AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 07
Friday, March 7, 2008
Looking into the crystal ball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Funny how in the two games Clemson and Tech played, the team that made 23 free throws won each game, and the team that made just nine lost each time.
Hmmm. Big surprise, huh?
But onto deeper matters, what about next season?
I’ll work on the presumption that Paul Hewitt will still be the coach.
I don’t think Iman Shumpert will be the shooter that departing Anthony Morrow was, but I have a hunch he’ll be a more rounded scorer. Freshmen rarely excel defensively, especially early. I have no hunch about his defense, rebounding, etc.
My guess is Shumpert will start at one wing and play some point to give Miller a break from time to time. It seems like it would be a crazy for Miller not to start at PG. If I’m right, Shumpert will partially fill the roles of both Morrow and departing PG MAtt Causey while playing more like Thad Young than either of them.
Dickey may be able — on paper — to replace departing Jeremis Smith’s rebounding and scoring totals, although I don’t think he’s a lock to start. I’m betting Lawal and Peacock start in the frontcourt, and Dickey and Aminu spell them. I dunno about Sheehan’s role.
At this point, I’d tab Bell as the other wing. I bet Storrs makes a quantum leap, and will surprise folks as a shooter, thereby replacing some of Morrow’s skillset.
This leaves the enigma — Lewis Clinch.
He’s passing up shots, and shooting poorly when he does shoot. His psyche is a wreck, in my opinion, and while there’s a long time between now and next season, much work needs to be done to bring Lewis back from wherever he’s been.
So the questions are how to balance the PG minutes, chiefly behind Miller I think, and how to facilitate the return of Clinch?
Then, the great intangible: who emerges in leadership roles?
I think that’s an issue. Bell has been more assertive, but is not a super vocal guy, nor is Miller — at least not yet. Dickey is too quiet, and inconsistent to be counted upon for that based on existing evidence.
Time will tell.
On to Boston.
