Tech

By Fred

February 16, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this

Sounds very similar to his comments after the 05-06 season.

By GTman

February 16, 2009 8:53 AM | Link to this

Everyone that follows this team knew this would be a very difficult season. While Lawal and Shumpert may become NBA level talent, no one else on this team is even close to ACC level talent.

Hewitt will change that next year with some great talent coming in, but we will probably only have Favors for one year. One of the problems with Hewitt is he needs to recruit basketball players and not just athletes. Basketball players make jump shots, layups, FREE THROWS, and understand defensive schemes.

The loss of Bell hurt our defense this year. The next few years will test Hewitt’s coaching skills and answer my questions about whether or not he can develop good talent and handle the x’s and o’s on game day.

I am pulling for Hewitt and the Jackets.

Go Jackets and THWG!

By RAMBLE ON!!!

February 16, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this

After our 7-9 or 6-10 ACC record next year, Hewitt will have to admit he can’t coach at this level and resign.

By Buzz29

February 16, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this

Step down then, CPH!

By L-Dogg

February 16, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this

If he doesn’t “want to put this school through this ever again” then he needs to stop going after players like Favors who are using Tech as a one-year springboard to the NBA. How many times does Hewitt have to get the one- or two-and-done players before he sees how badly it cripples the program when they leave it high-and-dry?!?

By Gordon

February 16, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this

I would hope he means at least one new assistant who has proven he can coach offense and whose sole job it is to focus on that. If he means anything else, I doubt it will do any good. No one there now, including Hewitt, can say that coaching offense is a strength. There is just too much evidence to the contrary. I hope he realizes he needs help in this area. If that is the case, maybe he can get this turned around. Being humbled and admitting your weaknesses can make you better. We’ll just have to wait and see. If I were him, I would make sure these changes are announced before season tickets go on sale.

By Buzz29

February 16, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this

… and take Favors one and done a$$ with you too. There is no future with one year players.

By jaxjacket

February 16, 2009 9:19 AM | Link to this

I am amazed at the number of posters who still see these problems being related to the players we have. We may not have five McDonalds AAs, but not everyone else in the ACC does either. We are managing to lose to teams with less talent than we do. It’s gotta be coaching. I agree with Ramble On in his predictions for next year - the question is, after the season, will Hewitt follow Bobby Cremins’ classy example and do the honorable thing, or rehash the same old excuses. I am hoping for success next year, but not expecting it. Not really expecting Hewitt to walk away without taking his buy-out either.

By Rob

February 16, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this

Our current talent is at least equivalent to a middle of the road ACC level. Hewitt is the problem and if he doesn’t replace some of his staff with real coaches and let them handle the team then regardless of talent level it will be more of the same. This staff would bring the US Olympic team to a second division finish in the ACC.

By BobinBuford

February 16, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this

Here’s as idea:

After watching the debacle against NC State on Saturday, CPH should get a tape of yesterday’s Illinois-Indiana game and show his team how Illinois plays offense. How many open shots they get by PASSING the ball effectively around the perimeter. That is how you get to be 21-5 with a team that was expected to do nothing this year.

I heard Brad Nessler say how UGA needs to put a wall around Atlanta to recruit players. Sorry Brad, there already IS a wall around Atlanta - and CPH has the key to the gate.

By Yaaaawnn

February 16, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this

Worst team since we joined the ACC. Tech is the ACC’s most accomodating team. Need a W, play Tech.

Losing by 20+ at home - what does it take to get these guys riled up?

Bench Clinch, and a few others. He has shown no improvement. Let some of the guys in warm-ups play. It won’t hurt the record.

Thank goodness for Danny Hall’s baseball team and spring football. They will keep things interesting for the next few months.

Radokovich has some tough decisions ahead.

By fred

February 16, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this

Any further rhetoric is just another excuse.

“lead—-follow—-or,get outta the way”.

CPH has long lost all credibility.

By TS

February 16, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this

They’ve underachieved every year since the Final Four and it hasn’t been a talent issue in any of those years. CPH preaches defense to the exclusion of everything else, so they play offense like they’re lost, and yet they don’t stop anyone on defense either. The only reason they made the Final Four was they had 2 NBA-caliber point guards creating offense. They are a poor free throw shooting team every year, and that’s coachable. I really like CPH but I do not think he is a good coach by any stretch.

By yellowblood

February 16, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this

One change that needs to be made is to have Tickle Piles the night before big games. I think the boys would be more relaxed after relieving some of that tension. The after game Tickle Piles could continue as currently held. It should not make any difference to students, fans or alumni.

By Observer

February 16, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this

What made CPH’s comments newsworthy? He pledged change but didn’t identify what the changes would be. He said he’s learned some things but didn’t identify wha they are. Sounds to me like a coach trying to save his job.

I was very high on Paul Hewitt when we hired him but he has proven that he knows only one style of play and when he doesn’t possess the athletes for that style, he can’t adapt.

Time for a change.

