AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFrustrating start to ACC play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some thoughts on Saturday’s 68-61 loss at Maryland, which dropped Tech to 0-2 in the ACC.
How frustrating was it? As we were waiting to talk to CPH and some players, we heard a lot of yelling from the closed locker room across the hall. The team was getting chewed out. Could have been for any number of reasons.
Talking to the coach, he was disgusted, and not just about the season-high 28 turnovers. He said his team had not taken the ball hard to the basket, resulting in fewer free throws (23 to 14) and a couple of Maryland blocks.
“They had 23 free throws. We had 14 simply because when we were up eight, we stopped going to the basket strong. We started going to the basket thinking ‘If we make this, it’s over,’ instead of going in strong. We had a couple shots blocked. There’s really no excuse for that.”
Of course, the game might not have been close had Zachery Peacock been able to play. He got sick and was replaced by Lance Storrs, who had 3 points and 4 rebounds in 30 minutes. Peacock had been playing great and could have feasted inside against the smaller Terps.
With Peacock out and Moe Miller playing his first game in nearly a month (he played 12 minutes), all of Tech’s starters played at least 30 minutes. Alade Aminu played 39, and Gani Lawal and Lewis Clinch each played 37. In contrast, only one Terp played 37 minutes.
Still, there was no excuse for this loss. Tech outshot Maryland (42.9 percent to 31.5 percent) and outrebounded Maryland (49 to 39). But the Jackets lost the turnover battle in a big way, 28 to 13. The number of traveling calls was mind-boggling.
Probably the most confounding issue is Tech’s inability to get the ball to Lawal. He was 7 of 13 against the Terps. His last shot was a dunk with 2:14 left. In some cases, Lawal got open early in the set and didn’t get the entry pass. In other cases, he just didn’t get open on the block.
Up 61-59, Aminu missed a hook shot that was a little too far from the basket. At 61-all, Tech turned it over before Lawal could touch it. Down 63-61, Clinch missed in the lane. So Tech’s best player didn’t get a shot on three crucial possessions.
It won’t get any easier for Tech, with No. 2 Duke visiting Wednesday. (By the way, tickets are still available).
Do you agree that getting Lawal the ball is the quickest way for Tech to turn things around?
Comments
By THWG
January 12, 2009 7:42 AM | Link to this
Simply put…It is time for some fresh leadership. Like Coach Gailey, Hewitt is a quality man but unfortunately lacks whatever is needed to inspire his players beyond mediocrity. And don’t mention the Final Four year. Other than that one year with another coaches recruits, Hewitt has been very subpar.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 12, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this
Wow, ticket’s still available for Duke.
Turnovers and missed f/t’s, cost us the game. Go figure.
That’s pretty much the story of GT Basketball for the last five years.
By BLAZER
January 12, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this
has cremins returned? only seven players played creditable time-wonder to coaches inbound plays and passing and free throws and any type of offensive plays.
only inside play-no outside shooters-let one get away- H with Duke still!!
By GTpak
January 12, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this
I think that the quickest way to turn this around is to play tough in your face defense. If we had played full court press with 5 minutes or so to go, we could have taken that game.
Additionally, we don’t have a real half court game and seem to do our best when we are pressing and fast breaking.
We don’t have a three point shooter and the other teams know it and can just pack it in on us. Surely out there somewhere is a walk-on that can nail 3 pointers better than the guys on our team.
By NVJacket
January 12, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this
You will never win giving an ACC team 15 more possessions than you, particularly if you can’t shoot.
By Observer
January 12, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this
Do you agree that getting Lawal the ball is the quickest way for Tech to turn things around?
No, I think finding a competent coach is the ONLY way to turn things around. This team’s sloppy play is a direct reflection on it’s (lack of) coaching.
We have no half-court offense and refuse to play aggressive defense. That is not a recipe for success.
