AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November
November 2007
A 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
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Coaching search craziness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One big national story this morning was that Michigan had asked LSU for permission to speak with Les Miles. Why was it a big story when people had been linking Miles to the job for weeks? Because Michigan finally did something that confirms a candidacy that had previously been speculated.
Those of us asked to report and write about coaching searches seize any opportunity to tell readers something that is attributable and confirmable.
Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley today told me by e-mail that Georgia Tech hadn’t asked him for permission to speak with Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. That’s one small data point to put alongside my late-night conversation on Wednesday with Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher, who said he had not been contacted by anyone.
Candidates often don’t return phone calls and e-mails, and the people running the search rarely say much. I did manage to reach Brian Billick to ask him some questions about Rick Neuheisel, although I neglected to ask him whether Tech had contacted him about Neuheisel. (The story should be posted Thursday afternoon.) And Tony Barnhart spoke briefly with Tommy Tuberville about Will Muschamp. (That story also should be posted Thursday afternoon.)
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Jackets fought; Gordon threw haymakers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech showed up for a basketball game Tuesday night in Bloomington, Ind., and a football game broke out. Or rather a football player broke out.
Eric Gordon is desribed as a physical player, unusual for a guard. I’d describe Indiana’s supremely talented freshman two-man as a Clydesdale with moves, a handle, a shooting stroke and a different set of rules by which to work.
He’s really, really good. No doubt. He’d be a heck of a running back, too. He should have been called for charging at least three times in Indiana’s 83-79 win over the Jackets.
Dude blasts to the basket with impunity. He has remarkable body control, and gets off a good shot often even with players leaning on him. Often though, there are defenders leaning on him because he runs into them.
His 3-pointer for a 75-65 lead was a blatant example of what I’m writing about. He hit Matt Causey twice, the second time knocking him backward while dribbling the ball. Then, he stepped back and drilled the long ball.
He’s the best player I’ve seen in two years. But it helps to have a different set of rules.
Even with Gordon, and all the talent of D.J. White (18 points, 14 rebounds) and a very nice — if short-staffed — supporting cast, the Hoosiers had their hands full.
If the Jackets play with that kind of intensity on a regular basis, and Zack Peacock and Maurice Miller knock off the rust accumulated from their recent injuries, Tech can compete with just about any college team I’ve seen on TV so far.
Tech hit 47 percent from the field, Indiana 49 percent.
Tech was out-rebounded 25-16 in the first half on the way to a four-point deficit, but had four more rebounds then Indiana in the second half, when both teams scored 45.
Tech had 17 assists and 13 turnovers. Indiana had 10 assists and 17 turnovers.
Tech outscored Indiana 40-30 in the paint, 16-9 on second-chance points, 13-4 in layup points, and 22-2 in bench points (helped hugely by Gani Lawal’s 17 points, three rebounds and three blocks in just 16 minutes).
It came down to this: Indiana hit 28 of 38 free throws, Tech 11 of 20. Sure, that’s bad free throw shooting by the Jackets, but the disparity in attempts was the difference.
Gordon hit 13 of 16 from the line. Yes, he puts the ball on the floor, and attacks, kind of like North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough does in the post. But after a while its silly watching almost every instance of contact ruled to be a blocking foul on the defensive team and NOT ONE charging call whistled on Gordon.
Peacock was rusty, Miller too. Lawal looked great, and Lewis Clinch is hitting his stride in consecutive games. (7 of his last 9 3-pointers). The Jackets had one really bad stretch, late in the first half, when they took some poor shots and missed some bunnies. Jeremis Smith hoisted and missed a 3-pointer, and another shot where he was standing on the line. Clinch missed two very short shots, D’Andre Bell and Lawal one each in that stretch as well as Indiana used some zone, a rarity for the Hoosiers.
Hewitt did not play Sheehan, Faye or Storrs. That probably doesn’t guarantee that they’re going to be out of the rotation, but Hewitt made it clear after the game that some of his players have been hard-pressed to learn that wanting to play doesn’t mean getting to play, and that playing times comes with the willingness to pay a price — max effort.
The return of Peacock, and the production of Lawal meant that Aminu played just 21 minutes. It doesn’t matter if he’s happy about this. It’s not about keeping everybody happy with their playing time. It’s about getting production. And again, Tech outscored Indiana 40-30 in the paint. The shorter player rotation worked, not that it’s the sole reason Tech’s effort was encouraging.
Tech lost to a talented team that played in a building where it has won 21 straight and was ticked after losing by 15 to Xavier Saturday. Plus, the Hoosiers got some home cooking, or at least Gordon did, from officials.
There were plenty of positive signs, less from any one player than from a collective sense of urgency the Jackets played with.
“That’s the type of effort you have to put out if you’re going to be a good basketball team,” Hewitt said. “I think we’re a talented group, but two of our losses early in the year I don’t think we sustained any kind of effort. If we keep doing that, and we get those guys that came back from injury to knock the rust off, we’ll be a better team.”
Asked why the Jackets were suddenly able to summon this energy, Hewitt — who earlier said that it also was apparent against Notre Dame last week — said, “Immaturity. That’s a great question.”
Pressed, he said, “Because they’re tired of losing. I’ve been preaching it every day of my life in this game. It’s a team game. Help the helper on defense, pass the ball, be in position to help your teammates out all the time. Good teams do it. Some teams take a little longer to get it. I think we’re going to be fine.
“If you watched the Greensboro game and this game, you’d say it was two totally different teams out there. Against Greensboro, we had no interest in helping anybody on defense. We didn’t defend well on screens. Today, I thought our effort was much better.”
It stinks being 3-3, but Tech looked like a very good 3-3 team last night, a team that may be able to make noise if they keep their internal noise in check, and pay the price.
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Day two usually = some second-guessing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More than 24 hours have passed since Chan Gailey was fired, and I sense a corrollary to buyer’s remorse in a segment of the fan base.
