AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March
March 2007
Interesting comments from Hewitt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I really don’t have much to say beyond what I wrote yesterday and especially in two Tech stories that you should be able to find on-line this evening,
But I felt that Paul Hewitt’s comments that he’s not disappointed in his team as much as frustrated (see story) are interesting.
Sometimes, it takes a day for the fog to clear, and this is one of those cases.
This is chiefly a forum for comments because the “follow” story about Friday’s game, and the season, was so long I felt it would be best in story form rather than a blog.
I have nothing glib to say. I’m tired. I’ll be back in the next day or two.
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Hard to explain Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just finished all my hacking for the paper, and I’m still straining for the words to explain what happened in the United Center.
Fellas, how about a box out? Box out, anyone?
Beyond the obvious, that Tech had no business being out-rebounded by UNLV, which I already wrote plenty about for the paper, there are other ways to look at this.
When you play a 28-win team, even if it’s not from a BCS conference, and your two leading scorers give you 8 points apiece, you’re in trouble. Thaddeus Young looked like he was shot out of a cannon at the beginning of the game while missing his first three shots. “I missed the first three shots, but that didn’t take away from my game. They were a good defensive pressure team,” he said. “Down the stretch, they made better plays.”
That’s true. But Javaris Crittenton played a poor game today. Beyond going scoreless in the first half, his emotions got the best of him several times. I thought he was going to explode. Hewitt put the ball in West’s hands a little more than usual.
Javaris’ first job is to run the team, and he didn’t do that well. As former UCLA coach Steve Lavin told me for a story the other day about freshmen, pressure is one thing and it can be bad enough. But when the point guard is a freshman, and he’s prone to emotion, it can be a lethal combination.
Alade Aminu was Tech’s best player today, but when you get to the end of the season and you’re in the NCAA tournament and your best center is a guy who wasn’t even in the rotation for the first half of the season, you’re probably still a team searching for itself. Hewitt was not pleased at all with starter Ra’Sean Dickey. He played just 11 minutes, and part of that was because Aminu fouled out. Alade picked up two quickies early in the second, but the worst call was when he was whistled in the first half on the shot block. That was clean. Peacock, who was the starter at the beginning of the season, plays a little more wisely than Aminu, but is not as explosive or long.
The officiating was dubious I thought. I can remember a traveling call against Jeremis Smith that I was unsure of, one against Peacock that definitely was not, the phantom block/foul call on Aminu, and two balls right in front of me in the first half that were called out on Tech when they went out off UNLV players. Bad game for the officiating crew, and I’d say that if Tech won.
Tech didn’t lose because of the officials, though, or because UNLV hit seven more free throws. The Jackets lost because they were beaten on the boards, which never should have happened, and because Javaris didn’t run the team very well.
UNLV is going to beat Wisconsin, which will make Tech fans feel even worse.
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Unraveling at the end
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The final three minutes of the game were textbook on how to lose. Getting killed on the boards, mental mistakes leading to turnovers, no timeouts in the bank….
As a result, the Jackets are coming home. Gotta run to the postgame interviews.
First half: No offense
Say what you want about Tech’s defense on the perimeter in the first half, and it surely won’t be complimentary, but the Jackets trail by seven — a blessing, actually — because their offense was atrocious for the first 17.5 minutes or so.
The freshmen, Young and Crittenton, missed seven of their first eight combined shots and both looked like they were amped out of their minds. Crittenton finished the half furious and out of sorts.
And for a team that has out-rebounded 10 straight opponents, and looked to have an edge in that category going into this one, the Jackets were smoked on the boards for the longest time, trailing 20-13 in rebounds with a few minutes left.
In sum, Tech’s defense has been good enough to be leading this game. They’ve allowed 33 points (six of UNLV’s eight field goals made were 3-pointers) in a half. That’s not terrible.
But when you miss 14 of your first 19 shots, you’re fortunate to still be in this game.
A five-point trip pulled the Jackets back into this one, and it was all work (which has not been a problem; Tech is working hard enough, but spastically at times particularly on offense).
