Ready or not, it’s Wake time
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Glad to report, I’m here and blogging with you tonight from the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
About 1 a.m. last night I wasn’t feeling so great about making by noon flight up today, after I was woken up by a guy spinning out in the parking lot of my complex and watched him finally just stop and get out, leaving his car diagonally “parked” behind three other cars. But being the pragmatic, or wimpy, gal that I am, I called a cab this morning to get me to the airport and let him navigate the icy side streets, which he did beautifully.
Here’s hoping all you guys are safe and snug at home, ready to tune in and see which Yellow Jacket team shows up tonight. It seems to me that just when I think there’s no way they’re winning, they come up with something, so I won’t be ruling them out tonight at Wake Forest.
It won’t be easy, playing a Wake team that’s 11-1 at home this season, including 5-0 in ACC home games, and hungry to get back at Georgia Tech for its 79-58 romp on Jan. 28. And Tech is reeling from three bad games, losses at Duke and Miami, and the narrow escape over N.C. State.
The Yellow Jackets have got to turn the momentum in a hurry and in some tough circumstances. But they have a lot of good memories to draw on (from last game and winning four of the last five in the series) and they’ve had two full days here to get used to the environment. Tech flew in early yesterday morning (Friday) to beat the storm, and practiced here at Lawrence Joel, thanks to the generosity of Wake Forest.
The keys tonight are the same as they were in Atlanta on Jan. 28: keep point guard Ishmael Smith in front of them and Al-Farouq Aminu off the boards. The Yellow Jackets did a decent job of that in Atlanta, keeping Smith to 12 points – I believe 10 of them came in the second half after Tech had built up a healthy lead – and holding Aminu to eight rebounds. And yes that was limiting him. The Norcross High graduate leads the ACC with 11 rebounds per game and has hit double-digits in rebounds 15 times this season.
Smith is entering some rarified air at Wake Forest. He needs four points to hit 1,000 for his career and is 41 assists shy of 600. He would be the first Demon Deacon to hit both those numbers. The loveable Muggsy Bogues (1984-87) came up 14 points shy of that feat.
So hey, cozy up with some hot chocolate and your valentine (or hey, your computer) and chat with me. And flip over on commercials to the Olympics would you? And let me know what’s happening.
Oh, and they just wrote Tech’s starters on a board above my head in the press room. It lists Mfon Udofia in the starting lineup, instead of Brian Oliver. That tells me Paul Hewitt wants Udofia’s defense in there to help Iman Shumpert deal with Smith. That’s my hunch anyway.
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299 comments Add your comment
Tech Forever
February 13th, 2010
11:56 pm
Well there’s a difference. Gillespie, in Kentucky’s eyes, breeched his contract with his behavior. Therefore they were under no obligation to pay it. He of course has sued them. We’ll see how it all pans out. Tech doesn;t have that problem. Hewitt is a fantastic human being and individual…he’s just a lousy coach. To get rid of CPH Tech is going to have to pay. And sometime in 2012 we should have the money.
Jo Bling
February 14th, 2010
12:00 am
Tech Forever – I would have agreed with you up until a few weeks ago. I think the anti-Hewitt backlash is starting to become overwhelming. This board is just a small fraction of what’s really brewing out there among the alumni and boosters. D-Rad is feeling the pressure, believe me. If this team doesn’t make the dance, I think a decision is imminent, $7 million or not.
Gt
February 14th, 2010
12:07 am
Whether he is a nice guy or not, CPH has not lived up to the potential expected of him when he signed for 8 more yrs after the 04 season. GT in no way is giving out over a million a year for a poor performance record season after season. In an arbitration hearing, it could be argued that the coach was given this contract with expectations that his record would be of something similar to no worse than .500. Do not see how any ruling in such a hearing would go Hewitt’s way. In the 09 season, it was almost as if any effort to win was made at all.
Truth
February 14th, 2010
12:14 am
I really think Poindexter is doing a real fine job, however if you nerds can get enough accutane applying software engineers to pony-up the $7mm, I suggest you bring back one-nut Bobby.