This is not to suggest that there is a hue and cry from fans who believe the move was wrong. But there’s palpable concern about its timing, and where Tech will go from here.
The climate is not ripe for a coaching change. There is and will be more competition for coaching candidates than in most years for one thing, and many people assume Tech will not be able to out-bid the bigger programs who are in the market.
Who knows? Maybe Dan Radakovich has some sort of surprise in store on that front, not that I’d bet on it.
I think this reaction is normal, a human reaction. And it’s based on solid logic.
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Tech’s perfect coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dan Radakovich was careful today not to hem himself in when describing Georgia Tech’s next football coach.
Head coaching experience? Not necessary, Radakovich said.
Offensive specialist? Not necessarily, he said.
Young? Well, Radakovich couldn’t legally say that, and he is way too sharp to make that kind of mistake.
Tech man? “Not necessarily. I wasn’t.”
Here’s my prediction. Tech’s next coach won’t be 50-something. He could be 30-something. He will be high-energy not just in work habits but in outward appearance, dedicated to winning games with offense as well as defense. He will be the kind of person who can not only recruit talented high school football players but make college graduates who hear him speak wish they could play for him, too.
Dull won’t do. Winning alone won’t do. But God help him if he hasn’t won eight games by the end of his third season.
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Seven in a row; UGA band plays in celebration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sure, Georgia came out smelling like roses on each of the three bizzare loose-ball plays in the end zone today, a sequence unlike any you’re likely to ever see again … but the difference in today’s game could be boiled down to quarterback play, and the way the long ball was defended by each team.
Don’t stop if you’ve read or heard this before.
Matthew Stafford was not razor sharp today, but he was pretty darned good on several occasions. Not as impressive as BC’s Matt Ryan was here a couple months ago. Still, pretty good. The kid has some moxie in the pocket, seems to know just when to unload it. And he generally doesn’t unload it just to get rid of it. He has a plan most of the time.
Taylor Bennett? Again, this is not a new refrain, but he wasn’t helped by receivers dropping passes, like the sure touchdown pass to Correy Earls on the second play of the game. And Calvin Booker, he of the howitzer arm, was hurt bhy a couple drops, too.
They just finished.
Tech fought like mad, but … seven straight.
Chan Gailey walked out with one hand in each back pocket. Mark Richt ran to meet him.
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View from the press box
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This won’t exactly be a virtual blog, inasmuch as I won’t blog after every play, but I’ll be adding to this frequently as today’s game rolls onward.
The defense came out rocking, Philip Wheeler with tackles on the first two plays and then Guyton and Robertson combining for a sack on third down.
And then Correy Earls, wide open down the left sideline, drops a perfect pass from Taylor Bennett. That was a touchdown.
Great day for a football game: cool, gray, breezy.
Tech punts . . . what the heck is that ruling? Mikey Henderson fumbles the ball at around the 5, boots it into the end zone and flops on it as Morgan Burnett (who started at cornerback again, by the way) drills him. They call it a touchback? Perhaps because he never had possession?
Anybody know the ruling on that one? I admit I don’t. Georgia benefits to the tune of about 25 yards in field position, not to mention the Jackets not coming up with points on what looked at minimum like a safety.
Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett injured his throwing hand on the Yellow Jackets’ next-to-last play of the first half Saturday and did not return when the second half began. He did come back, however, late in the third quarter. Junior Calvin Booker, who last threw a pass in a game Sept. 8, when he completed 1 of 2 against Samford, started the second half, and completed his first two passes. Freshman Josh Nesbit also played and threw an interception in the third quarter. Facing third-and-10 from the Georgia 37-yard-line, Bennett fumbled a shotgun snap, reached down for the ball, and then fell on top of it for a 7-yard sack. Tech coach Chan Gailey sent kicker Travis Bell out for a 62-yard field-goal try on the final play of the half. The kick fell short to leave Georgia with a 16-14 lead.
More to come.
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Here’s why Tech hates Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My theory: the Georgia Tech-Georgia football game matters more to Tech fans for several reasons, and high on that list are three factors — losing more than winning, being hugely outnumbered and the way Georgia fans behave.
I don’t think Bulldog fans are among the most obnoxious in college football, not that I’m an expert in that, and I have to say Tech fans have been some disgraceful moments themselves this season. All the throwing of junk on the field during the Boston College game, prompting the PA announcer to admonish the crowd, and the booing of Chan Gailey when he was on the big board a few weeks ago delivering an announcement about drinking and driving would count as low points for any fan base.
I use the word base because in each instance it wasn’t just a few fans, certainly not when booing that PA announcement. And the mess in the BC game was significant enough that Tech officials responded by apologizing to BC officials after the fact.
Tech fans are discomforted right now because (this is opinion-based): A. Their team is not living up to their expectations (or those of pundits) relative to the talent that was perceived to be on hand before the season; B. It’s been difficult to discern progress through the season, particularly on offense; C. Chan’s personality doesn’t sync up with the expectations of some fans; and D. With the re-structuring of the Tech fund, etc., and the need to pony up more $$$ for ticket rights, human nature has dictated greater expectations for return on investment regardless of what kind of talent level is on board.
But good luck trying to rationalize some of this fan behavior.
More to the point, it’s never easy being a minority, whether by race, religion or, in this case, the number of Tech alums in metro Atlanta/Georgia vs. the number of Georgia alums. Bulldogs fly their colors more typically than Tech fans, I think, and that’s a multiplying factor when combined with the greater number of Bulldog fans in the first place. The Dogs have the Jackets flanked. That doesn’t feel good.
Losing more than winning, well, that’s an obvious pain.
Add these last few facts together, combine them with the tendency for some — not all — Georgia fans to be especially quick to needle and jab (check this blog through the day, and I’m sure there will be evidence), and man, the whole thing is like being stuck in a hair suit in a heat wave.
