AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe view from Winston-Salem
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got a couple things for you.
First, I asked Charlotte Observer writer Ron Green Jr. to give his take on Wake Forest, the No. 6 team in the country that plays Tech Saturday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Demon Deacons are led by sophomore Jeff Teague, who is second in the ACC in scoring with 20.9 points per game.
Q: After having beaten No. 1 Duke Wednesday in an emotionally draining game, will Wake possibly be a little flat for Tech?
A: Despite the emotional investment in their victory over top-ranked Duke Wednesday night, don’t expect the Deacons to be flat against the Yellow Jackets. It was apparent in their homecourt loss to Virginia Tech 10 days ago that the Deacons weren’t as sharp or focused as they had been. In the week off before playing Duke, they were able to sharpen some things and get re-focused. They’re not likely to slip much in Atlanta.
Q: What’s the best way to defend Jeff Teague?
A: Obviously, stopping Jeff Teague isn’t easy because of his talent, his quickness and his confidence. To contain him, it’s critical to cut down his driving lanes. Teague likes to attack the basket with the ball so closing off the lane forces him to different areas on the floor. However, he’s so quick, as is backcourt mate Ish Smith, staying in front of Teague is difficult to do.
Q: Wake Forest leads the ACC in both field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense. What are the Deacons doing to cause such problems?
A: Just a couple of years ago, the Deacons were a defensive mess but since adopting the ‘pack-line defense’ favored by Washington State coach Dick Bennett, they’ve been much more effective. They don’t press much but aggressively guard the ball with perimeter players regularly double-teaming. Their size along the front line, particularly if seven-foot center Chas McFarland can stay out of foul trouble, makes team look for baskets on the perimeter, which is precisely what the Deacons are trying to do.”
Also, I asked Paul Hewitt about Georgia coach Dennis Felton’s dimissal. His thoughts:
“Obviously, you feel bad for him because he’s a coach, but I’m sure Dennis will be the first to tell you, just like we all know, that’s the business we’ve chosen. It‘s interesting that here we are in college sports, and more and more, the trend now is that it’s almost like we’ve become pro sports. They release coaches during the season. That almost never happened (before). Dennis is a very good coach. He’s had some tough breaks there. He’ll be back coaching soon. He’ll have a job soon.”
What do you think about Saturday?
Comments
By yellowblood
January 30, 2009 8:29 AM | Link to this
I have no idea why McMillan did not come but I heard that he simply would not accept our Tickle Pile traditions so it’s best for all concerned that he go to Iowa. We are definitely not going to change.
By yellowblood
January 30, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this
I hate it that MacMillan is not coming but it’s best for all concerned. He did not like Tickle Piles and we are certainly not going to change our traditions.
By GT66
January 30, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this
Yellowblood you are in immature idiot. I cannot believe that you have nothing better to do than show your butt. Hewitt must go as did Felton. Hopefully, our AD has the you know whats to do the right thing and dump this terrible coach.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 30, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this
GT66, giving that idiot any attention is exactly what it’s looking for.
Speaking of Sat. game, as GROUND HOG DAY has it. We’ll keep it close the first half may even have the lead at HT. Come out the second half and have a 6-9 minute drought without a FG. Lose by 15-25 points.
I’d say 22 turnovers+/- 3, but that’s too easy.
By T-Bone
January 30, 2009 9:59 AM | Link to this
Here’s the deal. Let’s secure this next recruiting class, then fire PH. He’s a good man, but a bad coach—sort of like Felton.
By Rob
January 30, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
I don’t believe it will even be close in the first half…our team will crumble early.
By KC Kid
January 30, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Who cares.
What’s the baseball team looking like?
By Out of Town
January 30, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this
KC—-looking good enough to loose to UGA again in the post-season.
By ggodsey
January 30, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
Hey Toolbags, I hear Swinging Richards is looking for a college football fan club for the ‘09 season. You nerds can watch Tech go 13-0 and see naked men all at the same time!!
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 30, 2009 11:13 AM | Link to this
Yeah KC, the team with the greatest choke of any team, in any sport, in the history of NCAA championships.
The team that was crying like little girls after the got beat FSU Bulldogs. That team KC.
Funny thing though, after the greatest upset of all time, their fans were not running around barking like a bunch of idiots.
By Chris
January 30, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this
Is it football season yet?
By KC Kid
January 30, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this
Hey Out of Town:
Typical UGA education.
Loose or lose?
Pinhead.
THWG!
Football - check. Basketball - check. Baseball - coming up next. Academics - check (always).
By The Big Bug
January 30, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this
I usually only visit Swinging Richards on College Night but would be interested in joining my fellow Tech friends to watch games
By Mike T.
January 30, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this
42-45 a fluke
By Mike T.
January 30, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this
RAMBLE ON , GT66, WRECK 7, YELLOWBLOOD wants to announce the formation of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s official chapter of the Georgia Bulldog’s appreciation society,in reguards to the Bulldogs owning the Yellow Jackets with a series record of 59-38-5,and how they have consistently defeated the Jackets year in and year out since 1990, except for the 42-45 fluke of this past season and the seasons of 98-99-2000 of which victories were officially vacated. All GT students and Alum welcome. Hey its great to be a Georgia Bulldog.
By BLAZER
January 30, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this
i love flukes!!!!
wonder if 49-10 was one too??
just wondering?
By bb
January 30, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this
As info, the 98-99-2000 wins were NOT vacated. The NCAA reversed that on appeal. Look it up. Sorry to ruin your day (of course 40 years from now UGA will claim those loses don’t count if they follow their usual pattern).
By yellowblood
January 31, 2009 1:32 AM | Link to this
I have a little pwobwem wit my weewee, so I hab to come on the weal team’s bwog to get my wocks off. I was dee most popuwar boy in cellbwock D, and now I tan pass a wole gwapefwute wiffout eben bwakin de skin of me or de gwapefwute.
By yellowblood
January 31, 2009 1:50 AM | Link to this
Now I thpend mothst of my time at the gwory hothes twying to atwact menthz, ethspethiawy Tech menthz.
By yellowblood
January 31, 2009 2:05 AM | Link to this
I now Bulldawgs are athamed of me and dithown me but I will alwathes be a dog no matter what gwory hothe it takthes me to.
By ggodsey
January 31, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
Bandwagon Toolbags unite!
By Go Gators
January 31, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this
Nice win Tech
By Nice
January 31, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
Nice win. ggodsey- go kill yourself.
GO JACKETS.
By GreenJacket
January 31, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this
Congrats on the win vs. Wake. I give Coach Hewitt and the team credit for not giving up. They have been competitive in almost every game and today they were improved on turnovers and free throws which = victory.
By reggie ball
January 31, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this
great game today! maybe we can get a little momentum from this.
always nice to the the UGAG losers on our blog. I suppose they can at least be the state champions in women’s gymnastics.
and of course…they are always undefeated at recruiting. at their best win its all about hype and you don’t have to keep score
By ggodsey
January 31, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this
I know from personal experience that yellowblood can accommodate a cantaloupe.
By GT
February 1, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
I feel sorry for any writer that has to write about a team like Tech. Somewhere 20 years from now he is going to say his first job was following this team for the paper and there will be an instant understanding of how bad times were in his humble beginning.
By Mike T.
February 1, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
42-45 fluke
By Mike T.
February 1, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this
of course 40 years from now UGA will claim those loses don’t count if they follow their usual pattern
Of course by then Georgia will have atleast 30 more wins in the series.
Its not like we really need them now,leading the series by twenty one games.