Ramblin' On

By Anthony Serna

January 20, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

The frustrating part of being a good team is when you believe you can be great. We’re not great. And obviously not even good when faced with adversity.

I didn’t expect a win at UNC tonight. I’m realistic. I DID expect a team effort. It’s “College Game Night Crew” for crying out loud. Flat was an overstatement.

UNC is a raging river. GT was a frozen pond. We have NO movement. Why didn’t we feed Dickey early and often. That would have taken pressure off of JC, and open shots for A-MO and TY.

The only time we played with urgency was with 6 mins left, down by 20. Where was that at tip-off. C’mon guys, get active. Let your talent shine.

And CPH and staff, take at least 5 mins in practice and work on an in-bounds play!

By the way, I know we’re going to the dance. I, like everyone, are anxious for the b-ball loving nation to see the sleeping giant in the ATL come to real life.

By CDub

January 20, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this

I have to agree with you, Andy. I have always liked Hewitt and his Defense first philosophy, but coaching definitely was the difference in this game. Tech looked clueless in it’s half court offense, relyed on one on one playmaking too much, and set good screens way too seldemly to get players open. I would like to see our number of passes per possession compared to UNC. We need more movement, smarter passes, and more creative offense plays to have a chance against the big dogs, if we even make it to the big dance. C-mon Hewie, GET-R-Dun!

By MoWreck

January 21, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this

I think we should have pushed the ball more … I think we didn’t start out doing that because that is what NC does best … well, it is what we do best also, I think. You just can’t come down and try to work the ball here or there. Some of our guys don’t have enough experience to do that, thus the turnovers … we are much better running on offense and pushing the ball and let the freshmen show their real talent … we don’t have enough experience to consistently to make good passes right now. That will come with experience. I just think we are better running, then full court pressing and trapping more when we score. Just hope we can keep the freshmen more than one year.

By KRIS

January 21, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this

The turnovers are ridiculous-bad passes and then penetration turnovers. I think i counted like 5 staright possessions with turnovers at one point. No discipline on this team. when is Tech going to recruit a pure 3 point shooter? They always lose the 3 pointers by a landslide.

By ArkyTech

January 21, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this

Serna, good call on the inbounding probs. It’s game 18 and that should not still be happening.

Tech will go as Crittenden goes, and tonight he was overmatched. Post play is too inconsistent - but I liked seeing Thaddeus post up. We may need to try him more at the 4 spot because we aren’t getting much out of Jeremis and Dickey’s effort continues to come and go.

Oh, yeah. And UNC is loaded.

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 21, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this

UNC is more talented than GT, it was an away game, and GT was still obviously adjusting to the absence of Lewis Clinch. That said, this game should have been much closer. Experience is not an excuse — UNC’s point guard is a freshman too, and so is their most talented player. Tech definitely got outcoached in this one.

By Jack Rodgers

January 21, 2007 2:12 AM | Link to this

Coaching, Coaching, Coaching…we haven’t been able to run a half court offense since Hewitt has been here. There is no pass this year…last year was a pass. Good coaches take advantage of good players and we have great talent. It is time for all of the rose colored glassed Tech fans to wake up and see outside of one tournament run…Hewitt’s tenure is no different from Gailey’s…MEDIOCRE at best! When we are any closer to winning an ACC championship we have made progress….until then …just dream of the good old days!

By sam

January 21, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this

you hit the nail on the head. probably plenty of talent at tech but for the one man show that so many players suffer from. UNC’s players play for one thing, the jersy they wear not for themselves. tech was most disappointing in resorting to thugery/flagrant malicious fouls that had the potential of ending careers just because they were frustrated with themselves. That is inexcusable. No player of any sport deserves play time if he cant control himself from trying to intentionally hurt other players. Tyler, Psycho T, was the man on the court taking it all. Tech—Grow up. You have the talent, now do something with it.

By WFC

January 21, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

UNC is extraordinarily talented— ten deep. And Roy Williams can flat-out coach. Look at the last ten minutes of the UNC-VT game. And most of all, UNC has an “anchor”: Tyler Hansborough. When everything is going to hell, psycho-T is still there to keep things from totally getting out of hand. He’s a “blue collar” Christian Laetner.

