Hewitt talks about tweets, the AJC and his team
Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Paul Hewitt approved a series of tweets from GTCoachHewitt on Wednesday to fans and those who have questioned his team:
- Clearly we are playing our best basketball of the season. Don’t believe what you read from the “experts.” Believe what you see.
- As we are coming to the latter part of the season, now is not the time to be judgemental. You all need to come out and support this team.
- Are you a critic or a supporter of this team? Supporters will continue to watch this team fight.
- To you critics: when athletes say some of the things you say, then you condemn them as quitters. Are you quitting?
- I believe in this team!
With what many analysts and opposing coaches say is the best frontcourt talent in the ACC, the Yellow Jackets are 18-9, 6-7 this season, which puts them seventh in the ACC this season. Depending upon which NCAA tournament blog you read, they will either safely make the field of 65 for the first time since 2007, or they are on the bubble. The team is 1-6 on the road in the conference this season, including last week’s last-second 76-74 loss to Maryland. After hosting Boston College on Saturday, the team will play at Clemson and will host Virginia Tech as it tries to secure its spot in the NCAAs. The ACC tournament starts March 11 in Greensboro.
Hewitt is 172-140 in 10 seasons at Tech, including 67-89 in the conference and 6-5 in the NCAAs. His salary is $1.375 million a year, with a buyout of close to $7 million that rolls over every year.
Tech had media day on Thursday, and Hewitt spent about 10 minutes discussing the tweets and why they were sent out. I’ve transcribed the discussion below so that Hewitt’s words will be out in cyberspace, unfiltered and mostly unedited (I cleaned up run-on sentences and thoughts that were started and then stopped).
In italics I’ve included the facts that Hewitt refers to regarding statistics for the team and other items of note, either confirming them or clarifying them.
I’ve only interviewed Hewitt three times, but he’s always come across as very cool and collected. Today was the same. It may appear that it got loud, for a lack of a better word, but it didn’t. I think in some cases Hewitt used you to refer to me, and other times he used you to refer to people in general.
Me: Can you clarify the tweets that went out yesterday?
Hewitt: Everybody’s entitled to think what they want to think. But at some point you have to protect the effort of your staff and I think we are on the verge of getting to the NCAA tournament.
We are the youngest team in the ACC. You can choose to look at it as they are underachieving. You can choose to look at it as they are performing to expectations. You can choose to look it as they are overachieving. However you choose to look at it, support the team.
These guys work extremely hard. They go out and represent their school with tremendous class, in the class room, in the community and on the court. Quite frankly, I think some of the coverage is reduced to cyberbullying. But never question what these guys are doing and the effort they are putting out.
Really, what it comes down to, which is unfortunate I think, because I’m such a fan of journalism, a lot of the coverage is reduced to cyberbullying as opposed to giving some objective facts. Someone pointed out to me the other day that 41 percent of our minutes are played by freshmen. That’s the highest of anybody in the ACC in the top half or on the verge of the NCAA tournament. North Carolina and N.C. State are the other two over 35 percent of their minutes played are from freshmen. That’s got to be worth something.
*The four freshmen average 31 points per game and average 41 percent of the available minute, according to Tech basketball assistant SID Mike Stamus. That percentage leads the ACC.
You’re talking about a team that’s one of the top 10 defensive teams in the country. Defense is all about teamwork, effort and dedication.
* Tech is tied for 85th in points allowed (64.6) and fourth in field-goal percentage defense (37.2).
Now, free-throw shooting…the San Antonio Spurs have trouble with free throws. If you want to start bash guys for free throws, you don’t know how hard some of these guys work at it to the point I have to throw them out of the gym to go and do their homework.
* Tech is 285th in the NCAA (.647) and 12th in the ACC (.647).
I just think that it’s unclear what I’m saying is not lashing out. I’m asking people to pick a side. Either you’re with us or against us. But pick a side. Don’t degrade the effort, the intelligence the dedication of anybody associated with the program.
If you choose to pick a side, that’s you. I’m not lashing out at anybody. The overwhelming majority of people I come in contact with are like “Coach, you guys are working your tails off. We appreciate how hard you guys work. Your guys are class kids.”
But again, I do think there are times, when it’s unfortunate because journalism is such a powerful tool and coverage is powerful, that it’s cyberbullying. That’s all it is.
Me: When you say cyberbullying, are you referring to…
Hewitt: Some of your writers. Some of your writers. Doug, I haven’t read your paper since 2005. After the 2005 season, when that team that went to the ACC finals and went to the second round and lost to Louisville was absolutely bashed, I said there’s no objectivity here. But, one of your former colleagues came by to see me the other day and said “I guess they went after you again, after a road loss.” I said “Really?” It’s just to the point of what are we looking at? Are we really that bad? We’re on the verge of the tournament. But yet, anything I hear out of your paper I hear is a negative slant.
We’re young, we’re a great defensive team. I’m not sure what else I can say. As far as the people who write in or comment, that’s fine. Just pick a side. If you want to come and help this team get over the hump, that’s what it’s about. There’s nothing better than when a team wins, how it brings the whole community together.
This team really goes out and plays hard to make the community proud. If you choose to be negative, and choose not to support, that’s your prerogative too. Just pick a side.
Me: If may ask one more question, when you ask about picking a side it seems most of the people who responded on twitter are dividing the players from you. They say they support the players but don’t support you for a variety of reasons.
Hewitt: That’s your perspective. The guy who runs the account for me says a variety of them are supportive of me and the team.
I’m just telling you what the guys tell me.
Me: There were a few that supported the coach, but there are equally dividing it up between you and the players.
Hewitt: Why does it have to get down to the issue of blame and judgment?
Me: Well, the tweets went out, telling people are you a critic or a supporter.
Hewitt: It’s not lashing out, believe me. It’s about simply, you’ve got to protect your staff and players. Especially when you know, and I hope you write this, that you’re not letting the facts get in the way of the true story. Again, we’re the youngest team, one of the top defensive teams. We just played a killer game against the second-best team in the league right now and lost on a tough shot. Now, because you can read a scoreboard and because the scoreboard doesn’t come out the way you want to, you can criticize what’s going on with the team. I’m not sure that’s objective. Anyone who saw that game or was at that game would say they played their butts off and took a pretty good shot to beat them.
If it’s about reading the scoreboard, my 11-year-old can read a scoreboard and come down on one side.
Coley Harvey of the Macon Telegraph: ….Were you thrown off by this reaction?
Hewitt: I had a couple of people who follow us, some in the media, who are friends of mine said this stuff’s out of hand right now. I was like “What?” Again, I don’t read you. You have to decide. This type of cyber-bullying undermines recruiting, not with this group but I can see where it undermines the fabric of a team.
[Hewitt told an anecdote about Vinny Del Negro]
We’re recruiting here. We have people who are trying to determine between us and other teams. The truth is we have a young basketball team that’s playing really well. You mean to tell me that if Cliff Tucker misses that shot it changes the reality of where we are going?
Now, if we come out on Saturday and play flat, don’t play hard, turn the ball over all over the place and don’t look prepared, that’s different. Second half of Miami, Wake Forest, North Carolina and Maryland, those are the best stretches of basketball we’ve played, gosh, in two yearas. At least be objective and say there’s something going on right here.
The scoreboard is important, don’t get me wrong. Even if you read the scoreboard, we’re the third-ranked APR team in the ACC. People pretty much have us solidly in the field. Am I wrong? So then, why all of this ‘The plane is going down.’
Paul Griffin, my assistant AD, says we have the toughest strength of the schedule in the ACC and perhaps the nation. Come on now, tell the truth at least. your thoughts of me, your opinion of me might be one way. That’s fine, I understand that. But at least tell the truth of what’s really going on with the team.
*Tech’s SOS is 14th in the nation and the RPI has their non-conference SOS is fourth in the ACC.
I’ll make one last point, and what your guys don’t understand, when you undermine a program you’re not hurting the coach. You’re hurting the kids that have a chance to play this game. The coaches go on. Those kids have 1-4 years to have a great experience. I can list guys who had to deal with it and went on and they’re doing fine. But what about the kids who are on the team in the program in the heat of a season and allow doubt to creep in from outside.
That’s what Bill Parcells always talks about, you fight three things: you fight the vision from within, you fight the other opponent and you fight outside influences. You’ve got to address those outside influences at some point, especially during critical junctures in the season, especially when they’re not true.
Me: He also says you are what your record says you are, and you’re less than .500.
Hewitt: That’s the NFL. There’s balanced schedules in the NFL. Everybody plays two times. You’re not going to tell me that our schedule isn’t the same. It’s just not true. There’s a classic example of understanding the facts and not reporting the facts. There’s a big reason why Strength of Schedule is a big part of the NCAA equation. That quote about ‘you are what your record is,’ that’s the NFL. That’s the NBA.
Years ago, that was the ACC. That is not college basketball today. You guys very well know that. Am I right or wrong?
Now again, personal feelings aside, report the facts. Report the facts. That’s all I’m asking.
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170 comments Add your comment
Rt
February 25th, 2010
5:48 pm
Sooooo, you don’t read the papers but are aware of the cyber bullying?
You are less than .500 in 9 years but your busting on your record is busting on the kids on the team? Which of the 9 teams are we busting on?