D’Andre Bell stuck back an offensive rebound and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but after it was batted around, Alade Aminu picked it up and stuck it back in. He was fouled, and made his. Then Mario West grabbed a defensive rebound, when the distance and was fouled. He made both to pull Tech within 31-26 with 49.9 to go. The Jackets had trailed 29-15 just moments earlier.
To win, Tech needs to score. UNLV may or may not keep hitting 3 pointers, but the Rebels can’t hang with the Jackets in the paint. Tech needs to exploit that.
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Not one of coach K’s better performances
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Told you I’d be back for a bonus blog. Don’t have much to say about Tech, but what about Duke losing in the first round since 1996? Credit where it’s due, that’s awesome. And so is going to nine straight Sweet 16s like the Blue Devils.
But you don’t have to go far to find people pleased by Duke losing. Remember, that’s a young team, but they have five (I think) former McDonalds All-Americans on that roster. There are very good pieces on that team. DeMarcus Nelson is a very good player; I’d love him on my team. Scheyer is full-bore all the time. And McRoberts is going to be a lottery pick. They’re not the only fine players, though.
The Blue Devils don’t blend very well, though, and McRoberts has not had a good season. He’s nowhere near as assertive as he needs to be for his size, experience relative to his teammates, and skill set. Defensively, Duke is alright. Offensively, they had no personality this season. And their most determined player, the one best equipped to set their collective frame of mind, is poorly positioned to do it.
That’s Scheyer. Problem is two-fold; he’s a freshman, and he’s not a point guard (although he played it some early in the season when Paulus was injured). And I don’t know if it’s in his personality anyway.
Not one of coach K’s better performances this year. He’s as much to blame, in my opinion, as anyone. He recruited the players, and did a fine job doing it, but didn’t blend them very well.
As for Tech, if UNLV hits six or fewer 3-point shots, the Rebels have no chance. If they hit 10 or more, they’re in great shape. In the middle, anybody’s ball game. The Jackets have to beat the Rebs up in the paint and limit the damage by UNLV outside of the arc.
Smith, West need to lead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll get back with another blog later, but as people keep asking me what the key to Tech is, I’ve spent a little more time thinking about that than usual.
While playing well in winning seven of their last nine in the regular season, the Jackets defended and rebounded much better than in the middle third of the season. Some games, better defense than others.
Can’t sell short the importance of either one, but in looking for a way to approach from a different angle I’ll suggest that if you looks to be more specific, the Jackets to to follow the leads of Jeremis Smith and Mario West. First, though, they each need to take the bit and order a pace to follow.
There’s a reason Paul Hewitt added Jeremis as a co-captain with West after the season. In both players’ cases, their greatest effect does not always show up box scores. They’re not stats guys, but energy guys. Emotional cores.
UNLV coach Lon Kruger was quick to mention Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young in his opening comments. When asked about Smith he said, “He’s a guy who’s kind of the glue. He’s a guy who’s physical. He’s involved in a lot of plays. He handles the ball well, he’s one of their inside guys, always going to the boards, active defensively. Our guys recognize very quickly that it’s not just about Crittenton or Young or Morrow.”
Back in the fold, preparing for cold
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alright, I’m back and in one piece after a frantic day yesterday made more absurd by my wife’s road trip. Since when does her job matter? Just kidding.
Alade Aminu practiced Tuesday (individual workouts), and in chatting with him he said that his sprained left wrist will not be a problem. Said it just needs ice, and he won’t wear a brace or wrap Friday. Maybe I’m crazy, but he looks like he’s more lean than at the beginning of the season. To my eye, a lot more lean. Actually, I know I’m crazy and not just for this observation.
The Techsters will leave after practice today, and I’ll leave Thursday morning for Chicago. It was 70 degrees there yesterday. My bestest bud, who lives there, let me know that the high Thursday is to be about 40. On Friday, about 32. Snow possible this weekend, with wind every day. Great way to spend St. Patrick’s Day in a great city, huh? Freezing.
Was chatting with some folks about a story I wrote for today’s paper about how many (most in fact) of the great freshmen players in the nation stay in touch, generally by text-messaging or instant messaging one another. I’ll leave details for the story, but Jeremis Smith happened upon our conversation. We got to talking about how much time players spend on those devices, which range in size and complexity.
