Digesting the Maryland loss
OK, let’s see how quickly I can bang out a blog with about 15 minutes to go before I board my flight back to Atlanta. I thought it might be good to clear the air after yesterday’s game and allow you guys to take a deep breath today.
You may or may not want to hear this, but I thought that was a heck of a game yesterday and one that showed many more positive signs for Tech than negative.
The way Tech played earlier in the year, that team goes to Maryland and gets blown out by 20. The fact that the Yellow Jackets just came a last-second shot from beating the team that’s No. 2 in the ACC is legit. Want to complain about the loss at Miami? I’m all ears. Should have figured a way to win one of those game against Florida State? By all means.
But that game yesterday was a sign that Georgia Tech is playing well as a team and making a push to play some of its best basketball heading into March. Derrick Favors was an absolute monster yesterday – season-high 21 points, season-high 18 rebounds, only one foul. He showed the kind of aggressiveness late in the game – including two putback baskets in the final 57 seconds, that should give Tech confidence and other teams fears that Favors is going to find a way to make things happen down the stretch.
He also hit both his free throws with 2:36 left. He’s showing you his fire right there, belying that calm demeanor everybody sees on the outside.
So does Tech take advantage of the progress Favors is making? They’ll need to in their final three games against Boston College Saturday, at Clemson Tuesday and at home against Virginia Tech on March 6 to get off the bubble and safely into the NCAA tournament.
The free throw line continues to be a big problem. Tech was 11-for-20 there yesterday, including 2-for-8 from Gani Lawal. That is a killer, no doubt. Outside of Lawal, the Yellow Jackets went 9-for-12 at the line. They need him to find a way to settle down and regain his confidence there. Just two games ago Lawal made 7-of-10 free throws at Wake. He’s got it in him.
And Lawal looked to me yesterday like he was trying to be too aggressive around the basket, if that’s possible. He went up seemingly too strong with a lot of his shots and didn’t have much touch. If anything, I think that comes from trying so hard. And I think as a junior, with a lot of experience, he’ll find a way to get his game turned back around from the last two game when he’s gone 9-for-24. He still finished with 12 points yesterday but Tech could have really used those two free throws he missed with 1:44 to play and the game tied 68-68.
Paul Hewitt said after the game yesterday that he felt like Tech was on the verge of something really big, and that he felt they deserved a break to go their way. The Yellow Jackets did play like that to me, that they are on the verge on winning a game or games like they lost yesterday. Just one more play and it’s theirs.
For a little perspective, I thought I’d include what Maryland coach Gary Williams had to say after the game yesterday.
“That game was a great game,” Williams said. “When you win a game like that and when you have been on the other side of that, which I have been, you have empathy for Paul Hewitt in this case because they did everything right to win the game and they didn’t. That’s the tough side of coaching sometimes and I don’t think they could have done anything different than they did. Georgia Tech is probably playing as well as anyone in the league, and I am sure down the stretch it is going to be interesting with what they do because of their toughness, size, guard play, all of those things that they do have.”
With that, I’m going to leave it to you guys. Tech will take today and tomorrow off, then begin practicing Tuesday for Saturday’s game at home against Boston College.
Note: I wanted to let you guys know that I’m taking this week off to clear my head for what should be a busy March between at least one trip to cover the Braves in spring training, maybe two, and covering the Yellow Jackets in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. I know a lot of you are down, but from what I saw yesterday, I believe it could turn out to be a busy March after all.
I’ll be back blogging next week heading into the Clemson game. Meanwhile I’m sure Doug Roberson will be posting and you guys will have a place to gather. Thanks for blogging with me!
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
98 comments Add your comment
GTGuy44
February 21st, 2010
12:22 pm
Same old same old. Hewitt is just a good coach. The negative feelings among alumni are more intense than they were for Chan Gailey. What really matters is his record and the fact that he has a losing record in the ACC since he has been at Tech. He needs to go.
GTGuy44
February 21st, 2010
12:23 pm
Sorry meant to say bad coach.
Buzzzed
February 21st, 2010
12:30 pm
“Tech will take today and tomorrow off, then begin practicing Tuesday for Saturday’s game”
Lawal needs no days off. He needs to be shooting 200 free throws every day. The Maryland game was a good effort by the team. I’m hoping to see constant improvement going into the ACC tourney.
Angus
February 21st, 2010
12:33 pm
I think that was the best Tech has played all year.
I understand (and agree for the most part) with the flak the CPH takes, but this one wasn’t on him. The players had chances to win this game at the end – you can’t ask for much more from a coach.
