AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s elementary; the better team won
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I thought there were two keys more important than others in Tech’s loss to Duke:
When the Blue Devils were — as usual — drastically overplaying Tech’s wings, the counter needed to be back cuts. The Jackets scored on one, by Morrow, by my count in the first half when Tech’s ball movement was horrid much of the time, especially in contrast to what we saw the night before against Virginia.
Beyond that, drive, drive, drive. When the Jackets went on their 19-2 run in the second half, they did. They had five layups in that stretch, and got to the line a couple times.
Not as important, but a big factor especially in the first half: crummy rebounding.
Don’t think the defense was horrible, but not great. DeMarcus Nelson was a huge difference make.
A lot of those offensive problems has to do with Duke, the way the Devils play defense, and the talent they have. You line up eight former McDonalds All-Americans, have a guy like Jon Scheyer who doesn’t even start, and you’d better be good.
I don’t think there’s much chance of Tech getting an NIT bid, not at 15-17 when there are four other ACC teams that won’t make the NCAA tournament who all have plus-.500 records. Unless they all turn down bids.
Paul Hewitt suggested that he almost certainly would not turn down an NIT bid if the Jackets were so fortunate as to get one.
That’s all. I’m tired.
Comments
By Bravesfan79
March 14, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Thanks Morrow and J. Smith for 4 years of hard work. I was proud to be a GT fan when we fought from 20 down back to 2,and that run there proved to everyone in the nation that GT has the talent to run with anyone.
After that point we just seemed to not get any breaks as loose ball after loose ball went to duke.
I hope GT does the right thing and brings back that old defensive minded assistant coach who left to be a head coach.
By yellowblood
March 15, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
With the loss and the storm, attendance at last night’s Tickle Pile was awful. If you were absent you didn’t miss much except the Dookie who joined in was rather well endowed.
By yellowbloodishiv+gay
March 15, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
yellowblood u are too gay… get off this board for once… don’t u have to check your blood for hiv +? for being too gay?
By yellowbloodishiv+gay
March 15, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
BY THE WAY YELLOWGAY… DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME WRITING BACK ‘CAUSE I WON’T READ IT… I AM NOT CHECKING THIS PAGE 2 SEE YOUR GAYISH COMMENTS AGAIN… I AM TIRED OF THEM… LIKE THE REST OF THE YELLOW JACKET NATION.
By shane #1
March 15, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
many thanks to tech for the use of your court for the sec tourney.the pundits were wondering if there was enough room for all the fans,but there is a very small crowd for a uga-uk game.i guess the fans had enough excitement last night!i am thankful there were no injurys.poor felton,it seems the stars are aligned against him.if my luck was as bad as his i would take the buyout from uga and build myself a bunker with the proceeds!
By shane #1
March 15, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
i take back what i said about felton’s luck.may we borrow your court again next year?please?
By stings to lose
March 15, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Not only does dook have eight all everythings, they also used a full nelson!
The 18-2 run was fun!
By Navigator
March 16, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
Bravesfan79: Whether you realize it or not, you just call for Hewitt’s resignation. I think you’re right, Tech probably had enough talent to be a 64+ teams in the tournament. The problem lies in why they are not one of those teams. I won’t say those magic words, but many are thinking them. It’s relevant to say that any previous coach that had the amount of success that Hewitt had, retired or were pushed out the door. I don’t claim to know if this the right time, but Hewitt must now look at his own future too. It he has another two years like the last three, he probably won’t be on the short list of any basketball school, looking for a coach. The situation is lose-lose for everyone involved.
By Bravesfan79
March 17, 2008 3:32 AM | Link to this
Hewitt is a good coach who can bring in top flight talent from all over the country. GT just needs to bring in some more experienced assistants to help him out with gameplanning, ect. I have no doubt in Hewitt as a recruiter or as a quality coach. But look at the Lakers and Mavericks and all the ex head coaches they have on the bench as assistants. That experience on the Bench could only be a good thing.
Not having a freshman pt guard at the beginning of next year will really help us. I also envision Dickey coming back really hungry as a 5th year senior. If Dicky crashes the boards next year and plays hungry…we will have a very strong team!
By gostudent
March 17, 2008 4:36 AM | Link to this
beech log. the wild Years later, were called
By RAMBLE ON!
March 17, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
good point Bravesfan79, Hewitt should hire Bobby Knight, John Woodson,and Dean Smith.
I think the real fault lies with the water boys. To many times during the timeouts, they were very slow getting water to the players.
By GT55
March 17, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Paul Hewitt must go. Enough said.
By Dadgum
March 17, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
First, everyone will admit that the best 65 teams are not represented in The NCAA tourney. In the same breath I will say that no team is left out that has a legit chance of winning it either. The NIT made a move this year that will bring it up a few rungs in stature.
Having said all that it was a bad year to be in the ACC. As usual everyone beat up on each other and no team save UNC & Duke could keep their heads above water. UNC & Duke just won too many games. O’Connor when talking to Packer last night said something almost unbelievable. “We don’t even consider conferences as a criteria”. OUCH!!!! That being said you are handicapped from the get go just playing in the ACC. Was anyone as shocked to hear that as me?
So let’s see…if you’re VT and you aren’t going to get credit for the tough losses why aren’t you given credit for the easier wins? Seems to me that O’Conner is talking out of both sides of his mouth. A 9-7 VT team that took UNC to .08 before losing most definitely should be playing in the NCAA. No question. What makes it worse is that UGA won the SEC on our court to keep them out. Another ouch!!!!!!
Hewitt knows that next year will be a bear. He will have a lot of holes to fill. Shumpert will fill the #2 guard hole but Dickey will take awhile to get going. Moe Miller should progress nicely but the Jackets just lose so much that most likely they will be picked near the bottom next year. Schedule soft in other words. Real soft.
By GT76
March 17, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
I see Hewitt in a similar position Gailey was in after the 2006 football season. If Hewitt does not get Tech into the top 3-4 in the ACC and/or get to the championship game, and/or get to the sweet16, and/or BEAT UGA then he should be fired. If it’s another year like this one that will be 4-5 in a row. That got Gailey fired and it should get Hewitt fired also. Personally I’m fairly optimistic that 2008-09 will be a great year in football and basketball!
By Herschel Talker
March 17, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
HAVE FUN WATCHING THE DAWGS IN THE TOURNAMENT!!! WE’RE EVEN BETTER THAN YOU IN YOUR SPORT!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
By WFC
March 19, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this
Crit screwed PH with his “one and done.” This threw Mo Miller into the fire and he did get better.
The weakness of the NBA is evident. Neither Crit nor Young was really ready for pro ball. Pitiful.
Hewitt needs to recruit better BASKETBALL PLAYERS and forget about pure athletic abiliity. It takes too long to bring them up to ACC speed.
Don’t count on Dickey.