You continue to make millions and under-perform.
YOU Paul Hewitt are a disgrace. If you had any class you would save the kids of the future and quit.
Bobby Cremins
February 25th, 2010
5:48 pm
Me thinks CPH is feeling the heat!
Scott
February 25th, 2010
5:53 pm
Enter your comments here
Scott
February 25th, 2010
5:54 pm
Sounds a little Bush-like to me…”either you’re with us or you’re against us.” Hewitt comes off a little wacky here.
Brian
February 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
Wait a minute, he actually says record doesn’t matter? What world is he living in? 1-6 on the road matters, Paul. Hate to break it to ya.
GT For You And Me
February 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
Hewitt must have got my message to D-Rad. I sent it 2 weeks ago,and D-Rad thanked me for it.. The heat is on Hewitt. If he fails to make the tourney this yr. He will be gone in my opinion. Regardless of the cost…
StraightJacket
February 25th, 2010
6:15 pm
Doug, with all due respect, some of your “questions” aren’t “questions”; they’re statements. I wasn’t in your interview room, but they READ like disrespectful, badgering, “stiir-up-the-hornets-nest” comments like me ex-wife used to make.
Two examples: Your last “question” would sound MUCH more respectful IF it were INDEED a question, say, “Parcells also says you are what your record says you are; with your conference record less than 0.500, how would you assess your record against a Parcells’-like evaluation?” … or something like that. 2nd example: “They say they support the players but don’t support you for a variety of reasons.” Again,… a statement. Why not show some respect by adding an actual QUESTION: “Would you agree or disagree, why or why not”? You may SAY that goes “without saying”, but your “questioning” without respect is “baiting” for a defensive answer, and just seems like a counter-productive journalism exercise to me.
Other comments: Hewitt is right about 2 things. First, Tech has really gotten the short-end of the stick in the Basketball “un”-balanced ACC schedule, and NOT just this year. Second, fans need to support the team and start to understand that as long as Hewitt is here, he is a big PART of our Team.
Reality is that unless somebody with big bucks comes along, the Hewitt “Golden Rollover” Contract will keep the chains on for a long, long time. We might as well support him, because the reality says we can’t afford (financially) to do anything else.
-SJ
Brian
February 25th, 2010
6:24 pm
Also, I don’t understand why he repeatedly says Tech is one of the best defensive teams in the nation. I don’t see it. Basketball is not a defensive game anyways, it’s about how many points you can score. Good offense beats good defense any day of the week. This just makes me question his coaching even more. Placing too much emphasis on defense when he should be focused on taking care of the basketball and running an efficient offense. North Carolina won the national championship last year and I don’t remember them being a “great defensive team”, they had great offensive players.
RamblinWreck
February 25th, 2010
6:29 pm
Come on Jacket fans……Don’t give up on this team. We have a chance to be at least 20-10 and 8-8 and a NCAA berth. Might even be 21-9 and 9-7. Either is fine………..Just want to make it. I would not want to be the team with a 4th seed having to play GT as a 12th seed. GT will make the NCAA’s and win at least one and maybe 2 games. Not sure after that. Last week at Maryland was a fluke. MD got lucky with Tucker hitting that last second shot. He had never taken one since AAU ball. Give me a break, give the team a break and support them. If they don’t make the NCAA’s this year, the give Hewitt a hard time, but not until then. It just isn’t warranted.
RamblinWreck
February 25th, 2010
6:31 pm
Does anyone know where UGA will be seeded? LOL! They suck azz!
GameTime
February 25th, 2010
6:33 pm
I have no qualms with the players or their efforts. My issue is with the coaching — the coaching which is a significant disservice to the players preventing them from maximizing their potential as individuals and as team. And this crap about the team working their butts off is just testimony to how poor the coaching is. There are hundreds of examples of teams working their tails off under coaches who are doing their best but don’t achieve success. The reason? Those coaches best just doesn’t measure up and there’s nothing you can do about that except get someone who can coach and be successful at that level. I’m sure Bill Lewis was doing his best. Chan Gailey was doing his best. But their best wasn’t as good as Bobby Ross’s best or Paul Johnson’s best. That’’s just the way it is. And Paul hewitt’s best is probably fine — somewhere else! But not at GT in the ACC right now!! Working your butt off is great but it only goes so far.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
6:34 pm
First off I am not even half way through this and I have a sudden urge to hurl.
One, what writers bash you on here??? Freakin pansy these writers treat you with too much finesse. If you were back in your home state you would have had your a$$ lit up years ago so quit your whining d bag.
Second, anyone notice that OFFENSE was never mentioned by Blewitt. I guess we now know why this team has no clue what they are doing on that side of the ball because all Blewey wants to do is focus on defense and tweeting.
Third, of course I want to make this team get over the hump. That is why I want you to get on a bus, plane, or train and get the he!! out of town tonight never to return again. Blewitt has to be the most delusional egomaniac in the world. I will stop bashing the kids but I will never stop bashing you until you are where you belong (Southland or Southern Conference TOPS) Also the “we are young” excuse is getting old as you have used it after every single loss since the run of 2004.
The third question’s answer is hysterical. I thought Hewitt was at least intelligent but I am now rethinking that stance. If a portion of people are critical of you then, yes, that also means a portion is supportive by nature DONK.
“those are the best stretches of basketball we’ve played, gosh, in two years” — ummm thats supposed to say a lot?? I could find a high school girl’s team that has played better than us the last two years …… now i am convinced he is a complete moron
“People pretty much have us solidly in the field. Am I wrong?”—- Yes a$$hole you are
“Me: He also says you are what your record says you are, and you’re less than .500.
Hewitt: That’s the NFL. There’s balanced schedules in the NFL. Everybody plays two times —– Again 100% Incorrect, this is becoming a trend
Doug i would have reached across the desk and cold slapped him across his smug face. Have fun in the NIT Blewitt
acowa
February 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
1) The results over his tenure speak for themselves.
2) I am a 20+ year season ticketholder and attend most of the games. I think you can support the team and voice your displeasure.
3) CPH needs to just shut up and coach.
4) I don’t see why he’s shocked about criticism. We have a losing conference record and a losing record to the hapless mutts during his tenure.
Brian
February 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
NoCoach Blewitt, you are right I mentioned that in my post. He didn’t say one word about the one thing that wins games in basketball: OFFENSE.
Yeah you need to be able to get some defensive stops at key times, but you can’t teach defense. Either players are quick enough to guard someone or they aren’t. You put the slower players on the slow players and play help defense when they get beat.
Offense > Defense
Hey Paulthetic
February 25th, 2010
6:43 pm
they are afteryou-NOT THE KIDS! You couldnt coach a women’s high school team. Get this clown back to the circus and go spend the money on a good coach.
Wayter
February 25th, 2010
6:45 pm
I do not support Paul Hewitt continuing as coach. I definitely support the players, and I believe they are giving it everything they’ve got. And I think they played a great game at Maryland; if they can keep it up, they can finish the season well and perhaps make a run in the ACC tourney and the NCAA. But I believe it is time for Paul Hewitt to leave – he is in over his head, by any objective measure of coaching ability. I will change my mind only if we both (1) make it to the ACC Finals and (2) make it to the Sweet 16.
richtreignisover
February 25th, 2010
6:46 pm
What good is making the NCAA tourney if we aren’t going to win a game? How could we ever possibly beat a good team on the road or at a neutral site? Blewitt will get out coached as usual, the team will shoot less than 50% from the line and have 15+ turnovers. I’m a longtime Tech fan and an alum. If missing the tourney means that Drad will pull the trigger and get rid of this assclown I hope we lose out. It’s unacceptable and embarrassing that I feel that way but it is what it is. No sacrifice no victory.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
All Blewitt accomplished with this article is alienate more people
San Antonio Spurs FT shooting = .743
If we shot FT like that we would have at least 4 fewer losses so great comparison Paul!!!! Bravo buddy you proved our point for us …. There are your “FACTS” donk!!!!!!
JawjunY'all
February 25th, 2010
6:50 pm
DISGUSTING comments
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
6:53 pm
Paul I think you actually somehow managed to beat out someone up in Washington DC as the biggest moron of the day/week/month (which I thought would be impossible), and you also beat the same person in alienating more people. (GT Country instead of the whole country of course)
Joe Fan
February 25th, 2010
7:00 pm
The team is “young” excuse doesn’t wash. In college basketball one or two new players can make a huge difference in a team from year to year. This just proves that either PH is recruiting the wrong players or he can’t coach them. His won-lose record is the ultimate proof though that the coaching isn’t there and that it is time for him to go.
Cackalacka
February 25th, 2010
7:02 pm
C’mon y’all. This is pathetic.
Coach Hewitt has run a classy & clean program since day 1 in the ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE.
You know, since graduating from Tech and moving to NC, I’ve been able to follow a lot of ACC ball, and more importantly, follow a lot of ACC fans. The teams with a fan/booster base that succeed, are the patient ones; the ones that bellyache and kick out layers of negativity.
This situation with the Tech fans reminds me more and more about what NC State did to Herb Sendek. Moan, b!tch, moan, forgetting the 1/2 a decade that preceded his arrival, push him out, and BLAM, trade a tactically and morally strong coach for a dud. Meanwhile Sendek goes to another program and continues to produce a solid team there.
