Tech tipping off in first ACC road game at UVa

    CHARLOTTESVILLE – Greetings from ‘Hoo-ville and the home of the Virginia Cavaliers, where Tech plays its first ACC road game of the season tonight at 7.

   The game is not on TV but will have a live video broadcast on TheACC.com. I’ll try to blog some as we go to keep you updated until my newspaper deadlines start coming into play, so come on board.

   And let me just say, the grounds here at UVa are quite lovely this time of year, with snow still on the ground from a recent storm. And from everything I’ve seen of John Paul Jones Arena, it’s first-rate, right down to – yes, the media work room. Hey, we have our priorities.

   (I’m told, by the way, they don’t call it a campus round here, it’s got to be called the grounds, the students are first year, second year, etc, instead of freshmen, sophomores, etc., and well, they refer to a certain founding father of ours as Mr. Jefferson.)

   I’m a little nostalgic that I didn’t get to see University Hall, having seen it so many years on the tube, but the security guard who walked me to the media workroom (folks are nice around here, I have to say) said something about asbestos. Enough said.

   Anyway, the game. And so the Yellow Jackets begin a stretch of back-to-back road games this week, with No. 12 North Carolina coming up on Saturday. And actually, by the rankings, this game is the “easiest” thing Tech will have in a while. After tonight’s matchup, Tech faces three consecutive ranked opponents in No. 12 UNC, No. 24 Clemson at home and No. 25 Florida State on the road.

   So this is one the Yellow Jackets need to win to continue the momentum they started with their win over No. 5 Duke on Saturday and to get a running start on this tough stretch with three of four games on the road.

   Out of the ACC first’s 14 games heading into tonight, the home team has won 11 of them – the lone exceptions were Florida State’s win at Tech on Dec. 20, Virginia’s win at N.C. State on Saturday and N.C. State’s win at Florida State last night.

   Tech’s last road game was pretty much a dud, as you know, in Athens. Coach Paul Hewitt said after that loss to Georgia, he regretted not pressing more and forcing the issue on defense. That’s something the Yellow Jackets came out doing against Duke and it worked to perfection, wearing down Duke’s thin backcourt and taking their legs out of their jump shots.

   It would seem like a good idea tonight, to get the energy flowing on the road, but I’m not sure if that’s the best strategy either. Virginia plays three and four guards and is a pretty good ball-handling team. Shoot, 11 of the guys on Virginia’s roster have a “G” by their names.

   In fact, the Cavaliers average only 10.5 turnovers per game, which is tops in the ACC. They are also second in the ACC in team free throw percentage at 74.7 percent, trailing only Duke (76.8 percent). (Georgia Tech is fifth by the way, with a 69.3 free throw percentage as a team. And Tech is 11th out of 12 teams in turnovers per game at 16.5)

   Virginia made 19 of 20 free throws in its win over NC State Saturday. So the Yellow Jackets will need to move their feet on defense tonight to keep Virginia off the foul line.

   As Hewitt said earlier this week, the game should prove to be an interesting contrast in styles with Virginia’s strength playing small, and Tech’s strength playing big. It’ll be interesting to see who has to give into whom. And D’Andre Bell, as usual, will draw the toughest defensive assignment, guarding sophomore Sylven Landesberg, who is averaging 17.0 ppg.

   Hewitt recruited Landesberg out of high school and is very familiar with the defending ACC rookie of the year. He’s what Hewitt had to say about Landesberg, leading into tonight’s game.

   “Sylven’s a guy who is just a dynamic scorer,” Hewitt said. “He can score a lot of different ways. He’s shooting the 3 better this year. He’s always been able to go to the basket. He’s an outstanding free throw shooter. And you put him at the power forward position he creates a big matchup problem.”

   Virginia is trying to go to 2-0 in the ACC for the first time since 1994-95, which for a point of reference was Junior Burroughs’ senior year. Just showing off some old ACC knowledge, and I can do it without Mark Bradley here to put me to shame with his. Talk at you as we go, if there are folks interested in chatting.

177 comments Add your comment

Jeff

January 13th, 2010
5:37 pm

Everytime Tech has a road game, I’m scared for dear life

Born2Buzz

January 13th, 2010
5:43 pm

First, it’s all about playing D. Then making FT’s. Do those two things and we have a shot just like the Duke game. Then it’s all about Shumpert and whether he plays with control and fluidity. If the ball stops moving in his hands like it did against Duke then we are in for a fight. If he keeps the offense flowing, doesn’t make stupid TO’s then we should control the game and win comfortably.

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 13th, 2010
6:03 pm

GROUND HOG DAY has us losing this game, 20+ turn overs and no timeouts left to set up a play.

Iman dribbles down the court in the final seconds, behind by one or two, and turns the ball over.

Sorry folks, that just they way the movie goes.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
6:07 pm

Word around the press room is Tech is a 2-point underdog tonight. Wow.

collegeballfan

January 13th, 2010
6:37 pm

Yeah I can see the underdog role on the road in the ACC.