Bill
February 14th, 2010
12:22 am
As far as Favors, I will say he gets ticky-tack fouls that others don’t get. But some of his mess is his own laziness to get into position to defend. He blocks a great deal of shots, but he doesn’t seem to understand how to use his feet on defense. He tries to play through the ball instead of moving around. This gets him into foul trouble. Again, with his incredible potential, this is poor coaching on some level of PH’s staff. I agree the PG play has disappeared, but honestly, except for a 3-4 game stretch, Shumpert has been poor. Udofia has lost his comfidence and that is perplexing. My biggest gripe over the PH tenure has been how Hewitt “dismisses” older players who were initially successful, but were removed from PT because a younger player has more potential.See Halston Lane, Robert Brooks, Theodis Tarver, Zam Frederick. In fact, if Bosh didn’t leave early, Luke would have benn added to this list. Alade played a great deal his frosh year and was exiled to the doghouse until Hewitt had to play him last year out of desperation( think his brother wanted to come to Atl when he saw what PH did to his brother?). Moe Miller can be added to this list, but to his credit, he is a team player. Hewitt doesn’t maximize his roster. Storrs and Sheehan are disappointing because they haven’t developed. Every program has players like those 2, but the list I gave are players that were good contributors that Hewitt just dismissed as non-essentials. Problem is that when you do that, you are always depending on your frosh to contribute without upperclassman leadership. And THAT is the main problem with this team. No one who leads.Like a Jack. Shumpert should be the one, but he isn’t. And that is why Tech will likely miss the NCAA”s.
Hewitt's a thief
February 14th, 2010
12:22 am
He’s basically stealing money at this point. No one has wasted more talent in the history of ACC basketball. Fire him, take him to arbitration, demote him, do anything. He does not deserve to be our head coach. He is a clown in the league. Teams are licking their chops to play us and get a quality win in February.
We are going to the NIT. Mark it.
If you listen to his call-in show, the arrogance and defensiveness just oozes from him. This man thinks he does no wrong. His contract has allowed him to elude reality for the last 5 years. And the best part: even NBA scouts think he has no clue how to use his talented players.
Tech Forever
February 14th, 2010
12:34 am
Gt,
1 – Tech can terminate the contract (rollover) without “cause” in writing but must do so by March 15th of this year. In doing so Tech would then owe CPH the entire buyout of $7+ million which can be paid in negotiated agreed upon terms. If Tech does so in writing after March 15th it is deemed a firing or termination of employment and Tech owes CPH the entire $7+ million buyout immediately.
2 – Now you MIGHT have an arguement as under “Duties and Responsibilities” in his contract the re is “m. Evaluate individual and team strengths and develop strategies for skill improvement.” Definitely could be argued that he’s failed miserably.
3 – There’s nothing in the Termination Cause section of his contract that he’s violated that would give anyone any reason at all Tech would get a favorable ruling in arbitration.
Biff Pocoroba
February 14th, 2010
12:34 am
Hewitt got the team on probation last year and we lost two scholarships. DRad should use this to be able to get out of the contract without having to pay the buy out. If Favors goes pro and quits attending class in March, we will be on probation again. This might be the reason that Hewitt has only signed one guy for next year even though we will have more spots open. After this, D Rad can pull the trigger.
Tech Forever
February 14th, 2010
12:38 am
Biff, Incorrect. It has already been determined by the GTAA that the probation resulted from negligence in the Academic Compliance Department. CPH was found not at fault what-so-ever. Now….the Favors angle is completely different and could have some legs. Nice thinking there.
A Rob
February 14th, 2010
12:40 am
cant believe i actually watched this train wreck of a program on ESPN 360 hoping for a win. as usual, dissapointment!! I’m done with tech bball. Thanks Braine and Hewitt.
StingerSplash
February 14th, 2010
12:44 am
Hewitt’s a thief,
Word I get from the NBA folks (second hand) is that Hewitt does a good job developing players for the league. Which makes me wonder about their abilities to judge talent.
The best NBA player in the Hewitt era is Bosh, and he wasn’t at Tech long at all. Thaddeus Young hasn’t done much, Crittenton is now more known for a locker room incident than anything he did on the floor. Morrow is having a hot streak right now for the Warriors; Bynum and Jack average 10 points a game. Good players, but not stars by any means.