They still complain impatiently, but instead of having teams that go to the sweet sixteen, they are now a pathetic shadow of what they’d could be.
Hewitt’s squad is, at worst a team that struggles and is on the bubble for the dance. At best, well, they can break 500 in the conference schedule and have proven they can play against anyone in the ACC. That could mean some good things in March.
If they drop the ball then, by all means get all indignant about it. In the mean time, take a chill, and like the man says, pick a side.
Jackets Rock
February 25th, 2010
7:04 pm
The ONE thing that Paul Hewitt got right in his press conference (he got many things wrong):
“Doug, I haven’t read your paper since 2005. After the 2005 season, when that team that went to the ACC finals and went to the second round and lost to Louisville was absolutely bashed, I said there’s no objectivity here.”
The AJC has a funny way of supporting local teams, including UGA (yes, this is a TECH fan saying this). May be that’s not their job, but this is the highest profile publication in the state — and we are at their mercy. The AJC never fails to skewer coaches, players, and fans unmercifully. You can basically predict Bradley and Schultz will slaughter these teams when they lose. This has a national effect. The national story is created locally by these folks, and it has a ripple effect. As great as UGA has been over the last decade in football I cant help but think if they ever got some objective support from the AJC, they could probably win a championship.
Its college sports. When I was growing up, we kept things in perspective. This isn’t professional sports. Academics comes first, always has, always will. I wouldn’t trade academics for ESPN. Athletics are fantastic, but not when they become a sideshow.
richtreignisover
February 25th, 2010
7:07 pm
Calalacka blewitt is the least tactical coach in the nation. NC State does not reside within the best recruiting base in the country either. I picked my side years ago. Blewitt must go.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 25th, 2010
7:10 pm
Same old excuses, same old denial, same old arrogance, same old smugness, same old results……SAME OLD LOUSY COACH !!!!
Ted Striker
February 25th, 2010
7:11 pm
Doug — Your questions seemed fair and objective, especially in light of Coach Hewitt’s tweets. He may or may not be a good bench coach, however he didn’t flatter his perspective with his choice of words.
The guy comes across in his tweets and in this interview as being overly sensitive and somewhat defensive. It’s not helping him and it’s not helping his team.
blackprix
February 25th, 2010
7:12 pm
Coach Hewitt IS feeling the heat and rightfully so. This negativity is not about his players (as he would like us to believe), it’s about him and coaching those players. Since 2004 he’s had his share of good talent with some very good recruiting classes and he’s done nothing with those classes, but gotten worse.
The players change but the Coach remains the same … seems to me the constant here is the coach and the results. I can understand him defending himself but him trying to say the fans are unhappy with the players IS NOT TRUE! Fans have commented on their talents being wasted because of the coaching.
When a coach isn’t cutting it … they point to everything but themselves.
Angus
February 25th, 2010
7:13 pm
Does anyone understand what he was trying to say about his record?
Is he saying the ACC is too hard to be .500 in?
b3rg
February 25th, 2010
7:14 pm
Here are some FACTS about Paul Hewitt coached teams at GT:
In 10 seaons a Hewitt coached team has never been in the top 100 in Free Throw %.
Only once has a Paul Hewitt coached team shot over 70% free throws. In 2003 they made 70.01%
These are facts, and these facts do not bash the players. When you have a ten year trend, there is no way to blame players that are at GT for four or less.
Butta
February 25th, 2010
7:17 pm
Hewitt is getting the most out of what he has
Jason
February 25th, 2010
7:18 pm
The real issue here is that Hewett has made a big mistake with his Tweets. He may have felt the need to defend his team, but the one-liner nature of the Tweets starts to give validity to the criticisms. He would have been best off to use tact in his normal interviews through the media. Instead he’ll reap a direct response of hostility with those who are frustrated from his coaching results. I’ve frequented the AJC blogs for some time, and I just can’t agree with his statements to the effect that the majority of the criticisms are directed at his players. The majority of the criticisms are definitely aimed squarely at him.
I was a student at Tech when Hewett came to the program, and I graduated the year before they went to the final four. As I’ve kept up with the team I’ve noticed that our only true years of success have come when we’ve had strong upperclass players. Unfortunately, Hewitt tends to recruit great players that leave after one or two years. He also has had good (but not great) players that left to the NBA way too early (Crittenton & Young come to mind). So in effect the team is always young. I feel that this is the biggest hinderance to the success of the team. And responsibility falls directly on Hewitt for this problem. Yes, he should want to help his kids reach their dreams, but his responsibilities are to the school. And so he needs to start saying no to one year rental recruits or he needs to start doing a better job coaching them up in one year. Regardless, a losing conference record over nine years is unacceptable and points directly to the coach and nobody else.
Angus
February 25th, 2010
7:18 pm
OK, I think I see what he was trying to say, but I’d disagree – at least in the NFL.
blackprix
February 25th, 2010
7:20 pm
Other programs go through losing players to the draft and have a heck of a lot more success than Hewitt has. This is all about coaching at Georgia Tech.
Way too many excuses for Coach Hewitt … losers always have too many excuses.
docsbro
February 25th, 2010
7:28 pm
First of all, CPH needs to stop worrying about what’s being said and focus on the job at hand. What is he so upset about? CPH just go out and get some wins and no one will say a word!!
Cackalacka, what was your point? So I guess UNC was real patient with Brad Dougherty? Ni they fired him and moved on!! duke has had coach K for ever so he doesn’t count. Well you have Coach Williams at Maryland…he won a NC. Everyone else has been on the coaching carousel. We have been more than patient with CPH. Losing record in the ACC, which is down and he has All Americans all over the place.
CPH just win games and this will all take care of itself.
StraightJacket
February 25th, 2010
7:29 pm
Wayter’s comment: “I do not support Paul Hewitt continuing as coach. I definitely support the players, …..”
I don’t follow the logic, but maybe you can help me understand by ANSWERING THIS question:
Since WHEN is a Coach NOT an integral part of a TEAM?
Your logic seems “half-pregnant” to me.
You either support the ENTIRE team; or you don’t support the team at all. Make up your mind.
As for Hewitt, there is no money sitting around to pay his “evergold” contract off, so we might as well pull like crazy for him to turn it around. It isn’t like we have a choice: We don’t.
And don’t take my word for it. BOTH Hewitt’s contract AND the GTAA financial statements are PUBLIC documents.
Go read them.
THEN, …. you will understand.
-SJ
Hey Dogtards
February 25th, 2010
7:29 pm
I’m so damned sick of Hewitt. He’s egocentric and only has one season to back it up.
Doug, I want you to tell him that making the tournament is expected out of a Georgia Tech team. I don’t care how young we are. We have at least three future NBA first rounders on the team. I support them. I support the rest of the team. I don’t support Hewitt, whose teams have consistently underachieved during the entire time he’s been here. Since he made the finals, his record in the ACC has been terrible.
Ask him how he justifies that. At the end of the day, its results. His record the last four years just doesn’t get it done.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
7:32 pm
On a positive note …. at least he mentors his players off the court well and makes sure that they are taking their studies seriously …. and eventually graduate!!!
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
7:33 pm
I can’t even type that and maintain a straight face
GT Fan
February 25th, 2010
7:36 pm
Sounds a little Obama-like to me———-”either you’re with us or you’re against us”…Hewitt comes off a little wacky here….Fire his A@@!
I too support the players but He!! with Paul Hewitt.
b3rg
February 25th, 2010
7:39 pm
Doug, here are some additional facts you can report: A Hewitt coached GT team has never had less than 15 turnovers per game. GT has been in the top 100 in turnovers every year since 04, and 3 years in the top 30 in turnovers (04 and prior we were consistently in the 120’s or 130’s). We are 26th this year with 16.4 per game.
If he wants to talk about losing close games, maybe he should look at HIS record of coaching turnover prone teams. Again, I don’t see this as attacking the players since it is looking a trend that outlasts any player currently on the team. These are the facts of Hewitt’s coaching.
StraightJacket
February 25th, 2010
7:40 pm
b3rg: I empathize with ya man, but to quote a famous person: “You are what you are”.
We have THE best “athletes” among the teams on our schedule. However, as “basketball players”, we are merely “very good” ; NOT great. Take TWO skills, for example: Free Throws & ball handling. We are NOT good at either, as evidenced by poor free throw percentage and lots of turnovers. Is this Hewitt’s fault? ONLY if you want to blame his recruiter. BASKETBALL skills like FT shooting and ball-handling are taught in middle school and AAU ball. NOT College Basketball.
We have some great NBA-bound players. Shaq has made MILLIONS in the NBA, and lost lots of games at LSU because he couldn’t make free throws.
Are you saying that they can’t “coach-up” Shaq to make free throws? I say he’s already AT his best potential for free throws; JUST LIKE OUR KIDS.
When it comes to fundamentals, we are who we are. And we are NOT the quality BASKETBALL players that we had on the 2004 roster. THOSE guys could handle the ball AND make free throws in the clutch. Bynum, Elder, Jack, etc… were great BASKETBALL players first, and were also “good athletes” second.
This year’s team has some great future NBA players … and like Shaq … will make MILLIONS. But missed free throws and tons of turnovers lose games at the college level.
