Radakovich on Hewitt, Jackets: ‘We’re moving forward’
Despite the loss to Georgia, Paul Hewitt and his boss believe things are looking up at Georgia Tech. (AJC photo/Johnny Crawford)
The cover of Georgia Tech’s basketball media guide reads, “Celebrating Excellence,” and commemorates the round-number anniversaries of three teams: 1960 (first NCAA tournament), 1985 (first ACC title) and 1990 (first Final Four).
If the idea also was to create some positive karma for this season, it’s best not to assume anything yet.
Tech lost a basketball game Tuesday night at Georgia. In concert with the Orange Bowl loss, it didn’t make for a pleasant evening on The Flats.
But there was a difference between the two punches. Football fans could reason, “We played an awful game against a really good team, but Paul Johnson still rocks.” Basketball fans mostly fumed, “We played a really bad game against a really bad team, and Paul Hewitt is the gum on the bottom of the ACC’s shoe.”
Folks: Take a breath.
Notwithstanding the embarrassment of the loss to Georgia, the level of vitriol following one loss — especially for a team that is 11-3 and has played only one conference game (a loss to Florida State) — is staggering. That’s not to suggest we should just assume this talented team comes together, especially given last season’s 2-14 trudge through the ACC schedule and Hewitt’s failure to reach the NCAA tournament in three of the last four seasons. But to assume failure for a coach with 20-plus win seasons and a national title appearance is incredibly premature.
As for whether Hewitt’s job is on the line, athletic director Dan Radakovich tried to refrain from giving his coach the dreaded public vote of confidence, saying: “I don’t think Paul needs a public vote of confidence. We’re one game into the ACC season with 15 games left. We’re moving forward as a team, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we continue to progress.”
But he still has confidence in Hewitt?
“Absolutely. We still have a great opportunity to have the kind of season Paul and his team want.”
We’ll find out soon. The Jackets play six straight ACC games, beginning Saturday against Duke. NCAA tournament hopes aren’t sealed this time of the year. But they can be somewhat buried.
The fan base is restless. This is the most talented team Hewitt has had in years. Lawal and Favors project as NBA lottery picks. Hewitt set the bar high with expectations after the tournament run of 2004.
Those expectations haven’t been met. He knows that. But he remains confident about this season, and certainly himself.
“I’ve gotten emails – some that are positive and say, ‘Hang in there,’ and some that are negative and say, ‘You should resign tomorrow,’” Hewitt said. “But all we as coaches and players can control is what we do the next game. If you lose, then you don’t get a chance to say anything. You just get hit over the head. The only way to avoid that is to win ballgames. What I don’t like is when people put lies out there or go out of their way to paint a picture that isn’t accurate or truthful. But if you win games, nobody can write or say anything.”
The loss to Georgia stung Hewitt. It surprised him as much as anybody. Based on a win over Charlotte in the previous game and the practices that followed, he expected better. He expected a win in Athens. He didn’t expect 23-for-60 from the field.
“We didn’t even watch film of that game,” Hewitt said. “I didn’t need to tell the players anything. They felt bad enough.”
When he took over as athletic director, Radakovich told his coaches, “Win and don’t cheat.” So we don’t need to speculate how competitive he is. We also know he didn’t hire Hewitt. He certainly didn’t give him a rollover contract with a $7 million buyout. Loyalties go only so far. But if he’s overly concerned, he’s not letting on.
“Last year was difficult,” Radakovich said. “Nobody wants to finish at the bottom of the ACC. But I think we’ve rebounded quite well with our recruiting class and where we sit today. … Every season is different. Every team is different. Every team develops its own identity. I want to give these guys an opportunity to do that.”
There’s a chance by season’s end that, “Celebrating Excellence,” will come off as a horrible contrast. But at 11-3 and 0-1, isn’t it a little bit early?
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156 comments Add your comment
GTman
January 7th, 2010
3:35 pm
It’s not just one season. It’s watching the GT basketball teams look clueless in their halfcourt offense sets and play pathetic effort defense. This has been going on for way too long.
When Hewitt first came to Tech, he coached an exciting, aggressive style of basketball – always pushing the offense, full court press on defense. Now, we are the most passive basketball team you can watch. I do not think Hewitt knows how to coach an offense that has to run half court sets. DRad needs to sit down with Hewitt and watch film of his first two seasons at Tech (maybe even some film of Sienna) and ask him what happened to that style of play. I think we are plenty deep enough this year to play 40 minutes of chaos.
first?