He flipped his gadget open and said he’s sent and received a combined 158 messages/IMs already by what was 3 p.m. yesterday. Clearly, he went over 200 by day’s end. He’d just finished chatting with former Tech player Theodis Tarver, who’s playing in Germany. I don’t know what to make of this other than some guys spend a lot of time on those things.
Supposedly, Alade spends more time on his gadget than even Jeremis. No wonder Alade’s mother was going nuts about how much time he spends with his “toys.”
Since I’m scattershooting, and saving deep basketball thoughts for Thursday and Friday … a buddy of mine loves to listen to up and coming comedians on satellite radio and relay material to me.
One of these cats named Jim Gaffigan likes to rag on “Hot Pockets,” those mystery microwavable pastry-type deals. Said they should market each Hot Pocket with a roll of toilet paper.
Why do I mention this? Because the same friend (admittedly a lunatic) who relayed this to me, thinks I should begin Thursday’s press conference with UNLV coach Lon Kruger like this: “So Lon, we know Don and Ron are short for Donald and Ronald so is Lon short for Lonald?”
Hey, I told you I’m crazy.
P.S. I enjoyed speaking at the North Metro Lunch Bunch Monday. It was a pleasure to meet folks.
What’s Tech football lacking?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spring football practice is generally a time of optimism, and that’s certainly the case at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets, coming off a division championship, a New Year’s Day bowl and a big-time signing day, appear to have good options at every position (although with Colin Peek out for the spring tight end looks like a big exception).
An experienced offensive line with one new starter, a deep defensive line, a couple of possibilities for the new linebacker, a quarterback coming off a three-touchdown, 300-yard game and the leading rusher in the ACC … it sounds like the makings of a pretty good team.
What is the one thing you’ll be looking at most in the spring football game in April?
Some post-bracket thoughts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There may be plenty of people surprised that Georgia Tech made it into the NCAA tournament. I’m not one of them. I’m surprised at some of the teams left out, like Drexel and to a lesser degree Syracuse (10-6 in the Big East with a win over Georgetown but 3-6 against RPI top 50).
Tech’s 7-2 mark down the stretch of the regular season, an 8-7 record against top 50, wins over Memphis and North Carolina (who both finished in the top five), that had to do it. In fact, where I thought yesterday Tech was on the bubble but tilting toward the good side, there has been some scuttlebutt suggesting the Jackets were more secure than I thought.
This is somewhat second hand, but where many felt that if N.C. State upset North Carolina to win the ACC tournament the Wolfpack would’ve supplanted Tech as the seventh and final team from the ACC, that may not have been the case.
From what I hear, and from a reputable source, had N.C. State won, the ACC would’ve landed eight teams, and that probably would have pushed out Arkansas, which went 7-9 in the SEC (Syracuse was 10-6 in the Big East, go figure all of this).
Anyway, more details in coming days, but here are a few things to mull over:
Center Ra’Sean Dickey has scored in double figures just once in the past 10 games, when he had 14 against Virginia.
Anthony Morrow has scored 18, 11 and 20 in his past three games.
After scoring 3 against FSU, and 7 against Duke, Thaddeus Young has averaged 19.4 points in five games since, including career highs of 25 against North Carolina and then 30 against Wake (29 in regulation). He’s hit 38 of 63 shots in that span (60.3 percent), and hit 10 of 20 3-pointers. He’s averaged five rebounds over the past nine games.
Alade’s last game was a beaut, even if he fouled out: 17 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
More later on UNLV, and the Jackets.
So 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.
Al Thornton’s a bear!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mario West returned to practice yesterday after missing Tuesday with flu-like symptoms so that apparently takes care of that. Don’t have anything new otherwise on the Yellow Jackets so I’m gonna chat a little about the first game at the ACC tournament.
Al Thornton’s a bear!
OK, that about sums it up. Well, not really. I don’t think the foul that sent him to the line for the game-winning free throw should have been called with 1.5 seconds left in the game, and perhaps not with 18 minutes left in the game. There was some contact, but he may have initiated it, and the contact wasn’t that substantial either.
Still, that cat can do it. He can shoot, drive, rebound, defend a little. He creates space for himself inside when he needs it and, as we saw, can draw a foul not and then. He’s scored 157 points in FSU’s last six games - or since Tech held him to 16. He would have been my vote for ACC POY even before this, but now, jeez, is it any wonder Paul Hewitt said he’s one of the very best players he’s seen in his seven years in the ACC.
