AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThoughts on ACC & Tech hoops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Still don’t know any more about Tashard Choice’s knee, and as there is no football game this week, and I’m back from the ACC basketball media festival, how about some hoops?
I think the ACC is going to be up this year. It seems like most years, people are saying the ACC is down, and with Duke definitely down last year it was easy to have that impression. Virginia Tech was up, though, and so were Virginia and Boston College. North Carolina was its usual strong self. In the NCAA tournament, it was definitely not a standard year for the ACC.
But Duke loses just one starter, and added three McD’s All-Americans, North Carolina lost Reyshawn Terry and Brandan Wright but has a pile of talent back, and Clemson and N.C. State each have four starters back (N.C. State needs to replace PG Engin Atsur, though) and the Wolfpack added a McD’s AA (not a PG).
BC will be down, and so will Va. Tech. I think Virginia can again be good, even without Reynolds.
As for Tech, it’ll come down to PG play and defense. They have enough bodies at every position to do more than compete, as long as the guys running the team (Matt Causey, Maurice Miller, and Paul Hewitt hinted again yesterday at D’Andre Bell may have a shot at minutes there, probably mostly because of his defense) play solid, even if not spectacularly.
Jeremis Smith and Anthony Morrow are said — by themselves and Hewitt — to be in the best shape of their lives, and are expected to be leaders.
Smith said, “You rarely see Anthony bending over grabbing his knees. I think the reason why his shot is so impeccable this year is because of his conditioning. You never see his shot falling short.”
That’s good for Tech. Morrow was in awful shape when he started playing last season, slowed by a back injury, and weighed about 220. He said he’s around 208 now.
“Last year really showed my you have to be in tip-top shape to play this game,” he said. “I’ve been eating a lot better, drinking a lot of fluids. The main thing is probably [eliminating] Sprite. I don’t drink any soda any more. Water and juice, stay away from the acids and stuff.”
Tech should be able to shoot pretty well. Even some of the inside guys, particularly Zack Peacock, can stroke it, and Lewis Clinch’s return will help on the perimeter.
In the scrimmage Saturday, freshman win Lance Storrs of Columbia, whom some have penciled in for a redshirt, lit it up.
“They’re all kind of struggling with the level of intensity,” Hewitt said of his three freshmen. “Gani [Lawal] looked great. He’s surprised me with his range out to about 16 feet. Lance Storrs hit six 3s in our scrimmage. “There wasn’t as much defense played as I would have liked, but I don’t care if you open the gym and you’re by yourself if you hit six of 10 three-pointers after you had an early-morning practice. Mo [Maurice Miller] was good; could have been better.”
Hewitt told reporters he thought Lawal would have more of an impact on Tech’s team early in the season than Thaddeus Young did last season (but not as much as Crittenton early) because he’s playing his normal position (4-5), and Young was moving from the post in high school to wing at Tech. Paul also said Thaddeus was taking off late in the season. (Not in the NCAA game, he didn’t, but in that ACC tourney game against Wake he was on fire).
The league plans to more strictly enforce sideline behavior guidelines this season, including profane language and coaches straying from their “box.”
“In no case should a coach be using abusive language. If it’s in the direction of an official, that’s ABC, a no-brainer [a technical foul],” said ACC director of officiating John Clougherty. “If he wants to deal with his players, he needs to be careful. Abusive language is not acceptable in any situation. “It’s more stringent enforcement of bench decorum. It not a new rule … it’s just how strictly it’s going to be enforced.”
We’ll see just how much enforcement goes on. Coach K responded to questions about this by griping about officials stationing themselves right in front of where coaches sit/stand on the sideline, making it tough on coaches. Hmmmm.
First exhibition is 11 days away, the first game 18 days out. Ton of travel in November. Two trips to Nashville, one to the Virgin Islands, a trip to Indiana. Different story in December, as Hewitt has worked to keep the kids near campus (they have a game at Ga. State).
Brutal schedule, including pile of road games late in the ACC season, and trips to Georgia and UConn after the holidays. Tough, tough schedule.
