AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech needs more low-post points
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As I suggested in today’s story, and will again in greater detail in Wednesday’s paper, for my two cents if Tech’s going to get where it wants to go, the Jackets need more consistent offense from their frontcourt.
Thad Young’s combined for 10 points in the past two games, Ra’Sean Dickey for 11.
At Duke, the starting frontcourt of Young, Dickey and Jeremis Smith combined for 17 points, 12 rebounds and shot 7 of 19. Not good enough.
Yes, it may be easier for opposing defenses to sag on Tech with Lewis Clinch out of the mix, but for Tech to consistently score 70-plus — which is not quite a magic number but darned close if the Jackets are to be in position to win more than they lose — there needs to be more muscle in the middle.
But here’s the kicker: defenses aren’t sagging that much.
When the inside guys get busy, as Dickey did when he scored a season-high 21 against Duke when Tech beat the Blue Devils in January, then defenses have to react for sure. And the 3-pointer is more readily available from kickout passes.
Tech’s not a great 3-point shooting team without Clinch (ranking 10th in the ACC in 3-pointers made and percentage in ACC games), but with a little bit of spacing, they can make enough to hurt opponents. Teams, though, are defending the Jackets straight up, man to man, and rarely doubling down with a perimeter player when Tech does work it inside. Why? The inside guys are not making people pay.
Comments
By fred
February 20, 2007 03:08 PM | Link to this
When a Division 1 team cannot inbound,hustle or move minus the ball do I sound caustic in calling the team “poorly coached”?
My high school teams were much more sound in fundamentals.
Tech is in a downward spiral….has been for three-five years.
The big bucks are for leaders who make the tough, long-term decisions.
Will this phantom step forward before we drop to “also ran” status NEXT YEAR?
By Willie Coyote
February 20, 2007 03:55 PM | Link to this
Tech needs more low-post effort.
I don’t know what NBA T. Young thought he was ready for but it ain’t the NBA I know.
Morrow, Young, & Dickey are killing this team. They are not getting it done.
I would like to see J. Smith do less low post dribbling and more cutting to the basket and scoring off offensive rebounds. He really slows the offense down when he gets it in the post.
It would also be nice if Peacock learned how to inbound the ball. He has called so many timeouts to avoid 5-second counts even when he’s had a guy open.
I’d like to see Mario West and Crittenton play extended minutes together. They make plays on both ends. Hewitt is a little too sub happy and that seems to hurt the team’s rhythm.
By GTGreg
February 20, 2007 04:00 PM | Link to this
Duke was making it hard to inbound the ball. The most frustrating think that I’m seeing is the pensive passing… the slow, deliberate, and obvious moves with the ball, leading to turnovers. Cut that out and we win more games, period. This team will do great things. Go Jackets!
By GT Fan
February 20, 2007 05:12 PM | Link to this
There is a reason why Hewitt is a college coach, and others of you were high school coaches - he must have done something right, and will continue to do it right. Please back off the man…i would say 11 wins to 17 wins, is already a vast improvement, and we still have 4 reg season games left…geeeez
By GreenJacket
February 20, 2007 08:25 PM | Link to this
I agree with GT Fan. When Tech learns to win on the road it will be a very good team. There is still plenty of time this year to make a run at the NCAA Tourney.
By SouthGAGTFan
February 21, 2007 09:34 AM | Link to this
Hey Fred, you’re an idiot? Let’s see, four years ago we were in the national championship game, three years ago we went 20-12. This year, we still have a chance to win 20 games and make the tournament. I’d hardly call that a downward spiral.
BTW.. Your high school teams that were so solidly coached weren’t playing Duke or UNC, or even ACC level competition. So that is a poor comparison.
By wynn
February 21, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
can someone please tell me why the tech backers are happy with a coach that has been here for 10 years only has a 57% winning record. are we to be happy with this winning percentage?
and guess what…it isn’t going to improve.
over/under on the # of turn-overs for next Tech game: 20
By GT45
February 21, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this
If “if” and “buts” were candy and nuts I’d be covered in zit and full of s#*@, but if Jarrett Jack would have given us his senior year, last year would have been a different season. I’m not blaming him, but Zam was a joke, and that’s all we had. We missed his leadership, and that 11 win season can’t be blamed completely on Hewitt. If you recruit that caliber of player, you have to hope you pull in more to cover early departure. Some kids need more time to gel, some don’t. We’re still young, and still learning to play at this level, as well as together. Cheer up!
By JC
February 21, 2007 02:02 PM | Link to this
“57% winning percentage and little reason to think this will improve.” Wynn you are stupid! This team has nothing but improvement ahead of them. Tech has a good chance to sweep the final four games but at worst will split these games. With a 19-11 record and wins over Duke, Memphis, and Clemson, this team should get in. Also, with Georgia and Purdue making late runs, this would also help Tech’s case. As far as next year goes, you’ve gotta think that that all 3 freshman will be back, especially as bad as Thaddeus has looked lately. That means the only player we lose is Mario and with Clinch back next year, this team should be deeper.
By gtfan4life
February 21, 2007 03:54 PM | Link to this
I believe we blow out Wake tonight by 15+. The Thrillerdome will be very loud and our tourney lives are at stake.
With that said, I agree with all of you who believe this team will only get better. Both Crit and Thad will be back next year. I haven’t seen anything from Thad recently that would make me believe otherwise. Crit is by far the team leader, but I think he still has alot to learn at the point position and will come back for at least 1 more year. I really hate the fact that were losing Mario, but Bell has proven that he can step in and be our defensive stopper and best “on-ball” defender. Clinch will be back and give us more balance on the perimeter. We have another great recruit coming in Gani Lawal, who may give Dickey and Peacock all they can handle for the starting center position. Jeremis will continue to play hard and contribute as a senior. I am definitely excited about the future of GT basketball. Hell I’m still excited about what can accomplish this year. I going ahead and calling it. We will split our final four games and win at least one in the ACC tourney taking our record to 20-12. We will get in the NCAA tourney no worse than a 9 seed.