AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHey look! Basketball can be fun
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is not just lip service: when I say there is a very different air around the basketball team, I mean it.
Do not misinterpret. I’m not suggesting Tech is going on a tear to win the ACC tournament. I’m not making a prediction on what will happen in sum in Charlotte.
But these are not the same Jackets I saw lose five straight.
After the first 10 minutes against Clemson, when the defense was as bad for as long as at any point all season, the Jackets have had their act together.
The offense has been more efficient over the past four games than all season. They’re hanging onto the ball (15 turnovers combined in the past three halves). The defense has dialed in (28 steals last two games) with the exception of that gash against Clemson. The pressure, which coach Hewitt prefers to play, is making a difference.
So often early in the season, the Jackets played pressure as if it hurt them. Not of late. Their pressure defense has been their best defense.
They’re playing on both sides of the play without the indecision that plagued them in the five-game losing streak, with confidence like that of their three-game road winning streak.
A few individual notes, and then one very painful summation:
Gani Lawal has made 16 of his previous 23 free throws. Very good. Seriously. He also has just five rebounds in the previous three games, going three, zero, two. Not good.
Past four games, Jeremis Smith has rebounded 13, six, seven and 10 times. Very good. He had four steals at B.C.
Lewis Clinch made four of six shots, two of three 3-pointers at BC., and looked like he was comfortable shooting for the first time in ages.
Peacock has made 18 of 32 shots in the past three games, and 20 of 23 free throws over the past five games. Want him at the FT line. That’s a big reason he’s playing more minutes than Lawal (even though Gani’s been better at the line recently than he was most of the season). That and the fact Peacock has a 10-4 assist/turnover ratio lately (25-32 on the season), and Lawal’s ratio is 2-11 in the same span (9-51 for the season).
Now, Tech finished 6-8 on the road, and 4-4 in ACC games, best since the year the Jackets went to the national title games, and one of the best seasons in decades.
But the reason they’re in the pickle they’re in: 6-7 at home, 3-5 in ACC games. Those five ACC losses came by eight points. No matter the margin, that’s the reason Tech is where Tech is.
Actually, I’ll make two predictions: Tech will play very hard in Charlotte, and will beat Virginia Thursday. After that?
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Comments
By Mike
March 10, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
I wish I could be such an optimist, but Tech teams under Hewitt have a tendency to come out flat in the tournment. I think we all expected to blow past Wake in last year’s opener, and we lost. Just because we played well at BC (which looked like it was just going through the motions) does NOT mean we’ll beat UVa (which blasted a solid Maryland team). I think we are one and done.
By confused
March 10, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Don’t Not misunderstand. hmmm I don’t understand?
By gt45
March 10, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
How about that GT baseball? Looks like we may have some fine pitching this year, and the sticks ain’t shabby! Go Jackets-
By ArkyTech
March 10, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Took a peak at the basketball media guide. Check this out.
By 3 Rivers jacket
March 10, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
I will say it now. We will be playing on the weekend in Charlotte. I see a little panache in this bunch now.
By yellarjacket4life
March 10, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
I agree with 3 Rivers jacket, we will be playing this weekend in Charlotte.
We caught a major break (1st one all year) by winning the tiebreaker over both FSU and Wake. We avoided the dreaded #8 vs. #9 matchup on Thurs. at NOON and a potential quarterfinal matchup against #1 UNC, instead we get a very beatable #10 UVA at 7:00 on Thurs. and a potential matchup with Duke on Fri. We can beat Duke on a neutral court without their silly fans and the ref’s in their back pocket. It will be very tough, but it is possible only if we rebound and play defense.
Zach Peacock and Jeremis Smith are playing their best basketball of the year right now. Where has this mid range jumper been all year Jeremis??? Peacock is finally playing up to his potential. He will definitely start at the 4 (PF) spot next year.
By Homer Scott
March 10, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
I believe that Tech will outlast UVa. It will be imperative that Tech plays good perimeter def in order to beat Duke. If they are hot from 3 land and the refs are Duke allies, it’ll be difficult. Go Jackets!
By ArkyTech
March 10, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
yellarjacket4life, what makes you think Duke won’t have the refs in their back pocket? That’s never stopped in the ACC Tournament before!
By GT GRAD
March 10, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
The refs have been “punishing” GT ever since Paul Hewitt openly questioned their pitiful calls during a stretch of games several years ago. I think it is due time someone with the NCAA addresses this issue with the refs……..let the past go, Paul Hewitt has learned the lesson you have been trying to teach him. Just call the games in an honest manner from this point forward. No excuses for Paul Hewitt or the players, but anyone who has followed GT basketball for >6 years knows that GT has lost a number of games in recent years due to poor and/or biased officiating.
