AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTale of two halves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don’t know how many of you were at the Tech-Georgia State game last night, but it was mixed results. There was a lot of sloppy play, particularly in the first half. Before halftime, Tech shot 38 percent from the floor, turned the ball over 15 times and made 11 of 20 free throws.
Paul Hewitt attributed some of it to point guard Moe Miller’s absence. He broke his nose against Illinois-Chicago and will be out at least three weeks. He was at the game and had a bandage on his nose.
But in Lewis Clinch’s return, there was a glimmer of hope. As you might have read in Larry’s story, he went for 18 points, four assists (against two turnovers) and hit four of eight three-pointers. It was his first game of the season after sitting out the first semester academically ineligible.
He was, at least for one night, what Hewitt is hoping he can be - an outside presence who can keep defenses honest and a leader on the floor. Tech shot 68 percent from the floor in the second half as the Jackets pounded Georgia State inside. Hewitt said that there was a stretch in the second half when Tech played the best that it has this season.
Georgia State coach Rod Barnes said it was his team’s plan to keep Clinch from scoring from the outside, but the Panthers were unable.
Said Barnes, “Now they’ve got someone to free ‘em up on the perimeter. When you don’t have anybody who can shoot on the perimeter, you can pack it in. I think that happened [last night] against us, … They stretched us a little bit because of him, which I think makes them a better team. Without him, they still might have scored inside, but we probably would have had every one of our players on top of them (in the paint).”
It remains to be seen if a) Clinch can keep it up; b) if this will work once ACC play starts. As those of you who follow the team know, Clinch has had a history of being up and down. Last year, he started the season scoring in double figures in 12 of Tech’s first 15 games. In the 15th game, Hewitt moved him out of the starting lineup to give Tech some punch off of the bench. While he generally received fewer minutes, Clinch scored in double figures only three times after that.
Further, it may be awhile before Clinch’s teammates get acclimated to him. (Hewitt said that one thing he wants to do with the team’s practice time in Los Angeles will be to work on “different things we can do offensively” with Clinch back.)
For what it’s worth, Hewitt is bullish on Clinch this season. I mentioned it in a story before the Georgia State game. Naturally, he ought to, given that he recruited Clinch. But he sounded upbeat and proud of Clinch’s efforts in getting his grades back up and leading the team even while he wasn’t playing. Hewitt said he has a new focus on the court and said he surmised that his play would be “very, very strong.”
What’s your take?
If you’re looking for it, Paul Johnson’s new contract should be coming out today or tomorrow. We’ll post something as soon as we find something out. My guess would be somewhere around $2 million annually (he was at $1.6 million before), an extension and maybe a larger buyout clause.
Some news from the Baton Rouge Advocate. Both of LSU’s co-defensive coordinators are interviewing for jobs and one of them, Doug Mallory, has been offered. The Advocate story cites a New Mexico paper with an interesting twist on the head coaching job search. The AD has offered the job to Mallory and a Louisville assistant, and the first one to respond gets the job. Interesting.
Anyway, this is obviously good news for Tech fans. This won’t help LSU prepare for the Jackets.
Comments
By RAMBLE ON!!!
December 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
I hope Hewitt proves me wrong!!!
I’d love to eat some crow about him.
By Carolina Jacket
December 18, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Hate to say it, but I think that this is going to be a long ACC schedule for the Jackets. As Ramble says, I hope I’m wrong.
By yellowblood
December 18, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
As long as Paul Hewitt is our Coach we will have a winter of poor Tickle Piles and we all hate that.
By 404atlhoops
December 23, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
The USC-GT game last night was brutal. There seems to be no type offensive flow in the half court set. Aminu’s taking jumpers at the top of the key and Peacock’s throwing up wild shots. There’s no true point guard since Mo Miller is out. Before the season began, I thought the Jackets were a lock for a NCAA bid. This was before Dickey bolted to Europe, Bell injuring his spinal cord and Clinch being ineligible for the first 8 games.