January 7th, 2010
3:38 pm
first
Pitbull
January 7th, 2010
3:42 pm
Based on the quality of competition and bowl results over the past few seasons, I think the BCS would be more highly respected if it dropped the Atlantic Coast Conference and added the Mountain West Conference. The ACC could still get an at large berth if one of the teams had an outstanding year, but overall the level of competition in that conference is pathetic.
Tech’s 11-3 team would have gone about 6-6 in the SEC, Big East, PAC 10, Big 12, or Big Ten and Tech people who are honest and truthful know it. Iowa didn’t even win their conference and stuffed the ACC winner. The other 4 teams that have beat Tech in the previous 4 bowl games were good teams but not their conferences’ heavyweights either.
Bob Horner had sweet compact swing
January 7th, 2010
3:42 pm
Georgia is not as bad as people think…when they stay out of foul trouble and McPhee is hot from outside they are actually pretty good…
Ruprict
January 7th, 2010
3:42 pm
And maybe the team should watch the film of that game. Over and over and over until they come out and play consistently. I thought they played well (but not great) at Charlotte (I attended that game). However, they didn’t shoot the three well (and haven’t yet, really) so what you’re going to get is a lockdown zone on the inside until we can shoot from the outside. Hewitt doesn’t seem to adjust to this at all.
The loss to UGA is inexcusable. Watch the film…daily.
THe Spirit of Bobby Cremins
January 7th, 2010
3:48 pm
It appears the spirit of Bobby Cremins lives on. CPH, like CBC is a phenonenal recruiter but mediocre with his gametime strategies. THe kids look confused and flustered. THe only time the team looks good is when they are so far behind that strategy must be thrown away and the kids allowed ot play some ball… another commonality.
I recall how pumped I was when Tech tapped CPH out of Sienna (as was most of GT), but his best success was using student athletes recruited by Cremins. He has struggles using his one and dones NBA minor leaguers.
Bottom line… DRad is a winner. He will support CPH to a point. When medicrity becomesw the standard (as it did on the Gridiron), CPH will be gone. I am willing to bet .500 in confernece play will make or break a decision.
GTHorsie
January 7th, 2010
3:53 pm
Over his career at GT, Hewitt is what, 10 games under .500 in ACC play. That is just not acceptable. All 3 losses this season were against teams that we should’ve beaten. We should NOT lose to UGA in basketball. Period. We should NOT lose at home to FSU. Period.
The state of GT Hoops *might* be moving forward this year, but that is because we were ROCK BOTTOM last year. That is unacceptable.
I have followed GT hoops since watching Yvon Joseph battle Patrick Ewing. Don’t tell me to “Take a Breath”. This team has too much talent to watch Paul Hewitt go 6-7 in the ACC and play in the NIT.
RAMBLE ON!!!
January 7th, 2010
3:54 pm
Yeah, don’t watch the film, you might learn something Blewitt. By contrast, I bet CPJ would make his team watch it over and over.
What a great question Jeff, have you lost confidence…Um, what did you expect the AD to say about one of his current head coaches?
Yes, I’ve lost complete confidence in Blewitt, I’m just waiting for the season to end and spend 7 million to buyout his contract.
At best we’ll finish 8-8 in the ACC and get elimated in the first round of the NCAA’s.
Born2Buzz
January 7th, 2010
3:57 pm
GTman, you are right on. Hewitt came on board and took a pretty sparsely talented team that Bobby C left him and did some really nice things. I mean for gosh sake, he made Darryl LaBarrie an effective player. Somewhere in the following years he has lost his way. For some reason it appears he decided that playing that brand of basketball was not what the big boys did and he wanted to be like Carolina and Duke. Problem is he doesn’t know how to coach like the big boys and doesn’t have the same talent. Big mistake.
If the ship isn’t righted and we wallow on to a .500 finish and no NCAA tourney invite DRad will have to do the right thing, no matter the cost to the GTAA.
FaceTheTruth
January 7th, 2010
3:57 pm
ACC Record at GT is 60-85. Other than the “run” – his teams turn the ball over and stand around in a “motion” offense. 10th year in, I think it’s fair to say that the players aren’t the problem. There’s not a better man – he is definitely a role model and all class, but I have to beleive there IS a better coach for all this talent.
