AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYa’ 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.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball
Comments
By GT FAN
February 19, 2007 03:43 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe that Thaddeus Young was projected to be a lottery pick in the NBA. He is HORRIBLE. He doesn’t play defense and his offense is HORRIBLE. Most of the time he is just standing around with his finger up his a* except when he dribbling the ball off of his foot. Hewitt should bench him for some of the other more productive players.
By Bill
February 19, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this
Young does take poor shots like a freshman too often, but his lack of defense is alarming. Saw at least SIX times he missed his man which resulted in Duke points. As much as Morrow scores (when he scores), he doesn’t move enough off the ball to create his shot. At least he is giving an honest effort on defense. These two have to step it for Tech to go 8-8. If they can do that, the NCAA awaits. If 7-9, depends on TONS of factors. They did get imperative split with Fl St and Duke, but they blew golden opportunity against good, but vulnerable Duke.
By antonio
February 19, 2007 04:32 PM | Link to this
ilove the jackets, but i must agree with gt fan, i have not seen anything that shows that thad should have been ranked as high as he was in the mcd’s all american line up. i don’t know what it is but i never feel like this team has a chance to win. i am always hoping and tired of the disappointment. we need to recruit more versatile players, dickey and morrow should be playing d2 basketball they look worst than all the freshman in the league. they have not improved in 3 years.
By Jon
February 19, 2007 04:47 PM | Link to this
Young has not played well, but my problem is this team looks like it has never played together before. They look like 5 guys who met 30 minutes before the game. Where’s the teamwork? They play sloppy, and I hate to say it’s probably lack of coaching for this talented bunch.
By GT RDU
February 19, 2007 06:45 PM | Link to this
This just proves that this team lives and dies w/ Jarvis C. PERIOD! Its not his fault. But when he struggles, so does the offense (as it should w/ a PG). We only have one true, productive guard and it shows when Jarvis is shut down.
By Mark
February 19, 2007 06:46 PM | Link to this
Seems like we have played this same type game against good teams for 2 years now…Having difficulty passing, catching and holding the basketball..Maybe we can change course but it looks like our best bet is the NIT.
By Brian Jones TECH FAN
February 19, 2007 07:54 PM | Link to this
Ok now i know why when i am at tech games the fans dont know how or when to cheer. because after reading these post i have come to the conclusion that yall are damn idiots who never played the game. YOUNG was avg 14 pts a game pretty damn good as a freshman and he took over the ucon game not to long ago. I think if dickey continues to be lazy they need to post young on the smaller player that guards him cut the guy some slack hs and D1 are very different games. he avg 30 pts a game in hs thats how he was an all american so put down your haterade because there is nobody better on the bench than him. How about stop acting like the democrates in congress and holding our armed forces back yall are b*** and holding our team back be supportive because i know for damn sure none of yall could do any better than young so shut the hell up and learn when and how to cheer
By Jeff
February 19, 2007 08:17 PM | Link to this
Kids standing around are a reflection of Coach Hewett’s offensive scheme. The alarming thing is it hasn’t changed or been corrected all year. Coach, you may want to watch a few Phoenix Suns games and get some fresh ideas.
By Darren in the Springs
February 19, 2007 09:10 PM | Link to this
I think Bell and Aminu should get tons more playing time. At least they are out there busting their butts on every play. Agree Tech needs some major offensive fixes. Ever notice how Duke made all those extra passes (nice and crisp too) even when they had 4 freshmen on the floor. You can tell they have been coached very well. Of course they made a few freshmen mistakes, but they made up for it by hustling more than Tech did. It seems like they turned into the Tech that was playing during the losing streak. Instead of watching Suns games, they need to watch some tape on Air Force. Talk about a well coached bunch of no-names. Being here in Colorado Springs they are the closest D1 team I like to watch in person. These are a bunch of 1 and 2 star players who give everything they have every single night. Enough for me tonight. Will see what happens these last 4 games. You would think someone on the team would step up and take charge.
By GTBlue
February 20, 2007 01:06 AM | Link to this
The mens team needs to take lessons from the Lady Jackets. If you can’t get fired up for Duke you need to go home.
By Dustin from Dville
February 20, 2007 02:55 AM | Link to this
Young is no way ready for the NBA…and i hope him and jarvis stay another 2 years. next year well have more shooters on the roster and will have a much better team! I still think we can do some stuff this year thou….Go Tech!!
By E. Stabler
February 20, 2007 07:03 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe we still can’t inbounds the ball. Really? I can’t believe R. Dickey still doesn’t hustle. Why are you so lazy. You have all this talent and too damn lazy to use it. There is no reason you shouldn’t average 15 a game. You upper classman don’t know what your doing. Horrible leadership. It may not always be pretty, but at least Jeremis Smith appears to try.
By Dustin is an english pro
February 20, 2007 08:07 AM | Link to this
Hey Dust, I hope him stay to!
By gtfan4life
February 20, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
I agree with GT RDU, this team goes as Crit goes. If Crit did not put this team on his back @FSU, then we would have been blown out in Tallahassee. He was definitely a non-factor in the 2nd half @Duke. Still don’t understand why Dickey, Smith, Peacock, etc. are setting screens for our guards out on the perimeter, when they should be setting screens for each other in the paint when the ball is reversed. Do we not have guards that can set screens for each other? I bet if Bell got more playing time he could. If Hewitt insists that our post players must set screens at the top of the key, then why not run a pick and roll? I never see our bigs flash to the basket after setting a high screen.
We probably need to take a page out of Duke’s half court offensive. They spread you out, then take you off the dribble and kick it out to the open man on the perimeter, make an extra pass if necessary, then take wide open 3’s. They are not standing around waiting for a big man to set a ball screen at the top of the key.
Every time we play Duke, they play a very aggressive man to man defensive. They over play the guards, switch on screens, and play the passing lanes very well. I don’t understand why we don’t set back screens for our guards and get some easy layups when Duke overplays on defense. It seems like we never adjust to what the other teams throws at us on offensive or defensive, but they always seem to know what we are going to do.
I believe this team has alot of talent and if we can finish 8-8, that would take us to 20-10 and should be enough to get in the tournament, but if we don’t fix our half court offensive then I don’t see how we can win 3 out of our next 4. Must win on Wed. vs. Wake and Sat. @Virgina. Then split with UNC & BC (more likely BC). What does everyone else think?
By O. Verit
February 20, 2007 03:28 PM | Link to this
I think we need to go 3-1 to virtually guarantee a seed in the NCAA tournament (probably no better than 8 or 9). I think we don’t make it to the dance at 7-9 UNLESS we go deep in the ACC tourney (2 games minimum). The selection committee doesn’t like to take teams with losing records, I don’t care what conference you’re in. This Tech team has underachieved all year and Hewitt is continuing to give a clinic on bad coaching (head in hands, eye rolling, calling 2 timeouts to inbound the ball…yeesh!). I continue to wonder what a truly talented coach could have done with this team…man to man they match up with almost any team in the country, and better than any team in the ACC. If this team fails to make the dance, Hewitt should be on notice…another failure and he’s done. End of story. I am…Over It.