AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSome 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
Comments
By Frank
December 1, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
Embarassing! I am so tired of Hewitt talking about effort, screens, and stuff that happens at practice.
His teams have no life, no energy and NO OFFENSE! Standing around on offense seems to the be the trademark of his teams.
Forget Bell at point guard. He is a liability at that position.
With so many players, what happened to intense defense pressure all the time. If you are not going to do that, then why substitute so much.
Hewitt, get it together. This is embarassing. I am glad I decided not to get season tickets.
Once last thing - learn how to use your timeouts. You use them too early and do not have them for critical games at the end - if we can get to one of those.
By George P.
December 1, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
Hweitt’s time is starting to run short.
By John
December 1, 2007 7:36 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 Mike
December 1, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
Hewitt needs to make some serious changes in how his tyeam plays baskletball, and to do so SOON, not wait until the end of the season.
This is just atrocious, and is pretty much the same stuff we have been watching for the last 3 or 4 seasons, and all we really get is excuses.
By base jumpa
December 1, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
while we’re at it….go ahead and post a job for the GT basketball program as well. This is getting old very quickly. And unlike football, our basketball program is expected to produce year after year. With the talent we recruit (and leave for the NBA) there are no excuses.
Hewitt has done an awful job the past few years. PERIOD.
By stings to lose
December 1, 2007 8:18 PM | Link to this
can’t shoot!
By stings to lose
December 1, 2007 8:38 PM | Link to this
re Tenuta…sounds like he has a large negotiating edge…head coach or he is gone…??? Mich or LSU… either destination would be bad for Tech. Ol Rad has a fun job!
By Where's the D?
December 1, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a supporter of Paul Hewitt’s in the past, but it’s becoming apparent he has the “GT mediocrity” disease that caused Gailey to get fired. His players are uninspired, unmotivated and play far below their potential. No chemistry, no effort…wasn’t Paul considered a defensive genius? This team is very hard to watch…they don’t even seem to want to be there.
By bad time to be a jacket
December 1, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
Minus 2 years, Tech basketball has been painful to watch under Hewitt. In my honest opinion, Rad needs to clean house except for D. Hall. He is the only one doing his job record wise. If we hire R. Edsall, I’m done with GT forever. The facts hurt.
By bad time to be a jacket
December 1, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
Minus 2 years, Tech basketball has been painful to watch under Hewitt. In my honest opinion, Rad needs to clean house except for D. Hall. He is the only one doing his job record wise. If we hire R. Edsall, I’m done with GT forever. The facts hurt.
By RAMBLE ON!
December 2, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
HEWITT IS WORSE THAN GAILEY
By gt fan
December 2, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this
i used to love gt bb so much i would drive 100 miles round trip on a work nite to listen to them on the radio back in the 80’s. now? i have lost almost complete interest in the team.
there is an old expression… ‘you cant make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’. well $1000 silk suits will never make paul hewitt a coach.
coach dwayne morrison was a better coach. at least his players played like a TEAM.
between his confusing substition pattern, his penchant for individual instruction rather than team practice and a lack of recruiting savy as far as bb iq goes, paul hewitt’s coaching career is in jepardy. as it should be.
the only trick left in his bag of tricks is his recruiting and that is now suspect. paul hewitt loves those long athletic players.
translation… he recruits tall black althletes with limited skill sets (see Faye and Bell and Smith ) and no bb iq over available white players.
these same white players end up on teams that routinely hand gt their a* on a plater. (see vanderbilt for instance)
last time i watched today those slow unathletic white players were giving our ‘team’ a lesson in all phases of the game including heart.
paul hewitt it is time to relinquish your job on the BCA and concentrate on YOUR job. which is coaching the gt bb team and recruiing players of all colors.
for those of you who say i am off base i remind you that it was not too long ago that paul hewitt was telling all those who would listen …’the ncaa is a racist organization AND i am going to make sure that i get as many black players into college as i can’.
NO paul… your job is to coach the gt bb team.