And, that IS who we are this year.
GTPak
February 25th, 2010
7:42 pm
Here is the fact coach. You were good for 3 years, then got the big contract and have since been lackadaisical. That is the fact!!!
GT Fan
February 25th, 2010
7:43 pm
D Rads will get the money…PH will be fired. Bet on it. Unless he is in final for four and that would take a miracle.
GT Fan
February 25th, 2010
7:44 pm
sorry about the “for”
docsbro
February 25th, 2010
7:45 pm
Straightjacket do you work for Tech?
You CAN ABSOLUTLY support the players and not the COACH.
The COACH is not a part of the TEAM he is part of THE COACHING STAFF. That is why when TEAMS and individuals win a gold medal in the olympics THE COACH DOES NOT get one too.
There is a definite separation between the two. I COMPLETELY support the TEAM of players and ALWAYS will. But I did not not support Coach Gailey and I do not support Coach Hewitt.
He is not focused on the right things here.
Go WIN games and shut up!!
-DB
Bill
February 25th, 2010
7:45 pm
Just fire Hewitt!
Bill
February 25th, 2010
7:46 pm
well said…docsbro
Billy the Kid
February 25th, 2010
7:49 pm
Ever notice how Hewitt is so quick to use excuses? “We’re young, we’ve had injuries, grade issues, etc.” Other coaches deal with these same issues and find ways to win. Just shut up with the excuses and go out and win some games.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 25th, 2010
7:49 pm
I sit next to a member of the Tech faculty at AMC. He told me that when Gailey was fired, D-Rad sent out an appeal to (wealthy) alums to help “pay the bill.” He was met with resounding success to that appeal. I expect (or at least HOPE) for the same appeal now in order to buy out Hewitt. It MUST happen. We cannot continue this way.
Tired Tech Fan
February 25th, 2010
8:03 pm
BLAH BLAH BLAH…Just win the next three and get in the tournament. That is all. I will be supporting either way.
b3rg
February 25th, 2010
8:09 pm
StraightJacket,
The point that I was trying to make is that the problems that the 09 Georgia Tech team faces are the same problems that every Georgia Tech team under Hewitt has faced. EVERY season he has coached we have had a team in the top half of the country in turnovers per game and shoot at or below 70% free throws. Even the Jack, Bynum, Elder teams were ranked in the mid 100’s in free throw % and turnovers. Perhaps there are some guys that can’t be coached to be more fundamentally sounds, but this has happening for a decade. The only consistent factor for that decade is Paul Hewitt.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
8:10 pm
I am still waiting for Blewitt to waste a timeout before the opening tip …… that is the only point in a game he hasn’t wasted one
Biff Pocoroba
February 25th, 2010
8:20 pm
Hewitt forgot to mention that Maryland was playing their fourth game in 8 days. If Hewitt had done this, he would have been making excuses and whining on his call in excuse show. Hewitt is so pathetic that he wants 96 teams in the tournament just so he could get in every now and then and get his bonus money. If Hewitt doesn’t want people around that don’t support him, that is fine. Next year will be the first time in 25 years that I don’t get tickets if his arrogant butt is still here.
DAWGFAN
February 25th, 2010
8:36 pm
RamblinWreck
February 25th, 2010
6:31 pm
Does anyone know where UGA will be seeded? LOL! They suck azz!
We beat ya’lls azz !!!!!!!!
"Stuff" Paul Hewitt Says
February 25th, 2010
8:39 pm
*if GT loses it’s first game in the tournament*
Hewitt says: we are still, hands down, the best team in this tournament!
Jacket Backer
February 25th, 2010
8:45 pm
this man has more excuses than anyone i’ve ever heard…….the bottom line is wins and losses…..his losing record in the ACC alone is enought to get rid of him……DRad, give Mark Price a call!!!
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
8:49 pm
Doug let me guess …… during the interview Hewitt threw his hands in the air and then hung his head resting his hands on said head.
Reality
February 25th, 2010
8:51 pm
These are 18 to 23 old young men doing their best for their team. Hewitt has always been a good representative of Georgia Tech. Everyone needs to keep it in perspective and support the team regardless.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
8:54 pm
A good representative = being placed on probation
A good representative = do not accept fault always have an excuse
A good representative = 1 winning season in ACC in 10 years
A good representative = how many of blewitt’s recruits graduated???
Jack Rabbit
February 25th, 2010
8:59 pm
Hewitt recruits top talent to Georgia Tech and deserves our support. The players put forth the needed effort every game. There is just so much balance in the ACC that it is very tough to do better than .500. My main concerns with Hewitt’s coaching is as follows:
1) he substitutes players far too often – if a player like Oliver is having a great shooting stroke we need to leave him in and ride that as long as he is hot. Taking a player out when he is clearly fired up and making things happen on the floor doesn’t make much sense. Make substitutions as the flow of the game dictates – not some preconceived plan to give each player a certain number of minutes regardless of what is happening on the court.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
9:00 pm
A good representative = Losing players yearly due to grades
Yurtle_the_Turtle
February 25th, 2010
9:03 pm
NO, Hewitt! We haven’t given up on this team, but we have given up on you! You have done NOTHING to make me think that you could beat the elite coach’s in this league. You have done NOTHING to make me think you are even slightly regarded as a true coach. You are a disgrace, Hewitt!
Doug Roberson
February 25th, 2010
9:13 pm
I wrote about this up top, but I need to say it again: Hewitt never came across as anything but a gentleman during the interview. So, comments about reaching across the table aren’t really appropriate.
Ryan
February 25th, 2010
9:16 pm
No one was beating down the door 10 years ago to take the job, who the hell would want it if he’s fired? The AA won’t have any money after paying his buy out, so then what? Some no name mid major who will have his ass handed to him by ACC coaches game after game. Yes I’m a fan of CPH and I do think something needs to change but if he is fired then who? Honestly I’d rather see a change with some of the ast. coaches and see how that plays out than have a no name come in with no recruting ties in the city or state and have to rebuild for 4 or 5 years.
Paul is the man ?
February 25th, 2010
9:18 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.
CPH can tweet and rail against his critics all day long but only someone who is not all there can be proud of the worst ACC record over the last 5 years and an overall losing record in the ACC and against our arch rival during his entire career. CPH probably thinks he deserves a bigger raise than the unconditional 150K raise he gets each and every year.
REGULAR SEASON Total Wins
Duke 57
North Carolina 53
Maryland 43
Florida State 41
Clemson 40
Boston College 39
Virginia Tech 38
Wake Forest 34
Virginia 32
Miami 30
N.C. St 28
Georgia Tech 27
Coach Paul Johnson-Less
February 25th, 2010
9:18 pm
I predict you Techies will be saying the same things about me in a few years.
TechFirst
February 25th, 2010
9:19 pm
Lets have a 7 million dollar fundraiser. I think I speak for all the GT fans coaches do move on We LOVE our players Hewitt has been a hell of a recruiter but at this point we need a coach. MARK PRICE
Supersize that order, mutt
February 25th, 2010
9:22 pm
Ryan, he has already had MANY MANY opportunities to shake up his coaching staff, and he hasn’t done squat to improve it. How many more chance are you willing to give him? I think we have given him too many chances already.
And TechFirst, as much as I love Mark Price, why do you think he would make a good coach? I’m not saying he wouldn’t, but he has no coaching experience to date. I want somebody with experience.
carpetbaggin yankee
February 25th, 2010
9:23 pm
Hewitt teams just don’t live up to their potential. Period. This team should be 2nd in the ACC, 3rd at worst. He complains about the press coverage? Are you joking? The coverage is tame compared to what UCONN faces with several papers covering the team in a state that actually cares about college basketball. Jim Calhoun gets raked over the coals and he is a hall of fame coach with two national championships. What has Hewitt done to warrant a free pass from the press?
My favorite Hewitt story was in 2005 when I ran into Hewitt entertaining (a couple of recruits I assume) at a GTech-UCONN football game. A couple of friends and I shouted “SANNNNNNN ANTONIOOOOOOOOO”. A look of sheer horror came over his face.
south
February 25th, 2010
9:23 pm
Lay off of Hewitt. He’s the best coach Tech has ever had…yes…I said the best.
This team has no chemistry, their young, and some of the recruits are um…to be nice…over-hyped
TechFirst
February 25th, 2010
9:24 pm
Hey leave Coach PJ out of it Paul Johnson for President small note
RAMBLIN WRECK RUNNING THE BALL AND WITH COACH GROH NOW WELL STOP THE RUN
SIMPLE MATH GOOOOOOOOO JACKETS!!!!!
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
9:24 pm
Paul Johnson tries to mend his weaknesses …… Defense was less than average last year so immediately after the season he fires the coordinator
Paul Hewitt obviously knows the weaknesses … does nothing to fix said weaknesses but does find time to tweet about them. Probably doesn’t know HOW to fix the weaknesses. Ego doesn’t allow to hire people who might create an actual offensive strategy
HoopsClass
February 25th, 2010
9:25 pm
Well said coach Hewitt. Thanks for standing up to Bark and his brothers. While it’s a break from our (Tech alum, coaches, student athletes and fans) usual stay above the classless fray of the ajc gossip journalism (see Bobby Cremins previous comments regarding this), it’s long overdue they be put into their place. Thank you for standing up for our program. We are behind you and our Jackets 100%.
