Monday, February 12, 2007
Defense can end road skid
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s hard not to belabor an obvious point, but when it’s so blatant …
If Georgia Tech is going to end its 17-game road losing streak Tuesday night in Tallahassee, the Jackets are probably going to do it with defense. Maybe I’m wrong, as Tech’s best offensive game in ACC play came in an 88-80 win over FSU in Atlanta last month, but if I had to bet, defense will matter more Tuesday.
There are plenty of shooting percentage numbers to support the importance of defense in Tech’s three-game winning streak, and many are in the story that will be in tomorrow’s paper (and online this evening).
I didn’t include this one: In the three game winning streak, Tech has outscored Clemson 27-15, N.C. State 23-11 and UConn 20-12 in points off turnovers.
The two most important aspects of this winning streak in my mind are defense, and the fact different players are stepping up nightly to support Crittenton and Young on offense.
Yes, Paul Hewitt would rest easier if he could count on Ra’Sean Dickey showing up every game to score 14 points and grab eight rebounds, but that’s not happening. Other than Crittenton and Young, who knows who’s going to get it done on offense from one game to the next.
But somebody is getting it done in each game, and two players buried on the bench for the longest time, D’Andre Bell and Alade Aminu are part of that push. Bell’s scored 13 points in the past two games to match his total from the first 22 games. Aminu, as most surely know, did not play in the first eight ACC games and then scored 10 against Clemson and 10 against N.C. State.
These are good ingredients. But the stock of this stew will be defense, good or bad.
Tech has to win on the road to get in the NCAA tournament, and after this they’re at Duke on Sunday and at Virginia next week. FSU will be without PG Toney Douglas (broken hand), and forward Al Thornton (18.8 ppg) has a sore back.
The time is right.