Anyone who does not believe the referees can control the outcome of a basketball game (as long as the two teams have similar talent) is borderline ignorant.
By yellarjacket4life
March 10, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
ArkyTech,
You are right! Duke still gets the majority of the calls, even in the ACC tourney, but not as many as if we were playing in Cameron Indoor.
In order to beat Duke at Cameron you must overcome 4 things:
At least in the ACC tourney, you can take the fans out of the equation. If we can defend the 3pt line, shoot 70% from the free throw line, and REBOUND, then we can beat them on a neutral court. Hopefully, they will have another off night from 3 like the last time we played them. Hewitt needs to exploit the block against them. Zoubek and Thomas can’t guard Lawal, Smith, and Peacock. We must take advantage of them in the post to beat them. If they double down on the post, Morrow, Causey, and Miller must hit some 3’s (anything you get from Clinch is a bonus). Ball movement has been much better over the last couple of games, so I think we have a good chance against them.
This is all a moot point unless we beat UVA!!!
By GT
March 10, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
I don’t see us getting by Va. They beat us in our place just last week. Sure we beat Clemson and BC but by that time it didn’t matter. Now we are back in the tournament, people are talking about us playing better and the pressure is back on. The ACC is so close this year that the team that is the most nervous will lose. We are the nut case of the conference and I truly think it is because no player gets warmed up good before he is yanked. Bobby Cremins used 6 players most of the time and when crunch time came there was some beautiful moments for Tech. That 10 second stretch against Virginia the other night just about tells the tale of this year’s team.
By yellarjacket4life
March 10, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
GT,
How can you say it didn’t matter when we beat Clemson the other night? Clemson really wanted to win that game to ensure themselves of a 1st round bye in the ACC tourney, not to mention improve their seeding in the NCAA tourney. You don’t think BC wanted to win that game Sat. on their senior day?
Last time we played UVA, Causey did not play, which really hurt us. He gives us quality minutes off the bench, not to mention he is another scoring threat. We are playing much better. I say we handle UVA on Thurs.
By the way, nobody in the ACC is talking about this team, which means teams like Duke are looking past Tech.
By THWG
March 10, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
GT- Considering our sub-par record at home, I believe that loss to UVA doesn’t necessarily mean that they will dominate us on Thursday night. They are seeded 10th in the ACC as we are 7th, but both our records reflect playing the same ACC teams. Case in point- We had the game in our back pocket against them, but we played a minute of ugly ball that negated the first 39 we played. We beat them in OT earlier in the season, and we are on a 2 game win streak to end the regular season. I am certain that we can make some noise in the ACC Tourney.
By Tech Hoops it up in ACC Tourney
March 10, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
GT,
Maybe BC was done, but Clemson had something to play for. They did not hand that game to us. We were getting clobbered and then we came together and played harder. I like that the fan broke out the media guide to let all know that Tech basketball had brief moments of a good team, but mainly ended up 7-9. In cremins tenure, he only had us 1st-3rd four times. All other seasons were 5 or worse. most seaons were 7-9 ranked at the end of the ACC regular season. This program was not like MAryland. We have been down mainly in the ACC rankings, not up and down. So, you Hewitt haters vut him some slack. See how other teams would be with a different point guard each year since Jack. I am proud that Hewitt’s teams can compete with anybody. We may not ahve had as many W’s as most of us would like….but we don’t get blown out by the bigs like we used to on a regular basis. I can’t wait to see what happens with this new recruit. We might have enough speed next year to get back to pressure defense. That’s what lost these early games. Hewitt tried to press against these mids that had guys who had played together a long time. Then we would press them and they killed us early. So if you think about it, Hewitt has had a competitive team for 4 of the past 5 years. At least we got to the NCAA finals b/c only a few teams have made it that far in the past 5. Duke has not even been to the final in that stretch. So lighten up.
The last thing I have to say is how do we get Dan Rad to get these fat cats who never fill their seats gone? It is embarrassing to see us play UNC and see 20 empty seats courtside within the first 5/6 rows! I say lets students into these seats if they are not there after the first media timeout. It is pathetic.
By GT Athletic Supporter
March 10, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
One and done, and it won’t be within 10. We’ll play tight and make mistakes and UVA is over their injuries and on a roll. We’ll play hard just not consistent enough.
