Can Tech make it back to the NCAAs? Wait, read on
Some have speculated that the only way Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt will remain head coach is if the Yellow Jackets make it back to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.
With an 11-15 record and an RPI that is so low I’m not even going to bother looking it up, Tech isn’t going to make it in as an at-large.
So, they are going to have to win the ACC tournament and with it, the automatic bid.
“Doug, are you nuts?” you are saying to yourself right now.
That’s neither here nor there.
Yes, the Jackets have won just three conference games and are 11th in the 12-team league with four games remaining. Yes, they have have lost their past six games in the ACC, falling behind in most by gruesome margins.
But what’s life without hope?
Let’s assume that the standings don’t change much before the ACC tourney begins on March 10 in Greensboro.
The Yellow Jackets would likely open with either Maryland or Boston College. They’ve already lost to both those teams, but the losses were close games. So, it’s not beyond reason that Tech can win its opener.
Now, if things stay the same, Tech would face Florida State in the next round. Even without Chris Singleton, taking on the tallish Seminoles is not a good matchup for the smallish Jackets. But FSU is within a spear’s throw of North Carolina for second place. So, if the Seminoles can pass them, that could benefit the Jackets.
Certainly you remember how badly the Jackets thumped the Tar Heels at Alexander Memorial Coliseum?
So, recent results aside, who’s to say it can’t happen again?
As long as Tech isn’t matched up against FSU in the next round, Tech could defeat the other possibilities. FSU had issues with Miami and looked decent against Virginia in wins earlier this season.
Boom, Tech is in the championship game, where it will likely play Duke.
After watching how badly the Blue Devils took it to the Jackets on the boards in the first half on Sunday, I wouldn’t say I’m at call confident Tech can win that game.
But, as Sheldon Cooper likes to say, what’s life without whimsy?
Can it happen, sure?
Will it happen, that’s for you to say.
– Doug Roberson, AJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
84 comments Add your comment
Dadgum......
February 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm
From what I have heard today, it will be hard for me to believe that this week will pass without ESPN citing anonymous sources within GT that Hewitt will be relieved of his duties after the season. Apparently his main focus will be as head coach of the USA FIBA Olympic Team until 2012 and then see what college jobs might open up.
JM
February 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
Time to focus on baseball. basketball is done for the year.
Born2Buzz
February 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm
Doug, you’re killing me. At first I saw the headline and figured Bradley was off his meds. But you were just having a little fun with us. I’ll wager the house and my 401K that this will not happen. If we win 1 game in the ACC tourney I will be very surprised.
@Hewitt Fan, I don’t hate Coach Hewitt, he has been nothing but a class act and has never done anything to embarrass the Institute, but his record speaks for itself.
And please don’t try the race thing when it comes to competing against Duke. Leonard Hamilton doesn’t seem to have a problem competing against Coach K and last time I checked he was not white.
Dadgum, I’d be surprised if the word comes out before the ACC tourney, but you never know.
Doug Roberson
February 22nd, 2011
1:37 pm
Dadgum, that is not accurate. It may happen, but as of right now that’s not the case.
BartBuzz
February 22nd, 2011
1:44 pm
Doug,
It’s hard to calm down when you go off the deep end. I’m caught in a conundrum. If I pull for Tech to make the NCAA tourney, I am pulling against DRad to fire Paul Hewitt.
But like you said, it’s only a pie-in-your-face exercise. And we all know there’s no chance for the Jackets to win the ACC tournament. Unless you expect the finals to be Wake Forest and Ga Tech. How’s that for pie-in-the-sky?
Please
February 22nd, 2011
1:45 pm
Pleassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssse, allow GT into the Big Dance, pleasssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssse.
We ARE a basketball school and in a basketball conference, are we not???
@#$#@&%$#@ ACC we are. #@!%$#@%
Dadgum......
February 22nd, 2011
2:01 pm
Doug, from what I have heard. Hewitt was told or it would have gotten out to him as GT is moving forward on business plans that don’t include Hewitt. Apparently it has been agreed no official release is coming until March 14th. If that is not accurate I am surprised but I agree with you it will happen.
Hewitt Fan
February 22nd, 2011
2:11 pm
@ doug
Hewitt Fan
February 22nd, 2011
2:15 pm
@Born2Buzz
the only reason FSU beats Duke is, in 2006 the refs stole a game from FSU against duke, FSU filed a complaint and the refs got suspended..Gt fans or the AJC would never stand up for GT…
GTSteve
February 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
The only way Tech gets in…..
http://www.stubhub.com/ncaa-tournament-first-round-tickets/
Reality Bites
February 22nd, 2011
3:03 pm
If I win the lottery I will buy out Pewey’s contract.
jacketfan
February 22nd, 2011
3:29 pm
Doug, please stop smokin crack. It will kill you. This is an intervention. Please, lay off the crack…
Born2Buzz
February 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
@ Hewitt Fan
I’m not following your logic. So if Tech fans and/or the AJC complained that Coach K gets preferential treatment we might be able to compete with them?