Technophobia
February 14th, 2010
12:53 am
Carroll, you make a good point about the guards but you should mention that Shumpert played 22 minutes and had no points! He was 0 for 10, with 3 turnovers and only 1 assist. That’s just AWFUL! Miller, Oliver and Rice all were in double figures and only Miller had more minutes than Shumpert. Yeah, when you’ve got two “starters” with no points and 3 of the four guys in double figures are coming off the bench, you gotta say that a major shake up is in order. Zach had another bad game stats wise but they look much better with the bench guys in there than with the starters. At least you get good effort and hustle with these guys. I cringed every time Shumpert came in the game. Is it a team identity crisis or a player identity crisis?
Technophobia
February 14th, 2010
1:08 am
Stinger Splash, if you look at the 2009 NBA All Star roster you’ll see that only one school placed more than one player. That school is Wake Forrest and they placed 2. No other team in the ACC has an alum on the all star roster. My question to you is, “What college team HAS placed a bunch of stars in the NBA.”? How about a little objectivity.
Blewitt.....again
February 14th, 2010
1:42 am
fire him NOW. come on DRad, i know you can do it.
LOST to UGA 66-73.
February 14th, 2010
6:24 am
Not ready
Rochester Jacket
February 14th, 2010
8:02 am
BREAKING NEWS……………GT is a #1 Seed………..in the NIT. Things are not looking good for the home team.
Rochester Jacket
February 14th, 2010
8:13 am
BREAKING NEWS……..Bob Knight is coming out of retirement to whip (literally) these guys in shape. Bob Knight will be GT next head basketball coach. Just be sure to put a “no choking of the players” clause in his contract.
legaleagle
February 14th, 2010
8:25 am
Has the time come to say good bye. Coach has not real idea as to what is going on. Two road losses by a basket each. With this talent it just should not happen.
Big 'Ol Stinger
February 14th, 2010
8:32 am
Rochester –
There’s a couple of them that look like they could use a good choking.
Either somebody chokes them or they’ll keep choking on the court.
WoodstockDave
February 14th, 2010
9:09 am
Hewitt’s team wins when street ball is enough to get the job done. Imagine what an actual coach could do with this collection of talent.
In contrast, I watched Duke dismantle Maryland yesterday and concluded that we either need to hire someone who can motivate and teach basketball, or recruit a bunch of slow white guys, because they looked pretty darn good.
old Tech fan in NC
February 14th, 2010
9:13 am
Start slow and end slower…..no bucket in the last 800 minutes ……(well it just seemed like 800).
The reward for such good coaching-another year of good pay.
ND
February 14th, 2010
9:58 am
5-11 is a very real possibility. I did have very good seats at last night’s game (they were free), and Brian Oliver needs to start. To me he looked to be the only one going all out the entire time he was in the game. One other observation, Favors works pretty hard to get open and a lot of times he is…but no one gets him the ball.
Truth
February 14th, 2010
10:00 am
$7mm yesterday, $7mm today, $7mm tomorrow, $7mm next week……thank you, thank you Dave Braine. The Dawgs love you,
FH
February 14th, 2010
10:01 am
Fire Hewitt
ND
February 14th, 2010
10:24 am
One last thing from me until after the UNC game. Fire Blewitt.
Bill
February 14th, 2010
10:36 am
Fire Hewitt….enough said.
Truth
February 14th, 2010
10:46 am
Come on coach, take the redshirt of that Georgia High School phenom Daniel Miller and salvage the season!!!
the buck stops somewhere
February 14th, 2010
11:35 am
Daniel Miller wouldn’t make a difference. With CPH as the head coach, I don’t know if Lebron could make a diffference…
the buck stops somewhere
February 14th, 2010
11:42 am
Okay Lebron would if CPH would leave him in the game…
A Rob
February 14th, 2010
12:14 pm
Dave Braine tried to ruin GT Football by accepting mediocrity. Drad and the hire of Paul Johnson have re-ignited the fire in that program.
Now we really have a problem. Our somewhat storied basketball program is in shambles. Completely and utterly a laughing stock. Surely it can be rescued….but how? And how much has Braine cost us this time?
At least there’s football!
Truth Hurts
February 14th, 2010
12:21 pm
OK, we get it Truth. It hurt your feelings that Miller transferred.
But I’m curious. Exactly where did you play your D-1 college ball? Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, UConn, Kentucky maybe?