Can GT beat UNC when they come to Atlanta? Yes. Here is what has to happen:

1. If UNC is in M-T-M defense, post up whoever Lawson is guarding (hopefully JC.) Make UNC pay for having him in the game.
2. Get Morrow 15 shots instead of 6. Morrow is a great shooter.
3. Attack Hansborough early. He must get into foul trouble early.
4. Have JC stop at the foul line when he penetrates the middle. He will seldom be able to “take it to the rack” against UNC’s talented defense. 5.Forget about full or 3/4 court pressure. Use traps on the half court as a change of pace.
5. Mario West (my fave player) will do better off the bench. Gives him time to study what is going on.
6. Use “stack” in-bounds plys whenever possible.

GT can upset UNC at home but it won’t be easy.

By stings to lose

January 21, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

(not)getting the ball into play…at this time of the season…???

I thought a couple of times last night that the tarholes surely must have used about seven or eight players…at one time! Wow…and we talk about swarm.

By THR

January 21, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this

GT is not as good as NC but the game should be more competitive. GT’s offense is unimagitive especially against a team that denies every pass (why can’t GT deny passes like NC?) Dickey is the worst defender of all. Turns his head away from ball all of the time and then gets lost (Morrow is close second). GT will win a few on raw talent, not coaching.

By San Antonio GTAlum

January 21, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

I was commenting on Hewitt as soon as the game began. What I see is problems that they should be able to overcome by coaching. ILL advised passes to the inside and not even being able to get the ball inbounds is solely on the coach. They had a week to prepare for this game, but at the tip of the first ball, the jackets looked like they had tar on their heels. I think this team is not as talented as we once believed, so coaching has to take it from here. I bet he wished he would not have red shirted the big 7 footer at this point. His presence inside could dominate at this level.

By BUZZ

January 21, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

Tech is just a different team on the road. What is this talk about the big dance? The way they’re going it’s more like the nit.

By GT69

January 21, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

True, UNC’s experience level isn’t any greater than Tech’s, but freshmen generally play much better at home than away and take time to develop the toughness needed to win ACC road games. Young and especially Crittendon looked overwhelmed by Dean Dome and Game Day and missed some wide open shots that got us in an early hole - which supports Hewitt’s contention that we need more leadership from the upperclassmen. Before this 5-game stretch began (CU, Duke, FSU, UNC, Md) three W’s looked pretty good. That’s still true, but we need a tougher team to show up Wed night at Md. As far as the comparison with Chan’s coaching, give me a break! Hewitt did get us to the nat’l championship game - Chan’s high water mark was losing to Wake Forest in the ACC championship game.

By Taylor

January 21, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

How the hell can you bad mouth Bobby and John, Chop Chick?

You’re an idiot.

By AirForceJacket

January 21, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

Agreed, Tech looked slow and they just sat and watched. On offense they just stood around and no passes to the open guy. On defense, they just stood around while the open UNC player was waiting under the basket or streaking in.

Tech is very talented, maybe not as deep as UNC but the starting 5 should match up very well so there shouldn’t be any excuses.

By Sal

January 21, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

Just think, Brandan Wright had an off night. If he was on par with his performance the game wouldn’t have been as close as it was. Perhaps GT should try playing basketball and not thug ball. Maybe next time they’ll have a chance.

By TexasWreck

January 21, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

Baloney. Hewitt is an excellent coach, excellent recruiter and a darned fine gentleman. Compare that with about 90 percent of the NCAA coaches and you will understand how luck Tech is to have him. We could be like Oklahoma, on probation for three years because their previous coach ignored all the rules of recruiting. He has not embarrassed GT by throwing a chair, having an affair, being drunk at a sorority party, DUI arrest, recruiting violations, or other transgressions. He is coaching a bunch of talented stars who are used to being the show, not on a team. West is the only one who gets that, but with time the rest will, IF they don’t go pro already. Hewitt has at least 3 players who won’t return next year, so we will never know. As a 50 year fan of Tech basketball, relax. We are not Duke, we are not UNC, we are Tech. Live with it.

