AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA win at Vandy would be bigger than big
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So Randy Edsall was in town to interview for the Georgia Tech job, and nobody’s really established whether Rick Neuheisel is a candidate for the job, but his name keeps popping up.
I saw Tech’s next coach on TV last night, though. Steve Mariucci is looking good.
Now, on to basketball, which is what I’ve been tasked with covering.
Tech had better win Saturday at Vanderbilt (6-0) if the Yellow Jackets are going to have a shot at making the NCAA tournament.
The Jackets are 3-3, still have to play No. 4 Kansas, No. 1 North Carolina, No. 7 Duke, No. 18 Clemson (twice), No. 24 N.C. State and at Georgia and at UConn.
Even if the Jackets were to go 8-8 in the ACC, as they did last season, it would take a 10-4 record in non-conference games to reach the 20-win mark before the ACC Tournament. Tech’s one loss away from that mark.
And if the Jackets are going to the NCAAs with less than 20 wins, they’re going to have to have some substantial success on the road to cancel out a pair of losses to mid-major teams, at home to UNC-Greensboro, and in the Paradise Jam to Winthrop.
Better get busy Saturday.
Matt
Comments
By swarmmmm
November 30, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
Maybe win the ACC tourn???
By bill
November 30, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
Matt, Tech can only play 30 games, so they couldn’t go 12-4 with 16 ACC games. 10-4 will get them at 18 if they are 8-8 in ACC. Sort of like double -edged sword …the OOC is grueling, so 10 wins would probably be fine. But they have to at least split with Vandy/Kansas and have to win at both Dawggie land and Storrs. Think they will be 9-5 OOC which means 9-7 is a must in ACC. Nobody can accuse Hewitt of ducking anyone. BTW, RPI points will be huge with 2 or 3 wins at UConn/Ga/Vandy.20 wins isn’t magic number if you have strong OOC and quality WINS. Tes, Vandy Sunday is HUGE with losses to BOTH UNCGreensboro and Winthrop hanging like the sword of Damocles over Tech’s head.
By jacket in wi
November 30, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this
Matt, I had the same thought when I saw Mariucci. Not a bad idea, either. Great QB coach, good offensive mind , well spoken , straight-up guy, with no “baggage” as far as I know. Why don’t you drop a note to Rad and see if he can get an interview ?
By ben
November 30, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this
Figuring how many wins it takes to get into the big dance seems futile at this point. Staying above .500 would be the real task at hand.
By trout
November 30, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
can anyone please tell me why we are going after Randy Edsell besides his previous ties w/ GT??? He barely has a winning record w/ UCONN and this is a fluke season for them. And is defense of 98 couldn’t stop a toddler. Edsell is not the answer. But I’m not the answer of all things either. Can someone please tell me why him?????
By gtlinz
November 30, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
Geez, trout, chill. If it was DRad I would interview him too. You have to be thorough. He might be the best man - I hope DRad would turn every stone over. BTW - my personal choice would be Cutcliff. HC experience, offensive minded, ability to develop QBs.
By John
November 30, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Matt, don’t hold your breath on GT’s chances at Vandy or anywhere else on the road. How ‘bout somebody coming up with the overall record in road games during the last few years and explain why Hewitt seems to keep getting a pass about it?
By gtindiana
December 1, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this
After seing the Tech/IU game live, I am extrememely impressed with our guys. Gani is improving, guard play has vastly improved in the six games. Seems to me this is a team on the verge of a tear. I say they reel off several wins and grab some national attention in the near future. By the way, Paul Hewitt is a class act all the way. He has a special group this year. Go Jackets!
By Malone
December 1, 2007 2:03 AM | Link to this
Remember…
Hewitt’s dream job is the Knicks.
Sounds like a win-win come May ‘08: the squeaky clean Hewitt goes to MSG to clean up Thomas’ s** and D-Rad calls Mike Montgomery to put us perennially in the top four in the ACC.
By Navigator
December 1, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Tech’s team has one of the best freshman in the country, who finally showed his ability at Indiana, 4 point loss, that wasn’t even suppose that close. The issue with Hewitt’s team this year is not talent, but discipline. With so much youth, this may plague this team the whole year. If they can get the offense and defense up to potential, they could make some noise in the ACC.