And to think, Thornton hasn’t always been a star.
He was a stud at Perry (Ga.) High, to be sure, and named MVP of the Georgia and Georgia-Tennessee high school all star games. But his academics were shaky, he wasn’t recruited heavily, took a while to qualify, and did not enroll at FSU until Jan. 2003, about seven months after graduating from high school.
He redshirted, was 10th on the team in scoring as a redshirt freshman (3.2 ppg) with an average of 1.8 rebounds, went up to 9.1/4.4 as a sophomore, 16.1 and 6.9 last year and (in ACC games) 23.5 and 8.8 this year.
Folks, that is progress, and proof that not all NBA-caliber talent is stamped straight out of high school. And he’s humble as heck.
So in the past five games, he’s averaging 28 points and 11 rebounds including a 45-point game last weekend against Miami, which as I write is smoking the ACC’s hottest team, Maryland, in the second half. (This conference is so wild.)
Does Tech have a player on its roster capable of this kind of story, someone relatively benign or under the radar out of high school (for whatever reason) who has the tools to really blossom? Aminu (different kind of player, but meets some of the early career criteria)?
P.S.
Regarding our lost dog … after searching and searching in the neighborhood on foot, by bike (about 15 miles worth of back-and-forth on all streets in many directions) and car, knocking on the doors of homes and businesses, posting flyers, visiting the Humane Society and Fulton County Animal control, my son and I went out after dinner to put up more fliers.
The first one Patrick put up, a guy says, “Hey, I work right down the street at Key Lime Pie,” a local salon in Virginia-Highlands, “and we found a dog that looks like that last night around 9.”
So Patrick and I go to Key Lime, and my son puts a flier on the counter and asks a couple of young ladies, “Have you seen a dog that looks like this?”
Bless them, they got so excited they nearly cried.
Turns out Rupert was discovered out back of the place about 20 minutes after we’d noticed him missing. The young ladies that found him called the 800 number on his tag. Those folks said the dog had not been reported missing, although it seems to me like they should have been able to look up the number on the tag and tell the caller the phone number for the owner.
So they re-named Rupert, opting to call him Franklin, and took him with them for pizza. The Rupester was a model guest, I’m told, happy as could be, and spent the night with one Rae Lynn at her home in East Cobb County, some 20 miles from home.
Anyway, at about the time we were accounting for Rupert’s whereabouts at Key Lime, Rae Lynn’s mother made a connection through his tags (the rabies tag, I think), tracing the dog’s original owner (we adopted him six weeks ago from a lady who takes in strays, throwaways, etc.). That lady, Liz, called our house.
So even if we hadn’t made the Key Lime breakthrough, Rupert was going to be re-connected with his family.
Anyway, Ray Lynn’s mother brought the dog from East Cobb to Virginia-Highlands last night, and while waiting, I took my son home so he could take his shower.
When we got the call, my twin daughters Tori and Roni wanted to claim Rupert with me, even in their pajamas. So they put on Crocs, and away we went.
The Rupester acted like he’d never been gone, happy as ever.
Rae Lynn and the Key Lime Elves — as their manager referred to the young ladies who showered Rupert with love and attention — asked that we bring the bowser by for an occasional visit. That will not be a problem, as the kids’ bus stop is about 100 yards away.
A lot of people prayed for Rupert. My youngest daughter, Roni, said she prayed six times and, “God was my target, instead of saying Lord.”
Sometimes, there are happy endings.
Thanks for the concern from those who offered it,
Matt
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Stopping Visser the key
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry I don’t have a lot of time today, but I’m writing, tying up loose ends while getting ready to head to Tampa and searching frantically for a dog that’s been lost since 8:30 last night. Kids left the back gate open, and poof! Gone.
The single biggest key to Tech’s game against Wake Forest, in my opinion, is Kyle Visser. He killed them in Wake’s win over Tech with 26 points and nine rebounds, and when Tech beat Wake he had 16-8.
When he’s got it going, the defense starts collapsing that much more and it opens the floor for teammates.