By WPinAZ

January 21, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

I feel vindicated! Last week after the Fla St game I blogged about Coach Hewitt. I questioned his coaching ability. For the most part, most questioned ME after reading my post. Now today, many others seem to realize what I’ve thought for the last few seasons. This team is poorly coached. Either that, or our talent level is grossly overated. I’m under no dilusions here-I didn’t think we would beat NC last night. But what I’m sick of is openly admitting how we were “out toughed”. (how many times have we read about our own players ADMITTING this in recent yaers?) The turnovers (again). Can’t get the ball in bounds (again). No semblance of an offensive concept (again). WEAK defense from a team that preaches a “defense first” concept(again). We had a full week to prepare for this game, and it was over after we took a 2-0 lead. I would settle for just being competitive against the NC’s, the UCLA’s, the DUKES, or any other highly rated program. (yes, I DO realize we did beat Duke. Just don’t miss the point here.) Instead, we continually are embarassed by such teams. It just doesn’t make any sense to me why we are always so over matched against the better teams, when we “supposedly” have comparable talent? I am now convinced it HAS to be the coach. The final 4 run aside, that was 3 years ago. Every team in america has new talent, new players, YOUNG players. I don’t buy that “we are so young” bull crap. As much as I like coach Hewitt, I just don’t think he’s a very good COACH. If we struggle with something as simple in basketball as in bounding the ball, it’s no wonder why we can’t handle pressure defenses and hostile crowds. No offensive concept. No defensive intensity or consistency. Getting “punked” on national television, and ADMITTING as much. These are COACHING issues, not talent issues. A team is an extension of it’s coach. Shaking your head and holding a finger in the air for the next play is about as creative as it gets with Coach Hewitt. Same old same.

By GTman

January 21, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

Memo to Hewitt and team:

First of all, Thank You to Mario West for the passion and effort you bring every night. I hope it rubs off on some of your more talented team mates.

In bounding the ball - Coach, substitute in your best passer that can also count to five. Your set up needs to change as I do not see near enough picks being set and our guys start too close to the passer. Start them away and have someone run towards the passer like their hair is on fire. We have the most lackadaisical approach to going to the ball to help the passer. It would also be nice if our passer could count to five. Our poor ability to in-bound the ball is EMBARRASSING.

When the other team in-bounds the ball, our guys (Morrow and Crittenton specifically) cover hard to a point and then just let their guys go. What a great way to bail out the other team and waste the effort everyone else is giving to guard their man.

The half court offensive sets are terrible. We need more picks (double picks, triple picks, etc.) to get our shooters better looks at the basket. I have not seen a curl around pick play set up for Morrow all year. He can not create his own shot, the offensive scheme must create it for him and then he CAN knock it down.

Thaddeus - your effort and comfort level are visibly increasing. You will be awesome come tournament time. Good luck with the root canal (What a geat way to get out of the ‘practice from hell’ that Hewitt is bound to give the team on Monday after last night’s performance).

Go Jackets!!

By Dante21

January 21, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

Going to the Dance??? You can forget that! I’ve seen enough Hewitt coached teams to know that this Tech bunch doesn’t have a chance in hell of going. The committee is not going to vote in a team that hasn’t won a road game in 2 years. MARY—WAKE—DUKE UVA-FSU await us.

All we’re doing is preparing for next year.

By Mr. Obvious

January 21, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

There is probably nothing less rewarding, no bigger waste of time, nothing more stupid than following TECH Hoops.

By admitting you follow TECH hoops is saying that you are a gullible chump that gleefully accepts excrement in a bag.

Watching paint dry is inifinitely more rewarding experience than TECH Hoops.

By Art

January 21, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this

I find it a source of constant amazement some of the comments concerning Coach Hewitt. Every time I have heard him talk, it is obvious what a bright, talented and well balanced he is. The team has struggled in one game, against one of the more talented teams ever assembled in college basketball, on their opponent’s home court. It is by far the norm for such a young team as Tech to struggle in that circumstance. When the second game is played in March at Georgia Tech will give a much more accurate of the state of the team.