There is no one solution, but the quickest and biggest step toward appeasement would be to win Saturday. I have a friend who is a Tech grad, and a fan, but not an over-the-top guy. Very level-headed. Loves fruit roll-ups. He said the other day a win over Georgia would make his year. That’s a big pronouncement for him.
And I get it. After suffering for years as an Ohio State fan when Michigan routinely kicked former coach John Cooper’s rump, I get it because I know first hand now how it feels when the whole thing turns the other way.
Matt
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Extra BBall notes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Football blog to come Wednesday morning. Wanna unload some hoops nuggets, leftovers from the Paradise Jam:
Matt Causey was a dead-eye shooter Monday night, when his three 3-pointers in the final 4:48 helped Georgia Tech overcome a nine-point deficit to beat Notre Dame. His long ball with 2 seconds left was dead on. A few days earlier, one might have predicted that if the Yellow Jackets were to depend on the senior’s shooting, they’d be dead ducks.
Causey made just 3 of 14 shots in the Jackets’ first three games of the season, and 1 of 5 3-pointers. He started Tech’s first game in the Paradise Jam because Maurice Miller has a bad back. But after he made 2 of 6 shots in a win over Charlotte, and D’Andre Bell played well, Bell started the final two games.
That didn’t stop Causey from making 4 of 7 shots against Notre Dame, and 7 of 12 in the past two, when he made 5 of 9 3-pointers. “He’s probably just shaking some of that rust off,” Hewitt said of a player who sat out last season after transferring from North Georgia. “He hasn’t looked good shooting the basketball, but as he gets in better shape, gets in game shape … we thought coming into the year he could be a good shooter.”
When Causey sat out last season because of transferring, at least once Hewitt stopped practice and asked players if anybody was going to guard the 6-foot point guard when he went on a 3-point shooting tear.
Miller, who injured his back in practice Thursday, is likely to be back for Tech’s next game, Tuesday at Indiana. Sophomore center/forward Zack Peacock, who hasn’t practiced or played for three weeks with a sore right foot that team officials were concerned might become a fracture, may return to practice soon.
Jeremis Smith passed to Causey for two of his 3-pointers, and for the second game in a row whipped a pass from the top of the key to the point guard as he slashed the baseline. Both resulted in baskets.
There’s chemistry there, borne of the fact that in summer pickup games they almost always were on the same team. “Me and Matt have always had this kind of connection since he got here last summer,” Smith said. “Sometimes, we make eye-to-eye contact, and he’ll throw me a lob every now and then.”
Two seconds never took longer than the last couple clicks Monday, when the Irish got off a much better final shot than they had a right to. Notre Dame called a time out after Causey’s shot.
Hewitt then had the long-armed 6-foot-9 Mouhammed Faye defend Notre Dame’s Rob Kurz under the basket on the inbound pass. Irish coach Mike Brey called another timeout. Then, Faye again defended Kurz.
Notre Dame center Luke Harangody moved to screen Faye as Kurz ran laterally to get open along the baseline. During the timeout, Tech coaches had told the Jackets to expect this, and Alade Aminu was assigned to follow Kurz if Faye was blocked out, which he was, and get his arms up.
Aminu, though, feinted in that direction, and then turned inexplicably up court to run before the ball was passed. Kurz threw cross-court from right to left, and hit point guard Tory Jackson across midcourt. Tech’s Anthony Morrow was in decent position, but as Jackson had to turn his back to the basket to catch the pass, Morrow gave a little space so as not to foul.
Notre Dame called timeout with 1.4 seconds left (the clock didn’t start until it hit Jackson’s hands). “We knew they were going to set that screen, and Alade ran away and gave Kurz a chance to throw that ball uncontested,” Hewitt said. “Kurz’s eyes got real big. It’s like a quarterback in the pocket with time to throw; it’s a lot easier to make that pass when you don’t have hands in your face.”
After the third timeout, Notre Dame in-bounded from in front of its bench to guard Kyle McAlarney, who was about 24 feet from the goal. He double-pumped, shot, and the ball rolled around and then out. Hewitt said, “We thought they would try to lob the ball inside.”
Harangody had scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but he and wasn’t the only one battling in the paint. Smith worked his tail off, scoring 12 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, adding five assists and four steals and a blocked shot.
In the final 5:11, as the Jackets overcame a nine-point deficit, he took a charge and hit both free throws, assisted Causey on two of his three 3-pointers and Lewis Clinch on one of his two, and added a steal.
It was nothing new. Smith has played all-out all season. He’s averaging 12.2 points, 4 assists (just behind Causey’s team-leading 4.2), a team-high 7.6 rebounds and leads the Jackets with 10 steals and four blocks. “Sunday’s game, we watched [on tape], and he was unbelievable,” Hewitt said. “He had 10 rebounds, seven deflections, was taking charges. That’s exactly what we challenged everybody to do. We said match his energy level regardless of whether it’s a good play or a bad play.”
Smith’s been helpful in tutoring young post men Brad Sheehan and Gani Lawal, but the example he’s been setting might work against them. Both players have been tentative, and Lawal had just 1 point, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 17 minutes Monday. “Against that big, strong team to get 13 rebounds [like Smith], that says an awful lot,” Hewitt said. “Now, I’m waiting for Alade, Gani and Brad for that matter to start joining him on the boards.
“Those guys need to look over their shoulders because when Zack Peacock comes back healthy, and if Ra’Sean Dickey [academically ineligible) makes it back, it could change the complexion of this team.”
Tech didn’t win this tournament, but without the starting point guard, Peacock and Dickey, the Jackets won two of three. “Playing three games like this is like being in a laboratory; you learn a lot,” Hewitt said. “I’m really looking forward to us becoming a cohesive defensive unit because we’ll score. If we become a cohesive defensive, rebounding team, I think we can change the minds of a lot of people about our team.”