I’ve searched info on the Duke v FSU game and nowhere does it mention anything about the refs having an influence on the game. I suggest that FSU competes with Duke because they have good solid players and a coach that knows how to use them.
It doesn’t sound like you are defending Hewitt so much as blaming the refs for giving Duke and Coach K preferential treatment. You are in a long line in that regard.
ATL4Life
February 22nd, 2011
4:45 pm
Hope. Hope is all Tech has ever had and now it’s gone…
Steve T
February 22nd, 2011
5:01 pm
I didn’t need to watch the Duke game to know what the outcome would be. And I won’t need to watch the ACC tournament to know how GT will do.
Tech Guy
February 22nd, 2011
5:20 pm
Man please!
Old Tech & Mountaineer fan in NC
February 22nd, 2011
5:38 pm
After reading part of this, I checked the calender…
Hewitt Fan
February 22nd, 2011
5:42 pm
@Born2Buzz
no need to lie..I be on a lot of blogs and even other schools in ACC talk about how GT gets no calls..well if gt fans would only stand up for their program
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The three Atlantic Coast Conference referees who worked last weekend’s game between Florida State and Duke have been suspended for one game.
Word of the action was announced this morning by the ACC’s coordinator of men’s basketball officials, John Clougherty.
He says a technical foul called on Florida State’s Alexander Johnson in the second half should not have been[..]essed. Johnson fouled Duke center Shelden Williams, after which Williams bumped Johnson’s chest. Videotape replays showed Johnson attempting to back away as Williams approached him.
The technical foul was Johnson’s fifth foul.
Hewitt Fan
February 22nd, 2011
5:43 pm
@Born2Buzz
Gt fans would have never complained, they would have just said “Hewitt is a bad coach”..I can not wait until next year…
Hewitt Fan
February 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
@Born2Buzz
the coach k conference is the reason why Hewitt is considered a bad coach..If the refs would not have cheated GT, Hewitt would have 2 ACC conference titles..He was robbed in 04, and last year..And you guys say nothing.
jeb84
February 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
For Tech to win the ACC Tournament to qualify for the NCAAs, it will take a miracle. Do you believe in miracles? Not this time….
bluecole
February 22nd, 2011
6:05 pm
Doug,
your conversion is complete. We have now mind-melded you into a complete Tech fan. You see hope where there is none, believe in the Rebel’s chances against the Galactic Alliance, and pretty soon, your automatic response will kick in when you hear the words, “WHAT”S THE GOOD WORD?!?!?!?!?!?
bill
February 22nd, 2011
6:45 pm
11 vs 12…GT will play in Big10-ACC Challenge because Nebraska makes 12.
Gtfan11
February 22nd, 2011
7:20 pm
Tell the team that you are going to forfeit the rest of the season and stay in Atlanta to help Hewitt pack. This is pathetic.
Tech Tony
February 22nd, 2011
8:15 pm
All it would take for Tech to win the ACC Tournament is about 11 airplane or bus tragedies.
NC Jacket
February 22nd, 2011
10:01 pm
Doug,
Congrats on finding something to write about to stay positive. As for me…there are only 5 games left in the year and maybe we can start having hope for next year.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
GT fans are getting delusional everyday.
Bob
February 23rd, 2011
1:32 am
The only thing that silly column accomplished is to remind everyone how important it is to can Hewitt before the ACC tournament, so there won’t be a Dennis Felton situation.
Crazy Robert
February 23rd, 2011
9:35 am
They need to hurry up and get in line to buy tickets if they want to go to the NCAA playoffs.
Roll Over
February 23rd, 2011
9:58 am
I heard that hewitt’s contract just rolled over again! Tech owes him more millions—he’ll need it. He’s got a long vacation planned after the ACC tourny blowout game is over. He’d like first class tickets, please.
St. Clarrkston
February 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
Yeah what a benefit Dawgs had from the tornado. I doubt this tech team could win two games in one day if they were playing a girls jv team.
to hewitt fan......
February 23rd, 2011
10:53 am
‘no need to lie..I be on a lot of blogs and even other schools in ACC talk about how GT gets no calls..well if gt fans would only stand up for their program’
i be? i be? your lack of even basic grammar speaks volumes.
as far as phew getting another job soon…. he well may get another job but it will not be in division 1.
CC
February 23rd, 2011
12:57 pm
Mr. O’Leary got another job, and then another job, so probably Hewitt getting another job is not an issue. What amazes me is the audacity with which this man can show his face and give interviews, knowing he has a contract that no other coach in this land has, not even the best in their businesses.
A self-perpetuating contract is already self-destructive to the holder — by its nature it kills incentive. And we are agonizing witnesses to its effects.
I am appalled this coach can even show his face publicly, pretending he’s worth this limitless document.
Chuck Allison
February 23rd, 2011
9:40 pm
On the day Hewitt leaves, the birds will be singing and the church bells ringing. He has been here 4 years too long already.