Welcome to my Q-and-no-A with Paul Hewitt
If there is one thing I’ve learned after 28 years of trying to squeeze usable quotes out of disobliging subjects, it’s how important it is to prepare for an interview.
I’m not talking about subject matter. I’m talking about knowing the personality of the person you’re about to talk to: Will he/she be entertaining or dry? Easy or difficult? Friendly or combative?
Paul Hewitt is seldom dry but he’s often combative. Some folks don’t like that. Personally, I find him kind of entertaining. I’m pretty sure you folks will find this exchange between us entertaining. The Georgia Tech basketball coach was made available to the media Tuesday to promote the start of practice. Jackets’ basketball has been down, but expectations are high this season. Almost every significant player returns from last season, and there’s the addition of talented freshmen Derrick Favors, Mfon Udofia and Glen Rice Jr.
I tried to get Hewitt to guarantee this team would make the NCAA tournament. He wouldn’t.
Funny. He went as far to say that the Jackets had Final Four potential. So why not say it’s a tournament team?
Here we go . . .
Me: Is this a tournament team?
Him: “Is it a tournament team? It’s a very good basketball team.”
Me: But is it a tournament team?
Him: “It’s a very good basketball team. The [selection committee] will decide after that.”
Me: Why not just say it’s a tournament team?
Him: “It’s a very good team. If we’re healthy, we have a chance to be one of the top teams in the ACC. And if you’re one of the top teams in the ACC, you have a chance to play for anything that comes after that.”
Me: Again. If you think you’re a top team in the ACC, isn’t it logical you’re a tournament team?
Him: (Laughter). “Oh boy. . . . Any other questions?”
Me: You always love to lecture me about your old college journalism professor. Is there something wrong with the question?
Him: “I didn’t say don’t ask the question. I gave you my answer.”
Me: So why won’t you take that leap and say you should be in the tournament?
Him: “It’s not a matter of taking a leap. We have a chance to be one of the best teams in the ACC if we stay healthy.”
Me: And those types of teams make the tournament. So why the hedging?
Him: “Can you predict the future? I mean, I know that sportswriters do a lot these days. They just predict. They don’t write any more. It’s Jimmy the Greek journalism these days.”
Me: Wow.
Him: “Hey, you’re coming at me. I’ll come back at you. I just don’t like to make predictions. … How about this? We’re a really good team. We have a lot of talent. The range could be very wide for what we can accomplish?”
Me: How high is that range?
Him: “We can go to the Final Four. It’s that type of team. But it’s a wide range. DeAndre [Bell] coming back from a year off [after spinal surgery]. Mfon is a freshman. Derrick is a freshman. The range is wide. Those are three of our top six players, maybe. Do you disagree?”
That’s it. I need a nap.
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123 comments Add your comment
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:14 pm
First?
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:14 pm
First again?
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:16 pm
Paul Hewitt v. Jeff Schultz: its like Tyson v. Holyfield minus the ear incident
GTfan
October 13th, 2009
3:18 pm
Is this journalism? What in here is newsworthy?
Tech82
October 13th, 2009
3:20 pm
Spencer – Do we know for sure there was no ear biting?
azcat225
October 13th, 2009
3:20 pm
I’m reminded more of Clara Peller and Wendy’s.
GTfan
October 13th, 2009
3:21 pm
Also, why did you guys not publish my previous comment. I am restating here.
You are ridiculous. You asked him a question, and he answered it. If he answered it in the manner you wanted, meaning if he said yes, we are a tournament team, you would follow up with one of two likely comments: 1) Something about how last year’s team was probably a tournament team, and underachieved, or 2) something about how Paul Hewitt is cocky even though he underachieved last year.
GTfan
October 13th, 2009
3:22 pm
At least Paul Hewitt was available to your questions and comments, unlike the AJC which keeps filtering which comments of mine it will display.
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:23 pm
Tech82: We are now receiving unconfirmed reports that there was an attempted ear biting by Hewitt but when asked about the incident he responded, “It’s a wide range of what could have happened. I might have bitten his entire head off praying mantis style or I might have no idea who Jeff Schultz is. There is really a wide range of possibilities”.
randy
October 13th, 2009
3:25 pm
Schultz was out of line here, Hewitt answered honestly.
Alabama Jack
October 13th, 2009
3:26 pm
Give ‘em hell, Hewitt.
GT Alum
October 13th, 2009
3:29 pm
Let it go, Schultz. Let it go. Sounds like you got what you deserved..
homer
October 13th, 2009
3:32 pm
If I am being interviewed by an obvious smart-azz jerk, I would give the same type of answers. What a no-talent hack!