Shumpert has the game in his hands. No turnovers & get the ball inside.

superDawg

January 13th, 2010
6:58 pm

never forget 45-42. tech you need to remember that,because it will be all you have to hang your hat on for the next ten years.Happy new year thirty twenty four.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:06 pm

Three shots, including a basket, by Lawal in the first two minutes. And a 3-pointer by Udofia. …Gani looks aggressive, liking the smallish lineup by UVa

P-Dawg

January 13th, 2010
7:06 pm

superDawg – Dontz bez so meanz

GTPHISH

January 13th, 2010
7:15 pm

2 point underdog?

1 point for each ACC victory last year?

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:15 pm

wow, dunk-contest worthy dunk just put in by Mike Scott. tossed it up to himself and then whomp, one-handed dunk on the break.

Gani and Favors have both had a couple thunderous dunks themselves. Virginia just called timeout because Lawal and Favors are having their way on the offensive glass. Cavs just put Assane Sene in the center who didn’t play at all vs. State

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:17 pm

it’s a lovely arena, John Paul Jones, I will say. if you gotta be shiny and new, this is the way to do it.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
7:21 pm

So you still get TV timeouts on a pay per view game? I guess so.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:24 pm

radio needs timeouts Techno

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
7:25 pm

lol, hadn’t thought of that, thanks Carroll

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:29 pm

shoot, if it were up to the newspaper writers, there’d be NO media timeouts of any kind!

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
7:29 pm

Are we pressing much? I notice UVA has 1 turnover to our 3.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:34 pm

wow, gani looked to lose it a bit a the line there. missed five consecutive free throws until a lane violation gave him another chance and he finally bounced one in

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:35 pm

just actually started pressing the last two times down the floor. got at least one turnover out of it. good question

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
7:38 pm

Thanks. The turnover number looks fairly good so far but free throws? Ugh.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:42 pm

Favors is looking good tonight down low. va is giving him some cushion inside and he’s capitalizing. He’s got 8 points at 3:46 in the first half.

Buzzed Driving

January 13th, 2010
7:43 pm

Free throws bad? What happened to “swish game”?

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
7:45 pm

We’re shooting better from the 3 point line than from the FT line.

Angus

January 13th, 2010
7:47 pm

So the gamecast makes it look like it’s GT vs. Landesberg. I’ve never seen him in action.

Does he look as good as gamecast makes him?

HSV Jacket

January 13th, 2010
7:49 pm

2/8 FT @ half. Hewitt’s really coaching ‘em up!

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:51 pm

Angus, he looks pretty good to me. I think he could have taken a few more shots than he has actually. Like when he was matched up on Mfon. He’s got at least 4 inches on Mfon.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
7:53 pm

4 turnovers in the half. I’m pretty pleased w/that but the FT are terrible. FT are all mental. The swish game may not cut it. I’d suggest letting the guys who hit less than, say 60% carry the gear of the guys who are over 60%.

thrillerdome

January 13th, 2010
7:54 pm

how is shumpert doing? hes got 4 assists and 11 points at the half with no TO’s…Is it obvious that he is starting to feel better and a result play better or did he just have a good half?

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:57 pm

Shumpert hit a 3, had one amazingly tough looking scoop shot, back on his game. So is Favors, who has 10 points in 17 minutes on 5-of-6 shooting at the half. He also has seven rebounds.

Gani is 2-for-6 at the line. he looked tentative, not like he has recently. You got to figure some of that might be first ACC road game??

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
7:57 pm

Tech is getting outrebounded at the half, 19-16.

thrillerdome

January 13th, 2010
7:58 pm

thank you for the live blogging and the question answering by the way. its nice to have a tech perspective for a game that is not on TV.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
8:00 pm

huh, ESPN is showing rebounds even at 16.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
8:03 pm

Techno, that must not include “team” rebounds. My stat sheet lists Virginia with 3 of them.

You’re welcome thriller. Nice to have some company on the blog. If i fade in the second half, it’s because i’m coming up on deadline but I’ll try to keep you guys informed.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
8:07 pm

Carroll, that makes sense and thanks for the info.

thrillerdome

January 13th, 2010
8:42 pm

did we just go cold from the floor or has their defense picked it up in the 2nd half??

ND

January 13th, 2010
8:46 pm

2-10 from the FT line as a team Carroll and you wanted me to give Gani a break for thinking Indianapolis. He is 2-6 and now they are down 8.

Meadowlark Lemmon

January 13th, 2010
8:51 pm

Paul Hewitt is a bigger clown than I am. You guys at Tech need a new coach.

nebraska jacket

January 13th, 2010
8:52 pm

WTF is wrong with this team?! So frustrating that we can beat Duke and lose to UGA and now this?

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
8:52 pm

2 of 10 free throws. What exactly goes on in practice?

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
8:52 pm

Actually 2/9 from the FT line by my source. Only one FT in the second half? How does that happen? Went from being up 4 then let them go on a 14-2 (I believe) run.Now down by 10.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
8:54 pm

There should not be a time that either Lawal or Favors are not on the floor. Stupid substitution patterns. Does ANY coach in America do less with more?

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
8:54 pm

sportsline has it 2/10. Been watching their Gametrack all game.