Golden Tornado
February 25th, 2010
9:29 pm
As a general rule, most Tech graduates strive to excel in all they do. How can a Tech alum support a coach whose teams have the worst conference record in the last 5 years – that is not excelling but rather failing.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 25th, 2010
9:29 pm
south, those are the same lame excuses we have heard the past 5 years. Nothing ever changes under Blewitt.
south
February 25th, 2010
9:33 pm
Supersize – last 5 years? Really?
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
9:35 pm
Supersize is correct ….. I started commenting to my UGA friends how terrible of a coach he is …. they didnt even want to hear it up until last year …. and now they completely agree with me althought they obviously want him to stay forever
NoCoach Blewitt
February 25th, 2010
9:35 pm
and yes starting 5 years ago
south
February 25th, 2010
9:36 pm
I stand corrected…seems like yesterday they were in the NC game
Hayseed Dixie
February 25th, 2010
9:36 pm
Hewitt, don’t tell me you’re gonna make it happen, don’t threaten to make it happen-
Just make it happen.
Man, who raised this guy? Shouldn’t he be coaching kids and rebutting with the AJC? Could you imagine Coach K or Roy Williams pulling this crap?
Coach, if you haven’t read the AJC since 2005- well, if I was doing a job like yours, I wouldn’t read it either.
What kind of “win” was he thinking about by tweeting and complaining about critics?? What the hell was he hoping to gain?
I get the impression of a confused, desperate, emotional guy on his last rope. I love Georgia Institute of Technology Basketball, and I always will, but Paul Hewitt, you’ve been given your due opportunity. Ample opportunity.
Coach, please resign before you drag our program further down.
south
February 25th, 2010
9:40 pm
Well said Hayseed – if the team is playing as well as he says…they will see results in the upcoming tournaments…
Make a run….and all these negative bloggers go away…until next year
TechFirst
February 25th, 2010
9:41 pm
If Hewitt is the best coach Tech ever had name the court after him. Ha ha “To hell with Georgia ” Sorry guys i had to get that in there
SICKOFIT
February 25th, 2010
9:46 pm
EGO! PH is not a classy guy and he has not only embarrassed the Basketball team, but also the entire
Institute of Technology. Paul…PLEASE do us a favor and return to the Big East and allow GT to hire someone that ALL of Atlanta can embrace again!!! GT Basketball has gone from one of the toughest tickets in town…to below the Thrashers!!!
Michae
February 25th, 2010
9:51 pm
Go Terps!
Deano Smith
February 25th, 2010
9:55 pm
What’s the big deal–Favors and Lawal are gone after the season is over and Tech will be back to stumbling through the ACC at a 3-13 pace.
Simple Math
February 25th, 2010
10:19 pm
10 years – 170+ wins; 140 losses. That’s 17-14. Mediocre. Period point blank end of story. BTW Cakawhatever your name is. UNC’s fans didn’t look patient last night. The upper deck of the Dean Dome was EMPTY. This team is underachieving. When you’ve been somewhere 10 years and the team underachieves guess where the blame falls?
tweet this
February 25th, 2010
10:31 pm
tell you what..let’s make a deal CPH..give the 1.25 million back from last year’s disaster going 2-14 and we’ll over look 2006, 2007 and 2008. I mean, no one argues your a nice guy but honestly you held GT hostage…you know it, I know it and the American people know it. To really be fair to GT, just give back last year’s pay check and I promise the disgruntled comments will cease. BTW, no one is blaming or pointing the players, we like them.
CBI Cadet
February 25th, 2010
10:32 pm
As a Tech fan, I’d like to see how this turns out before bashing Hewitt or the team. 2-14 in the ACC a year ago, and a chance to get to 9-7 and the NCAA tourney a year later? That’s nice work. Agreed it may be now or never with departures looming, but it is comical how critical columnists/fans have become. Hewitt, the guy who coached his guts out to help the Jackets to the NATIONAL FINAL in 2005, now can’t coach? Let’s see how this plays out. Maybe by year’s end, he’ll be praised for taking Tech deep into the tourney.
The Dogfighter Returns
February 25th, 2010
10:33 pm
This dude is stealing money. APD should arrest him right now. an APB should be sent out right now for the arrest of paul hewitt.
losing record on the road. this is a sign of someone who is a mediocre coach. can this dude and put him out of his misery.
Tim
February 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
DRAD, we’re counting on u.
wardo
February 25th, 2010
10:51 pm
The bottom line is this: If he could coach, his teams would win. He can’t and they don’t. College coaches get paid extremely well and part of that payment brings with it an expectation of winning. You don’t win, you don’t stay. Put up or shut up! I prefer the shut up. Hit the road Paul. It is time.
chuck allison
February 25th, 2010
10:52 pm
Hewitt is a poor coach. Surely he is ashamed to accept his paycheck, knowing that there are better coaches than himself who make less than 25% of his salary. Maybe he will just quit out of shame in the best interest of GT.
What does Paul Hewitt have in common with Sonny, Shirley and the Ox? « ATL malcontent
February 25th, 2010
11:07 pm
[...] it was the Tech hoops coach’s turn to blame all his problems on the local organ. “I haven’t read your paper since 2005. After the 2005 season, when [...]
Tech Land 11
February 25th, 2010
11:13 pm
Hewitt better quit the complaining. He’s making millions and producing a mediocre product. If he doesn’t make the Sweet 16 this year, he can hit the road!
Jonathan
February 25th, 2010
11:35 pm
As a Carolina fan who has watched hoops since the 70’s and has rooted for Tech to finish second behind UNC every year, I have always believed that Hewitt is a much better game coach than Cremins was although Cremins was a slightly better recruiter. The advantage Cremins had – until he brought in Kenny Anderson – was that guys stayed for more than 1 or 2 years. With the exception of Jack, Hewitt has lost many players to the pros – Crittenden and Young come to mind – who should have stayed another year. Bosh was ready to go as he has proven.
He has a good, young team. The loss to MD Sat. was a brutal one – as tough to handle because Tech played great basketball as they did against Carolina earlier in the week kicking my team’s butt. They have been too inconsistent but considering their youth, that should be expected. I believe the verdict on this year is still open. Let’s see how they handle the rest of the season. As of the commentors who claim its all about offense, I strongly believe my favorite coach, Roy Williams, would completely disagree as he starts practice in the fall without rims on the backboards. Hewitt has done fine. The notion GT would get a better coach is improbable.
Voice of Reason
February 25th, 2010
11:47 pm
Now i’m waiting for PH to tweet “It’s just a game, dog”
Luther
February 25th, 2010
11:53 pm
For all the die hard Tech Fans – stop complaining you are destroying your program. You make the same mistakes over and over. I wish my school had coach Hewitt and your amazing freshman class and we scheduled you just to get the statisfaction of giving you a trashing each and everytime. Get behind the coach and team. The talent came to tech because you have a good coach. To attract players that can qualify and go to class and have the metal to put up with the peanut gallery of win at all cost fans is well worth the 7 million buyout and 1.2 million dollar salary.
Dwight Howard would have come to tech and played for a season or two however, idiot bloggers and unobjective writers prove to be our best deterents. You got to stop it soon your killing your program. Getting a new coach is not going to change the chances of winning more games. The talent that exist will walk with Hewitt and you’ll be the laughing stock of the conference and country. Be grateful for what you have.
Goldenrod
February 25th, 2010
11:54 pm
Personally I love Paul Hewitt and the fact that we beat UNC not once but twice this year.
We Run This Conference!
GT76
February 26th, 2010
12:08 am
This whole thing with Hewitt appears to have turned the corner and I’m glad. They either go to the sweet sixteen or he is out! That seems fair to me.
Ryan
February 26th, 2010
12:15 am
I’m with ya Luther. Who is going to come here and coach for almost nothing if we fire CPH and pay his buyout? Seriously, who? It’s gonna be some nobody from a mid major, Favors and Lawal will leave and the freshmen and maybe even Shumpert will transfer. They came here to play for CPH! We will turn into Indiana except we won’t have a Tom Crene as coach. Honestly who can come in and get it done for minimal pay, possibly having all the underclassmen leave and no recruiting ties to the area. Jay Wright, Jamie Dixon, Mark Few, or any other big names that can keep the program heading in the right direction won’t be on the side line next year so who’s out there? Let’s hear it.
PJ
February 26th, 2010
12:15 am
The lack of support for these players is what Hewitt provides… that and hot-air to the fans. Been to almost every home game since 1971… gave the tickets up this year and will not be back to watch him ruin this proud tradition.
BTW… seems as if our friends in Athens have found a quality COACH… wonder what he could do with the TALENT GT has????
PJ.
February 26th, 2010
12:25 am
Are the Fans that are booing the coach real Tech Fans, or just Morons? You have a darn good coach who is trying to develop a young team. Ask any person with a good Basketball mind and they will tell you that the only thing Hewitt may be faulted for is the fact he never recruited at least one more back court player who could help this team. College Basketball depends on good guard play so does the NBA. The Tech team that went to the finals some six yeras ago had two back court players who are now playing in the NBA. The Hawks have played much better since getting Mike Bibby as its Point Guard, despite the efficiency of Joe Johnson as a shooting Guard. Secondly, despite the promise of Derek Favors his adjustment to the college game has not been easy, like it has been for some players, like the freshman Cousins up in Kentucky, and his brilliance is helped by the very excellent guard play by John Wall and Bledsoe and with patterson on the wing. Paul Hewitt is undoubtedly the best coach to ever coach at Tech, and I would say to those calling for him to be fired, please be careful what you wish for.