Eat It St. Simons
January 7th, 2010
4:00 pm
((((30-24)))) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
((((73-66)))) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
((((24-14)))) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
WE RUN THIS STATE. YOUR OFFENSE ONLY SCORED 7 POINTS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Eat It St. Simons
January 7th, 2010
4:00 pm
Our worst team in 10 years beat your best team in 10 years!!!! hahahahahahahahahahaha
Nobody Knows the trouble I seen
January 7th, 2010
4:02 pm
Ok….the glaring stat to me is over 9 yrs, CPH is 10 ganes under .500 in conference. that coupled with doing the least with the most should tell GT to ante up and buy the guy out….Obviously a team like Sienna is all this guy can coach. Square peg, round hole CPH has got to GO!
Schultz: Radakovich is confident in Hewitt « Fire Paul Hewitt
January 7th, 2010
4:04 pm
[...] Schultz: Radakovich is confident in Hewitt Filed under: Uncategorized — Peter @ 4:04 PM Radakovich on Hewitt, Jackets: ‘We’re moving forward’ | AJC.com [...]
Whack Hyder
January 7th, 2010
4:04 pm
What’s all the fuss about? I think anybody who coaches NBA lottery picks should play in the NIT. Cause that’s where they’ll be next year for sure. Chan told me the other day, “hell, we’ll get better. Just give ol PH a chance”. Bobby Cremins teams compared to PH teams is a JOKE JOKE JOKE. Cremins was not an X and O coach, but his teams NEVER quit. PH teams quit in about 1/2 the games I watch.
Dawghater
January 7th, 2010
4:05 pm
Eat It St. Simons – Your incorrect. We run this state because we employ low lifes like you! Get a life and get a job! It’s obvious by your posts your not employed.
Bobby Cremins
January 7th, 2010
4:07 pm
And you wanted to get rid of me. I just beat North Carolina! Bet Hewitt can’t win 1 out of 2 against NC! Hewitt’s contract buyout is the only thing saving his butt!
Dawghater
January 7th, 2010
4:08 pm
Hey St. Simons! 30+24 is your IQ!
Vickers
January 7th, 2010
4:08 pm
I’m a UGA grad and I see my GA Tech buddies a lot more upset about losing the basketball game to UGA than losing the Orange Bowl to Iowa. They were disappointed to lose to GA in football but could take it because GA had a talented team. Tech has a load more talent in basketball and should not be losing to UGA who has only one highly regarded player. But I think Tech is stuck with Hewitt because of his roll over contract. Looks like Fox is on his way at GA with that triangle offense.
wiley
January 7th, 2010
4:09 pm
Pitbull you cant compare teams like that….keep trying though if it makes you happy. College athletics is full of parity and there is no way to say for certain what games tech would and wouldn’t lose because each matchup is completely different. Tech did beat a better than expected…ask Tennessee…VT team …and if it wasnt for a turnover inside the twenty…VT would have been beat by two touchdowns. We judge the teams on the games they played and not the games they could have played….tech won 11 games….they won a league with FSU, MIami, Clemson, and VT(all have national championships or appearances in the big game) so they aren’t that bad.
As for Hewitt…its just time to go. If we wait too long all the talent will begin to look elsewhere…maybe at the program Fox is building in athens. Its very sad to see Tech basketball in such a deplorable state…it may be the same as the pre Cremins area in terms of attendance and general excitement for the program. If we do not fire Hewitt soon the window for our programs health will close and the gap between us and the rest of the ACC will grow much larger. We have the talent….now lets find a new coach…this man is in his tenth season and we are still waiting for him to deliver a solid program. One fluke year does not make a program…
sidewalk74
January 7th, 2010
4:10 pm
Other than the one run to the Title Game Hewitt has done nothing to prove he can win consistently in the ACC. He has only had one winning conference record 9-7. Not to mention that he consistently has some of the best talent in the league but they ALWAYS underachieve. Our program will not improve until he is GONE.
TDone
January 7th, 2010
4:11 pm
My problem with CPH, based on the games I have seen Tech play in person, is his teams play sloppy basketball. One of the things that Mark Bradley said, and correct me if I wrong, “Tech does not do sloppy.” It’s one thing to be outmanned, which we aren’t. But’s another to be careless, especially when it comes to the basic fundamentals of the game.
There have been years in the past when Tech lost to Muttland in basketball, yet the team regrouped and went deep into the NCAA Tournament (1985 and 2004 to be exact).