By Butts Wagner
January 12, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
The same problems GT has had for years. The offense does not seem to have an identity and gets very sloppy. It’s been clear for years that when GT is being patient and getting the ball in the paint, whether by passing to the big men or getting penetration from the guards (ideally the PG), they can compete with anyone. How many times has GT gone up in the first half of games by small margins of 5-10 points, but been thoroughly dominant and even getting the opposing team’s big men in foul trouble(not in the maryland game), only to come out in the second half and play lazy and sloppy offense (jacking up 3’s/turnovers) and watch the game slip away as the players who they should be targeting to keep in foul trouble continue to play and burn GT because GT never takes the ball in the paint?
By fred
January 12, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
Quit making “excuses” when the problem is terrible coaching.
The buck stops at Hewitt’s desk.
You could recycle a commentary from 2004—-same “excuses”.
By jaxjacket
January 12, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this
Same old story, game after game - talented athletes not playing together as a team, not able to execute basic things like an inbound play, no discernable half court offense, passing where there’s no one there, ugly, ugly, ugly. No hope in sight as long as the current coaching staff remains in place.
By ramblwrk68
January 12, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 12, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this
Prediction:
GT plays a tough tight game against Duke, loses in the end.
CPH says it’s a step in the right direction, is miffed that it’s about 50% Duke fans in the dome. (see UNC game 2008).
Ground Hog day continues…
Tommy Amaker, get him now!!!
By ga_tech_92
January 12, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Everyone seems to ‘get’ the problem. The problem is the same issues year after year, along with different players, but the same coach.
We don’t have an offensive identity. We don’t have quick enough guards for dribble penetration AND stopping the other team’s dribble penetration. We don’t seem to know how to inbounds the ball or run a half court offense at crunch time. Our guys are too slow, because we are never deep enough with quick true PGs.
blablabla…as one person said…you could just pull up comments from years ago and you will find the same issues being discussed.
By yellowblood
January 12, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
During Paul’s reign we have had some great Tickle Piles but the last few years have been a dissapointment. We were headed in the right direction after we beat the scumbags in football but Tickle Piles have been terrible since then. More victories=more Tickle Piles.
By razerGT
January 12, 2009 10:35 AM | Link to this
I’m going to be at the game on Wednesday. I hope to see lots of gold in Alexander but I know that with Tech’s what-have-you-done-for-me-lately fanbase it’ll be full of blue instead…
By Concerned
January 12, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
Can anyone explain to me how CPH still has a job here?
Like stated above, it is Groundhog day!!!
By Reality
January 12, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
What is a tickle pile?
By UGA is so last year
January 12, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this
Well we played, and lost to two of the worst teams in the ACC. How does that bode for our season? We should be dead last at the end. Hewitt must go - send him packing now. An asst coach can handle the rest of the year. It’s not as if we are all of sudden going to become good. No postseason-tickets remaining for the Duke game - this program has hit rock bottom. How sad we are hosting the ACC Tourney this year and will be embarrassed right out of it.
By KneeJerk
January 12, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
Why would we want Tommy Amaker? I know Dick Vitale loves him, but he loves everyone from Duke. Amaker was atrocious at Michigan and got fired. His name popped up recently because Harvard got a big win over BC. Amaker is NOT a big-time coach. How about Mike Montgomery? He was successful at Stanford, a school with rigorous academic requirements. I think he’d be perfect for Tech.
By UGA is so last year
January 12, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
razerGT, don’t waste your time - or money. What have they done for us lately? Ah…nothing for 4 solid years. We used to sell out all games and go to the NCAA tourney much more frequently. It’s people like you that still go and spend your money that keep Hewitt here and hinder our program AND school from rising to the heights we were once accustomed. You are actually the problem - not us!!!
By STRETCH
January 12, 2009 11:52 AM | Link to this
Well, Georgia is the worst coaches state ever!
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 12, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this
Good point Knee Jerk…sorry, I guess I put to much into the B.C. win.
What about Tubby?
By George P
January 12, 2009 12:04 PM | Link to this
A tickle pile is something a failed baseball scholarship athlete came up with.
If Gaily and Shymansky can be fired for constant underperformance, why can’t Hewitt?
By louisville slugger
January 12, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
I’ve always been a CPH fan, but this is ridiculous. All of the turnover issues come down to coaching. Period. Either we need a new head coach after this season or he needs a bunch of new assistants who know how to coach guard play.
