Archive for May, 2010

Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Paul Hewitt was named as one of the assistant coaches to the Under-18 national team on Thursday.

Hewitt previously helped the U-18 team to a gold medal in 2006.

Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel was named head coach and Buffalo’s Reggie Witherspoon was named as the other assistant by USA Basketball’s board of directors.

The team will compete in the FIBA Americas Championship June 26-30 in San Antonio. The top four finishers will advance to next year’s FIBA U-19 World Championships.

“I had a great experience the last time I did this, back in 2006,” Hewitt said in a statement. “I hope to bring some enthusiasm and support Jeff in how he wants the team to play, whatever he’s teaching the team. Hopefully I can do something to help support him and bring in some ideas that he might find useful.”

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Irina Falconi was named the No. 1 seed in the NCAA women’s singles tournament. Falconi is 37-2 this season and has been the top-ranked player throughout …

Continue reading 3 things: Hewitt honored, Falconi No. 1, baseball team helps out »

Andy Staples of SI.com fame put out his way-too-early preseason top 25 yesterday: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/05/03/post-spring/index.html

Five ACC teams were on the list, compared to three from the SEC. Four of those teams play in the ACC’s Coastal Division. Modesty forbids me from reminding y’all how tough I’ve said the Coastal will be next year. Whoops, I did it anyway.

Of course, it should be noted that Alabama was his No. 1.

The ACC teams are:

7. Virginia Tech

12. Miami

15. Georgia Tech

18. North Carolina

22. Florida State

The SEC teams:

1. Alabama

10. Florida

23. Arkansas

Here’s what Staples had to say about the Yellow Jackets:

Spring recap: Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has never had trouble replacing a B-back (fullback), so don’t expect a ton of dropoff from Jonathan Dwyer to Allen. Nesbitt remains at the helm, and Tevin Washington proved this spring that the offense is in capable hands if Nesbitt gets hurt. On defense, the Yellow …

Continue reading One preseason poll is loaded with ACC; $1 million in new money for Tech »

Georgia Tech’s game against Alabama could still be played if the schools can’t find satisfactory replacements, athletics director Dan Radakovich said on Tuesday.

Both schools agreed to postpone the home-and-home series, scheduled at Alabama in 2013 and Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2014. However, as is common with scheduling, scenarios could shift that could bring the game back on-line.

“If they didn’t have a game and we didn’t have a game, we’d play,” Radakovich said.

Radakovich debunked the numerous theories that have been pushed during the past few days. The postponement has nothing to do with any kind of super-conference possibilities and  it has nothing to do with coach Paul Johnson’s displeasure with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game played at the Georgia Dome at the beginning of the season, which he said has given those schools a recruiting advantage in Atlanta. Lastly, no, Tech isn’t afraid to play the Tide.

“We have the greatest respect for the University of Alabama and their …

Continue reading Why Tech and Alabama postponed »

Let’s open the mailbag. Y’all asked a lot of terrific questions. I hope the answers satisfy.

Q: How is Cooper Taylor progressing in his recovery? I think many fans are interested in how he will fit into the defensive backfield next year after showing so much promise as a freshman.

A: Taylor seems to be just fine. He played all spring with the first- and second-teams on defense at safety. The secondary is arguably the deepest unit Tech has, offense or defense. I can’t say that Taylor will definitely start, but I can say that I’ll bet he sees plenty of snaps. There’s no word on whether the NCAA has approved the redshirt that Tech asked for after most of Taylor’s sophomore season was wiped out because of his Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which was diagnosed after the Miami game last September.

Q: Any info on the coaching replacement on the basketball staff?

A: No movement yet.

Q: How is the transition going with a more perimeter-oriented team?

A: The team spent time in the …

Continue reading Answers to your questions, let’s open the mailbag »

Georgia Tech assistant basketball coach John O’Connor has left to take the head coaching job at Holy Family, a Division II school in Philadelphia. O’Conner has spent the last six seasons on Paul Hewitt’s staff, one as director of basketball operations and the last five as an assistant coach.

O’Connor, 51, is a native of Philadelphia. He has spent 16 years in coaching including stints at Drexel and Lafayette.

Continue reading Hewitt assistant O’Connor leaving for new job »