Nittany Jacket
February 21st, 2010
12:35 pm
Carroll,
Such a harddddd loss to take. Sheesh. Did anyone ask Paul about the free throw shooting? He was almost, dare I say, HAPPY at the press conference. We are less than a play away if the balls go in at the line. Here’s hoping he is finally right…….
Turnt up!
February 21st, 2010
12:38 pm
I am sorry Favors is now looking like a world beater with season slipping away. I figure if we are going to lose anyway, I hope he doesn’t dominate so that he will consider playing another year. Happened to Lawal. By the way, comparing the two, Favors has a combination of strength and touch. Lawal, not so much touch. In fact, Favors looks a lot more comfortable out there than does Lawal. Way to see Shumpert reaquaint us with his game. When he plays that aggressively, we can do big damage in March, providing we make it…
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
12:40 pm
You can not have Lawal and Bell in the game in the final 2 minutes …. both are HUGE liabilities ….. Bell turns the ball over routinely and in my opinion should not be playing at the end of the game but shouldnt be playing more than 5 min a game MAX
Lawal couldnt hit an ocean from 15 feet away so why in the world would he be in the game, at least on the offensive side, at the end of the game …. If I am not mistaken he bricked two more again within the final 2 minutes (which surprised NO ONE)
Moe Miller coming off 2 outstanding games rode pine the entire game basically. I am sure he is close to quitting and who could blame him. CHUMPert and Blewitt are playing grab a$$ with each other. CHUMPert is not a point guard but yet he is constantly playing that role. He has had 2 good games in ACC play in two years, which flat out means he is not good. Between him and Lawal I am shocked others get a chance to shoot.
Just fire this bum already so I can return to being a GT basketball fan and again attend games. At this point I do not think you could pay me to show up and watch another GT basketball RERUN…..same thing different day ….. same BS quotes from Blewitt “We are soo close”
Like I said yesterday I think Blewitt must coach to have his team gelled and ballin sometime around July …… which would make sense his record is a joke.
Carroll it being Sunday and all I do not want to have to do any investigation …….. What is Blewitts record on the road in the ACC over his career at Tech??? If I had to guess at most he has 12 wins …… P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C
BCWRECK
February 21st, 2010
12:53 pm
That was a good loss, a moral victory. This coach can play close and lose to any team in the nation.
Tech will play close its last 3 games, and in the ACC Tournament.
And if they make the NCAAs they will play close there too. Every game is a good opportunity to win and to lose.
Billy
February 21st, 2010
1:06 pm
“Moral victory”? Are you kidding me? It’s the middle of February. This is the same stuff that has happened for years with Hewitt. What a joke. I can’t even pretend to get excited about Tech basketball anymore.
409 yards
February 21st, 2010
1:12 pm
Cant win without making free throws. Regardless of how well we play otherwise the free throws are sucking the life out of our momentum. I thought we were going to get blown out by the terps, so the team deserves a lot of credit. Looks like another freshman of the week for Derrick!
Techman78
February 21st, 2010
1:13 pm
Blewitt seems sooo happy that we ALMOST beat a team on the road that consequently isnt even in the top 25. What a joke!! Everyone seems to forget though that this was a very tired Maryland team that had played like 4 games in 10 days because of having to reschedule from the snow storm. For goodness sakes the utah junior college for the deaf and blind could have played within 5 points of Maryland yesterday. If they had not have had such a tough week we would have found a way to lose by at least 10. This crap is not gonna change until we fire this bum. He is not a good coach. We will beat Boston College then we will get hammered by Clemson at Littlejohn and Virginia Tech will come to our house and beat us. We will finish 19-11 and Blewitt will make his self sound like a god because of our turnaround from last season. We will either go to the NCAA tournament by the skin of our teeth or go to the NIT and this loser will think that justifies another season of this crappy mediocrity. Fire Hewitt!!!
GO TECH
February 21st, 2010
1:17 pm
On to the next challenge… Played tough and didnt quit. Maryland is outstanding at home, second only to Duke.
UGAissolastdecade
February 21st, 2010
1:19 pm
Pls awful as usual. The 3 pointer at the end did not lost the game for us – the free throw line – once again – did. When they give us the NIT bid, we should turn it down – no one really cares.
SlimG
February 21st, 2010
1:22 pm
Blame the coach unless his name is Johnson then don’t u dare…..Give me a break bees, coach doesn’t shot free throws or play defense. This team has talent at a few positions, but still is a shooting guard and sixth man away at the very least. It’s incredible how some fans love to place blame on the coach, but probably never played any ball much less basketball.
jfanngt
February 21st, 2010
1:26 pm
When you loses 33 of your last 39 ACC road games, some will be close some won’t, you’ll play well in some and some you won’t but you just keep losing. I take no moral victories from this one.