By KneeJerk
January 12, 2009 12:30 PM | Link to this
RAMBLE, I do like Tubby, but after he was jobbed so badly at Kentucky, I think the folks up in Minnesota are treating him well. Maybe I’m wrong, but I see him there for a long time. There’s a word nobody likes to hear regarding their program: STAGNANT. That’s what Tech basketball has become. A change is needed. Montgomery, Carlesimo, somebody.
By Born2Buzz
January 12, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this
Well, with 10 minutes to go in the game I was ready to come on this blog and state that I just watched an absolutely horrible MAryland team and do you think the Maryland fans are calling for Gary Williams head - no, sometimes its just that the players are not that good.
Lo and behold, we just kept throwing the ball away and got beat by a completely overmatched opponent. Like others here, I have always been a supporter of Hewitt, but even I have to admit that something is amiss. It’s sad to see such a nice man who was thought to be one of the up and coming coaches in the ACC suddenly turn into a moron. Granted, we have no experienced guards on this team, but the coach has to be able to instill some responsibility in the guys. Why does Lewis Clinch, the only senior on the team, play like a freshman who thinks he should be the star on the team. Bad shots, bad decisions with the ball…get him off the floor coach.
This is really sad because we have some talent, although most of it is very young, and we apparently have a bunch more coming in next year, but Hewitt is doing his best to get run out of town.
Oh, and THWG, the Final 4 year was not all someone else’s recruits. Most of those guys (Ish, Elder, Marvin Lewis, Luke, McHenry) were Hewitt’s first recruiting class. Only Clarence Moore was a Bobby holdover.
STill, we’ve lost 2 against the worst teams in the ACC. I don’t think we are going to stay tied with CArolina in last all season. It will be all ours before too long.
By yurtle_the_turtle
January 12, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this
I’ve been tired of GT Basketball and Paul Hewitt for years. I’m tired of the “great” recruiting classes “so-we-can’t fire him”. Question: how many times during the last 5 years has a GT basketball team beaten a team we were suppossed to lose to? No big wins, no tournament presence, the same old Paul Hewitt styled team.
By Tech75
January 12, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t know about you… but I can’t stand watching this incompetence. It infuriates me that we pay this guy so much money, for this kind of result - 28 turnovers.
Unbelievable. It’s a miracle we beat anyone this year.
We’re looking at an “O-fer” in the ACC.
Fire Hewitt now, this team is going NOWHERE.
Hand the ball to an assistant coach, and tell him to work on defending, pressing, rebounding, foul shooting, and one or two basic plays.
This is not rocket science.
By Tech75
January 12, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this
Sorry, didn’t get it all out of my system…
I can accept a couple of early games (2 or 3) where the team doesn’t perform, or performs sloppily.
However, we are already half-way through the season and this bunch looks like they were just picked up off the playground and thrown together yesterday.
Bottom line is: no matter what you think about Hewitt, his coaching has been totally INEFFECTIVE. This bunch looks no better than they did on day one this year, and may even look worse, if that’s possible.
Don’t hand me any garbage about injuries or eligibility. Injuries are part of the game. Don’t recruit kids who can’t make it academically.
Deal with it and quit making excuses!
Start by getting rid of that nice, but TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE coach.
Write off this season as a lost cause and start recruiting TEAM players who can do the work academically and don’t have immediate NBA plans.
Kind of like the dude at Princeton has been doing for years.
By KneeJerk
January 12, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
Free throws, turnovers, failure to run any set plays, and struggling to get the ball inbounds have been a trademark of Hewitt’s teams not just this year, but the past several years. I trust DRad will do the right thing when this season is over.
By old nerd
January 12, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this
pathos is not compensated well enough to sustain itself. things will soon change at amc.