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Traveling’s always good for these Techsters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have a few minutes in San Juan before catching another flight to Atlanta.
Some thoughts from the Carribean, where several dozen Georgia Tech fans appeared to have a good time over the past several days at the Paradise Jam, including world traveler, global innovator and dancer extraordinaire David Dacus, ME ‘99.
I met David, who went to Eagles Landing High School, last year when the Yellow Jackets played in Maui. He’s a Tech fan, to be sure, but even moreso a traveler. He meets a few times a year with a former classmate, Simit Shah, who now works at CNN, at out of town Tech events (like NCAA tournament games, bowls, etc.). On this occasion they were joined by other former classmates — Brian and Anne Fitzpatrick and Matthew Marcinek, who came in from Atlanta and Cleveland, respectively.
This tournament had the unique format of giving every team a day off, either Saturday or Sunday depending on whether the team won or lost on Friday. That was a great thing for players, some of whom went snorkeling Saturday, and fans, who did a lot of different things.
The aforementioned clan went on a small cruise of sorts, on a fairly small and personal boat with food, drinks, and a stop for snorkeling. They said they had a great time.
But the highlight of their trip, at least for me, came at halftime of Friday’s win over Charlotte. David and Brian were selected from the crowd to participate in some sort of on-court event. It was hard to tell what was going on, but I was interested enough to skip a trip to the media room, where delicious snacks abounded. Wow, they had Chex Mix, and granola bars, Fruit Roll-ups (until Shah got hold of them), and — can you believe the joy? — Bugles.
Man, Bugles are … some sort of snack. I had a few (later) for the first time in, oh, maybe my life, and, well, I don’t wanna get sued. So enough on Bugles.
Eventually, this became some sort of dancing contest, although I’m not sure Brian participated in that. Maybe he did and I missed it while doubled over laughing.
David … dude’s got moves! I may be mistaken, but Dacus — who moved to San Francisco shortly after graduation, got a job, eventually became a businessman, and now spends most of his semi-retired (seriously) time either in Tokyo or trotting around the globe — appeared to have the ability to loosen his joints, or somehow bypass their normal function. Most mortals would’ve snapped bones attempting that routine.
We’re talking about an eclectic guy, who does not hide his disdain for $1 bills, loathes the fact that ATMs use $20 bills as their default, and generally does not afford consideration for wasted energy or time.
He was like Gumby in sandals while on four cans of Red Bull! This was not wasted motion, for it was all energy spent in pursuit of fun. Judging from the sight of his friends, including Shah gasping for air, it was a huge success.
Anne Fitzpatrick e-mailed me a photo of the epic shimmy-shake, and I’ve forwarded it to the office in the hope they can post it with this blog. We’ll see about that.
As for the Virgin Islands … the pace is very slow (which is not all bad), traffic is horrible (at least on St. Thomas), the cabbies have a monopolistic hold (and many are crooked, ignoring posted ride rates, and foul), the roads are narrow and in poor shape, they drive on the wrong side of the road, and it’s … just … not … Maui. St. Thomas is not much of a beach island, actually, which wasn’t a problem for me on this trip. I got in the water twice, once for about five minutes, the other time for 10. The water is very warm.
And the basketball team? Lukewarm.
I think the Jackets grew some here. With solid point guard play in games one and three, they won. Without it in game two, when they also were bad at a lot of little things, they lost.
Causey’s shooting stroke is obviously coming around, Bell is getting more comfortable, but Moe Miller’s return will be welcome. So, too, will that of Peacock, and, presumably, Dickey.
Brad Sheehan needs to be more assertive in everything he does, Lawal needs to re-discover the intensity that made him a McDonald’s All-America player, and Lewis Clinch needs to take a few more shots per game.
I still think the talent’s there to have a pretty good season. It’ll come down to defense and point-guard play.
Win a lot or not, the Tech travelers will always have a good time when they hook up. They’re already lobbying for a future trip to Puerto Rico.
Me, I’m really looking forward to getting home and seeing my family.
I trust that Mike Knobler will have a football blog for you later today. If not, please save your tomatoes for the Georgia Bulldogs, and don’t waste them on me. I hate tomatoes.
Matt
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Erratic Jackets look for identity
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Four games isn’t enough to write bottom-line conclusions about Tech’s basketball team, but it’s enough to get some ideas.
First, Winthrop is not your run-of-the-mill mid-major, having been to seven of the past nine NCAA tournaments, and finishing No. 22 in the final rankings after last season, when the Eagles beat Notre Dame in the first round.
But they’re undersized relative to Tech, not as deep, and trailed by 10 a few minutes into the second half against the Jackets.
And then they won.
You’re going to have nights when you don’t shoot well, and/or your best shooters can’t throw it in the ocean. Morrow (3 of 17) and Clinch (5 of 13) didn’t have good games, and that wasn’t because Winthrop was scheming for them. It was the contrary in the second half, when the Eagles packed it in.
They just couldn’t find their rhythm, especially in the second half (combined 3 of 18). Again, there are going to be nights like that. Although Clinch is not shooting the ball nearly as well so far this season as last, I don’t think this is symptomatic.
But Tech has been outscored in the second half of three of four games, including both losses. The only game were the Jackets outscored the opposition was at Tenn. State state, where they walloped the Tigers after trailing at half. They got jump-started when they were behind a team that had never hosted an ACC team.
Sunday night, they went slack with the 10-point lead. In both losses, they led at halftime, and looked like a different squad in the second.
The Jackets are having a hard time keeping their foot on the gas, which is a little more hard to understand because they are deep (although missing PG Maurice Miller, and post men Zack Peacock and Ra’Sean Dickey hurt), but perhaps easier to understand because they’re not getting sufficient leadership at PG.