If not, maybe you should STFU, put your tail between your legs, and crawl back over to the (3-7, 11-12) poodle blog.
TechFirst
February 14th, 2010
12:24 pm
After last nights lost two words. MARK PRICE
GaPeach
February 14th, 2010
12:27 pm
Reading over the blogs I agree with many of your comments. Lets start by saying GET RID OF BLEWITT!!!!! I mean really I think many of the guys have great potential with the right coach. This guy is a freaking joke, he has the guys running around like they are playing street ball and they can’t get there rythm because he keeps switching players to quick. Some of Favors recent foul trouble comes from the mistakes made by his teammates. He is only trying to defend the ball and get to the basket. But Blewitt has the guys shuffling around the dang court. Get BLEWITT out of there and get a REAL COACH in there NOW!!! And yes Favors will be just fine with the right coaching staff!
ToeMeetsHewittsButt
February 14th, 2010
12:27 pm
Another nail in Hewitt’s much deserved professional coffin.
TechFirst
February 14th, 2010
12:31 pm
I hate Duke gotta whole lot of respect for Coach K and his team will not advance past the sweet sixteen if he coach our squad were a Final 4 team it aint talent its teaching. On a bright note you have to love Coach PJ, shoutout to Roddy and the Basaball team DRAD we love u now make your Mark on the basketball team.
ToeMeetsHewittsButt
February 14th, 2010
12:39 pm
If DRad can’t pull the trigger on Hewitt’s firing, it’s time we start to look at DRad’s worthiness.
ToeMeetsHewittsButt
February 14th, 2010
12:45 pm
Hewitt (blu’ it): 1. one who is paid to be a coach and leader of young men who is anything but; 2. slang: a surefire win for any opponent in the second half of the ACC season. 3. verb: to screw up a quality endeavor, for example the GT basketball program. 4. antonym: For opposite, please see Coach Paul Johnson.
Truth
February 14th, 2010
1:13 pm
$7mm yesterday, $7mm today, $7mm tomorrow, $7mm next week……
say what you want about Braine, he did LESS to destroy the nerd athletic program that your hero Bobby Dodd!!,
Iman Shumpert
February 14th, 2010
1:57 pm
Hey guys I just made a shot ……. In practice!!!! Coach say I be starting next game …. Yippeee
NoCoach Blewitt
February 14th, 2010
2:00 pm
Carroll why didnt you ask Ole Blewie WTF was Miller doing on the bench the last few months while Shumpert has been averaging more turnovers than points and assist combined??? I know he probably would have answered the question with some broad BS like he always does but that would give me some more ammo on the making fun of the worst basketball coach in history front.
Tech Forever
February 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
Bobby Knight is 69 years old. Can we get him for the $1.375 million Hewitt is going to make this year and if we can do we want a guy who’s got 3 or 4 years left….tops….and if we do where do we get the $7+ million we need to buyout Hewitt’s contract?
Jacket Dad
February 14th, 2010
7:36 pm
Ready or not, it’s Wake time……..
Obviously, NOT! FIRE HEWITT NOW!!!!!
RussThePaintedMascot
February 15th, 2010
1:01 am
Wake? It’s already time for the funeral for hewitt’s career at Tech.
Paulie & Hewie
February 15th, 2010
1:04 am
Sticks and stones, Tech fans!!!! I will keep taking my $2 Mil a year for doing nothing until you fire me, mon. Then I’m taking my @7 Mil buyout and heading back home to Jamaica, mon, where I don’t even have to show up for the games.
RussThePaintedMascot
February 15th, 2010
1:06 am
Now I know that it’s true that Hewitt is Jamaican. How do I know? First, ja make a contract with Dave Braine, and then jamaica $2,000,000 a year for doin’ nothin’ mon.
RussThePaintedMascot
February 15th, 2010
1:07 am
Even the Mickey Mouse clock on the wall at Skiles says it’s time to fire Paul Hewitt.
RussThePaintedMascot
February 15th, 2010
1:43 am
Ready or not, Hewie….you’re outa here!!!!
Gustopher
February 15th, 2010
8:31 am
Carroll. Great Blog and a tough loss. Glad you made it to WSNC safely
Ready or not, it’s Wake time « iBlogAuto
February 17th, 2010
6:33 am
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