Tech tries to buck the road trend at Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – It’s “fear the turtle” time for the Yellow Jackets, who are back in a precarious position – on the road. It’s been extremely unkind to Georgia Tech, which is as you know 5-1 at home but 1-5 on the road.
Down to four games in the ACC, Tech (18-8, 6-6) needs to forget about recent road woes and just play well. That’s hard to do against a Maryland team which has great, experienced guard play, and despite a recent blip at Duke, has proven itself one of the strong teams in the ACC.
The Terrapins (18-7, 8-3) are tied for second in the ACC with Virginia Tech, a team the Yellow Jackets have awaiting on March 6, their final regular season game.
Tech is ranked seventh in the ACC, two games behind Wake Forest which in the fourth spot. That is something coach Paul Hewitt made it sound like Tech is eyeing leading into the today’s game. He basically said the Yellow Jackets have to win this game if they want to get that first-round bye in the ACC tournament.
Starting lineup
Glen Rice Jr. will make his second consecutive start today in place of Mfon Udofia, who has faded lately, but at least showed some life in Tech’s win over North Carolina on Tuesday. (Udofia ended a streak of four games without a field goal when he scored in a layup off a steal. But he still has taken three shots or fewer in each of Tech’s last six games.)
Rice had five points in 27 minutes on Tuesday against UNC. He was active on the defensive end, which is what Hewitt was looking for, with a block and two steals.
The two players who’ll be most interesting to watch today will be Moe Miller and Iman Shumpert. Miller has been a steadying force of late with double-digit scoring in his past two games. He’s had seven assists and five turnovers, to go with 10 rebounds against Wake Forest and UNC.
Shumpert hasn’t played well in four of Tech’s last five games (the exception would be his 14-point second half against N.C. State). Tech really needs him to find some rhythm – either at the point or at the No. 2 spot if Miller keeps showing the most poise at point. It’s hard for Tech to win without him on his game, and it’s no coincidence that Tech lost three of those four games he’s struggled through.
Making matters tough, and at the same time crucial, Maryland has such great guard play. If you don’t find a way to match it, you’re sunk. The Terrapins lead the ACC in assists (16.4 per game) and assist-turnover ratio (1.34) and they are third in turnover margin (plus 3.3). The Terrapins are coming off a win over N.C. State on Wednesday in which they committed a season-low seven turnovers.
The Yellow Jackets will need to be active with their hands, getting those deflections Hewitt loves to keep track of from the bench.
One little area of vulnerability for Maryland might be the fact that the Terrapins are playing their fourth game in eight days because of a makeup game they had against Virginia on Monday. This is Tech’s third game in that span. We’ll see if Tech tries to press more today to see how weary Terp legs are.
Fear This Turtle
Greivis Vasquez is always interesting to the watch. The senior guard is the third-leading scorer in the ACC (18.8) and needs just five points to reach 2,000 points for his career. Vasquez will become the first player in ACC history to reach 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds. He’s a guy you love to hate. It looks like to me, though, like he’s mellowed with some of his emotional antics over the years. But we’ll see if he’s fired up by his home crowd today.
I did get a kick out of something said about him during the Duke-Maryland game – that he loves playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium because the students taunt him in Spanish. (He’s a native of Caracas, Venezuela.)
Hewitt said it’ll take a team effort trying to contain him, no one guy will draw the assignment throughout.
One final thought before I hit the send button and make my way out to the court…Maryland is 5-0 in ACC play at Comcast Center this season (12-1 overall), and 5-1 against Tech in this building all-time. The Terrapins have beaten Tech eight straight times.
Is today the day all that stops? It would take one of Tech’s best efforts all year.
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366 comments Add your comment
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE!
February 20th, 2010
4:29 pm
73-66 & 30-24, scores that will live in infamy!
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:29 pm
Hey..who’s having the party tonight !!
maybe Carroll’s up for some brews !!
Dan Radakovich
February 20th, 2010
4:29 pm
Don’t worry GT fans…I’m all over this. Hewitt is gone by 10:00 a.m. press conference on Monday.
GoJackets
February 20th, 2010
4:30 pm
If you want Hewitt gone, then fine. Post about it on the blog, or email DRad or whatever, but rooting for your team to lose is an extremely sorry way to express your anger.
Buzz29
February 20th, 2010
4:30 pm
Congrats RC.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:31 pm
RC ….. with all due respect you do not watch this train wreck every game like I do …. can you name one offensive play that GT ran??? No because there arent any
RussThePaintedMascot
February 20th, 2010
4:32 pm
While I will never be happy with a Tech loss, my twenty-plus years of buying season tickets to two sports and countless single-game tickets to various other sporting events have surely bought me the priviledge of at least laughing at the inevitable loss.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:32 pm
Gani (worst FT shooter of all time) and Bell (turnover machine) in at the end of the game ….. all you have to know about the coaching stylings of one Paul Blewitt
freethrows
February 20th, 2010
4:32 pm
I sure wish Lawal would work on his free throw shooting….36% over the last 6 games….ouch
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:33 pm
Thanks Buzz29..Hewitt probably does have a migraine now,,
What happened to Carroll ??