Tech is hurting at PG, where Miller’s back likely will keep him out tonight against Notre Dame. Causey and Bell are high-effort guys, neither nearly as dynamic as Crittenton last season, but you knew that going in.
Tech had some beautiful alley-oops in the first half, a couple great follow dunks, etc. The Jackets were out-athleting Winthrop for sure. But there was a failed long alley oop in there, I believe in the second half, they were picked clean at several key junctures, and sometimes Tech’s help defense hurts.
How many times did a defender sag off his man to help on the ball only to leave somebody wide open on the weakside, or baseline, and then have that guy nail a wide-open shot once the ball was reversed or dumped deep ahead of a defense that was all above, or nearly above, the free-throw line?
Contrast that against the number of easy, uncontested shots Tech got. Big disparity.
There is a long way to go, enough talent to have a good season, Miller’s return (I’d guess by Indiana Nov. 27, but really don’t know yet) should help, and so will that of Peacock. Dickey’s still out for another month or so.
But this is more about tending to details, and intensity. “We didn’t do the little things that we’ve been taught to do,” Jeremis Smith said. “We’re a team full of veterans.”
If they are being taught, shame on the players. If they’re not, it’s a good time to start.
Matt
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Tech 27, UNC 25: They won, but …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech clinched a winning season but needed a field goal by Travis Bell with 15 seconds left to do it, against a North Carolina team that is now 3-8. And what were the Yellow Jackets thinking handing the ball to Tashard Choice with no timeouts and only seconds left? If he hadn’t gotten the first down, time could have expired.
They’re 7-4, with Georgia next. And Georgia will be a lot better than UNC.
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Thompkins not nearly a Yellow Jacket
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Paul Hewitt is not finished adding players.
Iman Shumpert, the guard from Chicago, signed his letter of intent Thursday, and from what I know he’s the only player expected to sign with Tech on the dotted line in this one-week earlying signing period. Forward Trey Thompkins of Wesleyan, by the way, was not nearly a Yellow Jacket.
Tech, which of course will lose scholarship seniors Ra’Sean Dickey, Anthony Morrow and Matt Causey, will add more players in the spring period.
I don’t follow basketball recruiting nearly like I do football recruiting. Both baffle me occasionally, or make me wonder, like when the father of Howard Thompkins said a couple days ago after his son signed with Georgia that Tech, Kentucky and Florida had continued to recruit his son after he’d committed to Georgia.
So I called dad, Howard Thompkins II. I asked if Tech and the other schools kept recruiting his son after he had committed to Georgia some time ago. He paused, and then said, “No, not at all.”
In some of Mr. Thompkins’ comments this week, that wasn’t clear. So I asked another way. After your son commited, did anyone from Tech contact Trey or your family? The guy is one of the very highest-rated forwards in the nation, after all, so …
“It all came down to Florida, Georgia Tech and Georgia [what about Kentucky?] in the final analysis,” dad said. “After all was said and done, no one called after Georgia was picked.”
It may not seem like a big deal to some, and there’s no NCAA rule against one school continuing to recruit a kid after he’s committed to a different school. It might not even qualify as an unwritten rule.
But plenty of people consider it unethical, and I was curious where Hewitt and Tech fell on this issue, especially since some comments by Mr. Thompkins could have been interpreted to suggest that his son’s recruitment never stopped.
Oh well, another peculiar chapter in the recruiting world.
I’ll blog again later today from the tournament in St. Thomas, where it’s mid- to high-80s and very humid. Man, are the streets congested, too. Zack Peacock (right foot) did not make the trip, and PG Maurice Miller (back) will not start, and may not play. Matt Causey will start at PG.
Matt
Champs Sports, anyone?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Only one bowl has requested a pass to attend Saturday’s Georgia Tech-North Carolina game, but it’s a pretty good one. The Champs Sports Bowl picks fourth in the ACC for a Dec. 28 game in Orlando against the fourth or fifth pick from the Big Ten.
Don’t read too much into the presence of the Champs Sports scout or the absence of other bowl scouts. The Champs Sports will attend “most all of” the games involving bowl-eligible ACC teams, executive director Steve Hogan told me. In contrast, the Music City attends very few games; executive director Steve Ramsey is headed to Florida State-Maryland this week. These days it’s not unusual for a bowl to wind up with a team despite never sending a representative to one of its games.
I think if Tech beats North Carolina and Georgia it becomes an attractive pick for the Champs Sports, especially if Boston College loses to Clemson and Miami. If Tech loses to Georgia it’s hard to imagine it being attractive to any bowl with an ACC alternative, based on the dissatisfaction in the Yellow Jackets fan base.
Players say they want a bowl their families can drive to, meaning any ACC game other than the Emerald in San Francisco or the Humanitarian in Boise. They probably have to beat Georgia to get their wish.
Permalink | Comments (59) | Categories: Football
Tech & I look down the road*
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is Tech going to overlook North Carolina because the Georgia game is a week later?
I don’t know, and I won’t be here to find out. I’m going to the Virgin Islands tomorrow to cover Tech in the Paradise Jam.
Sorry about that.
Matt
*-Tech maybe looks down the road.
Tech offense takes shape
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What a difference one half of basketball can make in the impressions a team is giving.
Tech steamrolled Tennessee State after intermission, outscoring the Tigers 64-46 (defense was slack down the stretch, or it would’ve been worse).
There were several keys, including the Jackets hitting more shots in general than Friday. NOTHING was more important than Tech working the ball into the paint. Not only did the Jackets murder T-State there in point differential, but that opened the outside much more.
If Tech made no other adjustments between the first and second games, and they did, other than to commit to working the ball inside, the visual effect would have been significant. Where at times Friday, the offense looked to have little pattern, simply by running the offense through the post most of the time — whether eventually scoring from there, or outside — the offense suddenly appeared to take form. It had meaning, purpose.
That was more like it.