By gt fan
December 2, 2007 12:19 AM | Link to this
i used to love gt bb so much i would drive 100 miles round trip on a work nite to listen to them on the radio back in the 80’s. now? i have lost almost complete interest in the team.
there is an old expression… ‘you cant make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’. well $1000 silk suits will never make paul hewitt a coach.
coach dwayne morrison was a better coach. at least his players played like a TEAM.
between his confusing substition pattern, his penchant for individual instruction rather than team practice and a lack of recruiting savy as far as bb iq goes, paul hewitt’s coaching career is in jepardy. as it should be.
the only trick left in his bag of tricks is his recruiting and that is now suspect. paul hewitt loves those long athletic players.
translation… he recruits tall black althletes with limited skill sets (see Faye and Bell and Smith ) and no bb iq over available white players.
these same white players end up on teams that routinely hand gt their a* on a plater. (see vanderbilt for instance)
last time i watched today those slow unathletic white players were giving our ‘team’ a lesson in all phases of the game including heart.
paul hewitt it is time to relinquish your job on the BCA and concentrate on YOUR job. which is coaching the gt bb team and recruiing players of all colors.
for those of you who say i am off base i remind you that it was not too long ago that paul hewitt was telling all those who would listen …’the ncaa is a racist organization AND i am going to make sure that i get as many black players into college as i can’.
NO paul… your job is to coach the gt bb team.
By Greg
December 2, 2007 6:40 AM | Link to this
We simply can no longer blame the players. Hewitt keeps producing the same team each year: they play with no confidence—-they’re practically trembling in fear of making a mistake—-and thus have no smoothness and no juice. It’s herky-jerky b-ball, and he just can’t seem to teach offense sets at all. They all look like deer in the headlights. Tech would have better teams without a coach. They have talent. They’d play better if they were allowed to treat games like street ball. Hewitt seems impregnable in his coaching position, but he shouldn’t be. He has been, overall, sub-standard in the ACC.
By black bee
December 2, 2007 7:23 AM | Link to this
Hewitt is blowing it-he has to change his staff-let some Assist. Coaches get other jobs and bring in a real X and O guy, don’t make the the criteria the the Coach be an African-American, just the best X and O guy around. He has to get another guy who can recruit some tougher guys in some other areas. Tech has to get back to recruting the East Coast and finally the system he runs is not working with the personal-it has to be changed.
By Joe Tech
December 2, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
Coach Gailey, do you have room in your car so we can car-pool out of town?
Coach Hewitt
By fred
December 2, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
If a coach is not constantly seeking an improved, winning record he is THE PROBLEM.
Hewitt is in over his head.
By yellowblood
December 2, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
I’m so tired of everyone being in a bad mood I don’t know what to do. Our coaches are terrible and they are causing Tickle Pile cancellations.
By Rob
December 2, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
He needs to go and soon.
By Dawgbyte
December 2, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Do you see that “humanity” falling from the sky? On to the blue field? Another fitting honor for a “storied” program.
By You asked for it you got it
December 2, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Congrats to Pee Pad and his pals. You wanted Gailey gone, and you got an early Christmas present. But the rest of us tried to warn you that it would be tough to find a good replacement for Gailey. Heck, we can’t even get Edsall to come here. Nice job guys. Mark my words, we are about to hire a Bill Lewis type and spend the next three seasons with LOSING records. Hope your happy.
By John Conklin
December 2, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
Anyone have Mark Price’s phone number?
By WFC
December 3, 2007 6:58 AM | Link to this
I’m a Hewitt supporter so I hope that he won’t fall into the same “stuborness” trap that Gailey did. To wit:
Stop recruiting “one-and-done” players like Crit and Young. You trade one “decent” season like last year for two bad ones.
Get off this “long and lean” kick and recruit some guys who actually know how to play the game. If not, become the track and field coach.
Change your practice philosophy. At the ACC level you simply don’t have time to spend 90% of it on individual development. GT should not be a farm team for the NBA.
Causey is your point guard while Miller develops. Any minutes given to Bell at the point are wasted. He is a tough but undersized “3” man as any HS coach can see.
This team doesn’t have the “pressure defense” mentality even though that’s the way YOU want to play. Clinch and Morrow have to play for offense so find a defense they can manage.
By RAMBLE ON!
December 3, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
HEY MATT, COULD YOU ASK HEWITT IT HE’S FEELING ANY HEAT AFTER GAILEY?
Does anybody remember two years ago, THE TEAM QUIT (even admitted it) Halfway through the year?
…guess what, it’s already happening again.
WE WILL NOT WIN 4 ACC GAMES THIS YEAR…WATCH OUT FOR KANSAS, THAT’S GOING TO BE UGLY.
PACK YOUR BAGS HEWITT YOU SUX!!!
By Corliss
December 3, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
Hey Gt fan,
By RAMBLE ON!
December 3, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Here’s my email to Radavoich I’d encourage everyone else so send your thoughts as well.
Good luck with our new football coach search. If my vote counts I’d say Paul Johnson, or Ga. Southerns. Get somebody that can coach Josh Nesbitt, he’s a freak of nature!
I would like to say though, Hewitt’s performance has been worse than Gaileys. 2 years ago the team quit and even admitted it, I’m suspecting it will be happening again soon. It could happen as soon as Kansas gets here. Saturday was the fist time in 30+ years, I couldn’t watch the game.