Tech Forever
February 26th, 2010
12:50 am
The only possible way anyone could currently be a supporter of Paul Hewitt as Head Mens Basketball Coach at Georgia Tech is because you absolutely are happy with the way he runs the program and the way his teams play. PERIOD. Saying you support him BUT they COULD do this better or that better DOES NOT WASH!!!!!! Why? Because it’s been 10 FREAKIN YEARS!!!!!!!!! His teams make the same mistakes now as they did 10 years ago. Free throw shooting, turnovers, inbound issues, poor time management, poor substitution patterns…..it never changes….FOR 10 YEARS!!!!
So, if you support Paul Hewitt as Head Coach then you have to be saying, even with 10 PROVEN years of history, that you are happy with the way things are and you’ll be happy with a 4 (tops) conference win season next year. And don’t tell me to wait and see. You sit there in your cubicle and wait and see. If we had listened to you happy people we’d STILL have Bill Lewis when it was people like me who KNEW he wasn’t the right man when they hired him and who wanted him gone immediately after the ‘93 UGA debacle.
And one more thing, several of you have added the whole “well he’s the best we could get” or “who else would coach here” to justify your satisfaction with Coach Hewitt. What a joke!!! Are you telling me that for $1.35 million dollars per year Georgia Tech couldn’t get a better coach than Paul Hewitt? So you’re saying Hewitt is better than Coach K…who made $1.2 million last year??? He’s better than 10 of the 12 coaches in the Big 12??? Scott Drew at Baylor….better than him?? Really? Better than 9 of the 12 coaches in the Big East??? Wow. If that’s true…if Paul Hewitt for nearly $1.5 million per year is the best coach Georgia Tech can do then for my household budget’s sake I’m glad I chose to spend that season ticket money on more worthwhile pursuits…..like lawn maintenance.
I REFUSE to believe ANY coach is as good as GT could do. You call yourselves “Tech fans”. BAH!!! You’re a Paul Hewitt fan, but it’s obvious you’d sell out to mediocrity and poor coaching….so how could you be a fan of Tech when Tech deserves better?
Pope UGA XXIII
February 26th, 2010
1:34 am
Please stay for another 10 years @ Tech, please
GTHoopsFan
February 26th, 2010
2:36 am
Send the email DRad@athletics.gatech.edu. We support the players. We don’t support Hewitt.
Bill
February 26th, 2010
3:19 am
Wow….up early and I read Hewitt’s comments. Journalism reports the facts. Paul’s teams are at the bottom of the ACC since the ACC went to 12. We get losing players early is a part of this, but sooner or later, the bottom line in athletics is the W-L’s. The record is quite frankly, atrocious. Hewitt is feeling the heat. Bashing out at people who love Tech isn’t going to endear fans.Trying to deflect away from what is stark reality and blaming others for lack of support smells of sad desperation. I have always supported the man and I will as long as he is Tech’s coach. But this is demeaning. Getting to 8-8 with a very talented Tech squad is a disappointment in a down year for the conference. I don’t think Coach Hewitt has shown his usual class at times this year.He blasted the team’s effort vs Virginia when the staff failed to put the kids in a position to win.You can’t come out and play poorly vs Miami when Wake is next on the schedule.There was no urgency and it cost Tech. The team may well have played its’ best game vs Md, but that team was tired playing their 4th game in 8 days. Tech should have run Md in the first half so they would have had tired legs in the last 10 minutes. Hewitt didn’t and let Md stay around with energy to spare. I appreciate what he did at Tech through 2005. But facts are facts. It’s really time to shut up and put up. Your grace period is long gone. Give us a reason, Coach Hewitt, to believe in your team.You haven’t the last 5 years. That is an eternity in sports.
Amused Bystander
February 26th, 2010
3:38 am
I am a regular follower of the AJC blogs including UGA, GT, Braves, and Falcons. I do it as a fun hobby. My impressions of those who are the chronic complainers (no matter if its Hewitt, MR, or Bobby Cox) is that they have little else to do with their spare time. Of course, they are free to complain and I am not knocking what they do. Its just an observation on my part
On the other hand, those who respond in defense of the coaches being criticized, probably do so
(at least in some cases) just to perpetuate controversy.
The point I am making is that its a lot of fun to read all of this stuff realizing that most of it is written as opinion only with no real inside knowledge of the situation.
Bill
February 26th, 2010
3:43 am
Just wondering Amused Bystander….why are you commenting about wasting time when you say you read so many different blogs? Opinions are free and many people who love Tech are frustrated with what has transpired the last 5 years. We had a nice man named Gailey coaching our team for a few years. Wasn’t horrible, but wasn’t very good, either . Coach Hewitt is in the same boat. You don’t have to be an “insider” to see this.
add14jazz
February 26th, 2010
7:12 am
All this stuff from Hewitt is a bunch of silliness!
He needs to quit spending time worrying about journalism, which he is NOT an expert of, and worry more about coaching his basketball team, which a lot people are starting to believe he isnt an expert of either.
Journalism isnt about support. Columnists give their opinions. You dont like their opinions, well, too bad. That’s their opinion. Why is Hewitt worried so much about their opinions???
Coach your team, man! Stop trying to be a journalism professor and be a basketball coach!
* Tech is tied for 85th in points allowed (64.6) and fourth in field-goal percentage… | Wolfpack Sports
February 26th, 2010
7:44 am
[...] The AJC inadvertently makes a succinct case for tempo-free stats. February 26th, 2010 | Category: Backing The Pack, NCSU | Leave a comment [...]
William Casey
February 26th, 2010
7:49 am
I happen to agree with most of what Coach Hewitt said. Here are the questions I wish were asked:
“Coach, who is responsible for the fact that on the last in-bounds pass by Maryland, Derrick Favors did not overplay a half step toward the baseline, taking away any pass directly toward the basket?”
This would have forced Cliff Tucker to take the final shot from at least 5 feet further with his momentum carrying him away from the basket. I like our chances though he might have hit the shot anyway.
This is exactly the same mistake Lewis Clich made vs. FSU in last year year’s ACC tourney.
“Did you, or an assistant, coach Favors (and Clinch) on this point?”
BeeLover
February 26th, 2010
8:10 am
Great guy but an under-achiever……he’s got to go…..Dan, just go ahead and do it.
lanier
February 26th, 2010
8:24 am
It looks like Paul thru his actions and words has just gotten Stale. Tech’s alumni and big contributers won’t stand for Stale very long. see Bobby Cremmins and they named the court for him.
Tech people are ever aware of their image especially with the 1000# gorilla to the northwest.
Afraid change is right around the corner
BB's
February 26th, 2010
8:26 am
I have two words for Dan Radakovich. Steve Alford. Go get him. CPH is a moron without a clue. He is correct about one thing. The kids give great effort, especially on defense and rebounding. Very few have questioned this. But the total lack of cohesion on offense is mind-boggling to those of us who have played and coached the game. How can aa team have so much trouble simply attempting to throw the ball inbounds. They have not scored on an inbounds play in who knows how long. Call Steve Alford as soon as New Mexico is eliminated from the tourney (which will likely be after GT is gone, if we make it at all).
Hoops Guru
February 26th, 2010
8:29 am
Whether you fail….or whether you pass
You can’t cheat the guy in the glass
Look in the mirrow Hewitt Nobody, and I mean nobody, has said fire the team….it’s the coach of this top 5 recruited team. Those Freshman you keep pinning it on…After 25 games…they ain’t Freshmen no more.
Ed McCuen
February 26th, 2010
8:32 am
I have been a Tech fan since before PW was born. Who the hell does he think he is to tell me how I should support my team. If I think getting rid of PW is whats best for my team, then I will proudly scream from the roof tops.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 26th, 2010
8:33 am
well, there goes my hope of Phewitt resigning.
If he could make free throws like he does excuses.
Kenny D
February 26th, 2010
8:36 am
Hewitt obviously does not understand the pent up hostility of the fan base…. It appears that he believes that if TECH had won the Maryland game all would be good; this is simply not the truth. This hostility does not come from the last game or even the last year, it comes from Hewitt’s entire body of work over 10 years.
All the TECH faithful understand the general nature of college basketball has changed and that truly great players rarely stay more than one or two years. This makes it imperative that in a year where TECH has superior talent over most any other team in the conference that the WINs should be piling up.
But instead Hewitt is producing mediocre results once again. His teams have historically demonstrated poor free throwing and high volume of turnovers. Increase the free throws success by just 6% (up to 70%) and decrease the turnovers by 4 would easily result in 5 additional wins for TECH. Both of these factors are coaching responsibilities.