By TECHFIRST
January 12, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this
TO ALL TECH FANS BE PATIENT A NEW COACH IS ON THE WAY PERSONALLY I WOULD TELL HIM NOW BUT AFTER A DOUBLE DIGITS LEAD IN THE FIRST HALF AND THE SECOND HALF, 28TO TO MARYLAND AND YRS OF POOR ON THE COURT DECISIONS THROW IN LOSIN AT HOME TO ILL-CHI,PENN STATE AND VIRGINA AGAIN NO TOURNEY I DONT WANT TO GET USE TO THAT. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE COACH HEWITT GOODLUCK COACHIN IN THE MID MAJORS THATS WHERE YOUR COACHING IS NEEDED THE ACC JOB’S TO BIG
By BILL
January 12, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
Hewitt has used up his “get out of jail free” card. His final four team of over-achievers was more a factor of last minute individual performances than a well coached team. He has always coached to stay close and then hope to make some tough shots at the end while the other tam misses.
He was lucky once with that strategy and may even get lucky again with it sometime in the future. It gets old watching the same thing all the time though. Five players playing like five individuals with their own goals.
Even the goal of our offense seems to be an open long-range jump shot. We seem to get a lay-up by mistake more than by design. He seems to coach his players down rather than up. I’d rather see less heralded recruits playing like a team than a great recruiting job wasted. Time to move on.
By Bill
January 12, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this
The bottem line is this. I am actually one of the most die-hard fans out here but I cannot even stand to watch GATECH Bball any more. As stated in other posts, same old story over and over. NEW COACH NEEDED IMMEDIATELY. Paul Hewitt is more interested in tangent issues in college sports than in teaching a team to run a half court offense or inspiring them to play Duke-like defense!
By TECHFIRST
January 12, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this
I AM A GOOD DRIVER AND I LIKE BRIGHT SHINY THINGS AND ANYWAY TECH IS COOL AND I LIKE ICE CREAM
By neil marlowe
January 12, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
not having peacock may have made the difference in this game. however, this bunch can’t shoot! ! !
I can’t believe Hewitt is in his, what, eighth year and this is the best talent he can get.
I’m disgusted.
By GT66
January 12, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this
Please write letters to Radacovich and push hard for Hewitt to be fired. We are guaranteed a losing record this year. Enough is enough. He cannot coach and how else can a coach be judged except by his record.
By GT66
January 12, 2009 3:24 PM | Link to this
TechFirst are you in kindergarten or what? Grow up and stop wasting space on a serious blog.
By GT66
January 12, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this
Also, does anyone know where I can buy a nice summer dress?
By Buzz
January 12, 2009 3:38 PM | Link to this
Coach had only one good run (NCAA runner-up)and those weren’t his players!! When is he going to be on the HOT seat? Getting good recruits but not looking like they are being coached up. What player has CPH had that really improved over the time they were at tech? They seem to get worse. I think he is a quality person, but not a very good x’s and o’s man for the ACC.
By TECHFIRST
January 12, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this
GT66 WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT HERE IM JUST FRUSTRATED WITH THINGS ARE TOUGH AND I WANT MORE I WISH SCHOOL WAS OVER AND TIMES WERE EASIER THAN THEY LOOK LIKE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN
By Frontman
January 12, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this
One thing we have learned is this: if the game is close at the end, we’re gonna lose a whole lot more than we win. And yelling at the players ain’t gonna cut it. When the players change, and the song remains the same, it’s on the coach. WHOA… time warp to 10 years ago with Bobby Cremins…
By IE'66
January 12, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this
I here this Neil Patrick Harris out of California has a lot of potential.
By old Tech fan in NC
January 12, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this
the way the heels are playing, we just might be able to get roy!?! LOL
They too have lost two ACC games!