By JacketSteve

February 16, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this

For the people who are saying that we don’t want one and done players, you’re idiots. Were you mad at Bobby Cremins when Kenny Anderson came to GT or Stephon Marbury? I sure wasn’t. I remember going to the Final Four with Kenny. North Carolina won a national championship a couple years ago, and two freshman stars left immediately for the NBA. Syracuse did it with Carmelo Anthony.

The problem is the coaching of the other talent. If you have a good foundation of players then the one and done star will put you over the top. Brian Oliver was coached up to be a great college player and supported Dennis Scott and Kenny Anderson perfectly. But no one else on the team had the talent to even play in the CBA (before Isiah Thomas destroyed it). Anyone remember Carl Brown? That’s right, he was a big part of that Final Four season. The kid had barely even played basketball before coming to Tech from England.

CPH has done very little if anything with the players he has. Lance Storrs was supposed to be a good player. I haven’t seen anything to make me believe that. He was probably a better player in high school than he is now. Mo Miller looks much worse this year than he did last. Aren’t the coaches supposed to help the players improve? That’s what they get paid for. CPH needs a new group of assistants who know what they’re doing because there are some good players coming in next year who will be staying longer than Favors, and I would like to see them develop into names everyone knows within four years.

By ga_tech_92

February 16, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

The same blog topic year after year. It will cost the same to fire Hewitt today as it will a hundred years from now…fire Hewitt and end Grounnd Hog Day. If he truely CHOOSES to do something different, he will recruit more TRUE point guards and replace assistant coaches with people who can teach offense and fundamental basketball skills. What a waste of time to even type this. It’s the same conversation over and over for years now. ..ie..Groundhog Day

By SecondGenJacket

February 16, 2009 10:33 AM | Link to this

While I support Hewitt, it’s frustrating to see other teams with “lesser” talent consistently outplay Georgia Tech. Give this same roster to the other middle-tier coaches in the ACC (Purnell, Hamilton, etc), and I bet they would be closer to .500 in the ACC.

By Ombudsman

February 16, 2009 10:33 AM | Link to this

JacketSteve - Kenny Anderson played at Tech for two years dip$hit. I think most tech fans would happily take two years for a star player, but the one and done players were one of the primary reason Cremins fizzled out and couldn’t sustain consistent year in and year out top notch teams.

By GT Fan

February 16, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this

Time to pay Paul A@@ Hewitt off and let him go..ASP.. forget the money just put his a@@ on the road..You can’t give away tickets to games. No matter how good the next class if you still have Hewitt it won’t matter. I will never go to another game if PH is the Coach. The Lady Jackets could be Hewitt’s team!!!

By Submariner683

February 16, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this

There is no question that Hewitt can recruit. If you go by the rankings of these players on rivals and other recruiting websites. I think his recruiting is even better than we give him credit for considering how mediocre this team has been since the Final Four run.

That being said, it’s obvious to me that he does not get anywhere near the amount of results based on the talent he has on the floor. Maybe he does recruit to many athletes and not enough shooters and fundamental players. Free throw shooting is mental, no excuses there.

Lawal is the real deal. The best PF on the Flats since James Forrest. I’d rank Lawal behind Forrest and Tom Hammonds for all time PFs at GT. If he stays and keeps improving, he could be #1, imo.

By Goodtimesgone

February 16, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

CPH has done part of his job of recruiting players now he needs make the hard decisions and make some changes in his coaching staff. No head coach can handle all the needs of a team and that’s why there are assistant coaches to handle the load.

Games are 40 minutes long and we seem to fade after 30. It seems conditioning is lacking so we have no legs at the end of the game. Is that being address in practice with additional drills? Run, run, and shoot. Run, run and shoot. Then guess what: Run, run and shoot some more. Wind sprints mixed with shooting practice. Hey, we could get a crazy and mix in some passing drills while running.

By GARY

February 16, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

Rad got rid of Gailey and we got a winner, its time to do the same to Hewitt, then the baseball coach

By RAMBLE ON!!!

February 16, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this

Submariner683, Lawal is gone. Have you seen GROUND HOG DAY?

It’s the part where a key player (usually a 1st round or lottery NBA pick) for next year, surprises the excuse makers by going pro.

Within a week after the worst season at The Thrill-is-gone Dome, Gani will declare he’s gone, after some very tough (yeah right) soul searching.

By O'keefe 59

February 16, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this

I’ve said it before and I repeat it now.Stop recruiting the kids that only want to be here 1 or 2 years.This does not build a program.Bosch hurt the program and so will Favors. Lawal will be gone after this year and we start over with Favors??? This is a disastor.You’ve got to build some continuity and you don’t do it with kids who are only with you 1-2 years.Cremins couldn’t do it and he compounded his problem by thinking he could win by playing only 6 or 7 players.Stop wasting Tech schollarships on kids you know are not going to respect the school or their team mates. Think about this—-Favors only has to make his grades for 1 semester( the Fall).After that ,he only has to attend as a requirement to stay on the team as part of CPJs rules. Whats the point? Stop recruiting these guys!!!To me ,it is an embarrasment to Tech and beleive me when I say i bleed WHITE AND GOLD.