Considering that the top 4 talented players on the team are all freshman, this team is still very much a work in progress. I suspect Tech will be a much improved team by the end of the season. By next season this will be a dangerous team for anyone to play. Let the freshmen grow up before you judge them or Coach Hewitt.

By GT4sure

January 21, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

Too much analyzing, figer pointing, and bad mouthing the coach. It’s a lot simpler than all that and it has nothing to do with coaching.

The answer is:

” if we had made the same percentage of shots in the first half as we made in the second half, we would have won the game.”

Pure and simple!

By GT2Bama

January 21, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately, Mr. Obvious, I share your frustration and sadly toss football, baseball and the entire GT Athletic Dept into the disappointing mix. For GT to have been around so long and to have ZERO official NCAA National Championships is VERY SAD! It’s like our students have NO PASSION for the things they do, or the administration is CLUELESS in its hiring practices!

I am glad Nix is gone. I just wish Chan had preceded him. It doesn’t take a lifetime to build an athletic program to championship level!

Chan and Hewitt are just wasting good talent. But we Tech fans should be accustomed to such by now, since CREMINS was the BEST at wasting talent!

By GT2Bama

January 21, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Art, for Tech to continue losing on the road IS more a reflection of COACHING than simply playing on the court. There are some SERIOUS issues of preparedness, particularly mentally, that are lacking.

By John Conklin

January 21, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

I am a Tech grad but spent two years at UNC for grad school, during which Roy Williams was hired. I remember him commenting many times that as soon as he had to stop “teaching” effort, his team would be fine. These issues of spacing, unselfish play, constant movement on offense and relentless defense were figured out in his first 15 games on the job. It has taken Hewitt the last two years and counting, and he has yet to reach Dickey, Morrow etc. Bottom line - good coaches can spring a team out of this mindset. COACH HEWITT — GET IT DONE NOW - LACK OF EFFORT IS NEVER AN EXCUSE FOR LOSING.

By ND

January 21, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this

I am not giving up on them and I certainly won’t quit watching, but this team no longer excites me. I looked forward all week to the game last night to watch them play like they didn’t know what they were doing. UNC’s second 5 would have beaten GT’s starting 5. Heck, the Lady Heels could have played them close.

By john

January 21, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this

No one is bad mouthing Hewitt. We are just stating the facts. And I too agree he is a very likeable guy - just as Cremins was. The thing is, Hewitt is just like Cremins - extremely likeable, a great recruiter ….but, alas, just an average coach. Cremins only won when he had great talent - same goes for Hewitt. Neither could take average to above average players and make them champions. That is not bad mouthing - it is just the plain simple truth. Hewitt is not the answer and we will endure more losing in bball just as we do in fball. We, are, afterall, once again losers-ville. The sooner all of you realize and stop sending your money and buying tickets, the sooner the AD will get the message and move on. Gailey must definitely go…Hewitt is on the fence. 15 in a row on the road and all losses - that is awful!

By Navigator

January 21, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this

Forget this one, Tech had no chance going in. I like Hewitt for the job he’s done so far this season. He’s got talent, although one or two might leave early. NC is either 1 or 2, and Tech’s not rated. Add 25,000+ screaming fans, refs that let NC be aggressive, while not letting Tech (standard procedure in AC). You have to hope that by the end of the year, Tech will procede to the playoffs, and the top 20.

By Long and Athletic

January 21, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

If I hear one more comment about how “long and athletic” we are, I am going to scream.

If we are so long and athletic, why can’t we get into any passing lanes? We never seem to disrupt the half-court offensive flow of the other team.

If we are so long and athletic, why are other teams CONSTANTLY wide open for three pointers?

If we are so long and athletic, why aren’t we dominating on the boards?

Someone posted about our lack of a three-point shooter - WE DON’T WANT THREE POINT SHOOTERS - we want kids who are long and athletic. Heaven forbid we find some kid who is a little bit slow but can absolutely bury wide-open shots. Morrow sort of fits that bill, but I didn’t see ANY screens set for him. NOOOOOO - he should be long and athletic and should be able to create his own shot.