I think he’s the most improved player in the ACC this season, and not just because he’s improved his scoring and rebounding from 5.0/4.3 to 16.9/7.2 between his junior and senior seasons (and that’s a huge bump). He sees better, and draws fouls on purpose several times per game.
In fact, he gets to the free throw line more than anybody in the ACC except UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough (8.4 apg to 7.4 apg). He’s a 64.4 percent free throw shooter, which is neither great nor terrible.
Wake, though, is 11th in the ACC in free throw shooting (63 percent), and the way Tech’s been willing to foul to prevent quality shots lately, that would seem to favor Tech. This is the lowest FT percentage by Wake since 1952. Senior reserve Michael Drum is an exception, hitting 85.7 percent of his free throws.
I shouldn’t say this, but I think Tech’s going to drill Wake. Other than defending Visser (and nearly everbody else) better the second time around, the Jackets seemed to figure out Wake’s lightning-quick point guard, freshman Ishmael Smith. Add the two together, and if you step on the snake’s head and tail, that snake’s hurting.
More from Tampa to come …
Thad Young deserves better
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not surprised by the ACC All-Rookie team, but that doesn’t mean I agree with it. I’m cool with Brandon Costner, Brandan Wright, Jon Scheyer and Javaris Crittenton, but based on what I saw in person, on TV and off statistics, I think Thad Young should have made it over Ty Lawson.
Lawson, though, plays at UNC, in the middle of the North Carolina voting bloc that sways the award (I didn’t have a vote, as the AJC does not allow writers to vote in these things any more).
Lawson played well when North Carolina went on its rush, pillaging everyone for about two or three weeks, but other than assists, where he finished second in the conference with an average of 5.25 to Crittenton’s 5.38 (that’s all players, not just freshmen), he doesn’t show up well in any statistical categories. And he was benched the other day in Atlanta by Roy Williams.
This is not just about stats. It’s about effect on teams. Take Lawson from UNC, and the Heels still win 23-24 games. There’s not a huge dropoff when Bobby Frasor runs point for North Carolina.
Take Thad Young away, and Tech’s a 16- or 17- win team right now, I think.
Did Young, who was picked by these same writers before the season to be ACC Rookie of the Year put up the numbers some folks expected? No. But Paul Hewitt would jump right in and say it was ridiculous to ascribe certain expectations to any freshman. He points out that Thad was No. 1 or No. 2 for scoring almost all season for Tech, which authored a very big turnaround from last season.
He finished the regular season No. 5 among freshmen in scoring, trailing Costner (16.1), Crittenton (16.0), Wright (14.4) and Scheyer (13.9). Thad averaged 13.1.
All stats are in ACC games only.
I could make cases for Costner or Crittenton as Rookie of the Year. Costner’s a nightmare matchup because of his size (6-8), power and ability to shoot (he finished No. 9 in the league overall in 3-pointers made with 2.00 per game; just behind Scheyer at 2.06), and he led all freshmen in both scoring and rebounding (7.4, No. 6 overall). He also hit 79.8 percent of his free throws, so hacking him wasn’t such a great idea. Scheyer and Crittenton were 1-2 among freshmen, 2-4 overall at 87.8 and 84.3 percent. They were the only freshmen with better percentages.
As I wrote the other day, Wright is gold around the basket, and he led all ACC players with a .647 field goal mark. Bad free throw shooter, but he also averaged 6.2 rebounds per ACC game. Still, Wright’s numbers were inflated because he played next to Tyler Hansbrough, who drew double teams galore and boxes out like a gorilla.
Interesting, in steals per game, Tech has three of the top four in Crittenton (2.13, No. 3 among all ACC players; Jeremis Smith, 1.63, No. 6; Young, 1.44, No. 9, and Mario West, 1.38, tie No. 10).
An early look at ‘08 season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not going to get too deep into what’s going on currently with basketball because I still have three days to do that before Tech plays again (I think they’re in regardless of what happens Thursday, but seed and site are at stake). But what about next season?
Should Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton both opt to return, Tech’s going to have players coming out its ears.