By Ramblin On

February 16, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Mo Miller is the worst point guard I have seen at Ga Tech. He is afraid to shoot, leaves his feet to pass all the time, and can’t play defense. He is a lot of the problem with the offense. CPH needs to recruit a REAL point guard. Shumpert is a great 2 guard, however he is NOT a PG and never will be. Get rid of Miller at point guard!

By MLK

February 16, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

Being on the board of the Black Coaches Association, he’s untouchable.

By fact check

February 16, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this

Lots of posts about one and doners and the need for a PG. fellas, you got Mfon Udofia coming next year. Not a one and doner, great floor leader for Miller Grove, and a standout defensive player. Do your homework.

By Fed Up

February 16, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

To Larry Hartstein:

I hope you’re reviewing and ‘monitoring’ the posts on your blog. This character ‘Yellowblood’ continues to post his childish trash all over the Tech blogs and its time something was done about it. Clearly he is a UGA fan who finds some sort of glee in constantly posting messages about these ‘Tickle Piles’ at GA Tech. Nobody knows what he’s talking about and I have no doubt that EVERYONE is tired of reading it.

Please, for the sake of maintaining some level of control with these blog posts … record Yellowblood’s i.p. address and/or email address and BLOCK him from future access.

Respectfully Yours,

a loyal GT fan.

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this

GT will be a elite 8 caliber team next year IF we go out and bring in the BEST Assistants $$ can buy!!Hopefully these losses will do some good in the end by forcing Hewitts hand into getting more help on the bench. And you people that say you dont want Favors are fools. Would you of taken Dwight Howard for a year? Lawal + Favors = the BEST frontcourt in the nation in 2010!
Anyone one else have 2 future top 10 draft picks in the frontcourt? (Which Lawal will be if he stays another year, Favors will be a top 2 pick)

Its all on our guards tho next year, lets give Miller a chance without the facemask, and hope the fresh pt guard from Decatur is ready for ACC caliber of play. Surround the dominant bigs with some 3 pt shooters…and well be a top 4 seed in the NCAA tourney next year! GO GT!!

By Dan

February 16, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this

You Paul Hewitt bashers are funny. He is a great coach and a heck of a recruiter.

By Bobby

February 16, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this

If Georgia won’t hire Bob Knight, maybe Tech should. It would be a blast watching him coach in the ACC, even if just for a year or two, and if a player didn’t have heart, or gave up, he’d be on the bench or off the team.

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this

To those so against 1 and dones…. you do realize that depending on a 1 and done big man is ALOT different than depending on a 1 and done pt guard to run the team… right?  And Helmsley and Udofia will both likely be 3 or 4 year players, so well alright after Favors leaves.Favors is gonna look dmn good in a GT uniform next year!  Yall do realize hes not the #1 Big Man in the state, but in the NATION right? 

By GT_93

February 16, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this

Yawn… Who cares? Basketball is boring as hell, even when we win. When does spring FB practice start?

By MyView

February 16, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

Gordon…u and I agree. I like CPH, but Tech’s teams never seem to execute well offensively as a unit. If defense is effort, then offense is execution and that’s due to coaching.

By chuck allison

February 16, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this

We don’t need changes BY Hewitt. We need to get rid of Hewitt himself. He is going to try to scapegoat his assistants. The only effective change Hewitt can make is to resign out of shame as any honorable coach would do.

By Dude

February 16, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

Get a shooting coach! This is one of the worst shooting teams I have seen, I mean year in, year out.

By chuck allison

February 16, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

Hewwitt supporters, please wake up. This man has a 27-67 road record during his tenure. No one has a personality that can make up for a 27-67 road record. Hello, out there??

By TONY SHUMPERT

February 16, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this

I’ve recently got word about some changes that are going to happen. Obviously, I can’t reveal the changes, but most on here can guess, and I will say if you’re hot or cold. HINT, it does not involve CPH leaving anytime soon. Face it, do we really want CPH to leave? What do you think Favors would do? Go to UGA? Look, I personally like CPH. He’s obviously a really good looking man, charasmatic, and just a down-to-earth guy. I think it would be fabulous if he stayed around one more year, so Favors, Iman, and the rest of boys to make it to the Final Four!!!

By Rich

February 16, 2009 12:42 PM | Link to this

Who is this f* yellowblood and what is his/her fixation with a tickle pile?? whatever the hell that is

By Funny

February 16, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

Braves fan 79,

are you on drugs? Tech, an “elite 8 talent next year”? Top 4 NCAA seed? Lawal is gone and Shumpert is WAY overrated. Sure, Favors is the real deal but you still have Hewitt as coach. He is one of the worst bench coaches in America. GT hoops is not much to crow about…look at the crappy arena ya’ll play in. It’s a darn joke!