By TECHFIRST
January 12, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this
IM UPSET TO WE NEED A GT BLUE BLOOD AS A COACH COACH HEWITT TO SOFT WE MADE IT TO THE FINAL FOUR BECAUSE OF TALENT OUR SIXTH MAN ON THAT TEAM IS IN THE NBA WILL BYUMN ONE COACH LEFT MR. AD AND THATS THE BASKETBALL COACH
By yellarjacket4life
January 12, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this
I said after we lost to UVA at home that this team will go 0-16 in conference play. We have NO GUARDS!!!! One blogger asked why Hewitt continues to play Clinch after he constantly takes bad shots and turns the ball over. Well, what are your other options at guard? We do not have anyone else on bench that can play. Peacock is having to play the small forward position and Nick Foreman, a WALK-ON FRESHMAN is getting extended minutes at shooting guard in ACC play. Need I say more! We finally get Mo Miller back but he is having to adapt to playing with a face shield and probably won’t be back to getting extended minutes for a couple of games because he is out of shape from being out 3 weeks. Shumpert is a freshman with unlimited potential, but he is still a freshman and constantly turns the ball over. Part of the reason Lawal did not touch the ball down the stretch is because our guards aren’t smart enough to get him the ball! As Larry said, he was open early in the shot clock, but our guard thought it would be better to dribble around the perimeter and take a highly contested 3 late in the shot clock or even drive to the basket and get their shot blocked. Our guards have got to play better if this team is going to win.
If you don’t have quality guard play in the ACC, you will not win. Period!
By GT 90 Champs
January 12, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
I want Hewitt to cancel all recruiting scholarship offers for next year for anyone who doesn’t play PG and recruit 5 pount guards. PERIOD! Wait. 4 PGs and Derrick Favors. That’ll do.
By GT
January 12, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
Fresh players? Look at Cremins and six players the whole game. Six tired players are better than 12 dizzy ones. I cannot imagine any sport or any other endeavor being played or performed at such a low level at Ga. Tech. I never realized how much Paul must have loved Gailey’s company, two mediocre coaches in what could otherwise be called a major college in a major town. How does he keep recruiting these kids? Surely they don’t like looking like this any more than we like seeing it. Any kid that is a McDonald’s all American and comes here looking the same as our walk on must either have the best PR man from high school or the worst college coach now.
By ProudTechFan
January 12, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
I knew this would be a rough year, I tried to warn all of my Tech faithful that this year was going to be the worst. As followed the ACC this summer, and i noticed everyone seemed to be getting better and we continued to have issues. We dont have the depth, we are forced to start a freshman at point guard in the ACC full of veteran point guards. Shumpert is a bright spot, but its going to take time. I like Aminu and Lawal down low, but after them we dont have quality depth behind them. I know most want to get rid of the coach and that understandable, but he has one of his best recruiting classes coming in next year, and i would love to see that class along with some key returning players on this years roster. I know its going to be tough but, i think patience is a must, CPH just simply doesnt have much to work with this year, he is forced to play walk ons. I feel good about next year, and i will follow the team this year but i am not expecting much.. with all that said
GO JACKETS!!!
By bob
January 12, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this
unfortunately Lawal isn’t the answer either until he can improve his FT percentage
By BILL
January 12, 2009 5:30 PM | Link to this
You would think with our (lack of) success at the free throw line that we would try for even easier shots with our offense. When you can’t make free ones, the long jumpers with a hand in your face are almost impossible. Do we run any plays that result in a lay-up, dunk or five footer? The current play calling would require 5 Mark Price’s or Dennis Scott’s to have a chance. We certainly don’t have that.
By bill
January 12, 2009 5:43 PM | Link to this
Let’s see….Dickey “leaves” school for Europe, Clinch is academically inelgible, Bell, your very best Defensive palyer and Captain, has to sit out fot health reasons….ALL BEFORE THE FIRST GAME. Now you have to hope your inexperienced players mesh with Miller, Aminu , Peacock and Lawal. Oops, lose Miller…Clinch hasn’t learned what it means in 4 years how to play guard. BTW…Young and Crit leave last minute 2 years ago leaving Tech in the lurch…man, what is wrong with this Hewitt guy?? Can’t he win with players who are essentially 10, 11 and 12 off bench if other players don’t bail/hurt. ..wait, let’s do what PRINCETON does.Oops, haven’t had winning record in 5 years, finished last in Ivy last year and probably will this year. Hewitt can’t coach…his players miss Ft and half of them arent playing defense within his system. ..hey, let’s bring in Montgomery or Carlesimo. Sure, that will work..got to fire Hewitt. Without a doubt all of those 4 kids will still come to Tech no matter who the coach is. Nevermind that class could be top 5 if Favors declares. …now, if you ask me should Tech be better. Yes. But the talent level is depleted, not just because the coach didn’t recruit properly. Should the staff be changed. Yes. PH needs to change it up. Some of the kids don’t know what they are doing on defense ( see Clinch and guards). If PH struggles with next years class and the team is poor, then it’s time. Not when the deck has beenn stacked like this year against him. Coach K wouldn’t win 5 ACC games with this team.But hey, no white players…guy must be a racist, huh? Some of you are writing with the IQ of a Georgia Bulldog. Hewitt deserves until 2010 to prove himself once again.