Hewitt you have had your turn, do the honorable thing and bow out gracefully at the end of the season
Hoops Guru
February 26th, 2010
8:42 am
Mentioning the in bounds pass that was allowed to penetrate the offensive zone against Maryland….You are right Favors should definitely have overplayed the passer. Go back to me years ago in Phillips when Tennessee beat us from half court with no time on the clock. Check the tape…..Hewitt failed to put a defender on the inbounds passer. A big time college coach and it appears the big time coach had never visited that senario before. Ten years later and all he seems to be able to accomplish is to have his tie hanging two inches below his belt.
nelson
February 26th, 2010
8:50 am
CPH has had 10 years which is long enough to get it done. I think he is a good man. He represents GT well. So did Chan Gailey. That is simply not enough. His refusal to let Mark Price come and help our FT shooting is why GT is where it is. CPH makes big money but has done at best a middly job. If GT misses the NCAAs we need a change.
Kenny D
February 26th, 2010
8:56 am
Nelson,
Even if we make the NCAA it is just forestalling the inevitable; Hewitt will not this much talent available in the years to come and we will once again sink to the bottom ¼ of the conference.
Tech Fans in 4 Years
February 26th, 2010
9:00 am
“should we really have pushed Hewitt out of the door because we wanted the old coach back? Bobby did come back, but he is not what he was 20 years ago, and the recruitting classes are not that impressive”
All of you pushing for Hewitt to be fired or quit really don’t understand Basketball. You are with out a doubt GREAT TECH fans, but you really really don’t understand basketball. I know this push to get rid of Hewitt is because some of the Alumni see Bobby is coaching again and having some success, and want him back so they can relive some old passing memories.
TECH FANS are some of the worst Fair Weather Fans that I have EVER!!! seen, even worse than Philly fans
Sluggo
February 26th, 2010
9:05 am
I don’t care what league you’re in, but come time when all the talk begins about “bubble teams,” if you are not at least .500 in your conference games then there is no “at large” bids for those teams. Go to the NIT or one of the other new tournaments out there. Let’s get more successful mid-majors in the NCAA rather than a bunch of sub .500 ACC/SEC teams. Tech is a good example right now at 6-7 in the league. If they finish sub .500 then they better win the ACC tournament or get ready for the NIT.
old tech fan
February 26th, 2010
9:19 am
From my perception and that of many of other fans, it seems that our team is not improving. I’m just not talking about this year. The last 4 or 5 years have been dissappointing. As others have pointed out–foul shooting and turnovers have always been a problem. Improve either just a few percentages and we have 3 or 4 more wins a season. We go from our average conference record of 7-9 to a respectable 10-6. That’s not alot of difference but one that Hewitt has been unable to reach.
I thought Hewitt was a good hire and for the first few years it seemed like it was. But for whatever reason, something has changed and even with this outstanding Freshman class, we are still struggling with the same problems of 4 years ago–foul shooting, turnovers and fundamentals. I don’t want to hear excuses about playing young guys. If they are not cutting it, start the veterans that are sitting on your bench and who have been starters.
I want Tech to win–I watch their games but I will admit that I don’t have a lot of confidence that they will. That is the perception that many of us have, I’m sorry to say. I think we have some great talent on this team but Hewitt has been unable to get the best out of them.
As they say in basball, it may be time for a location change.
Tech First
February 26th, 2010
9:21 am
I think Hewitt is a hell of a recruiter and I love the team we have Atlanta is a sports town and we love basketball with the talent we have I hope we are prime for a run by all accounts it looks like Hewitt will be the coach One thing I ask coach hire an exp offensive coach and WE’LL SUPPORT YOU FOR THE NEXT 10 YRS WE NEED THAT FIRE AND TO THE NCAA CHANGE THE RULE AND MAKE IT 3YEARS BEFORE U CAN LEAVE JUST LIKE FOOTBALL BC TOMORROW LETS GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!
wordy
February 26th, 2010
9:25 am
Wonder what coach will be tweeting when he is looking for a job in April.
Paul Johnson
February 26th, 2010
9:27 am
I think we should hire the Navy basketball coach!
T3
February 26th, 2010
9:28 am
Daer Coach:
It’s not about the players…it’s about YOU !!
And for crying out loud…..
PUT THE SHOVEL, DOOOOWWWWNNNNNN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T3
February 26th, 2010
9:33 am
And, another thing….
All this time WASTED on “tweeting,” should be spent on Free Throw practice.
If GT is playing some its BEST ball right now as CPH as stated,
it’s going to look REEEEAAAALLLL BAD if GT struggles down this last stretch.
Paul Johnson
February 26th, 2010
9:37 am
Just punch them in the nose, coach. Be a tough guy like me.
T3
February 26th, 2010
9:39 am
At THIS point, I’m not in the “Fire CPH” camp.
But…something is CLEARLY not working with this team.
Watching road games and attending home games, this team just seems to be APATHETIC.
And…THAT…is TOTALLY on the HC.
Hoops Guru
February 26th, 2010
9:43 am
Whoever Tech fans in 4 years is….you haven’t got a clue. I have forgotton more basketball than you will ever know. I have never,,,never….never…heard bring Bobby back. You have posted the dummest blog I have ever seen on Tech. tell you wife to put you back in the closet with the vaccum cleaner…jyou are obvously better at cleaning than commenting! Stupid!!!!!
Joe Fan
February 26th, 2010
9:51 am
Ever think PH is trying to get fired with his comments? Better to collect the $7 million over 5 years without the embarassment of pretending to coach.
JEWELL ROLLEN
February 26th, 2010
10:01 am
WHAT I “SEE” IS A TEAM THAT CONSISTENTLY HAS MORE UNFORCED TURNOVERS THAN ASSISTS. I SEE 6-8 POINT BLANK MISSED LAY-UPS PER GAME. I SEE A TEAM THAT SHOOTS LESS THAN 60% FROM THE FREE THROW LINE. I SEE 3 MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICANS THAT CANNOT WIN ON THE ROAD. HAVE I MISSED ANYTHING?
snapshot
February 26th, 2010
10:08 am
the athens cesspool fired their basketball coach and he was actually doing better than the coach they have now. I am not sure firing coach Hewitt is the answer.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 26th, 2010
10:23 am
Hoops Guru, thanks.
Tech Fans in 4 Years…doesn’t know the first thing about RESULTS!!!
Kenny D
February 26th, 2010
10:25 am
snapshot, Hewitt called Rick Fox and told him not to worry because UGA has just been “unlucky”
sliderule
February 26th, 2010
10:29 am
Hoops guru: I have for years pointed to that play in a Tennessee game as when
I had my first doubt about Hewitt. We had a high school coach who didn’t cover
the inbounds passer and consequently lost several games; however, I digress.
I can’t seem to remember or find the year of that game. Please post if you would.
eggguy
February 26th, 2010
10:31 am
Winning comes down to three words……coaching….coaching….coaching! Everybody’s got talent, PARTICULARLY Georgia Tech.
Coach Hewitt says he does not read the AJC blogs….he needs to, then he would realize the readers are NOT criticle of the players! It’s the pathetic coaching!
His record speaks for itself….not acceptable. Leadership is missing on this team, I’m talking about the kind that comes from a good Head Coach!
I’m guessing 8-8 going in to the ACC tourney, lose the first game because it will be a “road game”, then who cares what happens after that? Who they going to beat in the NCAA’s…….they’re all “road games”!
FIRE HEWITT NOW, GET DAVE BRAINE TO PAY HIM HIS $7 MIL.
I’m picking a side Coach, it’s siding with the present players, and the future players.
Christy H. Dodd
February 26th, 2010
10:41 am
As a supporter of Tech basketball, I will be in attendance at tomorrow’s game cheering on my Jackets!
JEWELL ROLLEN
February 26th, 2010
10:53 am
PLEASE DON’T GET ME STARTED ON THE SUBSTITUTION PATTERN (OR LACK THERE OF). BASKETBALL IS A GAME OF FLOW AND RYTHUM. HOW CAN YOU HAVE EITHER IF A PLAYER IS ON THE FLOOR FOR 1 MIN, 2 MIN, THEN OUT?! I ONCE HEARD PW SAY MOHOMMAD FAYE PLAYED A GREAT 2 MINS!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! WHAT KIND OF FLOW CAN YOU GET INTO IN 2 MINS? BRIAN OLIVER HIT 3 STRAIGHT 3′S AND GOT TAKEN OUT! GREAT MOVE COACH…..
sliderule
February 26th, 2010
11:03 am
Hoops Guru et al: Found it. Dec 15, 2002
Hewitt’s third season.
Bill
February 26th, 2010
11:12 am
Hoops Guru…that Tn game is one that is perhaps Hewitt’s lowest as a coach. Not only did they NOT put a man on that full court in-bounds play with .5 left, after Elder mised the first FT, he should have been instructed to intentionally miss the 2nd at that point. If he missed the2nd, Tn gets the rebound and has to hurl a 90 ft ball at the basket. Instead, Elder makes the FT, TN gets to set up and hits a half court shot that should have never happened if Hewitt was aware of the situation. Granted, every young coach makes gaffes like this, but this sort of thing has been happening annually . Tech wins the Md game if Hewitt runs MD early. They were tired from 4th game in 8 days. Normally, Md wins a track meet at home. But the circumstanes were different that day. The staff , honestly, blew a huge, huge opportunity vs Md.