By Handy Man Hank

February 16, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

HEY DAN

I hope this isn’t the “Dan” I think it is. A great coach? Check out his ACC record. While you are at it, GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND!

By yurtle_the_turtle

February 16, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

Well another loss, so what else is new? We just happened to lose by 21 points at home and looked like we really didn’t care. (I’d hate to think that we did care and still managed to lose by 21 at home, but I digress). If Lawal leaves, that would just be excuse #218 for Hewitt. “I didn’t know he would leave after this season, Yada Yada….”. Then when he fails miserably next year and Favors is gone, he’ll have another excuse. We have to watch this mess for another 3 - 4 years because we’re GT and can’t afford to buy him out of his “Brain-less” contract.

By yurtle_the_turtle

February 16, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

“Funny” is correct! Bravesfan 79 ARE you on drugs? An Elite 8 team? How can you say that?? Have you done any comparison to the ACC let alone the other 100+ schools in the NCAA? With Hewitt Coaching?? I dare say, Hewitt does NOT get any freebies with me anymore. I can’t say we’re an Elite 8 team or anything else until he actually does it because he has proved to be a crappy coach. He doesn’t deserve any ranking nor his teams.

By StingerSplash

February 16, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

So CPH doesn’t want put Tech through this again? Like the number of losing seasons he’s had isn’t enough already? There needs to be a change, all right, and it needs to come at the head coaching spot — with a new one. It’s time to get Mark Few from Gonzaga.

By BLAZER

February 16, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

A GREAT COACH COULD COACH A ZONE DEFENSE AND

DRAW UP AN INBOUND PLAY AND TEACH FREE THROW

SHOOTING????

By RAMBLE ON!!!

February 16, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this

I third the notion that Bravesfan 79 is on some serious drugs.

You need an intervention, fast. You’ll be dead, by the time GT is dancing again.

By Dadgum

February 16, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this

As usual these type blogs are filled with denizens who know very little of what they write or even give it a thought before typing.

Paul Hewitt is indeed a fine coach. Ask around the coaching profession if you want. Assistants may need changing to some degree but maybe not.

Hewitt must recruit the best players period. Even if they are a good bet to bolt to the NBA after a year. Exactly when is it right to NOT recruit the best players. Sure I wish they would stay 4 years but they aren’t going to. Until the NBA/NCAA makes it mandatory to remain in college through the junior year like they do in football and baseball then you will continue to have these issues.

For those here not enlightened on recruiting, it takes two seasons of recruiting these days to land a top quality recruit. I happen to agree we need a point guard. Guess what, the top points for next year are already 1 year into being recruited by another school or three.

GT has had numerous freshman point guards of late. It takes at least two years to be proficient in this conference at that position. Look at Duke. They have had such poor point play since the KMan arrived on campus that most alums say that is the reason they haven’t won more championships. Duke is lucky if they reach the sweet sixteen. Duke is suffering now due to a poor bench and guard play. It is not just GT folks. Where do you think UNC would be without Lawson? Not 1st place that is for sure.

Crittenton, Young, Lawal, Aminu, and Shumpert with Bell, Miller and Peacock off the bench were suppose to be GT’s top 8 players. With that they would have been at the top this year or very damn near. Are you blaming Hewitt for that. Not me.

Finally, I guess you want Knight to coach over Hewitt too. Well let me set one thing straight right now, that ain’t happening. No way no how. Hewitt is our man and a damn good guy and things will turn around for the program. We don’t need a Coach BK in the league. We already have a Coach K and that is bad enough as it is. Yeah, that’s right. Go ask around.

Rock on…….Youngblood you are a joke!

By reebok

February 16, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this

When a team can’t make layups and free-throws, they are poorly coached and poorly disciplined. Paul Hewitt is in over his head.

By GT66

February 16, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this

He has to be fired. He is without a doubt the worst coach in the ACC if not a much larger area. You who claim that we have good talent, how can you possibly support keeping him in light of our record? Those who think our talent is fair I say the same thing, how can we keep him with what he has not produced.

By Gordon

February 16, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this

“Look at Duke. They have had such poor point play since the KMan arrived on campus that most alums say that is the reason they haven’t won more championships. Duke is lucky if they reach the sweet sixteen. Duke is suffering now due to a poor bench and guard play. It is not just GT folks.”

That has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. Duke has won 3 NCAA titles, about 10 A.C.C. championships, and been to a dozen final fours in the last 25 years. They have missed the tournament once in that time, and that was the year Coach K missed the season due to a back injury. Their point guards include Johnny Dawkins, Bobby Hurley, and Jay Williams. And you are comparing that to 1-10 GT? Good Grief.

