Hewitt has a right to be ‘embarrassed’ — by team and himself
Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt wasn't happy with anybody Saturday, and it showed. (AP photo)
While Paul Hewitt is beating the drum for a 96-team NCAA tournament field, he might want to note that his team just looked like No. 97.
Facing North Carolina State, the last-place team in the ACC, Georgia Tech committed 22 turnovers, missed 14 free throws, blew several layups, also a slam dunk, struggled to execute an in-bounds play as if it were rocket science (isn’t this the Institute of Technology?), melted down against a full-court press and somehow blew a 16-point lead in the time it takes to say, “NIT.”
Yes, Tech won the game. By two points. And a spasm.
Hewitt was so thrilled that he ripped his players. Then himself. Then his players again. Then he snapped at a simple question in the postgame media session. At one point he even belabored the fact that he has been preaching to players about not throwing lob passes against the press “since the first day I walked into the door. It’s been 10 years.”
I suppose that would’ve meant something if his freshman weren’t 9 years old at the time.
All of his frustrations bubbled over into microphones. Probably a little too much. When the Yellow Jackets defeated Duke, North Carolina, Clemson and Wake Forest, we wondered about their ceiling this season in the NCAA tournament. But when the same team nearly face-plants against North Carolina State and barely holds on for a 73-71 win, amid a mixture of boos and irritated silence, it’s easy to wonder again about direction.
Hewitt isn’t taking this well. Nor should he. It was refreshing to see him not act that everything was rosy, which he sometimes does after poor performances. But the division of criticism between himself and the players probably tilted a little too much toward the latter. If he was trying to toughen them up, well, let’s see how they react against Miami next week after being whacked by a verbal sledgehammer.
The Jackets were up 68-52 with 4:34 left. They couldn’t handle the Wolfpack’s full-court pressure in the final few minutes. They committed seven turnovers in the last 3:29 and went 2-for-7 from the free-throw line. The mental and physical toughness, the resolve, some believed this team was developing — obliterated.
“After the [loss to] Duke, I told them that was the most embarrassed I’ve been since I’ve been here, in the second half,” Hewitt said. “That was absolutely, completely an embarrassment. Well, I topped that today. … Obviously, I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing with these guys.”
The Jackets are 17-6. Their 5-4 record in the ACC is a better indication of their Sybil-tendencies.
There will be criticism of the Jackets for this game. There should be. There’s no crime in losing at Duke. But when players look panicked and admit it in the postgame, that’s a reflection on the coach.
A young reporter asked Hewitt in the postgame if he considered using somebody other than D’Andre Bell on inbounds plays late in the game, considering Bell was struggling. It was a good question. But Hewitt flipped. “He’s a fifth-year senior,” he said. “Do you want me to put a freshman in there? Do you think that’s the answer? Then it would be a second guess the other way. ‘Why does he have a freshman in there?’ That’s a straight second-guess.”
Excuse me, Dr. Naismith.
Hewitt questioned his players’ toughness. He criticized their priorities. He questioned their motivation.
“I pointed out in the [Duke] game, that kid [Kyle] Singler played with a bad wrist. He scored 30 points with a bad wrist. That took a level of toughness that quite honestly we haven’t seen around here in a little while. We have a lot of calls for, ‘I need more touches. I need more minutes.’
“After [Sunday], I told them I don’t want to talk about this game any more, but they better take a long look in the mirror.”
And yes, then he conceded, he also needs to look in the mirror.
“Obviously I’m not doing a good job because those messages are not getting through,” he said.
No. And that’s where it starts.
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310 comments Add your comment
willy
February 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
first!!!!
tech almost blew it…again
willy
February 6th, 2010
9:22 pm
Jeff, do you think a collapse is imminent?
messin with sasquatch
February 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
I agree with Hewitt. The play has been inconsistent from his team. Is that coaching or is it focus??
Reggie Ball
February 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
I gave up my BB tickets this year and will not renew until Hewitt is gone. NCSU was the first game I attended this year and I went as a guest. What I saw had not changed – poor free throw shooting, too many turn overs, willy nilly substitutions, cannot in bound, and no offensive plays. It is a shame to we have this kind of talent on the flats and have a coach with a roll over contract that cannot coach or graduate his players. Please do not buy any more Tech BB tickets until this man is gone.
Douglasville
February 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
That is some real tough love Jeff. Sometimes it just sucks to be a sports fan.
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 6th, 2010
9:24 pm
ever seen that movie GROUND HOG DAY?
willy
February 6th, 2010
9:27 pm
I miss Ismail Mohammed.
willy
February 6th, 2010
9:28 pm
Make Stephon Marbury the coach!!!!
GT76
February 6th, 2010
9:30 pm
Well…at least they won’t apparently peak too soon! There is greater chance this team moves in the right direction but if they don’t I think Hewitt should resign. I still like our chances to get to at least the sweet sixteen.
I would have them shooting a thousand free-throws each tomorrow with no one leaving till they make at least 70% of them.
Gordon
February 6th, 2010
9:34 pm
I’m with Reggie Ball at 9:23. March 6th against Virginia Tech will be my last game until we have a new coach. It is sad, because I used to watch all the away games, listen to the call in show, and just look forward to going to the home games. It is no longer worth my time or money. I feel terrible about this, but I actually found myself hoping NCSt would score there at the end just to make the point even more obvious than it already is: Paul Hewitt must go. Maybe he has some honor and will accept half of the buyout with his resignation. I doubt it though.
Good Grief (again)
February 6th, 2010
9:35 pm
DRad has got to make a move. CPH can talk about lack of toughness – that may be true – but the fact is this very talented team doesn’t know basic basketball. Inbounds pass (how ’bout a play or two?), entry pass to the post, post position – the list goes on and on. We need a COACH.