By SAMMY THE HEAD MILLER
March 10, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
First! I like this team alot and think they have started their tear and will be playing on the weekend! I think coach K’s mouth is shrinking! He looks like a mouse!
By reasonablefan
March 10, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
Bulls*#@ Matt. They beat the LAST place team in the conference on Saturday and you are ready to put them in the ACC Championship. And beating Clempson at home is not a big deal cause they always choke against Tech when they are favored. A weak conference beyond NC and Duke and you know it.
By Rags
March 10, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
Matt,
I really enjoy your blogs, and your inside information is always welcome. However, this is EXACTLY the same team it was earlier in the season. Same players, same coach. I know that teams and coaches can improve over the course of a season, but in my opinion this is just another blip, similar to mid-season where we won a couple of games and suddenly thought we had turned a corner. We had not then, and I do not think we have now. I hope I am wrong, but this is an inconsistent team with no real offensive or defensive identity, coached poorly, with no killer instinct, and they will fold again in the tournament. Just like they have for the past few years. If they make a run, that’s great, keep Hewitt one more year, but if not, I think the decision is simple. In any event, I will watch them and root for them, but I expect to be disappointed.
By bwash21
March 10, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Rags, you got it. I think you said it best.
“I will watch them and root for them, but I expect to be disappointed.”
That’s how they make me feel. I’d be happy if they played 40 minutes with some heart and intensity.
I’d also be happy if they could ever convert a set play out of a timeout with a basket instead of a turnover. When is the last time you saw them accomplish something positive out of a timeout? I remember one in 2004 and Hewitt is still riding that wave. If we are one and done in the tourney, fire Hewitt and get someone else in here.
By yellowblood
March 11, 2008 6:36 AM | Link to this
I just want to get in a couple of Tickle Piles as a result of victories at the tournament.
By JustMe
March 11, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
Tech teams - basketball and football (especially in recent years) tend to do exactly opposite of what you expect. Beat an ‘easy’ opponent? No, Tech will either lose or make it a nail biter. Lose to a top 5 team? Tech will either beat them or make it a nail biter.
IMHO, Tech sports needs a great sports psychologist.
By Helluva Engineer
March 11, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
There are three certainties in life: Sonny Perdue doing something preposterously idiotic, a U[sic]GA fan obsessing about nascar, and Paul Hewitt’s teams not showing up when it matters most.
Right when you think they have turned the corner, I look for them to come out uber flat (especially on defense) and I look for a narrow UVA victory.
By Stingem75
March 11, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
If we stop Singeltary, we can win but he alone shows more heart than everyone of Tech’s team except Causey. If the team show’s heart, it will prevail against UVA. But this heart has to come from them…..Hewitt has NO CLUE how to inspire a team. Watch any game, when the team needs inspiration and looks to its coach……it gets NOTHING!
By r.west
March 11, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
I don’t know what team you are watching dude, but this team is really a hard team to watch. Fundamentally inept and very sporadic. I cringe when I watch this team work an inbound play or especially watch the guards dribble. Horrendous.
By Tech75
March 11, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
First, I wish all the seniors the best of luck, and thanks; too bad one the whole we didn’t get where we should have most of the time.
Second, I’m with those above who recognize this as just another temporary blip.
I do expect them to play hard, but when they do, the results can go either way - more fouls/turnovers, or more points - sometimes both.
It’s not clear to me that playing with more effort really does anything in the long run for this team - they don’t seem to be able to play BOTH with effort AND control.
So, I expect an entertaining game. Maybe we win, maybe we lose. If we win, we’ll get one more game at the most, then we can relegate this season to the history books as one more missed opportunity.
In the long run, we have to get a coach who can teach players to play under control at a high level of effort, and who can play DEFENSE. Forget the one-and-done NBA types.
By Dadgum
March 11, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
The Jackets will beat UVA but not Duke. That will finish their season. They will not have enough wins or winning record to qualify for the NIT regardless of what they do in the ACC tourney. Ironically their best chance at post season is the NCAA. The NIT stipulates you must have a winning record. Nuff said….
By gtlinz
March 11, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
The Jackets should be UVA but Duke is hard to beat for many reasons already stated (a phantom call cost us a legit chance at the 2004-5 tourney title game against Duke). But if the Jackets can pull off the Duke game they will likely beat the 3 seed advancer and WOULD qualify for the NIT because of the extra game (3-1 min at that point). So we just have to hope for a title game. I am not expectant (and have not been for years with Hewitt atheletes trying to play basketball) but this team is starting to show signs finally. They have nothing to lose, that is for sure. Also a quick point about Hewitt - I have been very frustrated with him and lack of fundamentals - but he still is a young coach and I watched him change his recruiting style after the 2004 season. He needs to change it again (more bball players, less long armed atheletes). He has done a lot for the program and deserves a few more years to adjust. I still sense that he may make those adjustments….