By kshizzle

February 16, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this

Bottom line is we do not have enough guards. Next year we will not have that problem. 2004 we had tons of guards and just outran everybody. Next year with Udofia running the point and having Glen Rice and perhaps D Bell back we will again have enough guards. Down low you have Gani a year impoved, Peacock and then replacing Aminu you get Derrick Favors. I don’t care about the lack of experience of the freshaman, the team next year is a major upgrade. Gani is capable of being the second best big man in the ACC (next to Favors) and Shumpert with a year of working out will be hard to stop next year. This years team cannot score at all. Next years will NOT have that problem.

By DASTECH

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

* PLEASE HIRE SOME ASSISTANT COACHES THAT CAN DEVELOP OUR PLAYERS.THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WE ARE GETTING FLAT OUT EMBARRASSED. OUR FINAL FOUR RUN HAD ALL THE COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL BB PROGRAM, GREAT GUARD PLAY, THE RIGHT SUPPORTING CAST AND GET THIS!!! GOOD ASSISTANT COACHING, I FOR ONE WILL NOT SPEND ANOTHER DIME UNTIL WE CHANGE ASST COACHES*

By fred

February 16, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this

If you “owned” the Tech team would you fire the asst. coaches—-change uniforms—-spend more time in practice on timeout calls? Rats, folks, these—and all “excuses”—are the direct responsibility of THE HEAD COACH! Hewitt “appears” to do most things OK….except WIN.

In business he would already be history.

AD Rad knows this (1-10 in the ACC stands out, with zzero excuses).

As the “owner” of GT bb you would fire CPH.

By willie clay

February 16, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

What gets me is, why does Hewitt get a pass when his record is much worse than that of Chan Gailey, i guess Tech folks only care about football. One thing is for sure, Hewitt has removed that image of Tech as a basketball school.

By brookwoodbronco53

February 16, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this

Mr.Shumpert,

Are the changes you are hinting at coaching staff related?

By willie clay

February 16, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this

What gets me is, why does Hewitt get a pass when his record is much worse than that of Chan Gailey, i guess Tech folks only care about football. One thing is for sure, Hewitt has removed that image of Tech as a basketball school.

By GT

February 16, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this

He will do something different and how does he know that will work? I watch old Bobby Cremins take Davidson the other night in Davidson and I am sitting there thinking this is the same stuff he did at Tech. I felt like we were always part of the ACC with Cremins, he had played in the ACC, he coached and won ACC tournaments, at one time he and Duke were nose to nose and the rivalry was magic. Now I feel like we are Miami or FSU that came into the conference for football and had never really bought into the basketball part. It is like a choir singing in a crowded mall with no one paying much attention. Bobby spoiled us, made it look so easy he got himself thrown out after a disruptive period of recruiting where his normal point guards were going directly to the pros leaving him mere mortals to play the position. Somehow Coach K had figured a way to make his guards stick around for four years while Bobby kept losing them to a paycheck. Dean Smith was still royalty at Carolina and the rest of the league wasn’t standing still either. Well Bobby has found his balance wherever it was and we have really never found ours since Bobby left. We loved old Bobby but thought he had lost the touch, we still love him and turns out he has not lost his touch.

By FootballFan 29

February 16, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this

Whose fault is it that GT doesn’t have ACC type players?

I just don’t see GT being that much better next year when you continue to rely on freshman year in and year out. It is never a good thing if you are hoping that your freshman are going to lead you. It is okay to hope that they contriubute, but not carry you.

Also, Gani might not be around, therefor you lose an experienced player.

Should be interesting. Amazed that GT is settling for this type of situation with it’s basketball program.

By JacketSteve

February 16, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this

Ombudsman, real classy comment. Do you go down on your mother with that mouth?

By GameTime

February 16, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

Changes I’d like to see 1.Pure 3 point shooter 2.Players with game smarts not just athletes 3.Recruitment for team chemistry not just “stars” 4.Less use of timeouts early in halves to set defenses(? or for whatever reason that isn’t always apparent) 5.A coach who can teach offensive sets and fundamentals 6.Less substitutions so players can get into flow of game. I’m not going to hold my breath. Contrite statements but Coach is too set in his ways to change.

By gtdave

February 16, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this

How much longer do we have to put up with poor coaching and expectations not met? Recruiting can only take you so far!

By GT

February 16, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this

Who is this Dadgum? The idea here is to win. I hate it when an ESPN guy sucks up to Bobby Knight as if acting like a jackass is a great thing for college basketball, but in the next breath they are lecturing the audience on the moral behavior of a crowd throwing garbage on the floor. I also hate when they talk about how some administration such as Indiana doesn’t understand the finer points of coaching when they fire “Colonel Knight”. I promise you if Knight had one more Big 10 win in him he would be a keeper even if he spit in the face of a Catholic nun. It is the winning that tells people you can coach, there are the has beens like Knight and the never has beens like our guy. Yep we are dumb at Tech, I’ll buy that, to keep paying a guy that is ruining a wonderful night out in Atlanta.

By Concerned

February 16, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this

GROUNDHOG DAY!!!!

1 winning ACC record in 9 years!!

Based on the above statement, how can ANYONE think that CPH deserves a job at Tech?