The Real YellowJacket
October 13th, 2009
3:34 pm
So you had the time to ask nine questions, no check that the same question nine times. Some of us fans would have liked a more imaginative interviewer. Maybe next time! Shesh!
jackets77
October 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
I’ve gone from being a huge Paul Hewitt supporter/fan to now thinking he might not be right person for this job…especially if THIS team doesn’t make atleast some noise in the tournament. With the landscape of College hoops, it doesn’t matter if your team’s primary players are freshmen, especially if the freshman has the skills of a Favors….you’ve got to make some noise in the ACC and in the Tourney this year…period
Gordon
October 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
I’m with Schultz on this one. Sounds like Hewitt is laying the groundwork for excuses if things don’t go well. Why couldn’t he just say “If we stay healthy, we should make the NCAA tournament”? Here’s why: Because Paul Hewitt is coaching it.
But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. It’s a new year, and all things are possible.
Al
October 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
How can anyone say it is a tournament team or not when you have not even played a single game? Obviously, Hewitt believes the team should make the tournament. But he’s not making predictions. I will make a prediction. If the team does not make the tournament with this class of freshmen and Lawal returning, there will be trouble for Hewitt with a capital “T”.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 13th, 2009
3:37 pm
1.3 million for “The bubble”.
That’s the best we’ll do.
For those of us who have been watching this coach, that’s the expectation. Anything more would be foolish.
bali
October 13th, 2009
3:38 pm
jimmy the greek schultz school of journalism………. sounds good to me
JP in EP
October 13th, 2009
3:39 pm
I think you needed to let it go. Obviously, he did not want to commit to being an NCAA tournament team. It sounds to me like you were more “combative” than he was. Sorry, no sympathy for you from this corner. He might not be so eager to have you interview him the next time.
CarRamRod
October 13th, 2009
3:39 pm
Can we please practice our free throw shooting a little bit? Maybe our inbound plays too. That may help.
sidewalk74
October 13th, 2009
3:41 pm
Hewitt’s just laying the ground work for another disappointing 14-16 season with no chance at the NCAA tourney. No matter how much talent he has Hewitt, 8 out of 9 times, finds away to come up short of expectations. So bases on his track record I give us/GT a 11.11% chance of having a winning season.
Tech82
October 13th, 2009
3:42 pm
Spencer – I wonder if ears taste like chicken? Shultzie, can you lend any insight on this?
On a serious note, I think this team is too talented for even a hack like Hewitt to screw things up. They’ll win in spite of him. Next year, after massive defections to the NBA, we’ll be back to mediocrity and Hewitt will return to the hot seat.
DMWC
October 13th, 2009
3:46 pm
Hewitt is not going to be knocked off message. Good for him. He has whatever reasons he has for wanting to answer the question the way he did, ranging from the noble “I don’t want my kids thinking they don’t have to prove themselves” to the less-noble “I need to save my own hide if we miss the tournament.” Whatever reason, I’m not sure why you would expect a different answer after asking him the question the 9th time.
The truth is he has to make the tournament or he’s probably out. I’m sure he’s a smart enough guy to realize that.
GTMan108
October 13th, 2009
3:50 pm
Schultz…what a dou**ebag. That “journalism” was pathetic. Wah…he didn’t give the response I wanted, I’ll ask 8 more times…. Wah.
Joke.
Just A Fan
October 13th, 2009
3:50 pm
As a Tech fan I enjoy it Schultz. He’s proven nothing lately and frankly if he doesn’t make the tournament he shouldn’t be coach anymore. Losing records and mediocrity in college basketball for a storied program like GT in the ACC is an insult to the fan base. Keep the grilling going…..
ben
October 13th, 2009
3:53 pm
It all started with the ESPN “I’m a comedian, not a sportscaster” anchors and now with the twitter writers, it’s all about the writer, not the subject. God bless Furman Bisher.
Brian
October 13th, 2009
3:58 pm
You asked a question. He answered it, but didn’t give you the guarantee you were looking for. ….and you repeat the question several more times. I get what your job is, but you actually made that the focal point of your article? If that’s your angle, why not title the piece “I failed”.
matt r
October 13th, 2009
4:00 pm
Nice work of needling him until he popped and told you what he is really thinking.
GTFUZZYBEE
October 13th, 2009
4:00 pm
Schultz – While Coach may be hedging – what coach doesn’t?! – you appear to have had an agenda to get him to commit in writing that “this is a tournament team” — and when he didn’t — you wasted everyone’s time… It’s up to his boss to force him to commit that he’ll deliver a tourney team … not you.
JSS
October 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
Only a fool would predict he has a tournament team when he has not been there in a couple of seasons now… He just needs to coach, adjust, and win… The Tech BB fans will have the same unrealistic expectations that UGA football fans have…Hyder never won the NCAA, Morrison couldn’t beat a HS team, Cremins made you respectable, and Hewitt at least to a title game… Now, I’m no Hewitt apologist… He just needs to win…
David
October 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
that was great thanks JS! Should be an interesting year in the ACC but for now…lets stick to what people like more…Auburn football hah. War eagle!
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
4:07 pm
David: I couldn’t agree more with your statements. War eagle!
NCR
October 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
Schultz, stop pestering him. His final comment was “We can go to the Final Four”. How much more of a comment do you want? Whether the Jackets “should be in the tournament” is not for Hewitt to decide, that’s why there’s a selection committee.
