AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBreaking down the loss at Va. Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don’t know how many of you saw the game. I don’t think ESPN U gets into many households and I’m going to guess that the sort of passion for Georgia Tech basketball that would cause someone to go out in search of a sports bar carrying the game is not what one would call widespread.
I watched the game at Famous Pub in Toco Hills near Decatur. I didn’t have a great view of the game as somehow they decided to not put it on the big screen. Further, ESPN U apparently is not keen on showing instant replays.
Anyway, some observations:
Georgia Tech has turned into a free throw-making machine. The Jackets drained 17 of 20 shots from the line against Virginia Tech and have shot 77.2 percent in their last seven games, ever since their 7-for-19 night against Duke.
The trouble against the Hokies - or, among the troubles - was that the Jackets didn’t get to the line enough. Part of Tech’s plan was to drive to the basket in part to get fouled and to go to the line more often.
Tech shot 20 free throws (making 17) to Virginia Tech’s 36 (making 24).
The game had more than a few passing similarities with other Tech conference losses. The Jackets generally played the Hokies tough — Tech made more baskets, had more rebounds, had more assists, held the Hokies to 37.1 percent from the field and were even on turnovers (14, which was Tech’s lowest total in the past 11 games) but a few spurts and errant shooting knocked them out.
You’ll be interested to know that after Larry called in Wednesday’s blog for Lance Storrs — leading the team in three-point shooting at 41.3 percent (prior to the game) — to take more threes, Storrs took six of them, a personal season high. However, Storrs made only one of them.
(In Wednesday’s blog, E was spot on on a couple of his predictions - he said Tech would outrebound VT (which happened) and hold the Hokies to 35 percent shooting (they shot 37.1 percent). While underestimating Tech’s free-throw shooting (he called 10-for-19), he also gave Tech a little too much credit by saying the Jackets would lose by 3, 61-58.)
Overall, the Jackets were 4-for-18 from three-point range, and 25-for-63 (39.7 percent) from the field.
Also, as you may have read, Iman Shumpert may have a broken nose. He got popped while guarding Hank Thorns late in the game. X-rays taken last night didn’t show anything, but he’ll take another x-ray Thursday. We’ll hopefully have information later in the day.
Speaking of which, the football schedule is coming out from the ACC at 11 a.m. We’ll have it posted as quickly as we can.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball
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By Concerned
February 12, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this
GROUNDHOG DAY!!!!
1 winning conference record in 9 years!!
It will cost the same to fire CPH today…tomorrow…next month…next year…forever.
So FIRE HIM NOW!!
By jaxjacket
February 12, 2009 8:40 AM | Link to this
Ken, how many turnovers did we have?
By JimmyO
February 12, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
CPH should change the starting line-up. with the problems lewis is having shooting, start either storrs or foreman or aminu. maybe bringing lewis in off the bench will help. but his shooting has been awful to say the least.
the announcers said they rushed their half court offense when they did not have to, BUT at the end of games when they are behind with the clock running down, they have no sense of urgency. they can’t continue to run 20-25 seconds off the clock when it is under 1 minute and they are behind by two possessions (maybe due to iman being on the bench last night at the end of the game).
at least almost every game has been close. if they can play better defense at the three point line - too many defenders double teaming somebody and leaving their man wide open; and start shooting average, they will win some of these.
hopefully lawal won’t go pro and be like dion or javaris and sit of the bench until let go. he has too much talent for a pro team not to take a chance on him, but would be much better off with another year or two of actually playing.
go jackets!
ps - the announcers have said that clinch has a green light from CPH - he needs to change that to orange!
By BLAZER
February 12, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this
miller, shumpert, clinch
12 of 46 the last two games and hewitt hasn’t
got a clue!!!! i do agree with the free throw difference!
start storrs
By Rob
February 12, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this
If Shumpert cannot play against NC St then the ONLY remaining chance for a victory is gone.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
February 12, 2009 9:35 AM | Link to this
I would have went to a sports bar to watch the game…4 years ago.
I only hope the rest of the games are on ESPNU.
By Too Easy
February 12, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this
Is “would have went” the same as “would have gone”? Not if you’re educated.
By Too Easy
February 12, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
If ramble “would have went” to college, she wouldn’t sound illiterate.
By Gordon
February 12, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
There’s really nothing left to say. It’s not only Groundhog Day on the court, but on the blogs as well. I’ve lost confidence in Hewitt’s ability to coach. If he changes his staff at the end of this year things might improve somewhat next year, but we will never be a great team with Hewitt as head coach. He is a nice guy and is doing his best, he can recruit, his teams don’t quit, his teams play good defense, and he and his players do the right things off the court. But he has never won 10 games in the ACC regular season in 9 years, and in the last 4 years (since his previous assistants left) the team hasn’t improved as the year has progressed. We are bad and are not improving, and this isn’t a recent development.
I’ll go to the remaining home games since I bought the tickets, but after that I’ll just wait until we can afford to pay Hewitt off and get a better coach. I’m not a fair weather fan, but I don’t see the point of enduring the same thing year after year. I look forward to the time when it will again be fun to go to the games and to come here and blog about it. But as I said above, for now there is really nothing left to say.