By Stingem75
March 11, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
To gtlinz, pertaining to your quick point about Hewitt………he has a lot more to change about himself, the athletes that he brings to the school and how he motivates what he does have. He has to remember that their actions on the court are a reflection of the teaching and training that he has provided in the practices before. Their lack of fundamentals and inability to “gel” when on the court together do nothing but show the weaknesses of the overall program. maybe he likes working on ESPN as a commentator more!
By josh948
March 11, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
Hello I am the officer for the Facebook.com Georgia Tech Basketball Application. Since you all are obviously Georgia Tech Basketball fans you should join the application where you can post comments, blogs, pictures, videos, articles, review trivia, and show your Georgia Tech pride. If you are interested in this all you have to do is go to www.thefacebook.com and create a profile. Once you have done this you can go Link: HERE to join this application. I look forward to hearing from all of you guys.
By josh948
March 11, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Hello I am the officer for the Facebook.com Georgia Tech Basketball Application. Since you all are obviously Georgia Tech Basketball fans you should join the application where you can post comments, blogs, pictures, videos, articles, review trivia, and show your Georgia Tech pride. If you are interested in this all you have to do is go to www.thefacebook.com and create a profile. Once you have done this you can go Link: HERE to join this application. I look forward to hearing from all of you guys.
By At&t
March 11, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
All you Paul Hewitt haters are… F@GS!!!! Paul Hewitt is a good coach, why dont you go play with your mother!!! Your probably uga fans… so go play leap frog with coach Felton!!! ahaha Qu33rs!!!
By At&t
March 11, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
All you Paul Hewitt haters are… F@GS!!!! Paul Hewitt is a good coach, why dont you go play with your mother!!! Your probably uga fans… so go play leap frog with coach Felton!!! ahaha Qu33rs!!!
By THWUGA
March 11, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
Paul Hewitt is a good man but not the right coach for Ga. Tech or the ACC. Look at the stats. From the overall mediocrity of season records and downright awful conference and tournament records, to the graduation and “early departure” rates for the players. His defenders may excuse this year due to the NBA defections last year, but then how do they defend being so meek last year with 3 NBA players on the team? PH’s record before coming to Tech was nothing special, and he has floundered while here. We did not accept a better performance from Gailey in FB, but there is surprisingly little pressure placed on PH. I hate no one, but neither am I blind. We had the courage to hire a black head coach originally, now let’s see if DRad has the courage and insight to fire one who needs firing.
By Reckrocket
March 11, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this
Amen, THWUGA. Even tho’ Hewitt is BCA prez, he should shoot for an AD job somewhere, ‘cause the man can’t coach. He’s a class act, but he ain’t done ** since he’s been at Tech. (1 trip to the Final Four in a mess of lukewarm to cold seasons don’t cut it—I’d rather have consistently good teams and the Tournament wins will follow.) Hell, we can hire another brother when we fire Hewitt, or when he mans up and resigns…AS IF (as my daughter would say.) I’m a Black Tech alum, but no objective supporter can make a case for keeping PH based on his numbers.
By Dadgum
March 12, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
I have to correct a math error from yesterday. If GT makes it to the championship game they will indeed play in the NIT should they lose that one because they would have the required .500 or better. Of course, win and they get the NCAAs. Perhaps it is far-fetched but then again….
Another possibility is the new NCAA tourney that takes 16(?) teams that didn’t play in the NIT or NCAA. This tourney is starting up because the NIT is lowering it’s number of teams going forward and the 15 wins and .500 record stipulation. Perhaps the Jackets can get that invite if they just beat Virginia. Not sure what the new tourney qualifications are.
By Stingem05
March 12, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
When we win the ACC Tournament, what seen will we be in the NCAA? I’m thinking probably a 10 or 11.
By lifer
March 12, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
This team is one and done in the tournament!
By nate
March 12, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
I won’t be surprised if this team beats both UVA and Duke. Then again I won’t be shocked if they lose to UVA. That’s the way this team has been. By the way the College Baketball Invitational is the new 16 team tourney. It does NOT have a prerequisite of a .500 record, although they have said they don’t envision taking a sub .500 team. If there was ever a team that should be considered it’s this one.