ND

January 13th, 2010
8:54 pm

Once again Blewitt has Favors on the bench in the last 3 minutes. FIRE BLEWITT!! Since Blewitt’s teams can’t win a road ACC game Blewitt’s team will once again finish the ACC under .500.

ND

January 13th, 2010
8:56 pm

Now Lawal and Favors on bench. WTF?

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
8:56 pm

1-2 heading into a game with UNC on Saturday. It doesn’t look good. We are like UGA football. It doesn’t matter how good our recruits are, they don’t improve when they get here.

Meadowlark Lemmon

January 13th, 2010
8:56 pm

Hewitt’s a clown but not in a funny happy way!

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
8:57 pm

How is it we only have 1 (or 2) free throws in a half. Is UVA not fouling at all?

Red Foreman

January 13th, 2010
8:58 pm

Hewitt must go…DRAD needs to pull the plug!

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
8:59 pm

Favors missed 2 FT in the 2nd half

Meadowlark Lemmon

January 13th, 2010
9:00 pm

clown, clown, clown

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:00 pm

Baba, Hewitt did much more w/much less when he got here. It may all be his responsibility but it’s not all his fault. I mean c’mon, granny could do better than 20% from the free throw line. You call that talent?
I call it a lack of mental discipline.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:00 pm

Hewitt is George Jefferson on The Flats

StingerSplash

January 13th, 2010
9:01 pm

Another underwhelming performance by Tech.
The line to drive the moving van to Hewitt Manor starts … here.

ND

January 13th, 2010
9:02 pm

WHy is Nick Foreman on the floor? Anybody? Carroll, can you ask Blewitt why his best player is on the bench when the game is over and only 2 fouls.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:02 pm

Techno- You are right, it is a lack of discipline. We have at least 2 current players on this team that will be 1st round picks at the next level. at times, he has BOTH on the bench.

Meadowlark Lemmon

January 13th, 2010
9:03 pm

No, Hewitt is the Willie Martinez of Basketball. Tons of talent, poor results.

ND

January 13th, 2010
9:03 pm

Technophobia: The numbers don’t lie. No one can defend Blewitt.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:05 pm

Remember when we were scared that someone would “steal’ Hewitt away from us?

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:05 pm

I’d also like to know how Tech gets only 11 shots from the free throw line and UVA gets 26. That’s right 26, and they made 23 of em. All the other stats are fairly even. We got 3 points from the line they got 23. That’s your ballgame.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:05 pm

His dream job was the Knicks.

Meadowlark Lemmon

January 13th, 2010
9:05 pm

If Hewitt was Obama he’d be impeached.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:06 pm

DRad has to clean up Braine’s mess.

BooBoo Man

January 13th, 2010
9:08 pm

B-ball team is not good again, D-Favors would have had a nice pay check that he would have blown in the same amount of time it would have took for everyone to forget about him, this isnt sixteen year olds and more Derrick, this is real talent, not high school……SORRY!

Meadowlark Lemmon

January 13th, 2010
9:08 pm

Had the Jackets shot the same % from the foul line as UVA they would have won – even with only 11 shots.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:12 pm

Meadowlark, UVA shot 88% from the FT line. Not many teams can do that.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:12 pm

Enter your comments here

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:14 pm

How many mcDonald’s All-Americans does UVa have? Not many coaches can coach a team down like Hewitt.

GoJackets

January 13th, 2010
9:16 pm

Seriously? 3-11 on free throws? We made 20 less free throws then them. Its nearly impossible to win games like that.

GTGuy44

January 13th, 2010
9:16 pm

You have to question all these rating services of high school athletes. There is no way that Favors is the best freshman in the country or even in the top 10. The services grossly overrated him. Yes he is a good player, but seems lost at times on the court like he was against Duke on Saturday. Tech has had many freshmen that have been better than he is. To name a few Mark Price, Stephon Marbury, Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson, Tom Hammonds, Travis Best, and Chris Bosh to name a few. Too many people pinned our potential success this year on Favors and it was too much to expect. Tonight is just another example of Hewitt demonstating how poor a coach he is. Very sad and I pray we make a change and get someone like the Villanova coach who gets much more out of much less. He is just one example another is Wisconsin’s coach.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:17 pm

Maybe Landesberg? Any others?

ND

January 13th, 2010
9:17 pm

His name is Blewitt. Blewitt, Blewitt, Blewitt.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:18 pm

Favors had a double-double tonight. Don’t blame him. He can’t score or rebound more from the bench.