Faye is a great example of the fallacy that we are long and athletic. Look, I have nothing against the kid - he seems to play hard. However, he gets blown by as if he is stuck in cement shoes. Yet Hewitt continues to praise him because he is long and athletic. Really Paul? Clemson fans everywhere are laughing about Faye’s great footwork.

What a joke. I think I have heard enough sermons from Paul about “team defense”. Either he doesn’t understand the physical limitations of his team (if there truly are any), or he can’t get his kids to respond to his message, or he can’t coach. I am afraid it is the latter of the three.

By GT69

January 21, 2007 7:23 PM | Link to this

For those in the “Hewitt can’t coach” crowd, remember that his NCAA runner-up team had only one HS All-American/future NBA pro (JJack). Roy Williams had Sean May, Ray Felton, etc on his NCAA winner w/Marvin Williams coming off the bench. This year’s Tech team has alot of talent, but not on UNC’s level. Dickey’s no Hansborough, and Wright and Lawson were rated ahead of TYoung and Crittendon coming out of HS (although IMO the latter will be better players by year’s end), and then there’s also Ellington, not to mention Terry and Green and the 2 big guys off UNC’s bench who would start for most ACC teams. Tech looked unmotivated and unprepared last night, but so did UNC when they lost at Vatech. I’m not giving up on either Hewitt or this year’s team.

By For the Record

January 21, 2007 7:29 PM | Link to this

NCAA allows a student-athlete to participate in “official” practice 20 hours/week. Hewitt conducts “individual” drills during this precious time as opposed to “team” drills. Why is everyone surprised each player looks like an “individual” looking to score with the ball as opposed to “team player” looking to pass with the ball???

By Rich

January 21, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

I’m suprised most of you arn’t NCAA coaches, great responses by the way. Coach Hewitt needs to do something and something fast. When this teams played as a TEAM we’ve won, I.E Duke, FSU, Etc.. Coach needs to get 25 students from around campus. Post them throughout the court evenly. Require his team to run the ball back and forth practicing passing from one player to the next. Next, he should be more dominate in the paint. Get RD the ball and TY. Get the other team in foul trouble. Finally, run a $%#@ 2-2-1 or a 1-2-1-1 offense more often. When a team can’t get to the dime line w/o resistance, you can’t be beat on fast breaks. Coach has the knowledge and the skilled players to make it work. So get to it!!

By Crazy4GT

January 21, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this

Ok…enough already. CPH is a fine coach. Comparing him to the CCG is ludicris (sp?). We are very fortunate to have him. As much as I loved Cremins, did he ever have more than 5 players? CPH stacks them 9 deep. While we aren’t UNC yet, give it time. Would you rather run him off and be in the same boat as UGA - rebuilding? I don’t think so. Besides that we have that whole stinking Gailey mess to deal with right now.

By Joe

January 21, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this

Andy Fritchley it is so easy for you to be a nobody and write for a 3rd rate newspaper and criticize one of the finest coaches in college basketball. On top of everything else he is one of the most respected and classiest individuals on the planet. Crawl back under your rock an stay there.

By Mr. Facts

January 22, 2007 12:22 AM | Link to this

With the loss to UNC on Sat. Nt. TECH is now 1-44 vs. (UNC/Duke/Wake/NCState/Maryland) since 1997 (10+ seasons) on the road (if you do not include our 3-2 record in 2003-04 (which makes us 4-46 anyway). This includes Cremins last 4 seasons and Hewitt’s first 6+. Don’t you get it yet? How pathetic must it be? We haven’t won at UGA since 1978. Do yourself - and your family - a favor stop following TECH Hoops. No bigger waste of time. Thank God - baseball is starting soon!!

By John

January 22, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this

GT69 - his NCAA runner-up squad was LOADED with talent. That’s why he won and got that far. He can’t coach average to average plus squads into doing better. That squad you talk about was far from average.