It will cost the same to fire CPH today, tomorrow, next month, next year, or in 5 years…Fire him now!!

By RAMBLE ON!!!

February 16, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this

I think dadgum is bravesfan79, if not, they have the same drug habit. Intervention is necessary!!!

By fred

February 16, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this

Where would UNC be without their point guard?

Loaded……and in the top 10.

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this

GT_93 : Oyea… u know a sport where 95% of the teams in the nation have NO shot at a national championship is so much better than hoops right? I guess your into other sports where the champs are “voted on” .. like dog and pony shows or bodybuilder competitions. Why dont u go back to rubbing oil on the guys bodys since it seems thats the gay sht your into… and leave the basketball and the REAL sports… to the men!
Dont worry man, one day when CF gets rid of the BCS it can stop being a joke of a sport, and join the big boys.

By gtbabe

February 16, 2009 4:52 PM | Link to this

If your making a million dollars a yr, I don’t care if your black, white, norwegian, phillipino, or eskimo…do not care if your democrat, republican, belong to a Black Coaches Association, haven’t missed church in 20 years, go help the handicap kids every Thursday afternoon or honorable or dishonorable….if you cannot win a game..you need to go, I’m sick of it and cannot take it anymore..tired of hearing about getting better assistant coaches..what does that have to do with it? HIRE MARK PRICE

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 5:14 PM | Link to this

Ramble on: Ive been pushing for new assistants WAY before anyone else on this blog. Dadgum only said there “maybe” a problem… well i KNOW there’s a serious problem with game planning and ive stated that for years now actually.

GT will be a Tourney team next year! we will either be a top 4 seed, or a 7/8 seed depending on what coaches we bring in to help Hewitt……..and of course Bell and Lawal coming back will make a difference as well.

Regardless…. well be talented enough to be a tourney team next year. Even if were on the bubble well get in…. .just like USC and Kansas State got in mostly because of OJ Mayo and Beasley…the same would be true for GT and Favors next year…. because he will be a top pick in the NBA draft and the NCAA wants the exposure of the best players in the land, even if the rest of the team isnt that great.

But… if coached right… this will be a top 15 team in the nation next year. Just wait. And yea so i started drinking a little early today….im on vacation… dosent mean i dont know hoops tho. ; )

By Navigator

February 16, 2009 5:24 PM | Link to this

I guess when you have the worst bunch of assistant coaches in the ACC, any change should be an improvement. I watch as often as I can how the players interact with the coaches in the games. It seems that the players gravitate to just two of the coaches. Hewitt really should watch his own films to figure out who doesn’t have the players ears.

By TNTucker

February 16, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

DADGUM you are the joke

and pretty badly outnumbered when it comes to thinking Hewitt is doing a good job. What more can we judge him on than his record—and it stinks!

By Jack G

February 16, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this

CPH can only be fired for cause, I would like to see the defination of “cause” in his contract, Otherwise my opinion is that he was hired to coach and win basketball games. Failure to do so is “cause”

By Gordon

February 16, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this

What evidence do we have that Mark Price would be a good head coach? There is no way we should take the risk of hiring someone who has never even been an assistant. Anyone who cares about Tech basketball loves Mark Price and I am no exception, but we need a young, energetic, proven head coach.

This is all a moot point anyway. Hewitt will get another year with hopefully different assistants. We did have success with that combination for several years. The first 5 years we had 3 NCAA appearances. I would say the team was well coached in 4 of those years (excluding the Bosh year, and even in that year we were playing well at the end). It’s 3 of these last 4 years with the current assistants where we have significantly underachieved.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

February 16, 2009 6:15 PM | Link to this

GTbabe has it going on like a 2008 Lamborghini Reventon!!!

I’d have to agree with Gordon on Mark Price though.

Sounds like you’re going to get your wishes about the assistance coach’s bravesfan79, a few years too late.

How would you feel about Drew Barry…Hewitt turned him down a few years back?

By chuck allison

February 16, 2009 6:58 PM | Link to this

How do you know Paul Hewitt is not going anywhere. If he is an honorable man, surely he will resign so we can get a coach.

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 7:06 PM | Link to this

Drew Barry and Mark Price would BOTH make Great assistant coaches. Really id like for a old retired coach to come in and be the head assistant. A Bob Knight ( i wish …but hed never settle for being 2nd fiddle ) or a Lefty Drizzell…. Ga States old head coach. Or the old coaches that left for pay raises after the 2004-5 season.

Best would be to bring in a old coach that’s known for strategy and smarts…. as our head assistant….. Then have the specialist like Price come in and be a secondary assistant. With Hewitt at the top as the GM/ recruiter.

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 7:21 PM | Link to this

Tony Shumpert: im almost positive those changes involve new assistants. Any names you can give as a hint as to who there looking at? Or who you think would be good?
Ive already said who id perfer.