By Jacketman
January 12, 2009 5:45 PM | Link to this
Enough is enough. Paul Hewitt might be a nice guy, but if Tech……… doesn’t have the right kind of players in place, the players in place cannot play a half court offense and look more like a pick-up team playing street ball, and the players cannot shoot free throws, who is responsible? Of course the answer is the coach. Now is the time before we get distracted once again with this great incoming recruiting class. We simply need a change before we have even more empty seats.
By UGA is so last year
January 12, 2009 5:51 PM | Link to this
bill, you are in the very vast MINORITY here. So, keep your comments to yourself. This is a vent / blog for us that want and demand that Hewitt be fired - and be fired now!
By Wtf
January 12, 2009 5:55 PM | Link to this
It appears theres a REASON most coaches start out at the smaller schools like Siena and work there way up. Not Hewitts black assistants tho… because hes the leader of the “black coaches association” i guess they got to skip a few steps because hey…. D=1 needs more black coaches right? even if they SUCK and are clearly not on the D-1 coaching level.
I say leave Hewitt as head recruiter, and take away ALL CHOICES of assistants! He clearly cannot get past some racial stuff and accept that the team would be better off with the old white assistant leading the defense like he did in 2004.
Tech AD: imagine how good we could be if we spent money on assistants like the football team, and had a offensive and defensive corrdinatior!
And how about all the white guys on the bench… SOMEONE on the team has gotta be able to hit a 3!!
By Eric
January 12, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this
Hewitt needs to go. Bring in Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois.
By Jacketman
January 12, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this
Bill, You don’t need to make excuses for Hewitt. That is one thing he is good at. Fielding a well coached, disciplined team is another matter. He has had enough chances to get it right, but it is not right.
By AlabamaRamblinwreck
January 12, 2009 6:10 PM | Link to this
Racial stuff is really not necessary!
CPH is not getting the job done. bottomline! I agree we cannot shoot the ball, but I don’t care if we recruit a tangerine-colored person, as long as he can hit the 3 and shoot 80% on the FT line!!
CPH needs to step aside or be sent packing. There are plenty of young coaches out there that can do better.
Go Jackets!!
By BILL Mc
January 12, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
To bill(from the other Bill), Hewitt has had a sufficient opportunity to prove himself. He is getting paid like a tier one coach and should at least be able to produce a consistent tournament team. We are more like a consistent bubble team that rarely makes it and when we do, one and done. It may not be his fault that some players leave early, but other coaches are able to work around that. If he has consistent talent that is good enough to leave early, shouldn’t he be able to accomplish something with them before they leave? My real quetion is, do you expect him to accomplish anything different between now and 2010? If the answer is yes, maybe you see something I don’t. My answer is no and I am tired of the same old type of basketball. Yes, I would like to be a consistent tournament team, but I would settle for an exciting “team” to watch and not just 5 guys with the same jersey on. I’ll give him til 2010 also if he would at least try something different. This seems to be the definition of insanity.
By helluvaengineer
January 12, 2009 6:54 PM | Link to this
Hold on everyone. Look at the bright side. We are tied with UNC in the ACC standings!!
By the sage
January 12, 2009 7:07 PM | Link to this
We need the same approach to basketball that is being applied to the football program. Our AD will certainly make a business decision at the appropriate time. All of this hand wringing will not cause anything positive to take place with our BB program. Just relax and know that changes will be made at the end of this season. Go Jackets!!!!!