The Jackets lose just one senior, Mario West, of course, and gain the eligibility of PG Matt Causey, redshirt freshman C Brad Sheehan and regain Lewis Clinch. The Jackets also have incoming freshman PF Gani Lawal, PG Maurice Miller and G/F Lance Storrs. Storrs and Lawal were at the BC game Sunday, by the way, and so was stud Norcross junior Al-Farouq Aminu.
Anyway, that’s six in, one out, although the scholarship swap (which will be interesting to see worked out) stands at three in/one out currently. Whether somebody will transfer, or be moved to HOPE, I don’t know yet.
Far more interesting is how playing time will be worked out. Hewitt has said the Causey kid has really, really impressed him and he figures to be in the mix next season. Does that mean Miller redshirts? It’s way too early to know, but Tech’s going to have competition at every spot next season. Lawal is going to play as a freshman for sure, Storrs and middle remain to be determined.
Just because Sheehan will be eligible doesn’t mean he’ll end up in the regular rotation, I guess, but at 7-feet (or close), you have to wonder if he won’t merit some time.
Will the rotation grow from 10 to 12? Hewitt said the other days it’s possible, but that it would take a very special group to pull it off, a group who can leave egos behind. Can’t see Critt’s minutes dropping below the low 30s in ACC games, but what do I know?
Don’t answer that.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Basketball
Young making all the moves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oh, what a difference movement makes!
When Thaddeus Young moves like he did last night, especially in the first half, Tech’s offense is quite different. His two highest scoring games this season, 24 against Georgia and 25 against the Heels (without attempting a free throw) also were his two best games moving.
Against Georgia, a lot of his action came on back cuts. Last night, he and Morrow were coming off screens very well, catching and firing. And hitting. Young hit 5 of 6 3-pointers, Morrow 4 of 10. Nobody can tell me that doesn’t change the way anybody defends Tech, not that defense is North Carolina’s forte.
And about the season-high 28 fouls, don’t need to hear that Tech got jobbed. As Hewitt said, sometimes that’s a function of the way they play defense, and he wants to play it like that. Tech has been much more physical on defense over the past eight games (while also out-rebounding every one of those opponents).
When Tyler Hansbrough got out on that break, and Mario West ran with him and didn’t try to hack him but rather tried to time his jump as if he were defending a guard only to smash Hansbrough in the process, then the Heels knew nothing would come easy. I’m a fan of that.
“The fouls? We don’t have any other way to play,” Hewitt said. “We have to play tough, physical defense, and if they call fouls, they call fouls. We’re not going to finesse anybody, and I’m definitely not going to out-coach anybody so we have to get after it. We’ve re-established ourselves after playing for a year and a half like something I didn’t recognize.”
In his first game without wearing the protective mask on his face, Zach Peacock seemed like a different player. He had eight points, six rebounds and a blocked shot in 17 minutes. Nice.
Dickey and Smith fouled out, but each took six rebounds first. And that’s not all. “I think Jeremis and Ra’Sean, they set great screens,” Morrow said. “I told them if you keep setting those screens, I’m going to keep hitting those shots and you’ll be open for slips or dunks.”
There’s some guessing as to what will happen if Tech beats Boston College Sunday, and Duke loses at North Carolina. For starters, I think that would assure the Jackets of an NCAA tournament bid. Also, Tech and Duke would be tied for sixth place in the regular season. I don’t know it for a fact yet, but I heard in the press room last night that Tech would win some sort of a tiebreaker to be the No. 6 seed in the tournament.
If Tech stays in the No. 7 spot, the Jackets most likely will play N.C. State first in the ACC tournament. The winner of that game would then play the No. 2 seed, mostly likely to be Virginia Tech (which could tie North Carolina, but has beaten the Heels twice to break that tie).
If Tech is No. 6, the Jackets would play No. 11 seed Wake Forest or Miami, with the winner going on to face the No. 3 seed, which would be UNC if the Heels beat Duke Sunday, and Va. Tech beats Clemson in Blacksburg. Va. Tech’s edge is the backcourt of Dowdell and Gordon. UNC’s is the front court duo of Hansbrough/ Brandan Wright. Which matches up worse against Tech at a neutral site?
I’ll confirm this in the next day or two.