LikesThisTeam
February 21st, 2010
2:00 pm
Really good game all around, but it felt like Tucker’s last shot went right through my heart. Too bad this great effort didn’t get a win.
The really good things were 1)Hewitt managed to work a good defensive strategy all day long and the guys executed: no big runs, no big lapses. 2) He coached the team back from 5 down to a lead in the last few minutes. 3) Everybody played well and made some improvements that were needed. The guys really picked it up. I’m predicting three straight wins to end the regular season and two wins in the ACC tournament. I will be a happy fan.
Jeffrey
February 21st, 2010
2:01 pm
I’ll repeat what I’ve been saying for 3+ years, “FIRE PAUL HEWITT AND FIRE HIM NOW!”
Jeffrey
February 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
SlimG—When year after year, players fail to perform on the court, you eventually have to turn to the coach. The one constant over the past several years is Coach Paul Hewitt. He either isn’t recruiting the right talent, or if he is, then he isn’t preparing and developing them well enough.
Steve T
February 21st, 2010
2:07 pm
I hold CPH responsible for another mediocre season with primo players. I hold him responsible for the loss to the Terps. I don’t think he puts good player combinations on the floor, especially where the PGs are concerned. Shumpert is our #1 PG? No way. 2 PGs in the game at the same time? Why? If CPH managed the players better during the game, making sure there is always a good, balanced team on the floor at any given time, making sure that the hot hands stay in the game while they are hot, and making sure the players who are floundering during a particular stretch sit down….I believe the raw talent alone would have given us a win with a comfortable margin. But the changes that CPH makes during games are detrimental to the team’s performance.
At least I only have to suffer through 2 more home games. We are poised for an 8-8 ACC record, an early ACC Tourney exit, and an NIT invite.
A couple of points re: CPH:
1. Chan Gailey is a better coach than CPH.
2. If CPH worked for CPJ, CPJ would have made the decision earlier this season to let CPH go at the end of the season (a la Dave Wommack).
white & old gold
February 21st, 2010
2:13 pm
we’ve lost multiple games to bad FT shooting
vs. Dayton: loss by 4; 11-20 (55%) ft shooting
@ FSU: loss by 2; 11-22 (50%) ft shooting
@ Miami: loss by 2; 8-16 (50%) ft shooting
@ Maryland: loss by 2; 11-20 (55%) ft shooting
that’s 3 or 4 games (depending on what you think of that 4 point margin vs Dayton) that we would have won with AVERAGE ft shooting. we win those games, we could be looking at a 3 or 4 seed maybe, who knows…
as it is, we’re slipping dangerously into a bubble situation.
Biff Pocoroba
February 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
You are right SlimG. You can’t place any blame on the coach. He doesn’t recruit the players. He doesn’t lead practices. He has no blame whatsover. He just cashes a $1.7 million pay check for nothing. If Tech practices the day before a game and loses, Hewitt claims that his team was too tired and that is why they struggled at the end. However, Maryland can play 4 games in 8 days and still be fresh enough to win at the end with less depth than Tech has. It is time to end the excuses and put Paul out to pasture.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
11 for 20 from the f/t line…yes we can blame this loss on Phewitt.
Just being a average f/t shooting team, we win.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
white & old gold ….. pretty sure the FT shooting in the UGA game was horrendous as well
LikesThisTeam ….. can you please drop some of the stuff your smoking?? Win the last three game … .1. what in the f$%k makes you think Blewitt will win a game on the road??? 2. Anytime Blewitt has a full week to prepare for a game we lose, I expect we might be able to pull it out Saturday but that would be solely due to our 7th player being better than BS’s #1
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
* BC’s *
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
2:47 pm
Also LikesThisTeam if you are a gambling man let me know….. hell I think I’d put up my house, cars, and kids on this one ….. NO FREAKIN WAY we win the last three games
tony
February 21st, 2010
3:14 pm
I saw some bright spots in the game, but unfortunately, bright spots don’t win games. Tech is a good average team. Good teams win close games, though not all games. Tech doesn’t have players that cosistently give regular averages from game to game. It’s hit and miss. Lastly, there is no go to guy that wants the ball in the end that can take over like a John Wall type player. If they make it to the Big Dance it will probably be a one and done. We’ll see.
LikesThisTeam
February 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
I like the team and I like the coach too. Have you watched how the big guys rotate to help out in the paint? That’s good coaching and good execution. Tech never gives up a back door cut. They almost never give up a fast break. They get a ton of rebounds. There’s a whole lot coaching going on to get players to be in the right place at the right time. These guys are freshmen and sophmores and they’ve got defense down pat. The reason Tech has this great recruiting class is because the kids know he will make them better.
It is really hard to coach free-throw shooting. Some guys try and try but never get to 65%. I still put Gani in the starting line-up every time.