By J. Byron Flanders

January 22, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

Yes, coaching is indeed the problem with the Yellow Jackets squad. They can’t defend or run the fast break, look like the Keystone Cops on the inbounds play, and can’t win a game away from the Thrillerdome. I have never seen a team with as much potential play so poorly. Lay it at the feet of Coach Hewitt and his staff.

By WFC

January 22, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

I’m a grouchy old (57) retired high school teacher and basketball coach (20 years worth)and I’m tired of all this hammering on Paul Hewitt. Some good points are made here but overall, I wonder if most bloggers have ever even coached a 7th grade team? Some things to consider:

1. Unless you have total access to a team’s PRACTICES, you hve very little idea of the challenges a head coach faces.

2. If I were coaching GT, I would have Morrow watching films of JJ Reddick during his four years at Duke. Coach K transformed him from great spot-up 3-point shooter (which Morrow is)into the national player of the year.

3. ASSISTANT COACHES: These guys are much more important than the public realizes. At least one guy must be a master recruiter. Hewitt seems to have this. Another guy needs to be a master tactician… a coach who sees what is going on during the game. This man helps the head coach make technical adjustments. Does Hewitt have such help? I don’t know.

4. It is obvious that GT needs to diversify its inbounds plays. I don’t know why they don’t.

5. It’s fair to critize Hewitt for being obsessed with “long nd athletic” players. I like Faye but he lost the Clemson game because he was “guarding empty space” on that last play. A savvy high school player knows better.

6. Things ARE looking up. Next year is GT’s year. Both Crittendon and Young will stay in college unless they have an overwhelming desire to play overseas. Both have great potential but are in no way ready for the NBA. Of course they may have AAU “advisors” who are telling them otherwise. Alas, the scourge of modern college basketball!

7. GT is lucky to have a “class act” such as Paul Hewitt running the basketball program.

By John

January 22, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

No one said he isn’t a class act. We have all said he is very likeable. This blog isn’t to talk about his personality. It is to talk about the fact that we now have lost 15 in a row on the road and are now in 7th place in the ACC! Hell, Virginia Tech has wins over Duke (at Duke) AND UNC. They are tied for 1st and had a recruiting class no where near ours. WFC, you get it now? You figure this one out? Don’t need to be a rocket scientist from GT.

By Spike

January 22, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Andy.. Does Tech have any coach or sport that you like or are not fristrated with?

By T-Bone

January 22, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

I have been a GT fan for over 15 years now, and I’ve never wavered in my loyalty. I had been a consistent supporter of Coach Hewitt until some things started becoming trademarks of his teams. Don’t get me wrong, I think Coach Hewitt is a very respectable person, but his coaching abiltity leaves a little to be desired. There are two main reasons I say this: 1. Any college basketball team should be able to get the ball inbounds. It is so elementary, but Tech has problems because I can’t see any semblance of an actual inbounds play. There is no screening - just guys running to the ball. If they’re denied, Hewitt has to burn a timeout. 2. Turnovers. A sign of a well-coached team is the ability to take care of the ball and get more possessions and shots than the opponent. Tech beat Duke because they shot lights out. We all saw what happened when the turnovers were coupled with poor shooting. A coach who is making $1 million per year should be able to draw up some dependable inbounds plays and teach his team to take care of the ball. I can’t believe how many times Tech players throw the ball to a teammate who is being denied. I hope Coach Hewitt will prove us wrong, but with the parity in college hoops, coaching makes the difference. Tech is 13-5 instead of 16-2 because of the reasons mentioned above.

By T-Bone

January 22, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

And one more thing: Another hallmark of a well-coached team is its ability to get to the free throw line. Great teams often MAKE more free throws than their opponents ATTEMPT. No team can go on the road, turn the ball over recklessly, shoot a low percentage, and get outshot at the free throw line and expect to win. This was an embarrassing defeat for Tech - one I hope they can rebound from quickly. In Tech’s one great year under Hewitt, there were four starters and one reserve (Will Bynum) who are all playing professionally in one form or another. That type of talent can make up for average coaching, but this team (this year) cannot. If everyone comes back next year, the talent will probably be enough again, but who wants a program like that?