By Jacketman

February 16, 2009 7:53 PM | Link to this

It is very obvious what Coach Hewitt needs to do. He needs to bring in coaching expertise. Our team is suffering from a lack of coaching now. Drad should make sure this happens. The program has suffered enough. Someone needs to do something to stop the bleeding.

By westcoast techie

February 16, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this

Everyone on these blogs are ragging on the assistant coaches. I personally don’t know who they are or if they are really good or bad teachers of basketball fundamentals. How much responsibility and authority does CPH give his assistants? Does he let his assistants exercise independense in team practices or does he micromanage them like he does the team during games? The buck should stop at the head coach. CPH should speak up for his assistance (protect their backs) and not use them to deflect the heat from himself.

By blackprix

February 16, 2009 8:39 PM | Link to this

Delusional GT fans.

While we are getting a great recruiting class, so is everyone else in the ACC and those teams aren’t having the kind of problems GT is.

Sorry, but this is not about some new faces coming in … it’s about existing faces staying.

Time for an overhaul and it starts with the head coach.

By 34michael

February 16, 2009 8:58 PM | Link to this

BRING IN THE FEAKIN’ G.T. EX-NBA PLAYERS THAT SIT IN THE STANDS AND WATCH THIS CRAP. GET RID OF THE COACHING STAFF. IT WAS TIME FIVE YEARS AGO. FORMER TECH PLAYERS CAN GET THEM GOING IN PRACTICE. SOMETHING IS AMISS IN PRACTICE. THOSE THAT PLAYED THE GAME KNOW WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY.

By IndyGT

February 16, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this

I’ve been pretty supportive of CPH on most all these blogs.. but my patience is wearing thin. I can’t remember being this disappointed about GT bball in a long time. That said, I still believe in giving CPH this year (not that he’s going anywhere with that recruiting class). But, come next year, we better make some noise.. and 9-7 in the ACC isn’t making noise. Next year should be a down year for the ACC also. And for those people saying quit recruiting the one and done players.. ask yourself this question. Would you rather play against Critt, Bosh, TYoung, Favors? I wouldn’t. You can’t pin your hopes on all of them.. with this next recruiting class I don’t think CPH is doing that. But, this has bit him before (w/Critt.. and now we’re suffering because of it.

By SlimG

February 16, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this

Ramble, knows nothing about ball. Where did you play college ball? Thought so……..

Defense wins, free throw ability is not coachable just ask Shaq. Hewitt is a good coach. Better than Johnson hands down. A clock is right twice a day. With UNC, Duke, Wake, Clemson and others Tech just doesn’t have the talent this year.

Don’t forget techies, we played for the national title under Hewitt. Cremins never came that close with all the talent he had over what 15 years or more.

By Dadgum

February 16, 2009 10:42 PM | Link to this

Hey hey just checking back in and you guys are still all in the fire Hewitt mode.

Gordon, my man, dude, finding a point guard at Duke is like trying to find a bass in the Dead Sea. Of the guards you mentioned all were trumped by GT’s point guards during their stay at Duke. I have to laugh when you mention Hurley. Do you remember him crying because Kenny Anderson simply abused him every single time they played. Dawkins was far and away the best point Duke has ever had but it was GT raising the ACC banner in ‘93.

College Basketball has issues and until they are addressed then Hewitt needs to keep recruiting top talent and forget that they may leave after a year or two. GT is never going to be on a level with Duke or UNC. The ACC has such a top heavy league it just makes the rest of the teams look bad year in and year out. It will always be that way. Maybe GT sneaks up one year, Maryland another etc. Reputation is what keeps the big boys going. A great player will see where he could be mired in such a program and will look at a GT. That is the player GT needs to go after.

Next year it is Favors unless he reads the crap like some of you write and decides to bolt for Georgia or NC State. Ya’ll think about it.

Rock on……Hewitt is a great coach and recruiter!!!! Frankly I would look to extend his contract.

By Dadgum

February 16, 2009 10:52 PM | Link to this

SLIMG…dude, look at the stats from the 1990 Final Four. GT was there and so was Cremins. In fact the two best teams were GT and UNLV and they had to meet in the 1st game. Duke who we absolutely torched all year got the easier game. We lost a good game to UNLV then UNLV simply trashed Duke in the final. That was a way better final four than San Antonio.

SlimG you may need to apologize to RAMBLE. It would be a shame to see him start crying. Don’t know anything about basketball….ya’ll must be crazy!

Rock on……Hewitt The Recruiter.

By GT66

February 16, 2009 11:01 PM | Link to this

Alright, dadgum, your act is up. I may be an older southern gentlemen, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to sit around and let you spew your same rhetoric post after post after post.

Face it, Hewitt has to go!!!!

By Dadgum

February 16, 2009 11:03 PM | Link to this

BravesFan79….I wouldn’t want Bob Knight coaching GT if he was first fiddle. A perfect fit for Bob Knight is on the bench next to his little crybaby protege Dice K up at Puke U. Wonder if he would get a little hot in that sweater in Cameron Outhouse? Hey, is chair tossing going to be in next years winter games. Just wondering.