LikesThisTeam
February 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
NCB: My prediction on three straight is a bit optimistic so I will need some decent odds on the bet. Whatcha say to house, cars, and kids against a couple of beers?
Yurtle_the_Turtle
February 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
oh well…didn’t even watch the game. Not watching any more with Hewitt “coaching” this team. Never seems to win the close one because he has no clue as what to do to be a successful coach. Don’t care any more. GT basketball doesn’t get my time or money anymore…
dpj98
February 21st, 2010
4:04 pm
Ball Blewitt has a loser mentality, it’s as simple as that. When a coach says his team played the best game of the year and lost because they were unlucky, then he’s a loser, plain and simple. You don’t lose games on last second shots if they aren’t close enough to lose on last second shots. No one, absolutely no one wants that guy coaching our team. We got rid of Gailey why can’t we just give that clown his $7 million and be done with it?
Congrats to Gary Williams for coming up with the best joke of the day, joking that Tech is playing as well as anyone in the league. Let’s see, 2-4 in the last six, blown out by Duke, blew a 16 point lead and narrowly beat last place NC St, lost to a lowly Miami team, run off the court by Wake, beat a horrible UNC squad and lost to Maryland? Hilarious, Gary. I’d hate to see how a team not playing well would be doing. Williams must be smoking the same stuff Blewitt is smoking.
UGAissolastdecade
February 21st, 2010
4:12 pm
SlimG is not a Tech student or alum. He has no clue (ie. intelligence).
RC
February 21st, 2010
4:16 pm
It was a very good game…Terps didn’t blow them out …and it was a home game ..and that’s what they usually do..
next game…!!
William Casey
February 21st, 2010
4:30 pm
GT lost because Favors made a fundamental defensive error on Maryland’s last in-bounds pass. Same as Clinch did vs. FSU in ACC tourney. Not blaming it on Favors. Hmmmmmmmm
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
4:53 pm
LikeThisTeam ….. I like your betting style but I fortunately have no kids ….it was added to add a little oomph …LOL
I say we win Saturday and not again until the first round of the NIT (but who will care other than Hewitt)
Also, if the coaching is good please explain the issues with turnovers, the lineup rotations, and of course the lack of a single offensive strategy period.
Tubby Smith needs to move down to ATL and get out of that dud of a basketball school
LikesThisTeam
February 21st, 2010
5:08 pm
NCB: Turnovers come from playing fast. ACC is so much faster than where these guys were last year. They are getting used to it and fast, smooth play is coming on the offensive end. Watch Rice on this. He is getting it.
Lineup rotations are Coach Hewitt’s strategy. He changes lineup to get the specialists into the game. He will always have the offensive/defensive teams. With this team he is doing it less.
The offensive strategy is the same as any team with a big front line. Work the ball around to find an angle to get an entry to the low post. Receiver either moves to the bucket or kicks it out for a jump shot. It’s the best strategy anybody has ever figured out.
APD
February 21st, 2010
5:13 pm
We are a basketball school …..right ???? Aren’t we??? arghhhhh,arghhhhhhhhh
We EVEN LOST to UGA and they are not basketball school. Arghhhhh,arghhhhhhhhhhh
NIT will be fine for the jackets. AAAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA
Truth Hurts
February 21st, 2010
5:14 pm
And the 4-8, 12-13 poodles will be home again, working on their art history or excercise science “degrees”.
Crazy
February 21st, 2010
5:22 pm
Not only did you lose to my Terps, but you lost to UGA by 6…….. Ya’ll just flat out suck!
WoodstockDave
February 21st, 2010
6:42 pm
Hewitt’s contract is the most generous welfare program in the U.S.
messin with sasquatch
February 21st, 2010
6:50 pm
ugag sucks.
having said that, it gets old losin all road games. this game was within our reach.
Hattie
February 21st, 2010
7:16 pm
Can we PLEASE just run Hewitt out the door now and end this suffering. PLEASE!!!
This jerk couldn’t coach high school, much less an ACC team.
PLEASE. Get the tar and feathers ready and let’s have a farewell party.
4 jacks
February 21st, 2010
7:20 pm
It is a tough Hewitt contract to swallow. but it is time. We have to start all over again as Hewitt has made the program totally irrevelant not only nationally, but the ACC and most of his fan baseas well. If the man had a 10th of the love for GT and the integrity that Bobby had he would take a smaller buyout and resign. However, I will not hold my breath. After all Hewitt said no one wanted the job when he took it. I am sure he is an ok guy, but he has to be one of the worst D-1 coaches out there. All this talent this year, although it is not just about this year, and we will not be, or really struggle to be .500 in a down conference. Give a decent coach this talent and you would have a top 15 team and a 3 seed in the dance. Hell, we will be lucky to just get to the dance. However, enjoy this year GT fans, because this is as good as it’s going to get with Hewitt.