By FirePaul
January 12, 2009 7:25 PM | Link to this
Hey Bill, did Hewitt not realize that he had four seniors last year? Did he not realize that he had a dumb junior that had flunked the previous year and didn’t like going to class? Did he not realize that he had another junior who cheats on tests to stay in school and hasn’t been any good since his freshman year? The women’s team had four seniors last year and signed five this year. The men’s team had four juniors and signed one. That is Hewitt’s fault and why you can’t give him a free pass for the dummy going to Europe where he isn’t even playing and another one getting injured. YOu have to be prepared. That is why he gets $1 million and nice suits.
By Dadgum
January 12, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this
Fans listen, GT simply doesn’t have the players especially at point to compete on a full scale ACC schedule. They will lose most of their games. Just the way it is.
However, Favors is coming to Tech and the team will rebound no question. Don’t blame futility on Hewitt. He signed the best players but they took off for the NBA. Until the landscape there changes and players are forced to play college ball you have to draft top players or play 2nd fiddle. Anyone want to bet Favors is in the NBA after his freshman year?
By WPinAZ
January 13, 2009 2:27 AM | Link to this
I said I wasn’t going to blog anymore until CPH was gone. But, I digress. Like Bill, I’m as big a TECH fan as there is, especially TECH BASKETBALL. I have the DTV full court package so I can see as many games as possible out here in Arizona. But, I can’t take it anymore. “These guys can’t shoot” is PC for these guys CAN’T PLAY! On the playground, if you keep missing shots, they tell you “you can’t PLAY”. That’s a given at any level of basketball. As I see it, this team has one “player” on the team (SHUMPERT). The rest CAN’T PLAY, at least not at ACC LEVEL, and that includes LAWAL, though he has more potential than the rest. The coach is in over his head. The “great recruiting classes” of recent years were far over rated, and I have no reason to believe this upcoming class-even if FAVORS does sign-will be any better. CPH will coach the life right out of their game. It used to be if I missed a TECH BB game, there had better be a very good reason. Now……no biggie. Nothing to look forward to. To embarrassing.
By bearcasey
January 13, 2009 7:58 AM | Link to this
OK. Here’s the deal. Crittendon screwed Hewitt because his mom wanted a nice house… now. Critt was supposed to be Jarrett Jack… be GT’s point guard until Miller was ready next year as a junior. But, Critt’s mom puts on the pressure and off he goes to NBA obscuity. GT basketball suffers. CPH’s fault? You be the Judge.
Let’s get something straight, though. Hewitt’s championship game team were his own recruits except for MARVIN LEWIS & CLARENCE MOORE. Give the man credit for that team.
I began to get worried about CPH’s coaching ability the NEXT year when he added Dickey, Smith and Morrow to the near-championship team (losing Lewis and Moore) and finished a mediocre 20-12. It’s been down-hill ever since. CPH should go work in the NBA… that’s where his heart is!
By HelluvaEngineer
January 13, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this
No doubt CPH has had some bad luck at PG during the last half-decade; I understand that completely and realize a lot of it was out of his control. But that is not to excuse the failures during this time. The statistic pointed out here that Maryland actually shot 9 more free throws than GT - who had a substantial size advantage (forget the fact that Tech can’t shoot FTs for now) perfectly summarizes the ineptness of CPH. Why was he chewing the team out after the game? Should that not have been the game plan from the outset? They actually defended very well this game, but in general it never ceases to amaze me how soft GTs interior defense is. There is a reason that most teams shoot a very high percentage against them; because they take high-percentage shots (again, the MD game an aberration).
A great man I believe, and as much as I want to see him succeed here, we are desperate for new leadership at the helm.
By GT66
January 13, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this
Bill and Dadgum need to stop giving excuses for lousy coaching and lousy recruiting. The fact that players left for the NBA, Europe, Academics and Cheating still comes down to being the coaches responsibility. The faithful would be much more effective by writing to the AD to say enough is enough. The worry by some very close to the program is the AD will not have the balls to fire him because he will fear being called a racist. I hope that he can do the right thing and fire him based solely on his horrible record. If some cry racist so be it because his record is indefensible.