By E
February 12, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
“We have been doing some really good things defensively, we’re rebounding the ball well and we’re giving ourselves a chance,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. “There’s some shots that we need to knock down. … We’ve just got to find a way just to close games out.”
Is it me or is this the same post game “quote” after each loss……..
By RAMBLE ON!!!
February 12, 2009 10:41 AM | Link to this
2006 Hewitt’s team quit multiple times during the season.
Just ask Jermis Smith.
After next years flop, Hewitt will have to admit, he’s not worth 1.3 million, certainly not 7+. Maybe if Hewitt resigns, DRAD will give him an extra million compromise for the buyout.
By neil marlowe
February 12, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
make whatever excuses you like, this bunch may be the least talented team at Tech in a long time. High school basketball players get college scholarships because they can put the ball in the basket, as a rule. This bunch can’t do that. Here is Clinch, a Senior, missing shot after shot. Peacock wandering ineffectively around the floor. Shumpert making Freshman mistakes. Miller invisable as a point guard. For the first few years, I was a fan of Hewitt’s, but no more. One more year with the incoming class, most of whom will be one and done(see Favors), then please leave.
By ga_tech_92
February 12, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this
GROUNDHOG DAY!!!!
1 winning conference record in 9 years!!
The man refuses to understand that turnovers, defensive pressure, offensive flow all start and end with ACC calabur POINT GAURDS. NOT 2 guards…NOT forwards…but POINT GUARDS…not converted 2 gaurds…but pure POINT GUARDS. They do not even have to be 5 star guys…but you need three of them to make sure due to injury or early departure or grades that you have 2 experienced guys at all times who are TRUE POINT GUARDS.
He is a good recruiter, look at the ‘stars’ he has brought in and sent to the NBA…but he can’t coach…can’t win…can’t GET enough point guards to keep skill at that position.
It will cost the same to fire CPH today…tomorrow…next month…next year…forever.
So FIRE HIM NOW!!
By BravesFan79
February 12, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
I did see the game on TV last night, and was proud that GT never gave up and fought their way back from a 10+ points down, many times. However ONCE AGAIN the last minute or so before halftime was TERRIBLE and can only be blamed on poor coaching.
Believe it or not, GT would of won the game had we not missed 2 layups in the final 2 minutes of the game (one of which got turned into a fastbreak and 3 point play by VT).
We had some boneheaded plays that should never happen (foreman kicking the ball out of bounce, storres with the STUPID foul on the breakaway layup)
Next year will NOT be a flop, next years predictions are:
1.If we keep the same assistants and make no changes to the staff: We will be around .500 in the ACC and will get a tourney berth because we will have one of the most exciting players in the nation on our team (Favors) just the same way having Oj Mayo and Beasley pushed USC and K State to the big dance last year. But our fate will be similar to theirs where were a 7-9 seed, and get knocked out of the tourney in the first 2 rounds.
Question is…. will Hewitt swallow his pride this summer and bring in some help? Lets hope so for the good of the program.
By SportsTalk
February 12, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this
I’m really starting to get tired of these,”Close but no cigar” games. CPH is a good coach an I believe he needs to change assistants and get a little fire in himself. I see him get upset with the referees, but never get in his players faces about making silly mistakes and turnovers. How many more times will he allow Lawall to get the ball on the block, get double or triple teamed and lose the ball. Lawall has to recognize were the extra men are coming from and pass the ball. CPH please don’t let your team get out of sync like just before half and not use your last timeout to settle them down. MY GOD PLEASE…….
By Bill
February 12, 2009 12:08 PM | Link to this
Georgia Tech basketball has reached the worst possible condition and that is APATHY FROM THOSE WHO USUALLY CARE! Take this group of players and let Coach K have them and this team would be a bubble team for the tourney and .500 in the league!!
By RAMBLE ON!!!
February 12, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
Bill, Coach K would take this team to the sweet sixteen.
By COACHING POINT
February 12, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this
It is NOT that CPH can’t coach or that his assistants aren’t doing their job! Remember the asst are an extension of the head coach! The fact is that CPH needs to change his offense philosophy! With the personnel that he has (lawal, aminu, shumpert, storres, clinch, miller), he should be pushing/running (fastbreak) the ball up the floor every possessions. The current players and the incoming players are not talented, mentally aware or accustomed to running a half court system on 75% of their possessions. Once the philosophy change you will see a different in their confidence as well as their record!
By Frontman
February 12, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
Sorry, COACHING POINT, but how many TO’s do you think this squad will have if they play up-tempo? They’re averaging over 20 a game when the other team is forcing them to slow down. They don’t have any ball handlers; they might average 30 TOs a game if they play up-tempo.
By ggodsey
February 12, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this
I Rule!