GT in SC
February 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
Shumpart = NOT A PG!! He is a SG!
Mo Miller was doing good at PG and needs to start the rest of the season.
Favors seems to be getting better. To bad the season is almost over.
Ricky Bobby
February 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
Let me sum it up.
Tech Sucks.
<3,
Ricky
Joe
February 21st, 2010
7:59 pm
You people are without a doubt the most pompous bunch of losers in all of sports. You’re the smartest people on the planet and you recruit only 5 star Rhodes scholars yet you underachieve in every athletic contest you enter. Get a life and back to your cubicle!
NYJacket
February 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
No one wanted the job when he took it? You have to be kidding me! An opportunity to coach at an ACC school located in Atlanta and he is the only coach in country who would want the job? Get real!!!!
Hewitt was coaching at a small college in upstate New York and was winning games against competition that was several levels below the competition in the ACC.
We get rid of Bobby Cremins and hire this guy???
Thanks Dave Braine.
DRC
February 21st, 2010
8:10 pm
Joe-You are a idiot.
Ozzy
February 21st, 2010
8:11 pm
Are you working on one of those Art History or Excercise Science degrees Joe?
79
February 21st, 2010
8:12 pm
Tech basketball….yawn…..
Ga Tech JR
February 21st, 2010
8:24 pm
Need a new head coach in Basketball, Ga Tech will never be a great team with Hewitt there. Look at the talent we have this year and look at our record. No excuse, boot Hewitt.
Tech Forever
February 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
So with Hewitt this Tech team 20 games ago loses to Maryland by 20 and yesterday loses by 2?
With a decent coach this same Tech team 20 games ago beats Maryland by 10 and yesterday would have won by 20.
Boston College, win. Clemson, loss. Virginia Tech, loss. And money says Favors disappears again in the BC or Clemson games.
collegeballfan
February 21st, 2010
8:34 pm
If Lawal hits free throws Tech wins. Having said tht I thought this was the best game GT has played all year. It really was a hell of a game.
4 jacks
February 21st, 2010
8:34 pm
NY Jacket, I was referring to a statement from Paul Hewitt making the insinuation that no one wanted the job when he took it. The GT basketball head coaching position, although not a top 10 job is definitely a top 15 to 20 position. You are in the ACC, major media hub, a great area for talent and the city of Atlanta. There would be alot of good up and coming coaches, and a few “name” coaches that would surely love the opportunity that Paul Hewitt is having and has had here. However, this is as good as it will ever be under Hewitt. It is truly time to give someone else this opportunity. Hewitt has proven over time ( with the one exception) that he will never really contend for ACC championships much less national. Sorry you didn’t understand my meaning.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
Currently watching the Hawks game …. It is alarming to see how great Anthony Morrow could have been had he had a coach in college
2HLLWGA
February 21st, 2010
8:50 pm
Carroll, I was there and I concur with your assessment. Other than the horrible FT shooting, we did what needed to be done. We scored with 3 seconds left to take the lead and then guarded very well. MD just beat us on good defense. I remember us doing that to many teams, hence the name of the thriller dome.
That was one of the best games I have seen in a while. I am going to the tournament and I hope we play this well…
Can we get someone to teach them how to shoot a free throw?
FireHewitt
February 21st, 2010
8:57 pm
We are just not a top 20 program. I don’t like Hewitt, and I think we could do better, but we are not on par with Duke. We just have to accept that and be happy with what we are – a really good, not great, BB team. I for one am satisfied. If we make it to the tourney every few years, that is about what we should expect.
gt97
February 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
To All: We Ain’t Making The Big Dance! Only chance is to win the ACC Tourney. That is never going to happen with this bunch of playing out of control idiots.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
9:16 pm
gt97 …. tell me something I haven’t know over the last 4 years ….Blewitt has struck again and we will go to the NIT where the players won’t give a f#@k just like the fans and we will lose in the first or second round …….. and if DRAD doesnt pull the trigger I can see season ticket sales dropping a large percentage …so might as well make it happen ASAP
gradybaby
February 21st, 2010
9:17 pm
Most teams play on the court reflects their coaches’ personality. Tech plays soft and it’s a reflection of coach Hewitt’s coaching style. How else can you explain why he continues to lose the close games in the ACC with the talent he has on the court? Message to Gani: the NBA has enough non free throw shooting players so maybe you should work on that before you declare for the draft. Lawal, are you sure you are ready for the league because the freshman was killing you on Saturday.