NotAgain

January 13th, 2010
9:18 pm

We have seen this before. Hewitt team wins big game and loses next to inferior team. RPI is mediocre , so ACC 8-8 won’t get NCAA bid unless Tech wins at UNC, at Duke etc. Too much talent for Tech to be in this mode again. Really am starting to wonder about Hewitt. I have been defending him forever.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:19 pm

Love when Hewitt calls the T.O after a GT basket and the other team hits a 3 less than 10 seconds later.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:20 pm

We hit 22 out of 28 free throws vs Duke and 3 out of 11 vs UVA. So, I guess Hewitt’s free throw coaching was terrible the last 4 days and UVA plays much better defense than Duke? (eyes rolling)

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:20 pm

Again…..has anybody looked at the frontcourt that will be here next year? Our only experience is Brad Sheehan.

the buck stops somewhere

January 13th, 2010
9:22 pm

CPH…now a career 61 – 86 in the ACC…

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:22 pm

Techno- ANYBODY that has followed Tech basketball knows that 22/28 FT came out of nowhere. That is not a trend. Otis Nixon hit 2 HR in a game one time. That doesn’t make him a slugger

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:23 pm

There’s not a single player on our roster that has the hunger that Jack or Bynum had.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:26 pm

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:27 pm

CPH recruits them. CPH “coaches” them. If CPH coaches the Virginia team tonight, GT wins by 20.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
9:27 pm

I rarely blog on here but I am done with Paul Hewitt. His post game comments were disgusting, trying to blame his team for not “hustling”. Guess what Paul, sometimes you have to man up, and take the blame on your shoulders. You have lost to 2 of the 3 worst teams in the league. Do what is right and step down. You have lost 2 games in a row to teams with new head coaches and you have no clue why you lost. D Rad, please do the right thing. I will not renew next year as long as this clown is on the sidelines. I am just glad I was able to make enough selling Duke tickets to cover my season ticket costs. Sick.

NotAgain

January 13th, 2010
9:27 pm

Why can’t we ever get a kid who is 6 foot and can shoot the lights out of a jump shot? Seems every good team has one because those kids aren’t real quick. This goes against Hewitt’s athletic system. But we need someone who is a pure shooter. We have had very few of them since Hewitt has been here ( A Mo, Fein, etc). Bennett is doing quite nicely at UVa with lesser talent. And as far as Favors, kid can’t score from the bench. This is just pathetic on Tech’s coaching not getting this kid the ball.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:28 pm

Luke had a posse. These guys have agents.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
9:31 pm

Notagain, we have one coming next year. Unfortunately, we’ll also be starting over cause these NBA prima donna’s will leave.

ND

January 13th, 2010
9:31 pm

What are Bradley and Schultz gonna be spewing tomorrow?

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
9:33 pm

If Hewitt makes it to his 9th ACC loss this year, Hewitt and D Rad should be fired on the same day.

Anthony Morrow

January 13th, 2010
9:33 pm

I was a good shooter in fact better than JJ Redick but my coach didn’t put me in the position to shoot the ball.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:33 pm

I think we will make the Tourney and Hewitt will get exposed on a National stage. We will get beaten by a slow but disciplined team.

Reggie Ball

January 13th, 2010
9:34 pm

Hey I am still across the street on the fry station. Might as well give me the interim BB Head coaching job…….It can not get any worse thats for sure

ND

January 13th, 2010
9:36 pm

If Jerry Wainwright can get fired midseason why can’t Blewitt?

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:36 pm

We are trying to solidify the greatest two stats to win again this year….Worst FT % in the ACC and highest avg. for turnovers a game…..GREAT JOB BLEWITT

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:36 pm

Your typical doofus roll-the-ball out AAU coach could probably do better than finger-sniffin’ Hewitt.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
9:37 pm

Clemson is beating UNC by 20. Any predictions on the next 2 games? I see 1-4 going into Talahassee.

Derrick Favors

January 13th, 2010
9:38 pm

I came to Tech to be the 100th player to have his talent decrease under the tutelage of BLEWITT

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:39 pm

Still Sick……..u really think BLEWITT will out coach Williams on the road??? Mark it down as a sure loss

B.J. Elder

January 13th, 2010
9:40 pm

My stats decreased each year from sophomore to senior. Ironically, the only thing that improved was my FT%

Anthony Morror

January 13th, 2010
9:43 pm

Remember me??? If you are a Tech fan you may not because under BLEWITT I didn’t do jack squat. Now I am pouring in 50+ in a game in the NBA….who woulda guessed?? I am up here with my buddy Will Bynum who can say the same thing exactly!!!!!

Anthony Morrow

January 13th, 2010
9:44 pm

Look I cant even spell my own name

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 13th, 2010
9:45 pm

I knew our f/t% was too good to be true.
It will be too late in the season when we win on the road.
I can see Blewitt trying to sell the NIT as a good thing, come March.

Alan

January 13th, 2010
9:46 pm

Nice free throw shooting Hewitt. You’d think he’d learn. 3/11 . 27%. Wow. That is unbelievably pathetic. And va goes to the line 26 times and makes 23. Keep coaching them that way Paul. Your days here are numbered idiot. How many games have you lost because you can’t teach the most basic fundamental of basketball. A set shot.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:46 pm

This was supposed to be OUR year. We will be a bad basketball team next year.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
9:46 pm

NoCoach, A blind squirrel will find a nut every now and then. Where did carrol go? I wish someone would press Blewitt on some tough questions. I really thought Wes would have the gumption to call him out at some point. Blewitt is stealing money from the Institute and should be taking a pay cut like the majority of corporate America. I helped my company increase revenues last year but I had to take a pay cut. How is sub-standard performance worthy of such in these times?

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 13th, 2010
9:46 pm

I hear ya Anthony!!!

Paul Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:48 pm

We are talking about PRACTICE???? PRACTICE?????

