Tech’s gearing up for ACC tournament
GREENSBORO, NC – Ah, the center of the universe…..That’s how I feel sitting here today at the Greensboro Coliseum, watching Georgia Tech practice and knowing that tomorrow begins the greatest conference tourney in all the land…
Yes, I was raised in the great state of North Carolina. Yes, I went to a high school where somehow they found ways to get TVs around school on Friday’s quarterfinal day of the ACC, so we could sneak peeks at the action.
That was back in the old eight-team format, of course. I miss those days, because I’m an old-timer. But if they had to have 12 teams, and an extra day of four games, then hey, I’ll want to be here for that too.
Today is practice day, where teams not named Duke or North Carolina converge on the Greensboro Coliseum to “practice” for an hour on the court (Duke and Carolina practice at home, then drive over for the tournament. Limits the hoopla that way.) Today’s workouts traditionally give teams a chance to shoot a little and players to dunk a little and give fans a show.
Georgia Tech’s practice was pretty subdued because they were in rest, save-the-legs mode. The Yellow Jackets got their serious practice in this morning, behind closed doors at UNCG. At the Coliseum this afternoon, they just shot jumpers and practiced free throws to get used to the backdrop of the Greensboro Coliseum and Derrick Favors made some fans happy, signing autographs on his way off the court.
The practice session was more a chance for young players like Brian Oliver to get used to the background of a bigger coliseum. Of course, when I asked Brian what he thought of the background today, coach Paul Hewitt overhead and interjected, “The only thing he seems is the rim.”
Hey, true enough.
Speaking of Oliver, I aim to include a little physical evidence of Oliver testing out the rims today. It only took me like five times to get the timing down to where I actually got a shot of his release and not just his follow-through. (Photog, I am not!)
Shortly after Oliver took this shot, he came over to the bench, in need of a sugar fix. Apparently the guy is big on sugar, and immediately chomped down a candy bar, mid-shootaround. Oh to be 19 and get to eat candy all the time and be fit anyway.
Speaking of the younger guys, Hewitt said today that Mfon Udofia has had two really good days of practice and looks much more like the Udofia of earlier this season. So don’t be surprised to see Udofia’s minutes go up tomorrow, perhaps taking some of D’Andre Bell’s minutes.
It could be important for an extra pair of legs in there at guard trying to stop the ball against a UNC team that likes to go coast to coast as often as possible.
Also, I noticed Favors is still wearing tape on the right index finger that he jammed on the backboard against Clemson, but the newly-named ACC rookie of the year said it felt fine, it was more of a precautionary deal.
Tech’s draw
So the seventh-seeded Yellow Jackets get No. 10 Carolina Thursday night, a team they have beat twice this season and one which limps into Greensboro, coming off a 32-point loss to archrival Duke.
If Tech wins Thursday night, it would get No. 2 seed Maryland on Friday, which has a first-round bye. Tech faced Maryland only once this season in that Feb. 20 barn-burner in College Park, on that Cliff Tucker shot at the buzzer.
From the Yellow Jackets’ perspective, they like their draw. They could end up facing Florida State or Clemson in the semifinals, if they get past Maryland, and wouldn’t have to play top-seeded Duke until the finals.
I say all this because Gani Lawal made it sound like today that the Yellow Jackets like their draw, and I think that’s worth noting. I would have thought having Maryland lingering after Round 1 wouldn’t be so great, but that’s not how the Yellow Jackets are looking at it.
“Coming into this tournament, we really feel we have a nice little draw,” Lawal said. “If we take care of business, I really feel we can do some good things in this tournament.”
Carolina’s injury update
Since Tech last faced the Tar Heels on Feb. 16, 7-footer Tyler Zeller has returned to action. Zeller missed 10 games with a stress fracture in his foot. He’s averaged 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in five games since his return. Travis Wear, one of the 6-10 freshman twins for the Tar Heels, has also returned from an ankle injury since Tech last played North Carolina.
But where the Tar Heels have recovered, they’re still without Ed Davis, their best post player, who has a broken wrist, and now Deon Thompson has revealed he’s been playing with back pain.
Injuries probably have a lot to do with this, but get a load of this factoid: this year is the first time since the ACC was founded in 1954 that North Carolina did not have a player on the first, second or third team All-ACC.
