AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 08
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Ready to put ball in hoop
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech probably won’t have to worry as much this year as some others about perimeter distractions around the basketball program because there are no one-and-done prospects (Gani Lawal’s not in that category, unless he shocks a lot of people and plays out of his mind), and there are no players over whom pro scouts are salivating.
That’s a good thing, although I don’t mean to suggest that those were issues last season. The fuss about Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young was limited, for the most part, to the preseason and after the season.
But I think it’s possible the Jackets will be better this year as long as one very critical issue is addressed sufficiently. They have to figure out what’s going on at point guard, and that news has to be good. Not great, but good. Whatever combination of minutes are given to Miller-Causey and even Bell, they have to produce on both ends of the floor.
Defense will be the biggest end of the floor with these guys, I think. Causey and Miller do not remind anyone of West and Crittenton, who are both in the NBA now, but I think Tech can be as good, maybe better than last year.
I’m not suggesting an addition by subtraction situation. But Tech has six new players if you count redshirt Brad Sheehan, the return of Lewis Clinch from purgatory, and Causey, a transfer. Add them to freshmen Lawal, Lance Storrs and Miller, plus a passel of returning players with experience and the Jackets are going to be able to go up-tempo as long as their point guard play permits. Tech should be especially pain-in-the-buttish on defense, and I think — finally — the Jackets are going to get big contributions from the recruiting class that brought Jeremis Smith and Morrow.
Dickey will be back in the second semester, presumably, but Smith and Morrow have both improved physically and in the scope of their games. It’s noticeable. Morrow’s going to put the ball on the floor some this year, his defense is said to be notably improved, and Smith is not only in the best shape of his life, he’s far healthier than he’s been since arriving at Tech. Supposedly, although I haven’t seen this, he’s pushed his jumper out a few feet, too.
If Crittenton and Young had returned, Tech wouldn’t have been able to bring on three freshmen, at least not without sending more players away than Paco Diaw (still haven’t remembered to ask where he landed). Too many scholarships. The Jackets would have been ranked about No. 10 or No. 12 right now.
But they’re not ranked at all because their point guard situation remains unsettled, and they do not have a superstar at any one position.
They have numbers everywhere, though, and it’s going to be interesting to try to keep track of all the rotations. Better get your score cards. Hewitt’s hard to keep track of anyway. With all these viable players? Holy smokes! Buckle down, folks, it all starts Friday night against UNC-Greensboro, which was a decent team last season.
Matt
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