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:48 pm

They come in as prized recruits dreaming of NBA stardom. Under Hewitt’s guidance, the play pro ball…….in Turkey.

BrokeBackJacket

January 13th, 2010
9:49 pm

Didnt get to see the game….please tell me we didnt lose to Virginia?

Did we get Al Groh?

At least our sorry a$$ recruits form the Gailey era are getting outta here so CPJ can get some players that fit his “system” !

Ra'Sean Dickey

January 13th, 2010
9:49 pm

Thanks coach. It’s beautiful in the Ukraine this time of year.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:51 pm

I have to go check out practice one day…. What the hell do they do all week??? I mean BLEWITT will say something like we are young and this is a great learning experience for us blah blah blah blah…….he would say the same BS with all JRs and SRs too

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:52 pm

Hey Ra’Sean at least your learning some basketball skills now

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
9:52 pm

Brokeback, we played an ACC road game and Paul Hewitt was on the sideline. That is all you need to know.

Zam Frederick

January 13th, 2010
9:53 pm

I thank the good lord everyday since I made the decision to get away from BLEWITT!!!!

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:53 pm

Can’t we just start calling him “Coach Les Moore”?

Paul Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:55 pm

I wonder why all these recruits leave after only one year??? Surely it isnt my coaching

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
9:56 pm

GT will be ok, But lets speak facts people, in the ACC, GT gets no calls every night out..Did u morons notice the free throw diffrence in the Virginia game?.And evem though we won against duke did anyone notice how bad the game was officiated…Saturday at north Carolina will be the same….The only reason people talk bad of CPH is because he is black…

Roy Williams

January 13th, 2010
9:57 pm

After the game tonight I can’t wait until Saturday….Ii’ll come out smelling like a bed of roses!!!! Welcome to Chapel Hill BLEWITT stay as long as you’d like

Need my prosac

January 13th, 2010
9:57 pm

After 27 years of being a season toicket holder I am done! This program sucks under CPH. He’s got to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hewitt Can't Coach

January 13th, 2010
9:58 pm

WOW….Another year of underachieving talent further wasted by a perennially underachieving coach….(yawn)

I’d trust Paul Hewitt with my children for the weekend (and there are characters in my own family I wouldn’t)…..But REALLY NOW….Is there ANYONE left out there who doesn’t think he’s overstayed his welcome? Can’t we just move on? How about DanRad giving him a list of written performance goals, like maybe:

1) Have at least a .500 record in ACC play this season.

2) Make it through the second round of the ACC Tourney.

3) Get invited to the NCAA Tourney.

4) Make it to the Sweet 16.

Those are not some unbelievably difficult goals for someone with the talent at this disposal that Hewitt has (once again). Think of how many coaches would still be undefeated or have 1-loss with a stable of horses like this. It’s like a train wreck in ssllloooooooowwwwwww motion. The same agonizing one that rears its ugly head every season… :(

Maybe he just needs a little motivation since he’s grown roots on North Ave longer, stronger and deeper than a California Redwood…..Then again, maybe not.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
9:58 pm

get off hewitt nuts…….how would more free throws help when we shot 27% from the FREE THROW LINE….pee wee BB players are better than that!!!!

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
9:59 pm

We still have to play Duke once and UNC twice. That gives us 5 league losses no matter what. That means we have to go 7-3 outside of those games to end up 8-8 in the league and only 5 of those 10 games are at home. Why should we hold out any hope for the remainder of the year?

groundfog

January 13th, 2010
9:59 pm

I didn’t watch tonight’s game but knew they were not going to win. Paul Hewitt s one of the worst road coaches ever. His teams are just awful on the road.

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
9:59 pm

And now we have it….The race card has officially been played.

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:00 pm

If GT is stupid enough to fire him he will have another job in a week, because he can recruit and he preachs defense..The fans in ATL are the worst fans in this country, thats why the braves only won 1 title and that was during the strike season…the falcons just had the first back 2 back wining season and never have won a super bowl….and even though the hawks are doing good they get no support from the ctiy…

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:01 pm

At this point we might as well forfeit the rest of our road games…I think we avg. about 3 road wins a year under BLEWITT….i mean if we just forfeit it would save myself a lot of beer and be a great thing on my overall stress level

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:01 pm

get off hewitts nuts is obviously a UGAy fan

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:02 pm

How can he be a good coach when year in and year out we average more turnovers than all ACC teams and have the worst FT % as well???? Please get off hewitts nuts i have to hear your expert opinion on this one

Baba O'Riley

January 13th, 2010
10:03 pm

Oh, so the FANS are the reason the Braves have won only one title?

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:03 pm

Get off hewitt nuts, you must be related to the old ball coach. Please give me one reason, other than bad officiating, that would lead one to believe we should get off his nuts? So 9 years of sub-par performance is no indication of future performance or coaching ability? Maybe he is just having a run of 9 years of bad luck. Or maybe not.

JR

January 13th, 2010
10:04 pm

When did MARTA get wifi?

groundfog

January 13th, 2010
10:07 pm

Paul Hewitt has gotten more mileage out of one season than any coach in history. He is outcoached even when they win. he is terrible and deserves to be fired. His teams are gutless on the road, usually can’t shoot free throws or 3 pointers and always turn over the ball.