Let’s hope this is a wake up call for all concerned, includeing Hewitt.
Greg
January 7th, 2010
4:13 pm
Jeff, 20+ win seasons are a joke these days. How ,many are gimmes? At least half. I wouldn’t mention it if I were you. A wooden bench doing the coaching could win a lot of games the way schedules go these days.
DRC
January 7th, 2010
4:16 pm
Worst shooting and confused team I’ve seen in a while. Could not hit outside shot if their arse was on fire. Speaking of fire, FIRE PAUL HEWITT PLEASE.
Tech82
January 7th, 2010
4:21 pm
Jeff – It’s not early at all. Hewitt isn’t in the midst of a bad season at Tech. He’s in the midst of a bad CAREER! He’s been given plenty of time. The number of Tech players that have played in the NBA is evidence that he has had plenty of talent to work with. The man is a good recruiter but he is a HORRIBLE coach. He needs to be fired and we need to move on.
RAMBLE ON!!!
January 7th, 2010
4:22 pm
NOBODY HAS DONE LESS WITH MORE THAN BLEWITT.
Parkview Mom
January 7th, 2010
4:23 pm
What happened to the Georgia Tech teams who played fundamentally sound basketball? The teams that did not miss free throws? Have not seen that since Hewitt’s recruits hit campus.
GT supporter
January 7th, 2010
4:24 pm
Who Cares. Hewitt has killed GT BB. It will take years after a new coach is finally hired to bring it back.
Saint Simmons hahahahahaha 30-24, 8 out of 9
January 7th, 2010
4:27 pm
30-24 hahahahahahahaahhahahaahah
collegeballfan
January 7th, 2010
4:28 pm
This years team, like many of Hewitt’s teams, has no chemistry.
nickj0321
January 7th, 2010
4:32 pm
Pitbull, you jealous? Maybe UGA wouldnt be so bad if it was in another conference, maybe LOL
Boise Dawg
January 7th, 2010
4:36 pm
Jeff,
I understand Tech fans frustration, especially losing to Georgia again. The fact that Hewitt has a losing record against Georgia given the turmoil of that program for the last decade is one of several reasons most Tech fans want him out.
I also wouldn’t use that 11-3 record as a reason for Tech fans to take a deep breath… their schedule to date has been a joke. Georgia is 8-5 and has played a tougher schedule so far. I think it will be a stretch for this team to finish .500 or better in the ACC which is what it should take for them to get into the tourney.
Bottom line, the loss to Georgia doesn’t really matter… if Hewitt can’t get this team into the NCAA tournmanet, I think Radakovich will likely show him the door.
TDone
January 7th, 2010
4:40 pm
As for the continued bovine skullguggery from the Muttlanders about Tech and the ACC, I offer the following using basic statistics. I believe this year’s Tech team could have gone anywhere from 13-1 to 9-5 (finished 11-3). Muttland could have gone anywere from 10-3 and 6-7 (finished 8-5). This is all based on the fact because of breaks, dumb luck, schedule, timing, matchups, and fate, each and every team is about two standard deviations from what they really are. That is why Muttland beat Tech, which beat Clemson (twice), which beat Kentucky, which beat Muttland. You can call it the Circle of Life.
Teams are in confernces, conferences are not in teams. Maybe if Tech were in the SEC, it would have lost to Florida and Alabama, but if Muttland were in the ACC, I doubt they would have won at Virginia Tech or Miami. Last year, Muttland played Alabama and lost. They likely would have lost to Alabama this year too, but did not play them. So a conference is nothing more than a functional grouping of teams; no more and no less. Alabama would be good in any conference it played in. But Tech played Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, and I doubt they would have beaten any ACC team this year. So since no ACC or SEC teams plays every team in its conference during any one season, one can’t say one schedule is more representative than another nor once conference.
So please Muttlanders, please lose the confernce superiority stuff. It just doesn’t wash since at maximum, you would have gone 10-3 with an ACC schedule and Tech at least, would have likely gone 9-5 with an SEC schedule.
Put your honest broker hat on and really think about it…
Dejayvoo
January 7th, 2010
4:42 pm
In basketball, seems like one program is on the way up (UGA) and another is on the way down (GT). One program thinks it is elite (GT). One thinks it is without thugs (GT) (Crittenden). Ok, I think you see my point. Might want to put the stones away that you have been throwing UGA’s way.
