Tech

By Willie Coyote

January 28, 2009 8:17 AM | Link to this

Lawal has done a good job. He needs to put in more time working on those free-throws. I really look forward to seeing him paired with Favors next year. Tech will have a formidable front line that will go at least 3 deep into the bench.

By ken sugiura

January 28, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this

He actually has worked a good bit on it, although the results may not show it. A couple weeks ago I talked to him after practice. He had a ball in his hands, and he said he was going back to the court to shoot until he made 200 free throws.

By GT76

January 28, 2009 9:15 AM | Link to this

He should continue to get better (at everything). I just hope he stays around next year. I would hate to see him jump early.

By E

January 28, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this

I would be a bit surprised if Gani jumped to the NBA next season. I sense that he wants to get even better and accomplish something in college. I think the prospects of playing next year with Favors is intriguing.

By Observer

January 28, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this

Shooting until he makes 200 free throws will not necessarily equate to improvement. He needs to practice a better technique. One of the classic definitions of insanity is to continue doing something the same way while expecting a different result. If his technique is flawed, practicing 200 times will only reinforce the flaws.

I would expect a good coach to realize that.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 28, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this

E, GT76 ya’ll haven’t been watching GROUND HOG DAY, have you?

He’s gone (see Dickey, Young, Crittenton, Bosh).

Next Year with D. Favors…bubble team, yes we get in the Big Dance and lose in the first round to a less talented team.

By sidewalk74

January 28, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this

Lawal is a great kid and works his tail off on the court. He is already projected as a Lottery pick in the up coming draft. Watch him while you can because if Hewitt’s past players are any indication then he will not be on the Flats next year. The Hewitt virus will continue to infect the Flats and we will once again have depth problems at a position. Also, don’t be surprised if another player or 2 transfer or make an unexpected jump to the NBA. I mean it happens every time we start to look forward to next year.

By SouthBendJacket

January 28, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

If he leaves after this year for the NBA, then someone is giving him some tainted Kool-aid! Most of his buckets come after misses. The best offense for this team this year has been a missed shot and an offensive rebound. None of our big-men do real well creating their own shot!

By steph curry

January 28, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

SouthBendJacket - You are out of touch with basketball reality my friend.

Him applying for the NBA draft is the SMARTEST thing he could do.

This year’s draft is one of the weakest this decade and is particularly void of quailty bigs / athletes.

Next year’s NBA crop will be much deeper with the addition of “one ‘n done’s” like Demarcus Cousins, Favors, John Henson, Rinardo Sydney etc.

You need do some research before you criticize. If he can continue to AVERAGE a double-double in the ACC then he has a legit lottery pick and should go.

By AlabamaRamblinwreck

January 28, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this

Hewitt needs to go, and he needs to go sooner than later.

I am so tired of watching our offense look like they have no direction or purpose.

I am so tired of seeing poor outside and FT shooting.

I am so tired of terrible passes and turnovers galore.

I am tired of wasting timeouts and substituting just to be substituting.

I am tired of defensive breakdowns leading to easy layups for the opponents.

And it goes on and on and on and on.

By noddy dred

January 28, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this

FEBRUARY 1. 134 LUCKY ST. THE LUCKY LOUNGE. DOORS OPEN AT 3:00 PM. CELEBRITIES, WOMEN, FOOTBALL, FUN. HALFTIME: DJ CANNON.

             STEWPERBOWL 1

By T-Bone

January 28, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this

Gani Lawal has improved tremendously, but he would be lost in the NBA against players who are bigger, stronger, and more skilled. He’s no longer projected as a lottery pick (now somewhere in the mid- to late-20s) because scouts see his lack of basketball IQ and offensive reportoire. However, he will probably leave for the NBA because it is a shallow draft for big men, and he would get far fewer touches next year with Favors in the fold.

By Zach

January 28, 2009 12:27 PM | Link to this

Ramble On, way to be a downer, man. Good class coming in next year. We’ve gone deep in the tourney before, with Hewitt, whether you like him or not. I know you don’t, but still. We can do it again.

Gani’s a good player and a good kid. I don’t think he’ll jump to the NBA because I don’t think he’s ready and I think he’s smart enough to realize that. He needs to cut down on his turnovers (don’t they all). I’ve seen him follow up brilliant plays with boneheaded decisions, again something that could be said of any of the players.