3 players from last years “bubble and ‘one and done’ team” are playing in the NBA. Mario West almost didn’t even make the team last year. This season is going to very ugly. People say, “if Young and Crittenton had came back”…well they didn’t and never considered it to begin with.
Sorry to pile on like this when you’re so busy dealing with the football coach, but this product Hewitt has brought the last 4 years is a joke. We can’t even shoot a free throw, and never had since he’s been here. They can sure dunk the ball though.
I greatly appreciate you’re efforts here and strongly believe in you and your abilities. My biggest disappointment would be if you decided to leave us.
Best regards and keep up the good, hard work!
By anthony serna
December 3, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
In ALL the posts above, there is NOT ONE email supporting P-Hew.
That has not been the case in the past. And I have to admit, I was a HUGE supporter when P-Hew was hired. I loved watching his Siena teams. Although late last year I came to the realization that we may have the weakest coach in the ACC.
There’s no shame in being successful at a mid-major. It’s obvious that a repeatedly inferior product on the floor must be squarely placed on the shoulders of P-Hew.
It’s time for a new chapter in GT. As was mentioned above, their play is PAINFUL TO WATCH. I see high school sophmore teams execute better.
OG-T
By T-Bone
December 3, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
I, too, share most people’s feelings on Saturday’s game. I ordered ESPN Full Court this season just so I could watch the Jackets. I would like to submit something that most people seem to be missing: Paul Hewitt’s teams have traditionally been poor ON THE ROAD. Last season is a perfect example (17-1 at home, 3-11 road/neutral). That trend will continue unless two things happen: 1. better execution (this is where a seasoned point guard would be handy); and 2. a player who can take over the game if need be. Balance is nice, but when the team needs a bucket, to whom do they turn? No one knows. There is no Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson, Matt Harpring type on this or the last few squads. The 2004 and 2005 teams were balanced, but Jarrett Jack took over when the team needed it. We’ve had no such player since he left. If the season continues this way, I agree that Hewitt needs to be on a VERY hot seat, but let’s see if he can iron some of these things out first. The team DOES play hard, but it’s more important to play SMART.
One more quick observation: The players who make turnovers are almost immediately removed from the game. That doesn’t quite inspire confidence.
By Bill
December 3, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
I can only concur with the “Hewitt has to go” crowd. His act has worn thin. With the amount of “athletic ability” his players seem to have, they often seem to have not a clue on how to execute fundamental basketball skills. These Hewitt coached teams should have been perrenial NCAA tourney teams.
By Wrecker1
December 3, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
We play no team defense. The guys have no real reason to over achieve b/c ther going to be in and out of the game regardless of how they play. No effort on D, that’s ok I would be out in a minute or two anyway. Boneheaded pass on offense, no problem, my sub will be at the table in a minute or two even if I get hot and hit 6 straight. The purpose of our press looks like sowe get back on offense sooner. There is no team play on either end of the floor. My gosh, I thought Bobby C. had no clue on offense. We have a couple of guys that play 33-35 minutes regardless of how they play and others that play about 15-20 regardless of their play. Playing time should be earned.
By Gordon
December 3, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Does anyone know Hewitt’s contract situation? How many years left?
Gosh, I never thought I’d be asking that after the final four season. I wasn’t discouraged the year after that, either, because of all the injuries that year. I used to listen to the Paul Hewitt call-in show and just couldn’t get enough. But these last two years have been awful, and this year seems headed in the same direction.
I don’t think we can ever be a consistenly great football school, but there is NO REASON we can’t be great in basketball. Hewitt needs to make staff changes NOW. It’s later than he thinks.
By Paul
December 3, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
Hewitt is almost as bad as Felton over at UGAG. That is unacceptable at Tech.
Oh, and Radakovich, is going to blow this football search as bad as anything has ever been botched.
*HIRE PAUL JOHNSON NOW!”
By WFC
December 4, 2007 6:49 AM | Link to this
Let me make this clear: I support Paul Hewitt. He simply needs to re-think some of the principles outlined in my earlier post.
By SAT GT ALUM
December 4, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
Jeremis Smith is my biggest disappointment for a college career. I thought he would be a beast by now that could take over games. I really thought he would be a Charles Barkley type. The couple of monster dunks per game is about all we get with a bunch of missed free throws. What about Anthony Morrow, he never developed beyond his Freshman year either. Experience does not seem to matter in College Ball. I blame Hewitt for these shortcomings. Yes he should recruit the NE and an occasional skinny white kid that can handle the ball would not hurt either.