RamblinWreck
February 21st, 2010
9:18 pm
GT fans take it easy on the Jackets. By the way, we are in the Top 29 with RPI standings, unlike UGAG. If we can muster 20 wins and be 20-10 and 8-8 in the ACC, were in. Win a couple of games in the ACC tourney and we will be a 6 or 7 seed instead of a 10 seed. 7-9 may even get us in if we win one game in the ACC tourney. Chill, as this team is good and will make it to the NCAA’s. I wonder what UGAG will be seeded. Oh, that’s right, they suck and won’t be invited. They will be watching from their double wides. THWG! GO GT!
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
9:26 pm
I dont want to make the tourney cuz I know we will lose in the first or at best the second round. Making the tournament will all but guarantee the worst Division I basketball coach will return for another losing season in the ACC. In fact I wouldnt be shocked if we won at most 2 ACC games next year with this donk at the helm.
We miss the tournament DRAD can not honestly defend him at that point. The only question will then be can he come up with enough money to get the cancer off the campus for good.
bubba collins
February 21st, 2010
10:11 pm
you will never win the close games, shooting free throws, the way Hewitt’s teams shoot them.
carl s
February 21st, 2010
10:18 pm
Let’s think positive and hope the team plays well down the stretch.
fullmetaljacket
February 21st, 2010
10:38 pm
There is nothing wrong with losing a close game, even several close games in conference play. There is something VERY wrong, something VERY TERRIBLY wrong, something VERY TERRIBLY PATHETICALLY wrong with losing as many games as Coach Paul Hewitt’s teams have lost in the ACC over the last decade at Tech. His apologists will talk about how close they were to winning, but the same mistakes and the same sloppy play can not be forgiven. Even with an average team you would expect to win a few on luck and lose a few on luck….but Hewitt’s teams at Tech have historically lost far more–not on luck but on poor play and poor coaching. There is no excuse, DRad, just fire him. The primary reason I check the ajc online several times a day is because I know one day the headline will read “Hewitt Out at Georgia Tech.”
fullmetaljacket
February 21st, 2010
10:47 pm
It is so easy to criticize we bloggers and posters here on the internet where everyone has an opinion and most of us are full of B.S. and don’t know the slightest thing about coaching and leadership and sports in general. What is more pathetic is that you can look at our posts over the past three or four years and see the same comments being made about Hewitt’s mistakes, inferior situational coaching, inadequate preparation, etc., and they are still true. An objective observer can read a post from 2006 and see the same criticisms that were true then and which continue to plague the team today. That is the sign that this man needs to go, and go now. Give him the money he’s been promised, just get him out of the house before he finishes tearing the whole thing down. The losses all look the same. The victories generally look haphazard. The end result is an underachieving team with a mediocre record, maybe on the bubble, but even if they make the tourney, they will not represent themselves, the university, or the team well…..through little fault of their own.
fullmetaljacket
February 21st, 2010
10:52 pm
Hello, DRad, are you listening? I appreciate all you have done for us in the past several years, and now it is time to man up and do something we know you don’t want to do. It is clear from your personal emails to me and fellow alumni that you are loyal to Hewitt and genuinely like the guy. But it’s time to pull the trigger, and you know it. I will begin buying season BBall tickets again when Hewitt is gone. I am even willing to chip in some extra bucks for our AMC rejuvenation project….but not until the program is pointed in the right direction. Merely making the tournament this year won’t cut it, because you know (just like we know) that next year holds little potential for improvement. We’re tired of being mediocre. We won’t stand for it. And we certainly won’t pay for it.
USAHockeyWins
February 21st, 2010
10:59 pm
They played better against Maryland than they did against NC STATE. Is that worth another $7+ Million? Oh, yeah, we beat the worst UNC team in recent history twice, and we’ll finish in the middle to bottom tier of the conference again….at least this year we won’t be last. Rather than look at the improvement from last year to this year, let’s look at the last ten years under Hewitt vs. the previous ten years (twenty years?) under Cremins. Or just measure us against the rest of the ACC over the last decade. By any measure, there is no justification for keeping Hewitt. Fire him.
USAHockeyWins
February 21st, 2010
11:06 pm
Fear the Turtle? Heck, we just Fear the Contract.
USAHockeyWins
February 21st, 2010
11:08 pm
No shame in losing a road game in ACC conference play. Infinite shame in keeping a coach who doesn’t do his job, hasn’t done it since he was given a guaranteed rollover contract, and who has no love or loyalty to the school or the program he is destroying.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 21st, 2010
11:22 pm
He is the WORST game-day coach in division 1 men’s BB…..He has to go, contract or no.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 21st, 2010
11:53 pm
Hewitt, the only person in America who knows less about how to succeed at his current job than Obama …… Congrats Blewey
Mr.Hewitt Fan
February 22nd, 2010
5:24 am
Coach Hewtt has done a great job recruiting and has provided memotable momenys. Take Johnny Lawal out inthe final minutes your crazy, I have been following Georgia Tech since 1962 and Hewitt is right up their. What needs to be done is fire college basketball annoucers who can not remember that they are to broadcast not coach.
