AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA supremely confident freshman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve had the opportunity to chat with freshman Iman Shumpert several times, and his unwavering confidence always comes through.
Even after losses in which he’d missed late free throws or committed critical turnovers. And, as you all know, there have been a few games like that.
In Saturday’s 76-74 upset of No. 6 Wake Forest — the visiting Demon Deacons were favored by 7 — Shumpert was directly responsible for Tech’s last three field goals.
First he found Alade Aminu for a layup. Then he swished the tying and game-winning shots, almost from the same spot near the foul line.
But what struck me most was one of his misses. He was 1 of 4 from 3-point range when he got a wide open look with under 5 minutes left, Tech trailing by one. There was no hesitation. He launched it and was 1 for 5.
At that point Shumpert was 2 for 8 overall. He made his last two, and Tech finally had an ACC win.
“Early on, he was unsuccessful,” coach Paul Hewitt said, referring to Shumpert’s struggles in earlier ACC games. “But you don’t stop going to a guy that you know has talent and courage. [Saturday] he made them, and hopefully this is a hump that he has crossed.”
Shumpert said he expects to hit 8 of 10 from the right elbow. Coaches chart him on that during practice.
“I’ve just got to get to that elbow — that’s got to be by money shot,” he said. “I knew that at the end of the game if I had to shoot that elbow shot, it was going in.”
Shumpert said he’s learning how to be a better distributor.
“I thought I could just make the one-hand pass that zips through the defense,” he said. “Now I’m starting to understand, watching more tape with coach, to reverse the ball and get the hockey assist rather than the big play. That’s what we’ve all been focusing on, the guards on the perimeter, to swing the ball and make the hockey assist instead of the home run pass.”
Not surprisingly, Shumpert believes Saturday’s win was a turning point.
“Now that we’ve gotten over the hump and we know how it feels, we’ve got to keep playing this way and keep finishing out games,” he said.
Shumpert said there can be “no more excuses.”
Looking back on the six ACC losses is very frustrating.
“We know we could have won a lot of those games. A lot of ‘em went to overtime because we missed free throws, we turned it over at the end of the game, we didn’t execute or didn’t follow the scouting report. Now we’ve got to eliminate everything out of our heads. We were 0-6, we snapped that losing streak, and now we’re just trying to go 6-0, 8-0, however many games we have left.”
Actually, nine games remain before the ACC tourney, starting Thursday at FSU.
Gani Lawal, who dominated on Saturday, said he doesn’t consider Shumpert a freshman any more. He had absolutely no problem with the Shumpert taking the big shots.
Added Lawal: “Not to sound cocky when I say this, but we feel we can beat any team we face. Coming into this game we were confident we could get the W if we didn’t beat ourselves. By us actually following through and getting the win, it does wonders for us and we definitely want to keep that confidence and this aggressive play going down to Tallahassee.”
Comments
By GT45
February 2, 2009 9:35 AM | Link to this
Congrats guys-keep it up! Go Jackets
By TONY SHUMPERT
February 2, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this
I think this team finally realize that all Iman wants to do is win the game. He could care less about who has the most points or who’s going to be on espn. Winning is all he know’s, and he’s a leader. Now, if they would follow his lead, get on a roll, well, you see what can happen. I still say they will win the ACC tournament to get to the big dance. So you fair weather fans, you can give up on the coach and the team. The Shumpert family “WILL NEVER” loose confidence in either.
By GT
February 2, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
Good win GT! And I agree, all the fair weather fans can give up on the coach and the team, but the team doesn’t look like it ever gives up. Go Tech!
By BuzzBuzz
February 2, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
What a great month! CPJ proved that no one can stop our offense, we should have a top 5 recruiting class, and our BBAll team is on its way to the Tourney!! We dominate!!
By Mark Price is Right
February 2, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this
Man, dramatic win on Saturday!
I fear though we’re not going to always get that 25-18 foul disparity (17 to 30 in FTA). We probably had the same margin in our favor on no calls, too. Thank you, refs!!!
That and the Alexander Memorial ghost keeping Teague’s free throw at 1:31 left from fallin’!
Fortunate…
By George P. Burdell
February 2, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this
Get a grip people. I am as happy as anyone we got the W but its one game. I’ll take the win any way we get it, but we still pulled a lot of the same tricks we have all season long in the last 8 minutes. We did play better defense, but Wake just wasn’t motivated for this game. I hope it leads to better days, but lets not get carried away and think all our troubles are suddenly gone. Good job team, keep working and try not to listen too much to all of these hopeless optimists. Tech winning the ACC tournament this year, now thats a good one.
By BuzzBuzz
February 2, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this
I think behind Florida, we have the best Athletic program in the South. Our basketball team really could be 7-0 in the conference and our football team can’t be stopped!!!
By Born2Buzz
February 2, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
I like the confidence in the kids. Now let’s see what they do at FSU. Keep the turnovers down and make FT’s and we can be pretty good.