When Radkovich gets some guts and fires him i will donate money again to Tech and go to the games. I quit going 2 years ago-had it. I’d rather get my toenails pulled than sit through a game coached by this guy.

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
10:08 pm

Obviously there are some UGA fans here. You can smell it. But explain one thing to me oh genius’s of basketball. How do you get to the NC game with lower quality players and the same coach and it all be the coach’s fault?

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:09 pm

no coach hewitt,

Can u read dude? Virginia shot 20 more free throws than Tech and they were playing 4 guards without an post presence…..

Baba O’ Reily,

yes this is very racist, is it his fault that he cant never get any calls in the ACC….? But just to let u in on a little secret, When Cremins was here it was the same thing, i can remember the line up we had with Best, Barry, Forrest, Geiger and i think vinson and Gt still finished barely 500 in the leauge…have u notice that no ACC team has won a game on the road this year? I wonder why?

Technophobia

January 13th, 2010
10:10 pm

Oh yeah, the racial comment was pure nonsense. Tech fans have every right to be ticked off.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:11 pm

D Rad just announced that if Hewitt was able to get inside the final 2 minutes of a game with at least one timeout remaining, he would get a contract extension. Oh wait, that happens no matter what.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:13 pm

Get Off Hewitts Nuts…….IF WE SHOT 50 FT we might have made 12!!! Whippppiieee

If they have four guards why does BLEWITT not call plays to get the ball inside everytime???? Thats right because he doesnt call plays.. he acts like he does but all it appears to be everytime is walk around until something happens (which is always a great play)

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:15 pm

no coach hewiit

No im a die hard GT basketball fan since the Lethal weapon 3 days…The Matt Harping era, hell even the Alvin Jones, Adkins days, Im just tired of u so called GT fans who be on here always bad mouthing CPH…. Regardless of who the coach is at Gt we will not climb to the top of the ACC because of the refs.and because the players needed to win the ACC like bosh,young, Jevaris. and now favors only stay one year.. Did u hear John Salley saturday say” U know they dont call nothing on Duke” well he wasnt playing…..

Free Willy

January 13th, 2010
10:15 pm

HIRE ME!!!!! I at least know with the two best players being in the frontcourt to get the ball inside

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:17 pm

If you constantly turn the ball over and miss 80% of your free throw attempts the refs do NOT have any influence in the game

Also last time anyone on GT hustled and moved until they got open on offense??? oh yeah matt harpring before BLEWITT came to town

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:18 pm

Here is a stat for you guys, Hewitt is 4-5 against the last 3 UGA basketball coaches. That means 2 of them were fired and still had at least a .500 record against Hewitt. We haven’t won in Athens since he has been here. I you gave me 5 tries against UGA’s basketball team in Athens, I could win with the Gwinnett County High School champion at least one of those times.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:20 pm

Salley also said he wanted to be the next head coach at GT. He obviously is sick of losing.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:21 pm

At least we will win one more….Kentucky State

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:23 pm

Harpring was with Cremins, who also recieved no calls, but u people sat around for 4 years of losing with cremins and did not complain, and Cremins had veteran teams every year

Techfan78

January 13th, 2010
10:26 pm

D-Rad, you have done an excellent job getting coach PAUL JOHNSON, and showing him we want him to be here for a while. Now can you PLEASE save yourself some embarrassment and fire that no coaching, waste of talent, racist head coach we have. He doesnt know how to coach! All he can do is recruit. Duke of all teams, regardless of their high recruiting classes every year is not as ATHLETICALLY gifted as Tech but look at what coach K does with his talent. Top 10 every year, final four, and national championships. In the late 80’s then early to mid 90’s Tech was a consistent top 15 team every year and they beat the good teams that they werent expected to beat then they beat the bad teams that they couldnt beat now. What the heck? It can only be one thing…Paul Hewitt! He sucks as a basketball coach. He is a great recruiter but he couldnt coach a team to a championship in rec ball. Paul Hewitt makes Chan Gailey look like Vince Lombardi. The games that we have won this season is not because Hewitt coached us to wins, it is because we have SUPERIOR athletic talent on the floor and sometimes that will win games for you regardless of how poorly you are coached and how confused on the court. Go Jackets!! Get rid of Hewitt!!

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:30 pm

BLEWITT record on the road in the ACC??? 17-58 a whopping 22% which matches our FT shooting tonight

65-95 vs ACC in BLEWITT’s GT career 40%

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:34 pm

Yeah no coach hewitt, I guess it was just bad officiating that made his record that bad. We should give him a pass for 9 more years.

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:34 pm

Tech fan 78,

u said exactly what i have been trying to tell these idiots, how in the hell do Duke win with no talent? THE REFS….I can remember the duke- kenucky game when CL hit the shot of the 90’s…but the real fact is he stomped a player for kentucky and wasnt even ejected from the damn game….but when uconn and duke played and a player stomped a duke player he was suspended…the NCAA is full of Sh#t…and in the ACC if you have a black coach, u recieve no calls, Clemson, Fla st, Miami and GT do not recieve any calls..

