AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 15
Saturday, November 15, 2008
First impressions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There was no TV coverage of Tech’s basketball season opener. Here’s what you missed if you didn’t make it down to AMC.
Gani Lawal came out possessed: 18 points, 9 boards in the first half.
Moe Miller set a career high with 10 assists, really pushed the tempo and ended up with 17 points.
Freshman Iman Shumpert looked good until he cramped up in the second half. He might not be great at any one thing, yet, but he is really good at everything: ballhandling, passing, rebounding, shooting.
Lance Storrs displayed a nice stroke, hitting 3 of 4 from behind the arc. (This after going 4 of 24 from distance as a freshman).
Brad Sheehan doubled his previous career high by going for 10 points.
Zack Peacock had a quiet 14, most coming late. He was one of three players with three turnovers (Alade Aminu, Miller).
Tech committed 13 turnovers. Because it was such a problem last year, the team has set a goal of 12 turnovers or less each game.
The defense held Winston-Salem State to 26 percent shooting.
One big change from last year — Lawal has put on 20 pounds, he’s 233. And his offensive game has expanded.
“He has been working on his ability to create easy baskets for himself instead of banging with people down low all of the time,” CPH said. “He is developing a nice jump hook and a real nice turnaround jump shot…He is also learning how to use the glass really well.”
He showed that early, banking one in from each side of the lane.
CPH on Storrs’ effort: “He’s been a very good player for a while, but last year may have struggled with the adjustment to the college game. He struggled with his confidence a little bit, but I can see it starting to come back up.”
And on Moe Miller: “In the first half, he was pressing a little bit offensively in terms of his shot. He did distribute the ball nicely. He did a nice job in the second half of attacking the high paint and getting those pull-up jump shots. Both he and Iman did a tremendous job in the first half of rebounding.”
It’s hard to read anything into a game like this. Winston-Salem State has some quickness and size, but the difference in skill level was dramatic. The Jackets did what they were supposed to do: blow the Rams out.
It was definitely a better night than last year’s opener, the 9-point loss to UNC-Greensboro.
One thing was clear: the Jackets are at their best when they’re rebounding and running. Miller and Shumpert both can push the ball, and the forwards can really fill the lanes.
What did you think of Tech’s performance in the opener?