They didn’t have anyone on the all-freshman team or the all-defensive team while they were at it. Unbelievable for a school which has produced some of the finest talent in the history of college basketball.
North Carolina doesn’t have a whole lot to lose tomorrow night. Whether that translates into a tough night for Georgia Tech remains to be seen, but I can’t see it. I can’t figure a way that Tech loses this game, and the Yellow Jackets had better not if they want to make the NCAA tournament.
Bob Bradley award
Until then, we’ll send our congratulations to D’Andre Bell, who was named the recipient of this year’s Bob Bradley courage today award for his comeback from missing all last season following spinal stenosis surgery. The award is in its fifth year. Bradley is the former Clemson sports information director who passed away in 2000 after battling bone cancer for three years.
“Even though I’ve gone through what I’ve gone through, nobody’s going to have any sympathy for me on the court,” Bell said. “There’s no reason to hang your head as a man.”
My esteemed colleague Mark Bradley will be joining me in Greensboro this evening. He will be the man in charge of in-game blogging when Tech is on the court in this ACC tournament, so be on the lookout for that, but I’m happy to chat on this blog as well.
So enjoy the ride, folks. This is the start of such a fun time of year. And if you’d rather talk football, Doug Roberson has a “mailbag” football blog you can check out on the Tech page. (P.S. Having technical difficulties trying to upload my photo. My apologies. If I can get it figured out will get it up there!)
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55 comments Add your comment
come on
March 10th, 2010
4:21 pm
yea
IndyGT
March 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
FIRST!! Who was I kidding saying I wasn’t going to watch tomorrow. I still hope we do well
IndyGT
March 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
doh!
btgt69
March 10th, 2010
4:33 pm
“esteemed colleague Mark (uga boy) Bradley ” is an oxymoron
1 and done
March 10th, 2010
4:37 pm
GT forget about it. 1 and done.
Have fun at the NIT
UGA 73 – GT 66!
Zach Mettenberger
March 10th, 2010
5:11 pm
I’m not gonna lie, I like to party.
NoCoach Blewitt
March 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
“Whether that translates into a tough night for Georgia Tech remains to be seen, but I can’t see it. I can’t figure a way that Tech loses this game”
Where there is a Blewey, there is a way
Hey "1 and done"
March 10th, 2010
5:52 pm
You sure talk a lot of trash for being a fan of a team who’s probably not good enough to be invited to the N.I.T!
Bwahahahaha!
Fire Paul Hewitt
March 10th, 2010
6:00 pm
I am a GT alumni and I will be rooting for UNC so that the Hewitt nightmare will end. Please let it end.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 10th, 2010
6:27 pm
Carroll, Come on, did you REALLY see GT practicing free throws?
If you are lying, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Carroll Rogers
March 10th, 2010
6:31 pm
Would I lie to you, Ramble On? (wink)
East Cobb Hokie
March 10th, 2010
6:34 pm
Good luck Jackets. Have no mercy on Heels.
any comments on Greenburgs mid court shot!!!
Carroll Rogers
March 10th, 2010
6:57 pm
for your information…Tech hasn’t swept UNC in three games since Mark Price, John Salley and the boys did it in 1985 to win Tech’s first ACC tourney title.
Since then the Yellow Jackets have swept a team three times in a season six times:
2001 Virginia
1996 N.C. State
1992 Virginia
1990 N.C. State
1986 Clemson
1986 Maryland
hedgepruner
March 10th, 2010
7:35 pm
Hewitts GONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aztecs
March 10th, 2010
7:47 pm
im ruiting for unc too, because if GT loses it helps SDSU AZTECS chances of getting in and fisher can out coach hewitt blindfolded
Golden Tornado
March 10th, 2010
8:15 pm
CPH’s tirade about Mark Bradley reminded me of the old saying that when you can’t argue the facts or the law then attack the messenger.