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:36 pm

Clemson and FLA St makes the tourney and wins road ACC games….how is that possible when the refs are against their black coach? Why cant BLEWITT pull this off?? we have more talent than Clemson

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:37 pm

You moron, they win with superior coaching.

Techfan78

January 13th, 2010
10:38 pm

How can anyone defend what Blewitt has done? He has done nothing with this program. He blames players leaving early on lack of success…He is the one that recruits these one and done guys. He knows they are one and done when he gets them, but yet he makes excuses when these guys leave school and were stuck without a point gaurd to run the O that doesnt run set plays anyway. I dont really see how he gets the players he gets. If Derrick Favors was playing for Rick Barnes or John Calipari he would be averaging 20 points a game. Never in my life have I witnessed someone who can do so little with so much. Paul Hewitt, SUCK OUR BALLS AND GET OUT OF TOWN!!

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:39 pm

Hell, leonard hamilton and stan heath are still hanging on beacuse they can beat GT.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:40 pm

BLEWITT and Reggie Ball will soon be co-workers across the street from the campus….they will have to fight to determine who will be on fry duty

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:41 pm

Damn Groh interviewed for Dolphin job

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:42 pm

Groh could coach our bball team and be an upgrade.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:43 pm

Still Sick so could a llama

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:43 pm

I am trying to find out if this moron has a winning record against ONE ACC team

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:44 pm

It has been fun engaging in this blog for once, but I have to focus on my job tomorrow. If I only make 22% of my clients happy, I doubt I will be employed much longer.

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:44 pm

Still sick,

u represent whats wrong with NCAA basketball…u are the reason why players only want to stay in school for 1 year and go to the pros…Coaches are the biggest thing in college bball now, its not about the players anymore its all about the coaches, thats why Fla st,BC, miami, clemson( especially clemson , they start off the non confrence every year undefeated and when it comes to leauge play they are barely 500) will never win the ACC…

Still sick,
coach K, roy willaims and gary williams have won the last 6 acc titiles right?

get off hewitt nuts

January 13th, 2010
10:47 pm

good night racist suckers, no point in me trying to talk some sense into your heads, Hell u guys are the same people who voted for Mcclain,

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:47 pm

do you have season tickets no coach? I am in section 2.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:49 pm

Did but sold them last 3 years…..cant take it anymore

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:50 pm

get off hewitt, I played at GT so I will leave it at that.

Carroll Rogers

January 13th, 2010
10:50 pm

Think the troubling number is not the free throws missed tonight but the lack of free throws taken. Tech got outscored by 20 points at the line tonight, Virginia was 23-for-26, Tech 3-for-11. …And they got outrebounded by a guard-oriented team: 36-33, they were tied 15-15 at the defensive end, but Virginia had 15 offensive rebounds to Tech’s 12.

After the game, Hewitt, and Shumpert talked about getting rushed late and not running the offense, not getting the ball inside. Favors scored 12 points, but only 2 in the second half. And Shumpert scored 15 points, but only 4 in the second half.

OK, gotta hit the road, but i see you guys are taking it from here.

Clemson is up 71-59 on Carolina right now, so problems could be compounded if North Carolina comes into Saturday needing a big win.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:50 pm

the garbage we play is not basketball…I rather go see an NBA game at this point which i never thought i would say

NoCoach Hewitt

January 13th, 2010
10:52 pm

No way CAROL a BLEWITT team not getting the ball inside and getting rushed at the end of the game and turning the ball over………I dont believe it

Techfan78

January 13th, 2010
10:52 pm

get off hewitts nuts, thats actually a very good point. I totally agree with you that Duke never gets anything called against them. I remember the CL shot against Kentucky. He practically tackled the Kentucky player (man I always hated Laettner or however you spell his last name, he was a punk) and they did nothing to him, but if Jamaal Mashburn had have did what CL did they would have called offensive foul. It is B. S. With that being said though, even with Clemson, FSU, and The “U” not getting any calls they still WIN. That is the bottom line, W’s and L’s. Clemson and FSU both made the big dance last year (I believe Miami was NIT) with far less talent than we put on the floor. It all goes back to coaching. Paul Hewitt is not the answer for this program. We need to just go ahead and get rid of him and get someone who will COACH his team some offensive. Anyone can play D in basketball. D in basketball is 95% hustle and 5% coaching. Get off hewitts nuts, I was a hewitt fan until I actually started to realize that it wasnt his coachng, it was the drive and grit that players like BJ Elder, Will Bynum, Jarret Jack, and I cant remember the kids name from the final four team but he shot the lights out from three, much like A Mo. Those guys were passionate and had a will to win. Hewitt can thank those guys for the job he has now.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
10:59 pm

Marvin Lewis is who you are thinking about.

UGAissolastyear

January 13th, 2010
10:59 pm

I hope none of you watched the Duke game or thought, for one second, after we beat Duke that we were, all of sudden, going to be great this year. Losing our 1st ACC game to FSU, at home, should have been all you needed to see to know we were going to be awful again. Will probably win 2 games in the ACC again this year! Notice how Hewitt never blames himself for any of our losses – or, ever will.