MP is Right, we should have an advantage with the fouls every game if (and that’s a big IF) we get the ball inside to our bigs consistently. We did the same thing against BC and NCSU and maybe Duke (don’t have the stats in front of me). Lawal will draw fouls all day long so he’s got to make his FT’s. That’s why FT % is so important to this team.
I’m trying to be optomistic and hoping for a big turnaround for the team and CPH. Not a nattering nabob like Ramble On and others who just want to see the coach fail. Let’s keep pulling for these kids to get better and better. And remember, they are just that, kids.
By ggodsey
February 2, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this
I hear the Shumpert family had a tickle pile party after the game Saturday. Should we buy rings for that historic victory against Wake?
By GTBeliever
February 2, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this
Great job guys! You’ve been so close on most all the losses. With the turnovers down and FTs dropping, you are a top team…keep it up and we’ll be seeing you in the post-season.
By TONY SHUMPERT
February 2, 2009 2:08 PM | Link to this
The ring comes next year when GT wins it all. Then what will you have to say about CPH?
By ggodsey
February 2, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
I believe in CPH. Wins don’t matter to me as long as our boys try hard. I mean its obvious that Tech is going to win it all next year. Tickle, tickle, tickle.
By GTBeliever
February 2, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
Ugag gets rings also. They are just called handcuffs.
By GT
February 2, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this
I have never seen anything less celebrated by Tech people, just look at the lack of post. We all know this is a non reoccurring event, very much like Georgia winning the SEC tournament last year. I can promise you the team will return to its no in bound out to lunch ways next game. This is not a break through and Wake must be suicidal. I for one am not into the one big win making up for the lack of coaching before and after. The problem still stands and this just prelongs it.
By MIKEHUNTLUVSTECH
February 2, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this
I think this is the biggest win in tech history
By heydummy
February 2, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this
Shumpert , I cant believe you are this damn arrogant and ignorant. Iman is a good kid, but until last Saturday, Tech has sacrificed the entire season to please the Shumpert family. He has consistently turned the ball over 7 to 8 times per game, poor decision making which cost us games, and has missed the last shot in 5 of our losses because Hewitt makes a promise to him to keep him from applying to the NBA draft. Further more Iman is a shooting guard and not a point guard. This why Millers balance is off because he is trying to figure out what role that Hewitt wants him to play. Thats your leader. Look at the stats from last year , you will see Miller was more efficient scoring wise and took care of the basketball ball.
You dont become a leader by making one game winning shot. If you ask me I live and die with me veterans and Im a coach.
I dont fault Iman. Its Hewitts inability to channel his emotions which causes us to go into erratic substitution patterns that kill moral of the players. He micro manages every possession and every set.
You have a team with quality players , NBA hopefulls and you put the season in the hand of a freshman. Again I dont fault Iman. Why do they even practice if Hewitt is going to put his finger in every play. Wake up son, this aint about you.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
February 2, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
Born2Buzz, It’s one win and I don’t hope the coach fails.
The movies only half over and it’s still GROUND HOG DAY.
Chapter 19, the run for the bubble.
By TONY SHUMPERT
February 2, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
If you look at the spacing on the floor, poor foul shooting and turnover’s, that’s say’s it in a nutshell. I’m glad you think I’m ignorant, because seems as though you never hooped before. If you must, have a nice day and root for GEORGIA.
By leepurdy@hotmail.com
February 2, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this
question: why can georgia tech football only sign 12 people in 2010?
By heydummy
February 2, 2009 7:42 PM | Link to this
Sums it up in a nutshell…Look at that stat sheet and see who has the most turnovers. And you dont look like youve ever picked up a basketball in your life , Iman mom just happens to have good gene. I think you answered your own question.
I dont blame Iman, fortunatley you raised a good kid…Sad part is your his dad..Reminds me of these other knuckle head parents that put their kids before the team.
Guess thats life
By GT
February 2, 2009 11:07 PM | Link to this
This is the greatest win in the history of Tech? Get that guy a net, coo coo running loose.
By BravesFan79
February 3, 2009 6:35 AM | Link to this
So Bobby Knight is available…. i think hed do alot more good at GT than uga!….. i wonder since we cant fire Hewitt if his contract would allow us to demote him?…… (if only for a few years to learn under a true master of the game like Knight! )
But with that probably not happening, i say we offer Knight bigtime $$ to be our “head assistant”.
Ahhhh…… combine Hewitts recruiting with Knights knowledge………im talking titles!! yea i know im just dreaming….Bob would never play 2nd fiddle to anyone…..
But Bob or no Bob…….. we need to throw some $$ at a top assistant to come help out Hewitt.
And i saw Shumperts page…..perhaps if he spent less time trying to come up with nicknames for himself and more time practicing free throws and dribbling…. GT would be .500 in conference