NYJacket
February 22nd, 2010
7:35 am
4Jacks,
I see your point. I guess Hewitt was given the impression that the Tech job was going to hard to fill by Dave Braine who seemingly was the most pessimistic AD Tech could ever hire. Dave Braine must have been intimidated by Georgia Tech’s high academic standards into believing Tech could never complete with “pure football and basketball” factories. Of course he completely ignored several decades of outstanding performance by prior teams.
Dave Braine was probably the second biggest mistake in the history of Georgia Tech sports. Bill Lewis was the biggest even more so than Gailey. But, then again Gailey was the result of Braine.
I am sure glad we have turned the corner and will fill our positions with the best people we can find.
I don’t know what is going to happen with Hewitt. When he first showed up, his style of play was exciting. But, his teams constantly threw up bricks from the foul line and his offense lacked effectiveness. I thought that problem would be taken care of by his recruiting kids who could shoot, run an efficient fast break offense and if stopped execute well in the half court.
His first couple of teams played with intensity. But over the years the intensity has dropped off and there seems to have been little improvement in foul shooting or offensive execution.
Hewitt seems like a nice guy and I am sure he projects a good image for the school. But ???????.
Gt4ever
February 22nd, 2010
9:01 am
Wow, How many faces can you put on a LOSS! A loss is a LOSS! Just pitiful……. What next???
VT Yellow Jacket
February 22nd, 2010
9:02 am
NoCoach Blewitt – But what do you really think of this team’s coaching? :^)
Gani going 2 for 8 at the line is a disgrace for a guy 85% of the way through his junior season. Can you blame the coach for that? Somehow I can!
I never really want to see Tech lose, but if they go deep in the ACC or NCAA tourneys, then PH is here to stay for a few more years. And that will not be good for the long-term health of the program.
Gt4ever
February 22nd, 2010
9:04 am
Mr Hewitt fan….. Right up there with WHO! Nobody questions his ability to recruit, it’s his coaching that leaves a LOT to be desired…. He should be winning with this talent, PERIOD! His record at GT suggest nothing but SUBSTANDARD performance.
GT ArmChairQB
February 22nd, 2010
9:14 am
Who cares? Basketball sucks.
VT Yellow Jacket
February 22nd, 2010
9:15 am
It was a great move by PH to schedule a bunch of patsies early in the season so that the crummy ACC record is disguised by his overall 18-9 record. The glorious victories over Kennesaw State, Fla A&M, KY State and George Mason have now lost their luster.
A 19-11 record looks pretty good without scrutiny. But look deeper into the putrid heart of the ugly beast of the 2009-2010 season and you will see all the evil of the world concentrated into that dark mass. Kinda.
Gt4ever
February 22nd, 2010
9:19 am
Football couldn’t come any sooner…. Here is hoping we can finally beat somebody in football next year….
GTFan
February 22nd, 2010
10:48 am
I dont even watch anymore… “moral victory”, “tough loss”, “team isnt quitting”… enough with this loser.
GTSteve
February 22nd, 2010
10:53 am
How come no comments on the fact that when MD called timeout at the end of the game there was .9 seconds…when they came out of time out, there was 1.5 seconds
Technophobia
February 22nd, 2010
11:09 am
Great article Carroll, you nailed it. Favors played a great game and should be congratulated. I hope he can maintain the improvement he’s made. Lawal REALLY needs to keep working on his FT’s and hopefully will continue these two days off. Without his FT’s, we hit 75% which is very reasonable and had he performed at that level at the line we would have won. The team is getting back and hopefully can stay there.
1 and done
February 22nd, 2010
12:16 pm
UGA 73 – GT 66!!!
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!
SEE YOU IN THE NIT!!!
nickj0321
February 22nd, 2010
1:52 pm
1 and done , no you won’t bc UGA surely wont make it there
BCWRECK
February 22nd, 2010
7:15 pm
1 and done has a good point. We could easily meet UGA in the NIT.
But we have improved since Jan, and I think we have a better chance this time.
This might be better for this GT team. A deep NIT run would go a long way towards next year’s team.
matt
February 22nd, 2010
7:17 pm
Hey Carroll – you are so naive. “For a little perspective” how about that the real reason Coach Williams said all those nice things about Tech and CPH is because Maryland has won the last 9 games against Tech. Obviously Coach Williams selfishly wants Tech to keep CPH as coach as long as possible.
a fan no matter what
February 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
I’m guessing the extra six tenth of a second is rewarded to all home teams, but MD shot the three in .5 seconds so it wouldn’t have effected the outcome even if MD was given the deserving 9 seconds in which to shoot the ball.