Comments
By Matt Winkeljohn
October 22, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
Actually, Tech’s second trip to Nashville is not in Nov.; it’s Dec. 1.
But they’ll have five games away from home in November, even though the season doesn’t start until the 9th. Tennessee State, three in VI, and Virginia. then, the first game of December is at Vandy.
And that late-season run in the ACC:
AT N.C. State; AT Virginia, Maryland; AT Wake Forest; AT UConn; AT Clemson; Miami; Duke, AT Va. Tech; AT Duke.
Strap ‘em up, fellas. That’s seven of 10 on the road, and one home game between Jan. 19 and Feb. 17.
By GT
October 22, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Tech will start off slow but that is the case in most seasons with Tech. The year they got to the finals they started a little slow and I think in 90 the final four team got off slow. What makes basketball fun is you can play some great teams lose and still have a shot at the national championship. Looks to me like Carolina is in line for it again but Hewitt is never to be underestimated.
By GTFAN
October 22, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
Hey GT, beating the number #1 team and starting 13-0 is hardly a slow start considering that they were winning these games by a margin of around 15 points. They hit a wall during the middle of the season but got things back going in the right direction by beating Duke at Duke.
I think this year will be a tough start with this team but I believe they are tournament-worthy.
By ben
October 22, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this
Bringing back Morrow, Smith and Dickey for another round does not bode well for the Jackets. I see another 18-12 season with a barely miss or first round out of the big dance.
By Wishful Thinking
October 22, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this
Crap, crap, crap! Tashard is out for the VT game, hope Dwyer can fill this huge gap. No passing game, no TC this better not be ugly…..Will take friends to the VT game and GT better step up big time. Do you hear Chan??
By chris
October 22, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
Matt, Shove that Basketball up your butt. Talk to me in late Feb./ early Mar., but right now it is FOOTBALL season and we are working towards Late Nov.- Early Jan.
By Fall Jacket
October 23, 2007 12:11 AM | Link to this
tech bodes well playing the underdog as was the case in 04. Picked 7th out of 11 teams takes the pressure off these kids for once. I think they’ll surprise some folks. NCSU is overrated just b/c they return 4 starters. Atsur was the key to that offense and they’ll prove they belong at the bottom by mid season. Tech finishes 4th and makes the NCAA. Now back to the pigskin….Choice is done for the season. Make no mistake. When you have “surgery” to determin the extent of the damage, that isn’t good. From experience, he’s torn something and even if the surgery proves well, it will be at least 3 weeks before he’s back. Boobie Miles is done folks!!! Sucks -ss.
By GT
October 23, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
I guess we did win 13 in a row. I can’t think basketball until it is time for basketball. It is like buying Christmas presents in July.
By RAMBLE ON!
October 23, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
Hewitt can’t coach, he’s everything the “Can Chan’ers” claim Gailey is. Best season in the ACC 9-7, after how many years now? WHOPPEEE!!!
The best possible season, one win in March…if we get to the dance. Then it’s a brand new team to start over with again (see last year).
If you want to be a lottery pick in the NBA, come to GT, don’t count on going to the big dance though.
Sorry for the half full approach folks, but it’s time for Hewitt to start getting some heat. One trip to the NC only goes so far.
By yellarjacket4life
October 23, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Ben, these Jackets may be 18-12 at year end, but it won’t be because of Morrow and Smith. It will be because of point guard play. Guard play rules NCAA basketball, especially in the ACC (see UVA last year). If this team has a definite weakness it’s at the point with a senior whose has never played point in the ACC and a true freshman. We will definitely miss Crit this year.
I still think this team can be very good, especially with all the experience we have coming back. Jeremis Smith is an absolute beast down low. Clinch coming back makes our perimeter game much better. D’Andre Bell is our new Mario West in terms of a defensive menace. Aminu looked very good towards the end of last year. I’m eager to see how much he has improved over the summer.