Jamar
October 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
Pretty poor journalism Schultz. It has no place in the AJC. If you have some rift with Hewitt, fine, but take it behind closed doors between the two of you.
Willie Coyote
October 13th, 2009
4:12 pm
…& when someone does give a guarantee, it is used against them mercilessly for as long as anyone wants to talk about it. He guaranteed enough when he alluded to his team being one of the best in a perennial power conference. What good does a guarantee do anyway?
Injuries are a reality and one or two key ones will turn a national title contender into an also-ran (Oklahoma Football anyone?)
Buford T. Justice
October 13th, 2009
4:18 pm
This happens every time one of those floozies starts poontangin’ around with those show folk fags.
Oh Come on
October 13th, 2009
4:19 pm
You guys are unreal. Ask a simple question and get no answer, then you ask the simple question again. Paul Hewit showed his true colors in that simple interview. He is a chump. GT can do so much better. Hewit is hiding because he himsrlf has no confidence in his own coaching ability. Who getting hurt would keep this team fom making the tournament? Are we not deep enough to withstain an injury. Pathetic. I still think in spite of his ineptitude, GT makes the tournament.
Paul H
October 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
I agree with Jeff. It’s a simple question. The fact that Hewitt couldn’t answer makes it look like he lacks confidence in his team.
What difference does it make? He’s gone of they don’t make the tourney anyway.
PatrickT
October 13th, 2009
4:24 pm
Just think : If there was no internet, only three readers would have seen this in the paper. Of course, since it’s not news worthy….selah.
mtraininjax
October 13th, 2009
4:28 pm
Jeff – Its obvious to me that Paul Hewitt will be your new BFF during basketball season.
Did you ask Paul Johnson if the Jackets were BCS bowl worthy? What response did he give you?
willwc
October 13th, 2009
4:29 pm
Well, it’s not like Hewitt has a lot of recent experience with knowing what coaching a tournament-quality team is like, anyway.
collegeballfan
October 13th, 2009
4:31 pm
Jeff you asked the same question 8 times. I would have ended the interview on the third.
And you win in basketball with chemistry. Hewitt will not know that until sometime in January.
Thumbs Down
October 13th, 2009
4:36 pm
Seriously Jeff? Just leave it alone, you’re lucky enough he’s even taking the time to give you an interview. Stop being such a douche!
Mutts R Stupid
October 13th, 2009
4:38 pm
The Urinal gets worse everyday, they are scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill the pages with meaningless words, inter spaced by advertisements. At least they are covering tech a little bit now, however poorly; I canceled my subscription a couple years ago when the UGAY grads at the Urinal were crowning uga National Champion during the pre season. Jeff should work on his table busing skills, he will need them when the Urinal folds along with the other rags calling themselves newspapers.
Wink
October 13th, 2009
4:44 pm
Hewitt did right not to commit to this being a tournament team.
He state D. Bell was one of his best players coming back from injury. Bell before the injury you knew what you had, but this guy suffered a SPINAL injury, how does Hewitt know he getting the same player back, without the benefit of a game or practice.
The same can be said for the incoming freshmen; how do you know, what is the team make up? How about chemistry? Can they adjust to the college game? Other teams has last year had McDonald’s All Americans and did not make the tournament; the ones with a Championship play for the Tar Heels.
One player declared for the NBA draft;changed his mind due to draft position. Did stay for selfish reason, to improved draft position? Did he return to get into the tournament? Will he aid or disrupt team chemistry?
The point guard Shumpert under performed last year. He confesses that he has to get better. Could Favors have a similar freshmen year?
The could not give the guarantee that he has a tournament team, because he does not know yet what his product will be like on the floor. What if they get off to a slow start, but improves during the course of the year, make it to a bubble team, where thinks they have done enough to earn tournament consideration, then is rejected by the selection committee.
Coach Hewitt is right….just wait till the ball is tossed up thru the balance of the schedule…then he will have an opinion Mr Schultz….by the way you were the combative one!!!
Kurdt Kobain
October 13th, 2009
4:44 pm
Yeah, I’m sure PJ would have guaranteed a BCS team if you asked him enough times. Right…
Joe Fan
October 13th, 2009
4:48 pm
On talent alone the Jackets are a tournament team but Hewitt could even mess that up. Some coaches are only as good as their talent and after Favors et al are gone will Hewitt be too? I hope DRad has had the best lawyers look for a loophole in Hewitt’s contract. He is going to need one.
79
October 13th, 2009
4:48 pm
Jeff asked if this GT team was going to make the NCAA…you know, be one of the top 64 BB teams in the country. Hewitt’s answer should have been, “Hell yes…we are going to be very good…and if I was a Tech fan, I’d be calling about season tickets….but then, if I was really a Tech fan, I’d demand that DRad fire me.”
Gavin Weldon
October 13th, 2009
4:55 pm
Put your money where your mouth is, Paul.