AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSo many ‘what-ifs’ in crazy game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you make the mistake (like I first did) of saying, “I don’t know what to say,” after Tech’s 114-112 double-overtime loss last night to Wake Forest, it won’t be long — especially if you look back on notes and the box score — before you realize there’s plenty to talk about.
First, kudos to Wake, and especially sophomore guard Harvey Hale. Not just because he hit five of six 3-pointers in the overtimes (plus six of seven free throws for 21 points in the two five-minute overtimes). That was sick beyond belief. Sure, Tech screwed up defensive assignments on some of them, but making that many 3s when nobody’s guarding you isn’t easy. Making them with defenders flying around, in that environment, come on! That’s just absurd.
And Tech’s Anthony Morrow hit some major shots, and mostly 3s, himself. From my vantage point, about 30 yards away, I thought his last shot was going to fall and force a third overtime. Somebody said something about Crittenton passing to Morrow in that instance, and how he should have known Tech didn’t need a 3.
Several things: First, it wasn’t a 3. Morrow was on the line when he received the pass and was going to shoot, but two defenders went to him so he faked, dribbled and moved closer. Second, Crittenton secured the rebound after it was batted around with his back to the basket with at least one, maybe two, bigs between him and the goal. When driving, he can get a shot up over guys like that many times. Had he shot there, his chances for success were minimal. And third: he probably wasn’t going to draw a foul unless he bled. He did the right thing, passed to the right person.
After a slow start in terms of whistles (Tech was called for just two fouls in the first 11 minutes or so, largely because the Jackets weren’t defending as vigorously as they have recently), but then it was an avalanche. Some of the stuff officials were calling against both teams was lame, lame, lame. Tech was whistled for 38 fouls, 10 more than the season-high against North Carolina one week earlier. When you have 66 fouls and 83 free throws, even in double overtime, that’s stupid.
Tech was sloppy with the ball, especially in the first half (12 turnovers), when Wake had 17. Tech rarely wins when that careless.
Alade Aminu (17 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals) was good off the bench. His upside is becoming obvious. Tech’s not in that game without Alade in part because Jeremis Smith fouled out with 10 points, six rebounds, four steals and a block and especially because Zach Peacock put up double goose eggs.
Why couldn’t Tech defend Kyle Visser (the ACC’s most improved player, I’ll admit) better?
Mario West was unable to sub into the game in time to defend Hale on the tying 3-pointer in the second overtime because Morrow missed a free throw that would have pushed Tech’s lead to 112-108. But why wasn’t West put in to defend Hale when the clock stopped as Javaris Crittenton was called for a charge moments later?
Who hit the game-winning 3-pointer moments later? Hale, of course, in what coach Paul Hewitt said was a defensive breakdown. It was over Peacock.
Tech allowed Wake just nine offensive rebounds in 50 minutes, and took 17. That’s’ pretty good. But the ability of Ishmael Smith (15 assists) to dribble through, around and into the Tech defense and pass to open teammates was deadly. He’s fast, but he sucked help defenders away so often … at some point, Tech should’ve adjusted and done a better job of staying with shooters.
Thad Young was practically stationary in the first half, but went nuts - very much like he did against North Carolina — in the second half when he scored 22 points. He’s unreal when he gets going like that.
Finally, although there’s more to talk about, you can’t miss 12 of 35 free throws. Of all of them, I think Crittenton’s miss with 13 seconds left after he made a huge driving layup to tie the game in regulation, hurt as much as any, though Morrow’s miss in the second overtime was painful, too.
If the ACC is going to get seven teams in the NCAAs, Duke’s not going to be left out. They’d be the sixth. That means the seventh will be Tech OR one of the four teams that won in upsets yesterday. Florida State, which lost to Tech twice, helped the Jackets by getting blown out Friday by UNC. But if Miami, NC State or Wake win this tournament, better hope the ACC can get eight or Tech’s in deep trouble.
Comments
By stings to lose
March 9, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
Tech players surely must just love the cooking in Atlanta…and cannot seem to play well after eating away from home! So, if we cannot win an away game, well, (I’m sure the selection committee is thinking something similar…) that is a bad thing.
By GT80
March 9, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
My prediction that none of the teams that won on Thursday will win today is holding up, but just barely. I think we get in the big dance. If Duke gets in and we don’t it will be a travesty.
By Ben
March 9, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Besides the fact that Duke gets the same advantage Notre Dame does in football in off-years, is there any objective reason why they are considered a lock and Tech is not?
By ga_tech_92
March 9, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this
We left the weak side 3-point shot open time after time from the start of the game. That was the ball-game. We did that a lot earlier in the year also, till we started sticking on the shooters (and winning). We sagged off the weak side 3 all game and you cannot do that in a big time league with big time shooters. Ballgame. Go Jackets, adjust, D up everyone, even the innocent looking guy standing alone on the weak side behind the three point line.
By proffish
March 9, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this
Starting in October, I kept asking “Who’s going to guard the post? You can win some games without that ability, but you’ll never consistently beat good teams who can score low if you can’t at least occasionally guard man-to-man down low. Maybe Gani can?
By ben
March 10, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
Ben, to answer you question: because Duke sells tickets and Tech does not. People will pay to see Duke lose.It pretty obvious to me that Aminu should be getting all of Dickey’s minutes. Dickey is unreliable in every facet of the game. Aminu may not have Dickey’s offensive talent, but he’s solid and reliable.
By yeller jacket
March 11, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
let’s not forget. Aside from this wierd, double overtime loss, we are 3-1 on neutral courts. Not away. But on neutral. So Tech is going to be okay in the Tourney. They are young and feed off the crowd. This is improving and now its do or die. I still believe in this team. Talent for talent, Tech is second only to UNC this year. Most analysts said that UNC and GT have the deepest pool of talent. It WILL pay off in the NCAA tourney. Gotta be optimistic….else, what is there to look forward to?
By charles
March 12, 2007 1:05 AM | Link to this
Does anyone know whats wrong with our Baseball team?
By Darren in the Springs
March 12, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
I was happy to hear Tech made it in. I did not get to see the Wake game here in Colorado, but listening to it made me wonder what was going on. I was pretty sure Tech would make it in after beating UNC and BC.
Need to stick it to UNLV early like we’ve been doing, then just keep on dancing. Go Jackets!
By 308GT4+
March 12, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
LRMC (GTs College Basketball Ranking System) kicks butt. Check it out @:
http://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~jsokol/lrmc/about_lrmc.html