And yeah, his free throw shooting is hard to watch, but he’s working on it, so hopefully we’ll see continued improvement.

I agree with that recent article about GT’s toughness. If they can toughen up a bit, they’ll pick up some wins. Oh, and they have to hang on to the freaking ball.

By Kurt

January 28, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this

All of GT’s problems are just as much the players’ fault as they are Paul Hewitt’s. Don’t watch games with an agenda.

By Born2Buzz

January 28, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this

It’s not whether a player will get lost in the NBA, it’s whether he will get drafted in the first round, or better yet as a lottery pick (top 13). If a kid is from a family that is borderline poverty then he has to go if he’s gonna be picked in the first round. It’s a guaranteed $3M.

I hope Gani stays for selfish reasons. Just like I hoped all the others would stay.

By BLAZER

January 28, 2009 1:17 PM | Link to this

GOT TO DEVELOP A JUMP SHOT BEFORE THE NBA- GOOD REBOUNDER AND DEFENDER-

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 28, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this

Sorry Zach, but I’ve seen this movie too many times. I Like Hewitt as a person, but I’ve seen enough of him as a Basketball coach.

Just ask Bravesfan79 when he joins in. I told him this stuff two years ago about Hewitt, and unfortunately I’ve been right.

He called me an Idiot.

We couldn’t go to the big dance with the 4th overall pick in the NBA draft with Bosh. Why will next year be any different?

Yes, I still think Gani leaves early. Histroy, says so.

By Bvga1

January 28, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this

Maybe, just maybe Lawal has an inflated stat sheet…Think about this, Tech is getting blown out by nearly all opponents as a result they have emptied the bench…Lawal is averaging 30 minutes per game…Meaning, he is in there against the other teams 2nd units…If he picks up 6 points and 4 boards in the last 5 minutes of a blow out, that would mean he averages 9 pts. and 6 rbs. when it matters…Something to consider. BTW - He will be gone at the end of the year…Mother was very jealous of JJ Hickson getting the big payday…Won’t want her baby to have to share the spotlight with Favors…

By yellowblood

January 28, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this

Gani has been a bright spot. No doubt. If we had other players who played with his heart we would have had more enthusiastic Tickle Piles this year. More like Gani, please!!!

By KC Kid

January 28, 2009 4:43 PM | Link to this

Damn, I thought Yellowblood was dead.

Just wishful thinking I guess.

By ken sugiura

January 28, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this

Bvga1, I’ll beg to differ. I guess it depends on how you categorize blowout, but Tech has lost by 10 or more points or more four times. So I don’t think it’s the case where he’s getting rich on scrubs. Against Clemson, for instance, he had a double-double, but Clemson didn’t pull its starters.

We’ll be monitoring his decision about the NBA as the season progresses. Personally, I think he could stand to develop a little more, but if some of the projections I’ve seen are accurate, it’d be hard to pass up.

By Big BCH 99

January 28, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this

I watched him play in HS too, and he’s a great athlete but he honestly is not ready for the NBA. He’s very strong for his size (tall & thin), but he’ll struggle against big strong post guys. He’s very fast and he can jump, but he’s not a good enough jump shooter to be ready for the pros. He struggled w/ FT’s in HS too.

I bet he has a pretty decent GPA b/c I know he was a good student, we heard a good bit about him at Collins Hill (he went to Norcross) b/c he went out with our Maya Moore, who’s a national player of the yr candidate this yr as a Soph. at UConn, she also is an excellent student.

I hope he’ll stay, b/c he just honestly isn’t ready.

By BravesFan79

January 28, 2009 6:58 PM | Link to this

Ramble On: no man i dont think your a idiot, i think you make several great points about Hewitt and his lack of coaching ability. I however do not think his nack for recruiting big name talent is appreciated enough, and i saw the potential for the 09 class LAST YEAR… and didnt want us fans to undermine what has now turned out to be a top 5 class in the nation!

And lets hope Lawal dosent allow some agent to fill his head with foolishness about being ready for the NBA, and miss out on forming half of a GREAT frontcourt next year.
Lets hope he has something to prove at GT after this terrible season.

By BravesFan79

January 28, 2009 7:03 PM | Link to this

someone get some RAID for yellowblood…. that sucker just want die…..