By COACHING POINT
February 12, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
Understand something! They might have more/less turnovers, but they would get up twice as many shots which would offset the t/o. Another thing is that they get so many t/o because they can’t handle the pressure that is being applied by the other team, due to the fact that they don’t have a true point guard! By the way, you don’t need a true point guard to run the fast break offense, just take a look at the Memphis Tigers! Same type of talent, play the same type of defense, NO shooters, and NO true point guard! However, look at their record and Techs!
By Tony Shumpert
February 12, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this
Hey Guys, I would like to know more about the incoming BBall recruits. Does anyone know who is the youngest and perhaps have a picture of the fellas?
By Carolina Jacket
February 12, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this
It seems to me that in this game, as in some of the previous loses, Tech works real hard to cut the lead down, then goes to tie up or take the lead, and — the same thing. They make a stupid mistake. They turn it over, miss a lay up or open shot, make an offensive foul — or something. I’ve never seen a team do it so regularly. They play hard, real hard. But they do this over and over. Must have done it at least three times last night. I still think that they may put one game together and beat another good team.
By GT
February 12, 2009 3:24 PM | Link to this
How did the Duke North Carolina game not get major playing time on television last night. I can’t find the score in this thing they call a web site and I hear this morning it was on some soap opera cable station. I think that is the problem with having sorry basketball at both schools. It demotes the sport coverage for the entire sport. Thank goodness football has alway had Georgia or Tech good during a season or we would be searching for a game.
By sidewalk74
February 12, 2009 3:51 PM | Link to this
Hey RAMBLE ON, Get Direct TV and you will be able to watch ESPNU. It’s channel 614.
By Jack
February 12, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this
Could DRad transfer this guy somewhere in the AA and appoint one of the assistants to handle the team? I know it’ not possible to fire him due to Mr. Braine’s idiotic contract but at least we could get him off the bench.
By The Dude
February 12, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this
“GT” are you serious?
The Dook/Tar Baby game was in ESPN/ESPNHD at 9pm EST on every cable/satellite carrier in the country last night. Hmm… me smells wet dog. You can’t get ESPN in the trailer with the rabbit ears, sorry buddy.
By Born2Buzz
February 12, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this
sidewalk74, i don’t think anybody really wants to watch this team anymore. it’s not a very appealing product.
our hope is that CPH does what Bobby did at the end, go to the AD and say he’s ready to walk away with a buy out significantly less than what we’d have to pay if he was fired. And just like Bobby, he will get another gig in the short future.
it looks like it’s gotten to a point where there is no confidence anywhere on the team, from the players to the coaches. we’ve got to start over to get this thing turned around. and all the new recruits coming in next year are not going to change things around dramatically. i don’t care how good favors is.
i’ve been a seasons ticket holder for 15 years and this is the first time i’m just not really interesting in going to the remaining games.
By Born2Buzz
February 12, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this
and as good as our big men are, our guard play is horrendous. college ball is a guard dominated game. so even if favors is the best big man recruit in the nation, we will still look the same.
By StingerSplash
February 12, 2009 5:35 PM | Link to this
How much longer do Jackets fans have to watch a lack of discipline in offense and defense? As long as CPH is still employed at Tech? Why?
By gtbabe
February 12, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
All I ever see on this blog is how nice and honorable CPH is. Well when you earn a million dollars a year, it’s going to take alot more than that. It would be one thing if the man made $75,000 a yr. But when your making a million, your expected to be nice, honorable and to win a frigging game..
How much more of this suffering do we have to endure? CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE
By yurtle_the_turtle
February 12, 2009 9:43 PM | Link to this
I hate this team. I saw the Duke/UNC game last night and what a joy to watch! Transition offense, team defense, two coaches who know what they’re doing. A great game to see. I’m tired and don’t give a damn any more about GT Basketball. Hewitt has put me in that position.
By Chris Hansen
February 12, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this
Tony Shumpert is posting some odd comments on this blog. Tell me, Tony, why do you care who is the youngest?
By ms
February 12, 2009 11:57 PM | Link to this
I wanted to post a comment on the pregame blog yesterday about what this team might do with coach K at the helm. I agree they would be far more confident and have a better record. Miller is better than what he has shown. Clinch would be put in a better position to make shots. Shumpert would have a better understanding of his role. We wouldnt play so soft, and with so little direction. And Storrs would have been recognized for the slow lumbering player he is and would never have been recruited. And our front line would be better utilized to open up shots for the guards.
By Dadgum
February 15, 2009 9:56 PM | Link to this
Are you guys on here ignorant or what. Coach K can’t take his own team to the Sweet 16. Please…and you expect him to take this GT team there. Duke is perhaps the most overrated team in teh country. Whether you want to believe it or not Coach K is one of the most hated coaches in the league. He is a whiner of the highest order. Oh yeah, and talk about not being able to recruit a point guard. Duke is not exactly known as Guard U.
And another thing….Hewitt is going nowhere. Do you realize that Favors’ commitment isn’t binding until April. That’s right he can jump ship any time up to that point. If Hewitt leaves that could give Favors reason to leave. Even if DRad wanted to let him go he wouldn’t. We have Hewitt through 2012.
Rock on …..and take Coach K with you.