I see this team finishing 4th in the ACC at 9-7. 9-7 in this league, accompanied with a couple of big wins in our brutual non-conference schedule (Kansas, @Vandy, @UCONN, or @IU), and I see a trip to the big dance for this team. It’s time for Hewitt to step it up though!
By GTYjackets
October 23, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
GT they didn’t start off slow the year they went to teh finals. Did you forget they won the preseason NIT inlcuding a finlas win over UConn? That year they started fast and rode it out the rest of the season.
By GT80
October 23, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Hey Ramble On, one trip to the NC game only goes so far? Holy Crap man (I’m assuming your a man) how many different teams in the NCAA’s have been to the NC game in the last 10 years? How many from the ACC in the last 10 years? Other than UNC, Duke & Maryland - ZERO other than GT. Getting to the NC game is a huge accomplishment.
You should be VERY happy that we have Hewitt as our coach, because there are many schools out there that would love to have him. The ACC is the most competitive league in the NCAA’s year in and year out, and going 9-7 in this conference is nothing to be ashamed of. Would we like to be 13-3 every year, of course. Would we like and should we expect to be good enough to go deep in the NCAA tourney every year, of course. When Hewitt runs off 4 years in a row of 3-13 and missing the Big Dance then you can give him some heat. But right now he should get nothing but praise.
By RAMBLE ON!
October 23, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this
GT80 that would be 20 and boy wasn’t that a long time ago. We only been 9-7 once.
The next year we had the best team in the country and then what? (one and done I believe)
Are you proud of the one and dones (when we make it), how about 2 years ago when the team quit, yes quit (even admitted it). .
We use to be at least the 3rd best team in the ACC year in and out, now every year we are 3rd from the bottom.
There are two different bars for him and Gailey
To bad the Knicks didn’t take him. That would have been the best thing for GT.
I’d rather read about Kristi Miller with her 4.0GPA or her team (even if it is Tennis), than all this talent that Hewitt is going to juggle in and out of the line. Maybe he’ll figure out his starting line up before the ACC Tournament so we can get eliminated first round.
By T-Bone
October 23, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this
Ramble On- Keep rambling until you support another school. Paul Hewitt is not the greatest coach in college basketball, but he’s far from the worst. He’s a great man who plays by the rules and has success in the most competitive league in America. Tech will never be at the level of Duke and North Carolina just because of tradition, but we have been good enough to beat those teams somewhat frequently since Hewitt was hired. The year Tech finished 11-17, we had a terrible point guard in Zam Frederick who was forced into duty because Jarrett Jack somewhat unexpectedly bolted to the NBA, and Austin Jackson unexpectedly bolted to the pro baseball draft. The year Tech lost to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA was the year BJ Elder was out for nine games. If he had been healthy, that team would’ve won at least five more games and had a much higher seed in the tourney. Some things are out of a coach’s control, especially at Tech, where Hewitt doesn’t have a roster of McDonald’s All-Americans to replace someone who is injured or leaves to the NBA. All true Tech fans should feel lucky that Coach Hewitt is a part of the Institute.
By bill
October 23, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this
People are WAY too harsh on Hewitt. Has his flaws such as game decisions, but let’s see…Bosh goes to NBA, Tech goes to NC game. People forget Austin Jackson committed to Tech and promptly left for Yankees a few days after swearing to hewitt he was coming to school. Jack leaves early ( great kid, he was entitled), but Hewitt was left w/o true PG. So, he recruits Crit and he leaves a year early despite everyone’s advice. What you bashers don’t get is that kids leave early…period. You haVE ONLY “x” amount of scholarships within a frame of 15 spots ( unlike football) that you give out. Usually 2 of those 15 are walk-on’s. Does Hewitt have to step it up a bit more..yes, but unless you are UNC, Duke and Kansas, it is very difficult to lose quality and replace them year after year before they are Soph and Jr’s. Don’t get too down on Hewitt. He is not a fluke…OMT..funny people only remember Tech losing in the 2nd round vs Louisville after the NC loss. People tend to forget how injured those kids were. If they were healthy, that team may have gone farther.