By INcredibility

January 22, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Hey, I’ll take Paul on the court over Chan on the field any day.

By Chan Gailey

January 22, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

I don’t see a problem with 5 losses.

By victoria wins

January 22, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

There seems to be a lot of non-support for our boys at Tech! Everyone has something negative to say about our coach and team, how is that helping? We talk as thou we could do better…Tech just didn’t play well agianst Carolina, but we were all kissing the coaches Butt when he beat Duke!!! Yeal there are some things that TEch could have done better in that game, but it’s a learning experience, Rome wasn’t built in a day! We have one of the best coaches in the business.. lets support him and the kids who play hard day in and day out.. We sound like a bunch of spoiled brats. it could be worst, we could be as bad a Georgia!

By noel malone

January 22, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

I think that I got too optimistic going into this season, with what I thought were four talented Juniors and with Crit and Young coming in. But the facts are that this is not championship talent. Maybe with some luck we can go 18-12 and get a low seed in the NCAA tourney.

By GTSANDMAN

January 22, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this

Check some of your expectations please!!!

Morrow - hurt back, undersized mr offense who is not very good defensively.

Dickey - the coach can not play for him. he can bench him and start a freshman however when the freshman gets suspended for bonehead play - must play someone else.

Coach also must recognize when players earn right to play (ie. Dickey playing well in some games, not in others).

I wonder sometimes if some of the individuals writing these blogs are UGA fans trying to scare away a GOOD (not great) coach. And oh by the way GT will not attract and retain a GREAT coach!

By Taylor

January 22, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

In watching roughly a dozen of Tech’s games this year, it has become increasingly evident that Paul Hewitt has no idea how to draw up an inbounds play. I hold my head in my hands as I watch 4 guys wait for 3.5 seconds and then all fade to midcourt sort of hoping that JC doesn’t get a turnover.

As for the offense v. UNC, I wasn’t aware that PH was employing the watch JC and MW dribble for 25 seconds, then make a bad, forced decision strategy. Maybe he could have told us that beforehand so I would not have had to waste my time, and so GameDay wouldn’t have shown up just in time for the whole nation to sell Paul Hewitt stock.

By blazer

January 23, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this

play a little zone defense sometimes!

By Ben E.

January 23, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

I am w/ you Andy! Hewitt needs to get a fire lit under his & the teams a$$! It is very hard for our Jackets to inbound the basketball, much less create a scoring opportunity on an inbounds play. Hewitt needs an X’s & O’s asst. coach or a Offensive Coordinator, b/c he is NOT getting it done! Every team in the country should play a zone on GT & make sure to follow Morrow. The Jackets are just Turnover machines. Hewitt preaches Defense, but the defense is Horrendous! Jeremis & Dickey need to step up and be Monsters on the glass & a physical presence inside! It is time for them to Grow up & be more consistent…

By pond

January 23, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

** ALong and athlelic and all the others!!!!be quiet and stop complaining, thazt all u do! i wonder what u would have done have they put u on the court!!! bet u’d be skating and blown by all the time. Have some respect for the coach and his decision and just enjoy the game as spectators that u are!

By GaTech faithful

January 23, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

It definitely starts with Hewitt! Maybe he needs to show more passion for the game and more spirit on the sideline and then his players will see that and maybe feed off of it. I DEFINITELY AGREE that we stand around WAY TOO much on offense- its pathetic really. does hewitt not see at least 3 of our 5 guys standing around on offense at some point during EACH possession. its really getting to me and makes me think hewitt needs to either implement a new offense or do something to get more movement! I think we have lots of potential, but we havent really tapped it all because we havent meshed on offense or defense as a team. when we do that…then we will be able to win on the road and go to the NCAA dance!

By burrdog

January 23, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

Andy Fritchley? Is this the same Andy that graduated NHHS in 1991? The picture sure looks like you..I was just happening to be on the enemy’s blog when i saw your name and could not believe it. Please tell me you don’t root for Tech, Man. Just Kidding. Congratulations, Andy, on a great article and for working at the AJC. e-mail me sometime at stephanieburruss@bellsouth.net

Kevin burruss