AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 04
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Defense key in the ACC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This might sound like a broken record, but if Tech is going to win a few of these upcoming ACC games (Clemson, Duke, FSU, UNC, Maryland), we will need some mighty fine defense… and a win on the road.
It does appear that the defensive pieces are coming together: the press is more effective, Mouhammed Faye and D’Andre Bell have stepped up, we’re forcing lots of turnovers, we’re scooping up loose balls, and we’re out-rebounding teams big time. But, we’ve dominated the weakest part of our schedule and now we’re starting the toughest.
We get to play five teams in 19 days with combined records of 67 – 7. Absolutely brutal. I don’t want to be accused of setting a low standard, but I think winning three out of five would be okay. In case you haven’t noticed, the ACC is tougher than ever.
We’ll do worse than that if we can’t find a way to win on the road. If we can beat Clemson this Saturday, I think the curse will be broken and we’ll start to win more and more road games. If just takes the one game to change the mindset.
I’m hoping that this is the stretch when we start to turn some heads in the conference. It will all start with defense and that first road win.