Rock on….DRad sign Hewitt to an extension like yesterday.

By BravesFan79

February 16, 2009 11:14 PM | Link to this

westcoast techie: Every College Football coach in the country brings in the BEST assistants (offensive and defensive coordinators) they can find! Why should Basketball be any different!!

GT needs to throw abunch of $$ at someone with great game managnment skills, like a Bob Knight…. someone who could easily be a head coach at most schools…..

Head coaches have gone back to being assistants plenty of times, just look at coached like June Jones and Jerry Glanville (Hawaii) , and guys like Wade of the Cowboys. Guys switch from Head coach to Coordinator positions all the time, its all about $$$ and if we throw enough at a top guy from a Kansas, Duke, or UNC, or bring in a ex coach like i said before (Bob Knight or Lefty Drisel) and add that to the recruiting ability of Hewitt…and this would be one powerfull GT program!!

And on top of this, bring in specialty guys like Mark Price to help with shooting. Hewitt just needs to swallow his pride, and try something new.

By Dadgum

February 16, 2009 11:30 PM | Link to this

GT66….Hewitt doesn’t have to go anywhere. So you are blaming GT’s demise this year on Hewitt? Did he cause Bell to get hurt? Clinch to misfire every time? Aminu to miss layup after layup? Crittenton and Young to bolt to the NBA? Mo Miller to actually play like a 4th sub?

I mean when are you, and many like you posting above, actually going to put the blame on the players on the court. Accountability my man. Quit blaming Hewitt for every single problem. If you don’t have a bonafide point guard you aren’t going to be successful in college basketball for very long. The fact GT has gone through, what, 5 freshmen points now in a row is simply a recipe for disaster. Make these guys stay three years or don’t come to college. Now there is the answer my friend.

I have no problem having bloggers tell me I’m a joke or on drugs. Kinda think it is funny actually. But to call for the firing of a coach with all of GT’s problems this year is ludicrous.

oh yeah and by the way I have been following GT basketball since before Rich Yunkus. If any here don’t know the name get familiar with it. He is the best center GT ever had. Remember Sammy Drummer? I can still see him lighting up Cincinnati in the old Metro Conference. Now that was exciting basketball.

Rock on…….Hewitt is the Man!

By SlimG

February 16, 2009 11:33 PM | Link to this

dadgum, playing in the final four is one game short of the championship game. Loser…..you probably count getting your wife wet and here cumming as the same thing. Idiot.

Hewitt did it with how many future NBA players? How many did Cremins have?

By Dadgum

February 16, 2009 11:51 PM | Link to this

SlimG…not enough!!

read the last part of your 10:24 drivel again. After that, we will assume you were looking for your favorite UGA blog or one of your wives. Now run along before you make GT66 mad with your spewing.

Rock on…..Hewitt Can Coach!!!

By SlimG

February 17, 2009 12:08 AM | Link to this

What a joke dadgum. Tell your momma goodnight. Nice try.

Go ahead and fire Hewitt. Really, that makes perfect techsense. One bad year and the guy can’t coach. Can’t wait to see what happens to CPJ after another homecoming loss.

By Phildo

February 17, 2009 8:18 AM | Link to this

Buy out Hewitt’s contract and dump him, or trade him to Atlanta Vo-tech for a bag of Cheetos, and learn a lesson. Never, ever give anyone a rolling contract (Thank you, Mr. Brainedead). He’s had a couple of anomolies on the upside over the years, but by and by, he’s sub-par. Nice guy or not, Tech didn’t hire him to be a good will ambassador.

By bearcasey

February 17, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this

One actually sees more if you attend the games in person rather than watching on TV. I attended the GT-NC State game. Here’s what bothered me other than losing.

• Time-outs: Sydney Lowe took advantage of all the time-outs (including TV) to coach up his team. GT’s players were already back on the court more than 30 seconds before State’s players. Hmmmmmmmmm

• GT’s players didn’t quit on Hewitt. They battled back from 16 down to only three down in the second half. They simply ran out of gas.

• Something was wrong with Lawal. My son and I indepently reached the conclusion that he might have been sick. Have heard nothing about this so one of the assistants should have worked on his mental state.

• Shumpert needs to be reigned in. That’s Hewitt’s job. Far too many mistakes! He will be a good player with coaching, though.

• Aminu needs to spend 15 minutes per practice on the “Mikan Drill. Too many missed lay-ups!

• Free throw shooting is improving. Keep doing what you’re doing.

• This team likes to press but simply doesn’t have the depth to do it very long. Save the press for the last 3-4 minutes of the first half. GT is consistently outplayed in this time period.

I coached 20 years of high school basketball. Were I on the bench next to Hewitt, things would be better. And I’m not bragging.

By MichaelJackson

February 17, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

I enjoy reading this blog. We seem to have a lot in common.

By Dadgum

February 18, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this

HEWITT is a great coach…..

Rock on….