CPH wants everyone to forget the facts about his 10 years at GT:
-> In the last 10 years, CPH has a losing record against UGA
-> In the last 10 years, CPH has had only 1 winning ACC regular season and that was only 9-7
-> In the last 10 years, CPH has a 67-93 ACC regular season record (41.9%)
-> In the last 10 years, CPH has had only 4 NCAA Tourney berths
Even worse has been the last 5 years (since ACC expansion to 12 teams)
-> In the last 5 years, CPH has had 0 winning ACC regular seasons
-> In the last 5 years, CPH has a 28-52 ACC regular season record (35%) which is the WORST among all 12 teams
-> In the last 5 years, CPH has had 0 NCAA Tourney berths
CPH likes to say that winning in the ACC is really hard. Well, the above facts illustrate it is for him!!!!! Perhaps we need someone who isn’t so overmatched.
CPH likes to say this year’s team is too young. Well, FSU is younger and beat GT twice!! Also, who is the CEO of the program and who is responsible for managing it so we have both youth & experience. When Mark Bradley pointed this out, CPH claimed it was a personal attack. Good Grief!
CPH is long on excuses and short on results. He is responsible for transforming our program from a top tier ACC team to the WORST ACC team over the last 5 years. The trend line of this team’s performance over the last 10 years is appalling. It doesn’t matter whether the team makes or misses the tourney or even if it makes a good run, the stats are in and we need a change. Enough is Enough!!!!
Delbert D.
March 10th, 2010
8:41 pm
This tournament used to be one of the greatest shows on earth. Now it’s sullied by corruption, by false freshmen “students” peddling their wares before the almighty NBA, who abuses college athletic programs in a way no other professional sports organization does.
Biff Pocoroba
March 10th, 2010
8:46 pm
I guess we can count on a zero point 6 turnover game for Mfon now since Hewitt praised him. After he said Tech was playing their best basketball of the season, they couldn’t win. Whenver he starts a player because he says they practiced well, they stink it up. Hopefully this is Paul’s last ACC game.
Buzz29
March 10th, 2010
9:58 pm
aztecs,
Elton John could out coach Hewitt.
jr little
March 10th, 2010
10:11 pm
Yo Carroll, I live a mile from the coliseum in your old school district I believe, this is really basketball country. This is always such a great tournament, lots of excitement and finally, some games where the refs aren’t such homers and do not take over the games.
GTechsta
March 10th, 2010
11:32 pm
The ACC Tourney is the greatest conference tourney…….and toughest ticket in the land. See you tomorrow, Carroll! Heading up very early in the morning!
Biff Pocoroba
March 10th, 2010
11:55 pm
GTechsta, it isn’t too tough of a ticket this year. During the Va Tech game, they ran an ad during every time out asking people to buy tickets. UNC fans probably aren’t buying up tickets like they normally do either since they will be out by the weekend.
Scott
March 11th, 2010
12:05 am
Biff, I agree with you about this year, but you can bet UNC sold all their tix.
Scott
March 11th, 2010
12:06 am
Expansion to 12 teams also made the ticket a little less tough: with 9 teams, all but one played on the same day. That said, ACC quarterfinal friday and the NCAA semifinal saturday are the two best days in college basketball.
Racinoto67
March 11th, 2010
7:05 am
Get off CPH’s back. The man just wants to be CPH Retired, aka the Seven Million Dollar Man. Now think about this. Could we have done any worse without CPH at the helm? I think not. Let his retire and pay him our money. After all, it will never be any cheaper, thanks to the brainless one.
GT Fan
March 11th, 2010
8:11 am
Hewitt better be GONE !
FullMetalJacket
March 11th, 2010
8:27 am
In a way it is a shame that the team is overshadowed by Hewitt’s situation, but then again, they all signed on to play for him and some of this year’s lapses can be placed at the feet of the players. Still, they are Georgia Tech and I think by definition true Tech fans wish them well in the ACC tournament. Hewitt’s fate should already be settled: if they make a tourney run it negatively reflects on his earlier leadership. Short of a Final Four appearance, Hewitt should be gone, gone, gone. One winning record in the ACC in 10 years should never be acceptable.
FullMetalJacket
March 11th, 2010
8:36 am
DRad’s recent statement that there was still a lot to do this year implies that they still need to win a handful of games to have an acceptable season. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that he’ll fire Hewitt even if they fall short. More likely, he will give Hewitt a set of goals that must be met by next year, in essence giving him a reprieve for another year. Hewitt should have been fired last year without hesitation. If DRad is waiting for a definitive failure to validate Hewitt’s firing, he’s already missed one opportunity after last year’s embarrassment. I contend this year is sufficiently disappointing as well in unmet expectations.