P.S. Don’t look for Zack Peacock to play in the Virgin Islands. I guess it’s possible, but after taking the walking boot off his right foot Wednesday, he began suffering more pain in workouts a few days later. The boot’s back on. I doubt seriously Hewitt’s going to rush it rather than play it conservative.
Matt
Tech was good enough today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey, Georgia Tech was not especially sharp Saturday, but the Yellow Jackets didn’t need to be to beat a bad Duke squad.
Taylor Bennett completed his first two passes, and looked like he might be in the mood to play as if he had nothing to lose as opposed to playing as if he has something to lose. That’s the way he’s looked to me all too often this season.
Then, he reverted, although his receivers again did not help him out very much. I counted at least five dropped passes.
This team is a lot better when Tashard Choice plays, even when he’s not 100 percent healthy. I don’t think he was today.
The defense? So-so. Duke can’t run the ball a lick, and Tech was hurt occasionally by the pass, but not bad.
The game wouldn’t have been this close if not for miscues, like Choice’s fumble and Bennett’s interception in the first quarter, the punt Duke blocked in the third quarter to set up a short touchdown run.
So Tech is bowl eligible, not that that will be enough to make everybody happy. Nor should it be enough.
Matt
Hoops thoughts in down time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve got another 50 minutes before this football game, and I’m bored so I think I’ll pontificate on the basketball teams.
First, in order to be fair, UNC-Greensboro is going to be a good team this year. They have four starters back from a 16-14 team, start three seniors, and have a very, very good player in forward Kyle Hines. He was second in the Southern Conference in scoring (20.9) last season, and first in rebonding (9.0). He’s ACC-caliber through and through.
The Spartans ran their sets well, made some nice adjustments (spreading the floor a little more in the second half), and rebounded with an edge after intermission.
But …
Why did the Jackets run so little offense through the post? Alade Aminu had four shots, and given that he had four offensive rebounds, I’d venture to say at least two and perhaps three of his shots came off rebounds. Lawal dunked at least twice. I remember him driving to score once very late.
Sure, the Jackets were without their starting centers from last season (Peacock’s foot, which has a stress reaction, or near stress fracture, is healing, and he may, I say may, play in the Virgin Islands; Dickey’s academically ineligible), but so what?
I think Brad Sheehan would’ve been hard pressed to slow Hines last night, too, but at 6-11, and after scoring 18 points in the exhibition game, he doesn’t play a second? Hmmm. I know Brad needs to get stronger. He was in the weight room, in uniform, lifting weights by himself after the game.
Might he have played a little when Hines was out? Or even when Hines was in? Nobody else was slowing him down in the first half (18 points).
Tech did a poor job feeding the post. Storrs seems comfortable and efficient doing that, and Hewitt complimented him for that after the game. But he played just 10 minutes, and he’s not a point guard anyhow.
The point guards, Miller, Causey and Bell combined for five assists and five turnovers. Some of Bell’s numbers (one assist, three turnovers) may have come when he was playing off the ball, I don’t know for sure.
The offense was stale. In the second half, it was just awful. In the first half, the Jackets took a four-point lead not so much because the offense was prettier, but because the Jackets had 17 offensive rebounds (four in the second half, one in the first 14 minutes or so of the second half).
None of the point guards looked horrible, although the offense seemed to slow most dramatically when D’Andre was running it. But none of them made much of a difference for the better, either. The late flurry, small as it was, came with Causey at the helm. He hit a 3, made a nifty interior pass for an easy bucket, but … they’re going to need more at the point.
The defense rotations were not as bad as you might think from the stats (UNCG hit 26 of 53 shots, 9 of 25 3-pointers, including 6 of 16 in the second half). But the Spartans were necessarily patient much of the time, and often used much of the shot clock, waiting until they caught the Jackets ot of position. The killer came when they worked the ball and worked it, and then fed Hines as time wound down. He kicked it back out for an inside-out 3 by Koivisto, his second in as many possessions, and that was the last straw.
Tech’s press was only moderately successful relative to what you might have expected. There was a stretch in the first half when the Jackets were forcing tempo nicely, but it didn’t last. In the second, Tech didn’t press much. When you can’t score (Tech had 13 points in the first 14 or so minutes after halftime), you can’t press anyway.
I don’t think Faye played a second in the second half, and while he made some marks on defense in the first half, he put up three wild shots on offense, missing all of them. I’m not sure where he fits.
Later, the women were impressive in wiping out Davidson. Crisp in much of what they did. They have a lot of experience back, and seemed to have a very good idea of where to be and when.
Two very different showings. Better hope this was an eye-opener for the men, an aberration. It won’t take long to get an idea, although Sunday’s game at Tennessee State is not exactly like a match with the Celtics.
Matt
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
Permalink | Comments (30) | Categories: Basketball
What’s up, or down, with Duke?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Less to talk about here today on Tech than on the next opponent: Duke.
Why do the Blue Devils stink so bad? It’s one thing to stink, but to routinely be terrible is another. Why does it happen? And don’t just trot out tough admissions standards. That’s a copout at Duke just as it is everywhere the excuse is used.
One theory I’ve heard recently (not for the first time) is that the football team does not get the same leeway in recruiting that the mens basketball team or the womens basketball team get when it comes to marginally-qualified student-athletes. Now that’s more plausible, though perhaps not enough to completely explain the huge disparity between the Blue Devils and the rest of the ACC.
Good luck proving or disproving that theory without SAT scores, transcripts and a look at how often each coach succeeds in pleading his/her case for exemptions to the school’s admission standards.
I know this from having seen Duke’s stadium (without yet seeing a game in it): that place doesn’t help recruiting. I don’t know much about football facilities up there otherwise, though. It probably doesn’t encourage prospects to know that they’re going to be not second-class citizens in the sports world at Duke, but more like third-class. Mens and womens hoops trump all.