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 20th, 2010
4:33 pm
I was rooting for GT today, but Hewitt SUCKS.
Rainy night in Ga.
February 20th, 2010
4:34 pm
KK trivia answer…..Tech has one season of 9-7 under Hewitt, every other season is under .500 except for 2 at 8-8. Anyone wanna tell me this guy is worth the money hes gettin paid?
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:36 pm
Carroll is currently asking herself why she has to cover such a loser (blewitt not GT)
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 20th, 2010
4:36 pm
If he had any integrity and decency, he would step down with an offer to reduce his buyout, or agree to coach at a reduced rate, but he won’t, because it is “obviously not his fault.”
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:36 pm
Everyone excited about the Olympics ???
YAY USA !! Shaun White !!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:36 pm
I NEVER root for GT to lose, but I am seldom surprised when they do. Today, however, drained me. It truly sucked, and there is nobody else to blame but Hewitt.
white & old gold
February 20th, 2010
4:37 pm
just heard hewitt say “that was our best complete game of the year.” on the postgame for the GT-UM game. 11-20 free throw shooting + a loss = best game of the year? really?
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:37 pm
And once again no one is going to ask Blewitt any hard hitting questions ….. blah blah blah …… I wish the NY media would be covering him …. he wouldnt last a day
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
EMB I am offering to fly you down here from Oakland to do what you do best …… what ya say?
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
Here is a question for him:
Do you realize how few alums and GT fans are still supportive of you leading the program?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
you would think that somebody would have the balls to ask him real questions and not let him get away with his usual BS
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:39 pm
EBM sorry typo
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:39 pm
NoCoach..at least it gave her a break from the Braves…and got her to the Free State !! and to see some real SNOW !! or what’s left of it …better a week ago !! and much better than that piddly stuff you get !!! really !!
party-time now !!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
NoCoach, I didn’t see any banner in section 111 Tuesday night. Can I expect one next Saturday?
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
Here is another:
Do you realize that GT alums and fans think you are like a “kidnapper” holding our BB team for ransom?
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:41 pm
another question ….. Why after Moe has been killing it you have him riding pine??? Why is someone who turned the ball over 6 times handling the ball at the end of the game or even in for that matter??? Why is someone who couldnt hit the ocean from 12 feet away in at the end of the game??? Why do you not have any REAL offensive plays or even a strategy???
That will at least be a good start
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:41 pm
Supersize …… if I can get tickets
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:42 pm
All good questions…at least you don’t have to rout for the Redskins !!!!hheheeheee !!!
Go Terps…Go Skins !!!!
Go Brews !!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:43 pm
NoCoach, you shouldn’t have any problem getting tickets. You can sometimes even get them for free right in front of the gate. Pretty sad when you can’t even give tickets away these days
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:43 pm
Dont know if I would want to waste my time ……. I just want to express how obvious it is that he has no clue how to coach a basketball team straight to his face now …… screw the poster
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 20th, 2010
4:43 pm
Why do your players seem to forget about 3 point shooters, and leave them completely open?
Why do your players seem to never improve their fundamentals while they play for you?
Why do you substitute for a guy who is hot?
Why do you seem to waste timeouts continually?
Why does your team stand around a lot when running their half court offense?
Why do your teams continue to be toward the bottom of the ACC in assists?
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
RC ….. I can get behind that last one for sure … I definetely need one, or 12 right about now
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
Then stand down by the tunnel and yell right at him when you see him. He won’t acknowledge it, but I guarantee he’ll hear you
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
Bama between you and I the press conference would last hours LOL
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:46 pm
Yeah if i could guarantee seats behind the bench I would go for sure ……. Man I would feel a lot better after those 2 hours but Blewitt definetely wouldnt HAHAHAHAHA
TallahasseeWrek
February 20th, 2010
4:46 pm
Tech 55% at the stripe. MD 70%. If Tech shoots 70%, they win by one. But Tech shoots worse from the foul line than a junior high school team. Has for years now.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 20th, 2010
4:46 pm
This venting is very therapeutic after watching another blewitt special. Have a great weekend guys…maybe we are closer to ridding ourselves of Hewitt, but I’m not holding my breath.