NCJacketeer
March 11th, 2010
8:45 am
FMJ, I agree. There is no justifiable reason for keeping Hewitt. His “body of work” at GT is pitiful. He has lost more games and graduated fewer players than any other ACC coach of the past decade. It’s time we hold DRad accountable for not firing Hewitt two years ago, or putting him on notice then at least. The money is a red herring. It is a large sum but the sooner he is fired, the more Tech saves, in terms of automatic payraises, and more importantly, in lost revenues. Hewitt is late for the door, and while I think DRad is usually right, he’s toeing the line right now in defending Hewitt.
H,H,H,H,HEngineer
March 11th, 2010
8:59 am
AD Radakovich made an excellent hire in Coach Paul Johnson. I believe we can credit him with Machelle Joseph’s hire also. He has also made some missteps, such as the embarrassing “in the crowd” contests during football season in Gailey’s last year and other promotions that probably sounded good at the time. In many ways he is very accessible to fans, and yet he does not seem to read the fans very well. Certainly, he must make difficult business decisions based on more than the fans’ mood of the moment, but the Hewitt situation is a no-brainer (pun unintended). Sports must be entertaining and pleasurable for the spectators, who pay the bills through direct sales and advertising, and Hewitt’s product has been glaringly deficient for four years now. The big payout is an excuse, and I am surprised more alumni have not been more diligent in holding Radakovich responsible. While we are generally pleased with our A.D., we must hold him accountable also.
ugagawd
March 11th, 2010
9:04 am
u techies use big words, but u got purty mouths. and yer teeth is white and many. i dunno what a drad is, but mebbe he likes this hewit guy.
FullMetalJacket
March 11th, 2010
9:11 am
The ACC Tournament is a great sports event each year. Honestly, it has lost some of its appeal this year with down seasons for so many teams. While I think the talent of Tech’s team is a little over-rated this year, it will definitely go down as one of those regretful “What could have been” seasons. Two losses to FSU, a blown game to Miami, several close losses following meltdowns…GT should have easily won 10 games in conference this year. The tournament allows for some redemption if they get on a run, but the ambiguity of wanting to win and also wanting Hewitt to leave puts a real damper on things. As HHHHHEngineer says, it should be fun, and it isn’t this year. DRad, don’t put us in the position again…. Get us a coach at least most of us can respect and stand behind as we support our school and team.
Paul in RDU
March 11th, 2010
9:16 am
Carroll – There was a long interesting article Wednesday in the Raleigh N&O about Roy Williams and the UNC b’ball team. One thing that struck me is that Williams noted that he hates losing much more than he loves winning – that the pain of this year was much worse than the joy of last year. In interviews with Gary Williams, he’s said pretty much the same. Both of these coaches have won NC’s. What’s Hewitt’s attitude in this area?
1stTimeOut
March 11th, 2010
9:18 am
Carroll, appreciate your coverage. The ACC tourney on Tobacco Road is always topnotch, and I have not missed one since 1983 until this year. I haven’t always scored tickets to every session, but I’ve always caught at least GT’s games. This year I am staying home, however. I don’t love GT any less, but the Hewitt situation has sucked all the pleasure out of it for me. I have reached a state of absolute apathy regarding this team and genuine dislike and disrespect for this coach.
That said, I do hope all the loyal Yellow Jackets in Greensboro have a wonderful time and I if we’re still playing on Sunday I will be surprised and very pleased. But if Hewitt is still our coach by Monday evening I will be equally disappointed and discouraged.
1stTimeOut
March 11th, 2010
9:21 am
Good question, RDUPaul. I can’t imagine Hewie hates losing too much or else he wouldn’t do so much of it. No one likes to lose, but he’s awfully good at it, and I do mean “awfully.”
Duke'sBBalls
March 11th, 2010
9:28 am
The BDevils and CCrazies will be there en masse to claim another title. Folks around here are amazed at Paul Hewitt’s longevity at GT, but we wish him many happy returns. The man doesn’t belong in Division I. His “New Age” approach and attitude is a conference joke, and GT makes NCState’s program look well-run. Coach K is Old School and the real deal. If GT wants to make things exciting for all of us, they should hire K’s teacher, Bobby Knight. Now THAT would be a matchup in the ACC tournament.