By BravesFan79

January 28, 2009 7:54 PM | Link to this

“wont”…. not want…. i dont anyone to get me confused with someone educated in clayton county…..

By Jimmy

January 28, 2009 8:29 PM | Link to this

BravesFan,

I hope you’re not a GT alum. I would be embarrased for the Institute if you were.

Let me see if I got this right,

Youre NOT racist, you just don’t like ‘young’ black people based on your ‘life experiences’(that you enriched us on a few blogs ago).

However, your favorite sport is college basketball, which happens to showcase what? Young black males.

Then you want Gani to stay in school, why? NOT because you think that’s what’s best for him(yeah right). You just want him to stay in school for your selfish reasons-GT basketball.

My question to this long rambling post is this. WHY would you enjoy a sport that showcases the type of people you hate the most?? You’d watch young black males play basketball, you just wouldnt let them date your daughter, right??

You seem like a confused young man.

Oh, and the fact that you don’t like college football is reason enough for me to think youre a complete tool to begin with.

By BravesFan79

January 29, 2009 12:17 AM | Link to this

Jimmy: im not a racist at all, in fact ive dated women of several different races, gave up my lunch a few times while working the streets when i was hungry and broke to feed a few homeless black men. Does that sound like a racist to you?

And nope, my favorite team is the BRAVES….in which im proud to say most of the players are quality people (something you cant say about alot of NFL/college football teams)
And since when is college basketball ALL black males? theres whites to cheer for as well. But skin color dosent really matter to me, attitude and brins do.

And yes id defenitly perfer my daughter NOT to date a race that leaves over 70% of its kids with NO fathers.
I think theres NOTHING WRONG with feeling the way i do. In fact i know several older foreigners (indians, africans, mexicans) that STRONGLY discourage their kids to date outside their race.

How come its only whites that are made to feel guilty about it? Its called brainwashing….i mean you ARE dumb enough for your favorite sport to be one that has NO real champion…. dosent suprise me at all that youd be brainwashed by the liberal media as well.

Did you know the #1 killer of black women age 15-45 is domestic violence? Is that REALLY the path/chance youd want your daughter to take in life? yea i didnt think so….

http://dreamofjoyfreeofabuse.blogspot.com/2008/08/1-killer-of-black-women-age-15-45.html

By gt4ever

January 29, 2009 7:42 AM | Link to this

When does FOOTBALL start?

By dawgfan1911

January 29, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt needs to be fired. Point blank case closed! In fact, I am sure he will be fired pretty soon, right behind Felton.Wake Forest will beat them so badly Saturday, they will have to get rid of him. Man the sorry state of college basketball in Georgia is a bit disturbing especially since there is so much talent in the state. Get better coaches in these two Georgia schools and see what will happen with recruiting and post season appearances.

By jacketbacker

January 29, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this

hey Hewitt…you’re next!!!!

By bill

January 29, 2009 4:50 PM | Link to this

RAMBLE ON….c’mon. You complain they couldn’t get to the NCAA with Bosh in his frosh year….BUT THEY MADE THE NC GAME THE NEXT YEAR WITHOUT HIM OR NELSON !!!!! be fair,,,that is like saying they should have won the NC game if Bosh stayed….maybe the chemistry would have been differnet and Bynum and Elder wouldn’t have developed by making Bosh the center of the offense. Luke would have NEVER been a part of that team, at least not as a main player. If you want to knock Hewitt, that’s your call. But be FAIR and tell the whole story!!…BTW, any kid who sees a lottery pick and guaranteed first round money will leave unless he just loves school ( Hansbrough). Don’t expect Gani back if he sees NBA in his mind.

By GoAwayHewitt

January 29, 2009 10:15 PM | Link to this

I thought Gani was impressive in his first few games. Granted, they were cupcake opponents but he had good footwork and had a nice touch off the glass on either side of the lane with either hand. I thought he had turned a corner. Then reality hit, all I see him do now is fumble the ball away, hold it too long, or put his head down and barrel into the lane to either travel or fall down shooting a terrible shot.

Just another piece of evidence that nobody improves under Hewitt. At least he runs the floor well.

If he leaves for the NBA, I expect for him to disappear until 2011 when he finally grows some hands (7 turnovers vs. BC).