Be For Real
February 26th, 2010
11:38 am
You people are just dumb. He took a team at GT to the championship. That wasnt good enough. He has a young team, with very good young talent and they are ncaa bound. That’s not good enough. He is a good coach. He wins. His guys play hard. Youll always seem to forget that GT under the great bobby crimins would have a good year and then a down year. its the nature of the game. Is roy williams any less a coach becaus ethey are having a terrible year? is Coach K any less a coach when he had his down years? You as fans need to be content with a team every year that is competitive and has a chance to get hot and win. What more could you want? Be great college basketball fans and join the game with your team and your coach. You deserve it. Dont tear them down just because they dont win every game.
Scott
February 26th, 2010
11:41 am
FIRE PAUL HEWITT !
The kind of talent we have, our record should be better.
Hewitt has had plenty of years to make the basketball program a consistent, winning program and has underachieved.
After many of this years players leave school for the NBA next year, Hewitt’s program will return to medicrocy.
Good programs reload, his will have to rebuild….as usual.
GO JACKETS !
TP
February 26th, 2010
11:41 am
If CPH considers 64% free throw percentage good, then the kids are not working hard enough on that aspect of the game. Consistent winners shoot above 75%. As for the good defense, I just don’t see it on the road. That could be a result of lack of poise in a hostile environment.
Overall, I think it’s time for a change. CPH has become complacent.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 26th, 2010
12:02 pm
Be For Real, you’re an idiot. Cremins went to the NCAA’s 9 years in a row when it was 48 teams.
oh yea, 3 ACC Championships.
Jacket Dad
February 26th, 2010
12:11 pm
Evidently Hewitt is feeling the heat. He needs to. To comment about the posts he has not even read is crazy. Based on my experience, 90% of the negative comments fall squarely on his back. If he’s really a man, address the comments directly. Man up, instead of offering excuses.
As most have posted – he does not coach fundamentals and his teams never seem to gel. That, coach, falls on your back.
The truth shall set you free...
February 26th, 2010
12:16 pm
Why does everyone think we can’t buy out Hewitt’s contract? We have some of the richest and most giving Alumni of any school…I know for a fact my boss would buy out Hewitt’s contract if someone asked. The school has over a $1.4 Billion endowment almost completely funded by Alumni. Just to add some color, we managed to raise $4 million from Alumni that had graduated JUST FROM OUR FRATERNITY for a new house. We even had one graduate donate money for a local fraternity chapter house, so he could have a local chapter by his beach house. There may be plenty of reasons why we don’t get rid of Hewitt–DRAD maybe able to enlighten us–and even though the AD financials are in a mess, getting the MANY, MANY rich GT Alumni (an informal straw poll conducted by the Alumni Association showed that pre-financial crisis, 1 out of every 5 GT alumni were millionaires by liquid net worth 25 years after graduation) means that the lack of pecuniary resources isn’t one of them.
CBI Cadet
February 26th, 2010
12:48 pm
Not so fast Ramble On… The NCAA tourney switched to 64 teams in 1985. Cremins led Tech to 10 NCAA tourneys in 19 years but failed to make the tourney his last four years, prompting bozos like on this board to cast him aside. Cremins was fantastic. Jury is still out on Hewitt (four trips in nine years, looking for five in 10). Both led Tech to a Final Four. As I stated before, let’s see how this plays out. The fair-weather Techies might be singing a different tune if the Jackets make a run in the tourney.
flagboy?
February 26th, 2010
1:05 pm
RamblinWreck
February 25th, 2010
6:31 pm
Does anyone know where UGA will be seeded? LOL! They suck azz!
_____________________________________________________
Perhaps we should turn you for cyberbullying.
VegasGT
February 26th, 2010
1:19 pm
If Hewitt were really such a classy guy, he would put some performance clauses in his contract to give GT an out if he doesn’t prove his worth.
Ultimately, he is the head coach and the performance of the team falls under his leadership, or lack thereof.
I do not see how he can blame the results on the fact that the team is young. He keeps recruiting kids that, from the start, are expected to stay only one or two years. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t point to your positive recruiting results of star players and then blame the results every year on having a young team. There are plenty of other coached out there that are successful recruiting players that will stay all four years.
Anyway, if he really had any class, he should let GT out of his contract or suggest some performance based out clauses that show he actually has some goals he thinks he needs to achieve in order to justify his contract value.
nickj0321
February 26th, 2010
1:33 pm
wow hewitt is an idiot – FIRE PAUL HEWITT
OneEyed Jack
February 26th, 2010
1:37 pm
Please please please teach the team an inbounds play when the other team is pressing. We have failed miserably all season on this single simple play. How many time outs have we wasted because we could not get the ball in-bounded???
bigstack19
February 26th, 2010
1:39 pm
I would fire him just for tweeting. Less tweeting and more coaching. You will have plenty of time to tweet when you don’t make the NCAA’S.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 26th, 2010
1:44 pm
VegasGT …… how about a clause that states at least one player graduates from his team per year??? He wouldn’t last another year if we could get that in writing.
Former GT Basketball Season Ticket Holder
February 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
I quit buying season tickets because the man cannot design an inbounds play, and his point guard always brought the ball down one side of the court – right into a trap.
That’s coaching….or lack there of.
His team has been “young” for 10 years now.
Cremins didn’t have these problems with “young” talent.
Hoops Guru
February 26th, 2010
2:49 pm
Sliderule……..The year of the tennessee prayer was 2001.. Put no one on the inbounds pass, threw it defensive side of half court on the sideline and the prayer got answered. I get amused at the Foreman insertion in the line up through out the game for one trip down the floor. I could go on and on. I adored Bobby Cremins, but Cremins never really realized the importance of beating Georgia…and Hewitt is eating from the same dish. Another thing….when games end close….bet your life that coaching is the distinct difference.
Buzz Off
February 26th, 2010
2:53 pm
Kentucky starts 3 freshmen. They seem to be doing okay.
NC GT Fan
February 26th, 2010
3:38 pm
If Hewitt coached as well as he comes up with excuses we would be a national championship team!
Jared
February 26th, 2010
4:04 pm
Doug, you nailed it. We are with the team. We are not with Hewitt because he refuses to teach a fundamental basketball approach that is absolutely necessary to win in the ACC. He has the raw talent but he is doing nothing to refine it into a winning program and unfortunately, he probably won’t get anymore of a chance to because many of them will leave early.
I gave Hewitt a pass for 2 years after Javaris Crittenden left him hanging out to dry with no PG, but that time has passed and he hasn’t been able to develop a leader for this team.
He subsitutes like a mad man with very little distinguishable pattern. Because of the lack of a PG it seems like we just play street ball on the offensive side of the ball. I will give him credit for a very good defense, though.
Tell It Like It Is
February 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
I am not a Tech supporter so I am not looking through foggy glasses. Coach Hewitt is a great coach. Tech will not find a better recruiter. If he could keep his blue chip recruits for more than two years, the team record would be much better. Unfortunately, that will never happen at Tech or any other school. If Hewitt leaves, I hope he goes to a school that appreciates his talents and schedules Tech for some games. That would be fun to see. Best to you Coach Hewitt.
savannahdawg
February 26th, 2010
6:51 pm
Once again for the coach in denial………….doesn’t look like people are against the team…….it’s you!!! You are not a good coach! Period! Team has tons of talent. Just a bad coach who doesn’t have clue how to put the talent together!
LikesThsTeam
February 26th, 2010
7:56 pm
Show’em all Coach Hewitt. Hey Jackets. Have a great game against BC. I’ll be cheering for you.
Just Saying
February 26th, 2010
8:33 pm
I think that both Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Journal Constitution sports writers (who HAVE become cyberbullies) both suck.
Ghost of Whack Hyder
February 26th, 2010
8:39 pm
WTF, does Tech no longer teach about getting results. This stiff Hewitt makes me spin in my grave.
BCWRECK
February 26th, 2010
9:24 pm
Since expansion:
Chan Gailey is still the second winning est Coach in the ACC
Paul Hewitt is the Most Losing Coach in the ACC
dpj98
February 27th, 2010
7:37 am
Let’s end this right here and now:
The 08-09 Kentucky team went 19-12 (8-8) and was NIT bound. Blewitt would consider that a pretty good year. Kentucky fired that coach.
The 09-10 Kentucky team is 27-1 and #2 in the country. Their leading scorers are: Wall (16.7) – Freshman, Cousins (16.3) – Freshman, Patterson (15.1) – Junior, Bledsoe (10.6) – Freshman, Dodson (6.5) – Sophomore, Miller (6.3) – Sophomore, Liggins (4.2) – Sophomore.
1. 3 Freshman and 3 Sophomores in their top 7 (and not one senior). Blewitt’s bellyaching about playing young guys is null and void. No one should use that excuse again, including Blewitt.
2. Good coaches make average players good, good players great and great players superstars. Blewitt does the complete opposite.
dpj98
February 27th, 2010
7:40 am
Believe what you see, not what you read in a tweet. Bye bye Blewitt.
Unmasking our privacy, one tweet at a time « Current Connections
March 5th, 2010
5:35 pm
[...] Twitter is no stranger to sports. I blogged a several weeks ago on the BCS’ attempts to use it for PR purposes. Georgia Tech’s coach, following that lopsided win against UNC, even used it to lash back at critics and defend the performance of his team. [...]