FullMetalJacket
March 11th, 2010
9:32 am
Knight would be an interesting and controversial hire, but it would never happen. Tech needs stability, competence, and someone who is willing to work relatively cheap, which means a relative unknown.
Duke'sBBalls
March 11th, 2010
9:33 am
One last thing, How about them ‘Heels?
Fitin'wurds
March 11th, 2010
9:35 am
I’d rather wear porkchop panties in a lion’s den that watch Paul Hewitt coach another game for Georgia Tech.
Fitin'wurds
March 11th, 2010
9:37 am
If GT is sitting on the big bubble, then Paul Hewitt is wearing porkypine pants.
Fitin'wurds
March 11th, 2010
9:37 am
animals and underwear are just a natural match.
VT Yellow Jacket
March 11th, 2010
9:51 am
I always look forward to NoCoach Blewitt’s entertaining comments. And not just because I agree with him.
Whatever the future holds for PH, I hope the Jackets win tonight and later this weekend. I’ll be watching and cheering from 1,000 miles away!
NCJacketeer
March 11th, 2010
10:13 am
Tech “gears up” for ACC tournament? Hewitt can’t drive a stick shift and the basketball program is stuck in low gear….for about five years now.
NCJacketeer
March 11th, 2010
10:15 am
Carroll, good job. It takes a NC native to savor a fine basketball season.
NCJacketeer
March 11th, 2010
10:16 am
A bad day at the ACC Tournament is better than a good day anywhere else.
BigDawg
March 11th, 2010
10:56 am
Golden Tornado…you only left out one additional fact:
Fact…Hewitt is to GT basketball what Richt is to UGA football. They both make lots of excuses for why a team underperforms. Richt claimed that we had way too many injuries two years ago when ranked pre-season #1. Whose job is it to ensure we have depth??? This past year the claim was we struggled because of youth at the QB position. Why was another QB not used more in decided games to garner much needed experience for the following season? There is absolutely no excuse for UGA not to win 10 games this year!!! UF lost basically the entire Defense plus Tebow. UT lost lots of D talent and will have a new coach. We always get better talent than South Carolina and thus should win 9 out of 10 years. Same for Vandy and UK. Will Richt use excuses again? He certainly had the games to get another QB prepared (how many games did we lose badly??? Against Vandy why didn’t we play someone in the 4th qtr.? I am just sick of his excuses the same way GT is sick of Hewitt’s faulty reasoning. 2010 UGA should win the East, 10 games in the regular season or we simply have an overmatched coach between the hedges.
devildawg
March 11th, 2010
1:08 pm
So, the ACC tournament is better than the Big East tournament? Think about that for a second before you spout off some senseless drivel. Syracuse, Villanova, West Va., Georgetown (who waxed Duke off the floor), Notre Dame, etc. And the tournament is played in Madison Square Garden, the ACC tournament is in Greensboro, NC. Ummm, nuff said. Sorry to all u ACC folks, but the Big East has the best conference and the best tournament, and has had for the last 3 or four years. Their games are better, their players have been better, their coaches are top notch, and the ACC doesn’t have enough top notch teams to compare. Ga. Tech, thats partly your fault for being so average.
blazer
March 11th, 2010
1:34 pm
cross your fingers that a #7 can beat a #10-would be a total embarassment-gas on the fire!
how in the heck didn’t b.ardossi make all acc??????????????
supersize that order, mutt
March 11th, 2010
1:56 pm
Has anyone seen the latest online issue of “The Good Word”? I am pasting D-Rad’s last paragraph here. It is very similar to what Bradley wrote earlier this week, but in this he at least mentions the opinions of the fans. Here goes —
“Please understand that I hear all of the comments and opinions about our men’s basketball program just as I do with all of our 17 sports. Believe me, people are passionate about their particular area of interest and are not shy about expressing an opinion. There are many parts to any discussion, issues which are visible and not so visible. By now I’m sure you know that there are factors which make our men’s basketball situation unique. However one thing is clear, the student athletes and coaches who represent Georgia Tech are doing the best that they can. There is not a fiber of quit in them. It is imperative that we continue to support them and the school they represent!”
nickj0321
March 11th, 2010
1:59 pm
supersize – just read that…man watching GT games is so bitter sweet these days