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:46 pm
NoCoach… really 3 is enough!!..even for this game !!!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:47 pm
NoCoach, there are usually some empty seats not too far behind the bench. Just move there till somebody makes you leave
Supersize that order, mutt
February 20th, 2010
4:48 pm
Alabama, like I said earlier, when we fired Gailey, a call apparently went out to boosters to help with the money. SURELY, something like that is already afoot regarding Blewitt
NoCoach Blewitt
February 20th, 2010
4:49 pm
Yeah I gotta bounce too but I will be here for the next one
One last thing I would almost guarantee win against terrible BC. But one problem that game is in 7 days which gives Blewitt way too much time to strategize, which we have all seen how that winds up.
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:50 pm
yeah.. NoCoach…Alabama…party time now..and watch the Olympics…a real feel good time !!
there’s always the next game !! and we all hate DUKE…anyone but DUKE..is our motto !!!
Bill
February 20th, 2010
4:52 pm
On the last play, Rice missed covering his man getting the ball in. He recovered and played the shooter as well as a defender could. The shot was off with .7 left, so the ref’s time mistake didn’t come into play. Problem is that Tech should have ran Maryland early since they were playing their 4th game in 8 days. Md had enough left at the end because Tech played right into a slower tempo. Normally, that would be wrong, but Md didn’t have their usual energy because of the schedule. Hewitt and his staff should have known this. But when you let a team stay in their element at home, you can lose a game like this. Did hear Hewitt say this was the best they played this year, but the game plan was truly wrong. Md came out sluggish and Tech blew it by not making Md work early….might have helped if Lawal didn’t play so poorly down the stretch. Bad shot selections and I wish someone would please tell him he doesn’t have to shoot ALL the time when he is double covered. THis was Tech’s big chance to win a big road game. Maryland was vulnerable and Tech blew it. Never mind the “best game of the year” garbage. 6-7. Finishing 8-8 is a must, but not a great accomplishment. There’s a reason Tech has bad luck. WE all know what it is.
Rainy night in Ga.
February 20th, 2010
4:52 pm
Comon Hewitt, Cremins was man enuff to resign. Admit ur shortcomings and resign. There are plenty of other schools, inlcuding Ga State, that could use Hewitt, Ga Tech deserves better. And CPH has proven that u can win consistently, at elast 2 years in a row.
RC
February 20th, 2010
4:55 pm
Bill..yeah..Md had a real tough schedule-travel time this week..that’s what the worry was today.. BUT they pulled it out ..
YAY TERPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..
Hanks
February 20th, 2010
5:10 pm
Why could Georgia State use Hewitt? Don’t their players need coaching, too?
PZ
February 20th, 2010
5:12 pm
Terps!!! I’m sorry but Tech.. you guys gave us that game on the FT line. Believe me though… you guys have one of the most talented teams in the ACC, Favors could not be stopped.
JacketLady
February 20th, 2010
5:32 pm
I head today that M. Price has offered Hewitt to help with FT’s for free! Hewitt didn’t accept and understand at the last home game where Tech lost that MP left the game so disgusted that he vowed not to return. I would think MP would have some clout when it comes to getting Hewitt out of here!!!
Tech Forever
February 20th, 2010
5:32 pm
Classic. Called my Dad, the season ticket holder, and asked how Tech was doing (not able to be near a TV). He acted a little taken back and said, “OH! I didn’t even know Tech was playing right now.” So he turned it one as the refs were discussing the TO/clock situation at the end. Classic….a 27 year season ticket holder didn’t even know Tech was playing. That about sums up the state of GT basketball right now with Hewitt.
As for me….another prediction CORRECT. 7 of the last 8 nailed only missing the Miami game where I didn’t post a prediction. Next Saturday vs. Boston College…..a win at home to go 19-9, 7-7.
Oh and once again, the one or two who gave me a hard time when I said losing to UVA was a bad loss and predicted the Cavs would collapse down the stretch and at least lose their next three (which they did to VT, UM, and FSU)…..WHERE YOU AT???? UVA will lose AGAIN today @ Clemson….from 14-7 and “that’s a quality loss” from some of you who haven’t a clue to 14-11. For that matter their game against UM at home might be the only game left they win for the season. UVA WAS A BAD LOSS. It was a bad loss when they were 14-7, it’s a bad loss right now, and two weeks from now it will be a really bad loss.
If Tech doesn’t get in, MARK BRADLEY, it’ll be because of losses to UGA, UVA, Dayton, and Miami, and the home hammering we took by FSU doesn’t help but at least FSU has a shot at the NCAA Tourney.
Porty
February 20th, 2010
5:36 pm
Bill, you are correct. The clock mistake wasn’t going to be impactul. However the point of entry was. They were given an inbound spot of halfcourt. This isn’t the NBA. Should have been about 15 feet back. That, coupled with a correct clock time would have been impactful. That said, woe is our FT shooting.