Anyway, last night Young’s duel with fellow former Tennessee high school star Wright was special, although they didn’t often guard each other. Young, from Memphis, hit 10 of 18 shots, including 5 of 6 3 pointers, and Wright, from Nashville, hit 8 of 10 shots and 6 of 9 free throws (with two misses late) to score a team-high 22.
Both were recruited by North Carolina, and there has long been speculation that Young has a strained relationship with Wright because Wright snagged the last scholarship the Tar Heels had to offer. Young disputed that recently.
“I remember in high school everybody was talking about how I hate Brandan Wright, and Brandan hates me. It was nothing like that,” Young said of one of the leading candidates for ACC Rookie of the Year. “We always knew each other, and talked on the phone a couple times. I was seriously considering North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Arkansas and Kentucky. He just basically made my decision easier.”
Young said last night that if he hadn’t chosen Tech, he most likely would have gone to UNC. It was reported a couple years ago that he committed to UNC, but he balked when Tar Heels officials wanted him to make his commitment public before making a visit to Kentucky. With that, Wright called to commit and allegedly UNC took Wright’s commitment to fill out the Heels’ recruiting class.
I don’t know what the drop-dead truth of the matter is, but both players are very talented. Wright’s leading all ACC players in field goal percentage at better than 65.5, and averaging roughly 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds (he had 22 points and five rebounds last night).
That guy is gold around the basket. But I think Young’s ability to shoot from afar, and work more in space, translates to more NBA potential. A lot of that stuff Wright does around the basket won’t fly as well in the NBA since it’s not based on power - like Hansbrough (a monster).
But what do I know? I know this: Young picked a good game to heat up if he wants to make the All-Rookie team. The biggest voting bloc of writers is in North Carolina, obviously, and a lot of writers were there last night. More probably watched on TV back home.
Next week, we’ll get some football on here. Later.
Sneak peek of Crittenton profile
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So spring practice was delayed by a monsoon. What to talk about?
I predict Tech wins tonight. How ‘bout that?
Seriously (actually that was), I’m working on a big Javaris Crittenton story for the Sunday paper. Here’s an excerpt:
Hard courts, soft hearts
Try as his protectors might, they couldn’t shield Crittenton from all evils as he grew up. “There was a lot of people killed when I was growing up,” he said. “There was a guy named Shaun who looked after me, who got shot like nine times.
“A friend named Tank, I don’t remember his real name because it was so long ago, but he got killed right before they tore Capitol Homes down. He got shot in the head after an argument or a beef with somebody.”
“It was almost like Rucker [a famous New York City basketball hotbed]. We had a basketball court, and you’d have people doing things that were illegal, like selling drugs and gambling, on one side of the lot. Then you’d have a bunch of people waiting to compete. Sometimes, you’d have to fight for your turn.”
When Slaughter’s team played a squad from West Virginia that featured O.J. Mayo — a Southern Cal signee who is currently considered the top high school prospect in the nation — that brought out the best, and worst, in Crittenton — in reverse order. He was playing 100 mph in the sixth-place game.
“Mayo was in Javaris’ class before they put O.J. down a grade. They were 12 years old, I think,” Slaughter said. “The game wasn’t going well and he wasn’t making his shots, and I benched him for the most of the first half. We were down by like 15 at halftime, he had 2 points, and that’s why.
“He’s just like my son so I’m really riding him at halftime. I said, ‘What do you want to do? You got me in this situation.’ With his competitiveness, we won by double digits and he finished with 42 points.”
Good thing they won. The alternative nearly kills Crittenton.
“Dude hates to lose,” said Bookie Ball Long.
“Since he was able to play, Javaris has always cried when they lost,” his mother said. “He cried when they lost against Clemson. His heart is in it.”
Or, as Slaughter said, “I tell you, we could lose a game and he he’d hurt more than me. He’d fill me with pain.”
Prayer is a part of his life, but Crittenton is no saint.
“Everybody sins,” he said. “I believe in God, and his son Jesus Christ. I don’t want people to think I’m this perfect religious freak. Everybody messes up. Kids do stuff, shooting dice on corners, running with the wrong crowd.
“I didn’t do certain stuff they did when they’d go way out of line. I still have friends who sell drugs and do what they do. I’m not affiliated with what they do, and I don’t agree with it, but they’re still my people.”
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