Still Sick

January 13th, 2010
11:00 pm

Drad knows his football but he is relying on others to help him make his basketball decisions. I think he is going to do the right thing.

UGAissolastyear

January 13th, 2010
11:02 pm

Why do some of you address DRAD in here as if he reads these? He doesn’t come in here to read this. Email him directly. He reads his emails! drad@athletics.gatech.edu

Techfan78

January 13th, 2010
11:03 pm

Yes, thanks, Marvin Lewis. That dude could shoot the rock. We need to get some shooters like him and A Mo back in the program, problem is though Hewitt wouldnt teach them how to move without the ball. Remember JJ Reddick playing. I would get tired just watching him run around on the offensive end trying to find an open shot. Our guys just stand around and wait on a defender to trip and fall or something.Why cant we get players that fight there way to an open shot? Oh yeah, I forgot…our coach wont teach them to.

UGAissolastyear

January 13th, 2010
11:05 pm

And, to the person canceling his season tickets? You say that every year. I am shocked you still have them. For those who paid money to go to the Duke game the other day – you just add to Hewitt staying in town. An empty arena is the only way he gets fired. Believe me.

Techfan78

January 13th, 2010
11:07 pm

UGAissolastyear, thanks for DRADs email! Im gonna let him know what I think of Hewitt, im sure im not the only tech fan that will. He is a big boy and he is gonna do what he wants to but, I feel like with his desire to win he will do the right thing and releive Hewitt of his duties after we go 15-15 this season.

Hewitt Can't Coach

January 14th, 2010
12:00 am

Technophobia:

We got to the NC Game IN SPITE OF Hewitt, not because of him. He hasn’t changed a thing about his coaching style or tactics since before he got to Tech. That team had CHEMISTRY and they EXPECTED TO WIN…Those are qualities that come out of players, but Hewitt has no idea how to bring them out. That year it happened despite Hewitt.

Other coaches are far superior to Hewitt in recognizing team chemistry and BUILDING on it as a foundation for winning. They also produce a leader that focuses everyone on WINNING. Hewitt has no idea how to develop raw talent or “coach them up” to be even better than they think they can be. In fact, most talent that Hewitt gets his hands on regresses over time: “The Chan Gailey Effect”

Hewitt is WEAK, and teams tend to take on the personality of their coach. Shoot 10% FG and you start the next game. Heck, shoot 10% FT and you start the next game under Hewitt! There’s no STANDARD set by the coach, and that’s the coach’s JOB. Players consistently perform to a higher level under other coaches because if they don’t, then they SIT. Nobody rides the pine under Hewitt because he’s terrified of the prospect! Even fundamentals like FT shooting are DISMAL, if not downright embarrassing every year. These things are just no longer acceptable.

The NC Game team excelled far above anything Hewitt could’ve done to get them that far, which is exactly why he will NEVER get another team to another NC Game…EVER. The TEAM produced the results, not the coach. Successful ACC teams use BOTH, great talent and great coaching to win. We are doomed to only have 1 of those ingredients as long as Hewitt coaches…And the longer he stays, the more likely it becomes that we don’t even get the talent anymore.

GT Fan...

January 14th, 2010
12:24 am

Most games are won or lost from the FREE throw line! Take GT’s 3 ACC games …. lose in OT to FSU means had you hit just ONE more FT in regulation you win. Shot lights-out FTs vs Duke = WIN. Shoot, 27%, wait that can’t be correct … TWENTY-SEVEN % !?!?!! vs. VA = LOSS!!

Hint, hint PH ….. good FT shooters are also good shooters from all areas of the court. The FT line where you learn range & how to shoot! Plus, they are FREE, UNGUARDED shots!

Baba O'Riley

January 14th, 2010
6:29 am

get off hewitts nuts@10:09. You said that NO ACC team has won a game on the road this year. WE lost to FSU at home, which means that FSU has won a road game this year. don’t blame the officials. WE PLAY BAD BASKETBALL.

juvenal

January 14th, 2010
10:04 am

not gonna get season tix till this guy’s gone, too painful to watch, tix not hard to get if you want to suffer sometimes just to support GT, can’t give ‘em away…m, at least chan made it to the post-season..

CanHewitt

January 14th, 2010
2:09 pm

Hewitt is ruining Favors. He’s pretty much rated as top of the class, yes even higher than John Wall. But what the hell happened? Wall is next Jason Kidd while Favors’ stock is dropping. It’s not by much yet (from 2nd pick to 4th pick according to NBAdraft.net) because he still has enormous potential but he’ll definitely lose some money as the season goes on. You know what happened? Hewitt happened. How is Cousins at Kentucky putting up insane numbers along with other stars when he was rated a notch below Favors? What has changed since their senior season? It’s easy. Cousins is playing for Calipari and Favors for Hewitt.

NoCoach Hewitt

January 14th, 2010
5:34 pm

TechFan we will never have a JJ Reddick on this team until BLEWITT is gone. Its obvious that he has no intention of every having another white player on the team. Last one was Causey but BLEWITT would bench him for no good reason constantly. Only other white boy was luke schenscher and that is the extent of that list in 10 yrs