By T-Bone
January 13, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this
In the past, I would routinely visit this blog and try to defend Paul Hewitt, but I just can’t do it anymore. Enough of the excuses from EVERYONE! The bottom line is that teams across the country lose people to the NBA; that’s part of the game these days. What frustrates me more than anything is the fact that other coaches seem to be able to fill the gaps when those big-time players leave. How about Kansas? They lost four starters, all of whom left school early. They will be in the tournament this year. Look at Boston College. Name one player on that roster besides Tyrese Rice. They go TO Chapel Hill and defeat the supposedly unbeatable North Carolina. Al Skinner is simply a better basketball coach, and Tech deserves a better basketball coach. I was watching the Hawks/Celtics game in Atlanta a few weeks ago, and I saw Mark Price on the sideline. I thought, “What a great fit he’d be for Tech. He obviously knows the game, has real playing experience, and for a living, heteaches players how to shoot.” Something needs to be done. Keeping Hewitt until the end of the season will accomplish nothing, and Derrick Favors isn’t going to commit to Tech if things keep going this way. It’s time for a change, and anyone who disagrees is not living in the real world.
By CC
January 13, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this
Mo Miller is no leader. And we haven’t had one since Jarret Jack — a man of fire intensity that only got hotter when we acquired Will Bynum, another firebrand. The results of 2004 speak for themselves. That wasn’t coaching, that was players.
Luke S… who knew how to protectively rebound and when he didn’t have a put-back, also knew how to recycle the ball back to the top for another and better shot.
Since Dickey and all the hot-shots playing way out of their league have shown up, it’s all muscle, babeee. Put that ball back to the hoop whether you got it or not.
What did I like about last year? Matt Causey. Same reason I like players at Gonzaga. Not big, not strong, but with scrap, sass, and in-your-face outta-my-way attitude.
And now that we have players that may have the talent but not the discipline, it’s all on the coach.
By CC
January 13, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this
Here you go — reminisce a little bit. Smile REAL BIG, pump that fist. Then cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5tu8we-ENk
By CC
January 13, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this
More Will Bynum — playing for Israel. Watch it all — how does this little guy do a reverse dunk???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG6G_tjgOqM&NR=1
By bill
January 13, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
UGA is so last year….I will post when I want, what I want. You know where you can go….T_Bone..BC lost to HARVARD after UNC at home. Upsets happen, but that is a bad example to use.Skinner doesn’t have a stellar NCAA record and if you believe Boston.com stories, he is very much on the hot seat this year….to all with the black comments, you are disgusting. The Civil War ended in 1865, but you are still living there. Bet none of you idiots mind it when Scott, Dalrymple , Oliver, Bynum, Elder etc won games for you. Hewitt is not a racist and you truly are when you think that. Guess seeing Causey out there makes him less of a racist, huh??… give Hewitt his next recruiting class in 2010. If he can’t cut it next year, he deserves to go. I am disgusted with this team, too. But firing him in 2009 isn’t the right answer. Don’t ANY of you recall what Bobby’s last 5-6 years were like?? Expect 3-13 in ACC this year, but as long as the 2010 class comes in, you will be happy…well, some of you will.
By Cheese
January 13, 2009 9:36 PM | Link to this
Though I am really upset with the way the season is progressing…I still feel like its way to early to start thinking about a new coach. We sacked Cremins after he couldn’t totally recover from losing Marbury after the first year and CPH has had to deal with losing Bosh, Young, and Crittenton after a year. Miller has not progressed and has major confidence issues but lets look to next year. 1. you got Shumpert (who looks pretty good) and Lawal coming back as well as one of the top recruiting classes…the top class if Favor’s commits. Along with losing top round NBA picks he’s had to deal with Fredrick, and Dickey leaving and then yearly problems with Clinch’s eligability all of which were problems he had little if any control over. Im not jumping off the Hewitt bandwagon yet oh and THWG…He took the jackets to the Finals with Jack, Bynum, LUKE!!!!, Mohammed all of which he brought in the only one he didnt was BJ