PMC
January 7th, 2010
4:43 pm
I don’t think this is one loss. Just count the NBA guys that have come through Tech compare how they are in the NBA and how they were perceived at Tech under Hewitt. At the least he’s underacheiving massively.
This is why I never understood why people were so attached to Dennis Felton.
Hewitt is paid very well to produce results on the basketball court. He’s recruiting excellent talent and then wasting it when he has it. I like the guy personally but you really can’t be pleased with the results for the level of talent available.
David
January 7th, 2010
4:47 pm
I’m concerned about the state of the GT basketball program. Frankly, many fans are starting to get the “I don’t give a darn about GT basketball” attitude. I’m getting the same way. I’m sure CPH is a good man and maybe would be a good coach somewhere else, but I believe GT is stuck. I don’t think there is an extra $7 million dollars out there for GT to let him go. I wish I had that kind of job security.
GoJackets
January 7th, 2010
4:51 pm
There really isnt any reason that we should be losing to teams that cant beat Wofford and cant get within 28 of Missouri. Forget the rivalry, thats just embarrassing and will hurt us if we are a bubble team in march. If you have all the talent and depth in the world and you still cant win then the coach needs to go. I say he gets the rest of this season to show he can coach. If we miss the tournament then he is gone. We are all getting a little sick of watching our players stand around anyways.
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 7th, 2010
4:53 pm
HILARIOUS
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 7th, 2010
4:54 pm
REALLY AND GENUINE CHOKERS. SUCH A SHAME. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 7th, 2010
4:55 pm
ALL THE JELLO JOCKITCH SHOULD BE IN DEEP MOURNING. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH BUT NO CONDOLENCES
UGAG
January 7th, 2010
4:57 pm
I do not agree with the Hewitt is a good recruiter argument. Where are the Drew Barry or Matt Harpring type players? I hate the lazy one and done type athlete he brings in every year.
2HLLWGA
January 7th, 2010
4:59 pm
I somewhat agree with GTMan – Hewitt had them really in shape the first few years. I have not heard anything about the conditioning these guys are going through anymore, which leads me to believe they are not. This almost sounds like the players are running the ship, much like the players did to Dougherty at UNC.
Marsha
January 7th, 2010
5:02 pm
Hewitt has got to go. Now. He’s had plenty of time to prove that he’s a competent coach, but it hasn’t happened.
The humiliation in Athens was the last straw. Get rid of Hewitt now. He’s NOT an ACC coach.
Tech75
January 7th, 2010
5:03 pm
DRad is duly concerned. That’s enough for me. He was able to deal with the Gailey situation, he’ll deal with this one.
If we do poorly in the ACC with this roster, expect the under-the-table conversations with powerful alumni to begin after the fifth ACC loss to weaker competition (NOT Carolina or Duke). That means four more losses to the likes of FSU. Hewitt needs to have this team finish third or better in the league to save his butt. IMHO
If he doesn’t, by the start of the ACC tournament, DRad will know where the money can be had to pay the buyout.
Hewitt knows he’s on a very short leash; you can “hear” it in his comments. He knows he’d better make it into the Sweet 16 – or else…..
Marsha
January 7th, 2010
5:04 pm
Just for the record, Favors sucks. Whatever made this jerk think he could do one year at Tech, then jump to the NBA? He’s barely good enough to play college ball.
SWGADAWG
January 7th, 2010
5:06 pm
Hewitt for President!!!!!! m Give the man an extension!!!!!!
t
January 7th, 2010
5:06 pm
What a horrible coaching job and what a total screw-up of a disgrace! (Now then, guess whether that is a statement about Hewitt or about Johnson).
Tech75
January 7th, 2010
5:08 pm
Marsha – Favors is trying to “fit in” with his other teammates, who are also a bunch of freshmen.
I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. I think you’ll see him become much more comfortable in the next few games.
That having been said, this is just one other area showing how little Hewitt can “coach”.
Angus
January 7th, 2010
5:11 pm
One winning season in the ACC in 10 years? Is that a record?
He’s going to end up holding a lot of records he’d probably rather not have – like last year’s most losses in ACC history.
Jackets20009-10
January 7th, 2010
5:12 pm
Did Dave Braine hate Georgia Tech alums or something?
He wasn’t that dumb to give Hewitt this contract without it being intentional.
It sure looks to me that after paying him all these years, he gave Hewitt and Gailey contracts that would soak us when we eventually fired them.
What kind of AD does that to the college he worked for?