NOTE: I hate to use this blog for other than than the discussion, but two things are becoming apparent. Randy Edsall is the best candidate and Tech needs to move on his hiring. Secondly, ESPN just announced that LSU is losing their head coach to Michigan, and he’s taking Tenuta with him. Edsall has a strong defense resume, and a offensive strategy of not being predictable. Please move fast and move now!!
By GT45
December 1, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Offer Tenuta now, before it is too late!!!!!
By GTA
December 1, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
If Tenuta is gone to Michigan, I still think Muschamp is the best candidate. The guy’s had a proven defense against some of the best offenses in the nation and is an up and comer and would bring the energy Radakovich is looking for.
Edsall is a good coach and a good DC, but he hasn’t proven anything against the top competition that we’ll be facing. UConn has yet to beat anyone of significance, and to be honest, until they do Edsall shouldn’t be the choice here.
By GT
December 1, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Dennis Franchione may be talking to Tech next week.
The great thing about college basketball there is no have to win game during the season, it is truly a body of work for the entire season. Very little spin can be spent on Florida not being the best in the country in basketball, every team had their chance. Football is a bs contest, which help sell a lot of newspapers and helps raise a lot of money from contributors. When Tony Barnhart’s opinion counts more than reality, souls are for sale, even though Barnhart is a pretty smart cookie at what he does.
By RAMBLE ON!
December 1, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Down by twenty at half time…KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK HEWITT!!!
Please resign!!!!!!!!!
By fred
December 1, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
I’m not down on my GT Jackets—-my hard knocks at the Institute served me (and others) well.
However, all D-I schools KNOW that the two primary positions in FB and BB are quarterback and point guard.
We have had neither for how many years?
INEXCUSABLE.
By John
December 1, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
3-4 overall. I think probably last in the ACC with that record. Need probably 20-22 wins to even think about getting into NCAAs. Not going to happen - not this year or for awhile. I feel sorry for D-Rad. Once he gets all this football stuff done - he’ll have to start looking for a new bball coach. 1 decent year out of how many? About 10? As much as I thought Bobby was an average coach, I do think he got us to the NCAAs much more consistently. This losing on the road, at one point by 26 points, was sad, embarrassing and so typical. It is a mental block and Hewitt can’t break it. I think the admirable thing would be for Hewitt to realize it just ain’t working and to resign.
By bill
December 1, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this
John, I understand your frustration, but Hewitt has more than one decent season, unless you consider decent only when you make the Final 4. But today’s game was disgraceful. This team doesn’t play defense, which is a Hewitt team’s trademark. This has to be coaching because these kids still can’t figure out what to do on a drive and kick or how to take a charge. Morrow and Clinch play matador perimeter defense. Faye is athletic but can’t shoot. Sheehan is lost. Clinch makes more TO”s than big baskets ( which is astounding considering his talent level). Miller and Lawal are learning, but both don’t seem to have a grasp of where they are supposed to be on the court. All of this is very alarming because this is coaching, albeit assistant coaching or Hewitt’s gameplanning. This team really should have beaten Indiana. Today they were very flat and acted like they didn’t understand how important this game was. Now, they have to beat Kansas to have any hope of turning this thing around. By far the worst Tech performance in many years. reminds me of Bobby’s last few years. One more thing…is Smith was hurt, I can see why his minutes were limited. But if Hewitt benched him, that scares me. He has been the one steady player who gives everything on the floor. If Morrow and Clinch had half the heart of Smith, this team would be 5-2 at worst now. This team is very confused…and in serious trouble.
By John
December 1, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
I consider decent making it to the second weekend of the NCAAs. IE. if you dont get invited, not decent. If you lose in the 1st or 2nd round not decent. I think, unless I am wrong, by my standards (and these aren’t really all that high), he has had one good season.
By cresmarine
December 3, 2007 12:46 AM | Link to this
I think Vandy being a lot better than anyone figured this year was a big cause of the problem. Vandy might be the best team in the SEC now that they have Ogilvy at center.