That said, it’s certainly possible to succeed at a high level in both football and basketball. See Florida, Ohio State, Texas, etc. (easy enough to add to this list, like LSU, which was in the Final Four a couple years ago, and so on).
All I know for sure is Duke’s not good at all in football. As it’s not a public institution, and therefore not subject to freedom of information requests, it’s not an easy thing to explain, unless maybe you’re John Feinstein. John, what say you?
Matt
Nesbitt’s time will come … later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chan Gailey today reiterated his plan to continue using freshman Josh Nesbitt more as a change-of-pace quarterback than as a let’s-try-this alternative to Taylor Bennett.
I can see his reasoning.
It would be different if Bennett were a senior, or if Georgia Tech had no hope of a winning season, or if Nesbitt appeared ready to run all of the offense. None of that is the case.
As bad as Bennett was in his four-interception game last week against Virginia Tech, it was Nesbitt who overthrew James Johnson after Johnson became the most wide-open receiver the Jackets have had all year. As wild as some of Bennett’s throws have been, Nesbitt’s have looked worse — in preseason practice and in games.
Benching Bennett in the 10th game of the season would look more like desperation than inspiration. Letting him play on Saturday against the ACC’s worst pass defense gives him a chance to regain his confidence. Letting Nesbitt continue to come in for a series or a few plays at a time gives him the chance to keep growing without the added pressure of being the starter.
Permalink | Comments (43) | Categories: Football
Hoopsters’ picture still fuzzy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve got nothing to add to the football discussions right now, and we’ll be blogging on the pigskiners later in the week.
If you were at Friday night’s basketball scrimmage, I’d be curious what you thought.
Before going on, Zach Peacock (stress reaction in foot/precursor to stress fracture) won’t be playing for a while. He’s certainly out of Friday’s opener against UNC-Greensboro, and Sunday’s game at Tenn. State. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t play in the Virgin Islands the following week, either.
Hewitt said Zack is too valuable to bring back early to risk breaking that foot. Paul even said if he needs to hold him out that long to be super sure the risk is gone, Peacock might not play until mid-December. That’s the pessimistic view. Maybe around the first of the month he’s ready. Possibly sooner, but I kind of doubt it. I’d say Nov. 27 at Indiana at the earliest. But as I’ve written before, I’m no doctor.
Quick thoughts: Morrow and Smith do indeed look to be in great shape.
Tech is more athletic than in recent years.
I can’t pick a point guard, not that I have too. Causey was nursing that twisted knee, but man, nine assists in 13 minutes? He has vision, for sure. Mo Miller, bigger, can get in the lane once in a while. His length, not that it’s overwhelming of course, probably gives him an edge on defense. Causey really struggled at times to keep up.
Clinch changes what Tech can do offensively, almost by himself. Too early to tell if he’s improved much defensively, but that’s really what Hewitt wants to see.
Sheehan has some skills once he gets the ball above his head, doesn’t dilly-dally with the ball in his hands, but is not very strong yet. His minutes will remain up while Peacock and Dickey are out. After they return, his minutes will drop unless he really takes off in December. Reminded me of a junior version of Kyle Visser, who became a very good big man by his senior season at Wake. Very pedestrian as a freshman, though. Visser was much, much stronger by the time he was a senior, and probably stronger as a freshman. Both have a knack for being in the right place at the time.
Didn’t seen enough of Lawal or Storrs to have an opinion, but apparently Storrs has been shooting lights out in practice/scrimmages.
Mouhammed Faye is not going to play as much this season. Period. Whether playing inside or out, and he can do some of both, he’s on the back end of a logjam.
One thing that may work against Causey being the starting point guard is his defense. If he’s at point, do you put Clinch and Morrow at the wings at the same time? Isn’t there a little too much defensive exposure there? Then again, if Morrow has improved as much as he is said to have improved defensively (not bad Friday), and Clinch is better, who knows? I think, though, that when Causey’s at point, Bell usually will be one of the wings.
Later.
Matt
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I didn’t go to Georgia Tech, my wife did, so the science I apply to football is all mine, and not, well, scientific. That said, I think the Jackets’ defense last night against Virginia Tech, while not impressive in total, was no more than half the problem and probably less than that.
The defense’s job is to get off the field. The Jackets didn’t, allowing Virginia Tech to convert nine of 20 third downs, and a fourth-down try. One might argue fatigue eventually was a factor (VT held the ball 37:25 to GT’s 22:35), and that would be valid, but the Jackets were much better in the second half against third downs (VT converted two of eight as opposed to seven of 12 and that fourth down in the first half).
The bigger problems for the Jackets in the second half were missed opportunities. There were a TON in the third quarter. Josh Nesbitt’s long pass to a wide-open James Johnson. That was a touchdown. The pass was a little long, and Johnson said he lost it as he looked up over his shoulder. The pass that Johnson caught and ran a while with from a scrambling Taylor Bennett? That was going to stake the Jackets to pretty good field position. Even if they settle for a field goal, those two plays might’ve helped the Jackets pull within 17-13, maybe 17-17. But Johnson was stripped from behind, and VT recovered.
When it looked like Sean Glennon fumbled and Anthony Barnes recovered in the third quarter? Nope. Officials ruled Glennon down before the fumble, and replay indicated they were right; he fell on his butt before the ball came loose. A couple plays later, a 71-yard touchdown to Josh Morgan with Jahi Word-Daniels right there.
VT coach Frank Beamer said after the game he felt his team was a little lucky in the third period. He’s probably right.
But the Hokies were better overall, and the GT defense shouldered its part of the blame. Improved against the pass in recent games, they gave up throws of 34, 40 and 71 yards, a huge completion percentage in the first half in particular, and a fourth-quarter run of 70. That last one in probably had plenty to do with fatigue.
