AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 19
Monday, February 19, 2007
Ya’ gotta move, fellas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I know it was cold Sunday (although there were quite a few white and blue humans with nothing more than socks, shoes and shorts standing outside Cameron Indoor Stadium), and that promotes sedentary behavior among some folks, but what were Georgia Tech players doing standing around in the first half?
That four-game losing streak is over, but the Yellow Jackets looked familiar in the first half at Duke. MOVE, fellas! I thought that streak, when Tech players were frozen solid, was over.
And there’s your ballgame. Period.
Tech pulled within 19-17, and then watched — on offense and defense — as Duke blew to a 41-26 halftime lead — all in 8:10.
The coach K’sters are not offensively gifted. But when you hand them the ball, especially in the open court or something close to it, hey, six of those dudes were McDonald’s All-Americans and while they may not be especially athletic ,they’re not clowns, either.
OK, so Tech didn’t literally hand the ball over, but might as well have. Everybody all but stopped cutting, weaving, etc., leaving precious few options for ballhandlers (who were harassed well). The end result was like a reaction: gotta pass somewhere; the targets are standing still or barely moving; and therefore covered; but gotta pass eventually; and TURNOVER!
You get outscored 35-10 in points off turnovers, and you’re not moving much, at least not at the right times.
Similar on defense. Duke averages about 5.5 made 3-pointers per ACC game, 11th in the league. The K’sters made six in the first half, nine overall. And a bunch of them were wide open. They moved the ball around OK, Tech defended fairly well in the paint, but the Jackets got lost making switches on screens and - resorted to ball-watching. That usually leaves somebody open.
Tech was competitive down the stretch against Duke, but this is not almighty Duke. In some ways, the Jackets looked as bad as during the losing streak.
Coach K gave credit, saying Tech is better now than when it beat Duke in Atlanta, which by process of some convoluted process means Duke is better than it was, but you don’t very often shoot 47 percent, out-rebound the other team by 10 or 12, and still lose only to inspire the people who beat you.
We’re at the point in the season where ACC coaches are pumping each other too hard. Hewitt spoke after the win at FSU of how the ‘Noles should be in the NCAA Tournament. K did it Sunday, even said nine ACC teams should get in.
I think six, maybe seven depending on the final four games and the ACC Tournament. If Tech’s going to make it through that funnel, the Jackets better get back on the move.
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