Paul is the man?
February 22nd, 2010
9:01 pm
Just in case you were wondering, since the league expanded to 12 teams (2005-6 season) here is the up to date total regular season ACC wins by team. Of course, GT is in last place. By the way, if you add tournament wins, GT is still in last place. No wonder why all the other ACC coaches have nothing but great things to say about CPH.
REGULAR SEASON Total Wins
Duke 57
North Carolina 53
Maryland 42
Clemson 40
Florida State 40
Boston College 38
Virginia Tech 38
Wake Forest 34
Virginia 32
Miami 29
N.C. St 28
Georgia Tech 27
Ha-Ha
February 22nd, 2010
9:15 pm
My understanding is that CPH unconditionally gets his 5 year contract rolled over each April (in effect making it a lifetime contract) and gets a 150K raise to boot! Even Coach K does not have that good of a deal in writing.
If they have had the least amount of ACC wins in 5 years, leave it to Tech to be so loyal to a grossly overpaid coach who has so badly underperformed.
Take a lesson from the lady Jackets
February 23rd, 2010
6:48 am
Let coach Josephs coach the guys…or at least have our guys watch our ladies play. Solid defense, excellent free throw shooting 100% intensity. If our guys played with half as much spirit and if CPH knew half as much as coach Joseph we would be top 10!!!!!
eggguy
February 23rd, 2010
9:54 am
Can’t and won’t watch them anymore. FT’s are free, ain’t they? Why recruit players that don’t shoot 75% FT’s in high school. Speaking of recruiting, Tech is not even on the radar as far as recruits for next year. IF Favors leaves for NBA, what kind of a season do ya think we will have next year? Same old same old same old same old of what we been seeing for years now. CLOSE….BUT NO CIGARS!
Coarch Hughlett needs to go……New Jersey is calling, $75k/year as asst. Better take it, Paul.
Bill
February 23rd, 2010
2:05 pm
Carroll…..bottom line. Tech couldn’t beat a Md team that was playing its’ 4th game in 8 days. Instead of running Md early to tire them out late, Hewitt played a controlled game. Md had enough left at the end because of this. Yes, great effort. Reality—6-7 and very much on the Bubble with talent that is top 10-15 in country. Obviously, Hewitt hasn’t adjusted since his Final Four year. THey are poorly coached as their fundamentals are shaky. Yes, they do play swarming defense.They also give up way too many uncontested threes. They stand around like someone waiting for a bus during half court sets. No more defending this man. Tech deserves better from him or someone else.
Mboy73
February 23rd, 2010
8:38 pm
Why should we be excited Favors is finally playing good we only have maybe 5 or 6 games left at most and then he will be gone and then what we will talk about as fans next year man what talent we had last year we should have done better. When you start 3 Mcdonalds All Americans and good depth you just should have a winning record in your conference even if it is the ACC especially this year no team is unbeatable. Why do so many players do so well in the NBA after leaving Tech it just doesn’t add up. Coaching is a numbers driven profession and a losing record in your career in your conference will not keep you around forever. I like Paul Hewatt it just doesn’t seem to be working?
Rock On......
February 25th, 2010
10:41 am
GT will lose 2 of the next 3 or at least will be favored to do so Carol. No way on this earth GT makes the NCAA field with 9 conference losses unless they make the ACC tourney finals. If GT somehow wins 2 of 3 and wins at least one game in teh ACC tourney then they can make it. No other scenario looks possible.
Technophobia
February 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Where’s the BC game blog?
Buzzzed
February 27th, 2010
2:23 pm
92% free throw shooting for the BC game. Amazing! The 7-0 run by BC to end of the game didn’t look good. Looked just like the end of the NC state game. We are terrible against the press. Hewitt needs to find someone to in-bound the ball. Anyway, good win but I expect the team to win the home games and lose the last road game. Winning out (beating Clem on the road) would be a great surprise.
bertis downs
February 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
Carroll, Are you okay or in the witness protection program? Did not see you in the press box perch yesterday and wonder what is up. Biggest game of season at CLEM Tuesday night.
Bill
February 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
Now isn’t that interesting. The AJC blats Hewitt….rightfully so on some acounts…yet, they don’t live blog on an ACC home game. The AJC complains about TEch’s rant on journalism, yet fails to blog the game. You may be right about the tweets, but you are showing zero class and ethics ignoring the game.Perhaps Hewitt isn’t that paranoid after all.