Yet Tech’s offense was hugely to blame. The Jackets were going off the field with ridiculous ease, converting just two of 11 third downs and failing on a fourth-down try. Add six turnovers that put the defense right back on the field, and VT’s successful onsides kick so that the Hokies scored 10 points without GT ever even touching the ball, and you have a formula for disaster. That’s seven free possessions for VT. That’s absurd.
After a good start, the passing game was dreadful. Now, back to defense. Contrary to popular belief, coordinator Jon Tenuta has dialed back on the blitz at times this season. Sometimes, though, he doesn’t dial back when it’s easy to wonder if he should have.
The two best examples have been BC and VT.
Against BC, the blitzes were hardly a problem for Matt Ryan, in large measure because the Eagles were max-protecting a lot, sending out just two receivers much of the time. And Ryan was dead-on.
For my two cents, there are two primary ways to slow a passing attack: whack that snake’s head off (drill the quarterback), or lop off the tail (cover the heck out of the receivers). When you blitz so much, you’re aiming primarly for the former strategy. When that’s not working, as it wasn’t against BC, how about giving up a little of that idea and trying to cover more, send safeties to help the CBs more?
Last night, GT pressured Glennon pretty darned well, sacking him six times. VT has had problems protecting the passer all season, though, and I wonder if GT might have had similar success pressuring the QB with a more standard rush package? Beyond that, the Hokies were throwing outside A LOT (not all the time, but a lot). If the Jackets ever adjusted, it was not perceptible to me. Those wide routes are a dream if a DB picks a ball off. It’s usually six the other way. I kept waiting. GT came close only a couple times.
I’ve read a wide, wide variety of complaints about GT, and the one that strikes me as dumbest is the suggestion that GT can’t beat a team like VT because it is playing a bunch of kids who were recruited as two-star, three-star, or un-rated players coming out of high school.
But wait a minute. Philip Wheeler may not have had a great game last night, but he’s not only NFL-caliber, he’ll be a first-day pick. Guyton stands a good chance of being drafted. Jamal Lewis is going to play in the NFL, and figures to be drafted in the first three rounds. Darrell Robertson is currently No. 23 on Mel Kiper’s draft list for seniors. Michael Johnson finally played last night like everybody’s been waiting, and continues to be the most impressive specimen I’ve seen in college — in person — other than Garrison Hearst, Calvin Johnson, Marcus Stroud, David Boston, Andy Katzenmoyer, Champ Bailey, Jamal Lewis and Jonathan Ogden — in no certain order.
Adamm Oliver will be in an NFL camp next year, and Darryl Richard and Vance Walker may one day get pro shots as well.
On offense, Andrew Gardner’s going to enjoy an NFL career, Matt Rhodes might, Kevin Tuminello will get a shot and Mike Cox has pro written all over him. Tashard Choice didn’t play last night, and lacks the speed pros covet, but you all know how good he is. It’s too early to say about Cord Howard, but he has the frame pro coaches covet, and good feet.
Durant Brooks is a stud, although he’s not been as impressive the past month as we’re accustomed to, and Travis Bell is a much better than average college kicker.
There are young future pros on this team as well.
Perhaps Tech doesn’t have the depth of bigger programs, but the cupboard ain’t bare, either.
There are issues at WR and QB, and then you can argue about scheme, deployment, etc.
But this team is not so short of players it should be considered a foregone conclusion that it can’t compete with VT, even with some injuries. VT entered with injuries, and sustained more last night.
There is no one red herring here, and ultimately I don’t think science is what matters most. Everyone’s culpable, certainly coaches included, in this.
Bottom line from my vantage point: There’s enough fabric on hand, but the stitching is weak.
Matt
Tech, Virginia’s that is, had the better quarterback
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The better quarterback wearing a Georgia Tech jersey Thursday was Virginia Tech’s Sean Glennon.
Glennon, wearing a borrowed and magic-marker-altered old Georgia Tech jersey because his Virginia Tech garb was discovered missing along with three others in the Hokies locker room, completed 22 of 32 passes for 296 yards and two TDs in a 27-3 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Tech Taylor Bennett, on the other hand, struggled on national TV, completing only 11 of 26 for 157 yards and was intercepted four times.
Georgia Tech’s up and down season hit a serious low in the loss.
Now 5-4 overall, the Yellow Jackets has only the annual showdown with Georgia as a chance for redemption. But, remember, Chan Gailey is 0-5 against the Bulldogs.
Only one Tech came to play Thursday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you stayed up and watched Georgia Tech, to the end, you’re probably steaming. If you’re no longer up, you were probably on fire when you went to sleep.
The Yellow Jackets could’ve used some of your heat Thursday night. Instead, they were smoked 27-3.
This game was never close, really, as the Jackets barely gave a thought to hanging onto the ball, and Virginia Tech looked like the Hokies of old.
Nobody ever wins throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble (except the Dallas Cowboys, on Monday Night Football, when they play the Buffalo Bills).
You could sort of see bad news coming (but not like this), when the Jackets attempted seven passes and just four runs in the fourth quarter. Sure, Virginia Tech has a very, very stout run defense, and Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant didn’t play. But why give up on the run before giving it a fair shake, especially when passing hasn’t been your thing all season?
The Jackets did it at Miami, and fell behind. They got away with that, though, because the Hurricanes don’t have a killer defense and Georgia Tech got back to running in the second half. That’s possible when you trail 7-0, not when you’re behind 17-3 at half, and falling behind bigger fast thanks to all the turnovers.
Give Virginia Tech credit. Their offensive game plan was solid, built largely around the concept of throwing outside the numbers. If the Jackets ever made an adjustment, it didn’t work very well.
Throw in a totally unexpected — by Georgia Tech — onsides kick by Virginia Tech after the Hokies tied the game at 3, and you’ve got the ingredients for a mess.
Forget the ACC Championship Game. I expected more Thursday night and this season.
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