AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 01
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Some days you’re just not good — at all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s no glossing over what happened in Nashville Saturday. Georgia Tech was whipped.
Bad body language almost from the start.
I don’t know if it was more about a bad game plan or poor effort, or just misguided effort on the part of players because it was so ugly as to be blinding. All three? Add to whichever of these you might choose the fact that Vandy played great (this team took two overtimes Thursday to beat South Alabama!)
The final score, 92-79, was not indicative. Tech trailed by 20 at halftime, but 27, 28 with about five minutes left. Ugly. Hideously ugly.
Jeremis Smith played just 14 minutes, at least in part because he hurt his back in the first half. Tech’s leading rebounding finished with four, none offensive. Tech’s second leading rebounder, Aminu, did not get one. He played just 10 minutes, scoring 2 points, and if he’s not in the doghouse, I don’t know the definition of a doghouse.
Vanderbilt is 7-0, and much better than last season despite losing the SEC player of the year in Byars (no, it wasn’t a Florida player). They have balance inside and out, and the big difference inside is 6-10, 250-pound freshman center A.J. Ogilvy. Kid’s got moxie, and a few moves. And some muscle.
He had 16 points on 6 of 7 shooting, and hit 4 of 6 free throws. Added six rebounds in a modest 22 minutes with a blocked shot.
“Ogilvy is very impressive for a freshman,” Hewitt said. “I thought we did a good job instructing out bigs just how good he is. He’s got good footwork, a great feel in the low post. He’s a rugged kid. We had some success with Australians in the past; I was kind of wondering why we didn’t him.”
In the pre-game notes handed out by Vanderbilt, his bio said he chose the Commodores over UNLV, New Mexico St., St. Marys (?), Wake Forest, Indiana, Georgia Tech and Washington State.
In the media guide, the same things lists only UNLV New Mexico St. and St. Marys (?).
A Vandy writer asked Hewitt if Tech recruited him (he’s from Canberra, Australia, same country as Luke Schenscher). Paul said, “We knew about him. I will say that he’s a little bit better than advertised.”
He also said that Tech had already received a commitment from Gani Lawal, and there there was no knowing if Ogilvy would’ve come to Tech even if Tech recruited him.
I don’t know why Tech would be listed as one of the schools the kid considered in one place, and not another, especially without talking to him, but that guy can play.
Only one redeeming factor for Tech today. Zack Peacock (17 points). Maybe Lewis Clinch (15), at least on offense.
The intentional fouls by Causey and Lawal? Yuck. Paul took Causey out for good after his, which appeared far more egregious than Lawal’s (which nonetheless was intentional).
Today, the Jackets looked like they didn’t know where to be, when to help out, when not to help out, how to come off screens, or fight through them. It was bad, worse than any game I remember last season other than perhaps at North Carolina.
Vandy tried 37 free throws today, and they didn’t all come in garbage time. The Jackets had a very good day at the line, actually, hitting 19 of 22.
But the ‘Dores still hit more (23) than Tech tried. Actually, Tech has ATTEMPTED only a few more free throws than opponents have made this season. Disparity is one thing. That’s a chasm.
On a lighter note, what about the commotion with Les Miles/Jon Tenuta? From afar, that appears quite bizarre.
Matt