Isn’t Mark Price still in Atlanta? At least he knows the game and I’m sure would know how to coach players to their potential. And he’s a winner…
Upstate Jacket
February 6th, 2010
9:37 pm
I agree with Ramble On: This is Ground Hog Day for 6 straight years!! We’ve had 6 consecutive years of “the players are not executing; my message is just not getting through”! Since there have been 6 different recruiting classes in that time and the outcome is the same, Hewitt should spend alot more time looking in the mirror!!
short bus dawg
February 6th, 2010
9:39 pm
Please leave Tech, Hewitt and do not let the door hit you in the azz.
Blewitt is a JOke
February 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
Never seen a more fundamentally flawed team in my life. An inbounds play is not rocket science. But with Hewitt having his guys breaking to the ball from midcourt every time, it makes it a little more difficult. He has Tourette’s with his substitutions(always has) and his teams look like they’re lost all the time. I’ve seen better fundamentals in middle school. I’m amazed that there aren’t more vocal critics..
Blewitt almost does it again
February 6th, 2010
9:41 pm
He can’t coach his way out of a paper bag.
todd grantham
February 6th, 2010
9:42 pm
Jeff, are you keeping up with UGA Vandy?
GT Fan
February 6th, 2010
9:43 pm
I hate to say this but I have been praying for two years that Rads will fire Paul Hewitt!
Please Lord answer my pray.
GTHoopsFan
February 6th, 2010
9:44 pm
I have been playing basketball my whole life. I am a huge hoops fan and I love GT basketball, but Paul Hewitt needs to go. If you feel this way, send an email to DRad@athletics.gatech.edu expressing your opinion. I sent one and D Rad personally emailed me back…
short bus dawg
February 6th, 2010
9:45 pm
I poopeed in my pants.
GT Fan
February 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
GTHoopsfan, what did he say?
jocks and jills
February 6th, 2010
9:49 pm
I am not trying to be funny, but maybe GT can bring someone in like CPJ that can intimidate these players to win or else lol. In the last two years, I quit watching or tuning in but I am pulling for them this year with all my heart but it will wear you out. If Hewitt stays, can they bring in some kick@ss assistants (the marine drill sgt type) that pulls no punches or better yet just hire a retired marine drill sgt.
jocks and jills
February 6th, 2010
9:50 pm
yes dogfans that is what you do, you are dogpoopers
richtreignisover
February 6th, 2010
9:54 pm
Even hewitt agrees that he sucks now. Time for this loser to go.
coop
February 6th, 2010
9:54 pm
I think Mark Price would represent fundamentals and sensibility..can we hire him to assist or consult? I know the Hawks benefit from Mark consulting for them.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
9:58 pm
The message that apparently not getting through is that HEWITT MUST GO!!!!!
WR
February 6th, 2010
9:58 pm
For as much as I, like others, want to blame everything thats happening on Hewitt’s coaching ability, I honestly don’t think its his coaching as much as it is his recruiting that has harmed this team and the teams of the past as far as maxmizing potential. We all talk about the talent Hewitt has had on the flats and his lack of coaching because that talent was never maximized, but look at this team now and look at Hewitt’s and Tech’s teams of the past. Outside of the team that reached the championship game, no other Tech team has had a quality player that is actually a leader. Coaching gets you so far, but the teams that win and win consistently, have a habit of getting really good players, not just in physical ability but in the ability to also lead the team, and thats no matter what position the player plays. Coaches don’t make leaders, coaches recruit leaders, Tech hasn’t recruited a player that has wanted to be a leader in quite sometime and it shows constantly when all the so-called talent they sign underachieve. Nothing against Favors, but I’ll trade a 5-star recruit that is quiet and not a leader type for a two star-player that things he’s the sh*t anyday. With the two star player you might not get as much talent, but he makes up for that talent by wanting to be better, working harder then everyone else to be better, and ultimately elevating the team to perform better, because he doesn’t care about stepping on toes, he cares about the bottom line. If Hewitt and his staff can’t start recruiting leaders, all the talent in the world can’t help Tech.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
9:59 pm
Unfortunately, I don’t think Mark Price is that good of a coach. GREAT player, yes, and probably a great motivator, but I don’t think he’s a coach.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:01 pm
Very true, WR, so in summary what Tech needs is the equivalent of a CPJ as a basketball coach
China Jim
February 6th, 2010
10:04 pm
Why stay with the same play time after unsuccessful time? Doesn’t Tech have five people who have the ball skills to get the ball in bounds and protect a big lead for four minutes? At that point, I don’t care about rebounds and blocked shots. I’ll be surprised if their next opponent doesn’t press them for forty minutes.
bakerman
February 6th, 2010
10:07 pm
Hewitt can recruit a little, but he is by far the poorest game coach in the ACC.
Bryan
February 6th, 2010
10:08 pm
So the issue is either the message or the messeger…seesm like that goes back to the same place…the coach., time for him to go and from the ounds of this conference he knows it
UGA is SO last YEAR
February 6th, 2010
10:08 pm
Jeff, just the other day, you ran an article about Tech winning now and the fact that maybe all the Hewitt critics would soften up. Then about 99% of those that blogged said ‘no way’. And, ‘he should be fired’. After that article of yours came the smashing by Duke and the near collapse of this game. I think we are all still on the same wave length. And, what is up with all those fools that pay money and go to the game? Stop going!!! Geesh.
GT Fan
February 6th, 2010
10:10 pm
UGA just beat Vandy 70+to 58…. Good game for Fox, big win. Have to give”m credit, Fox gets more from less than Hewitt. Fire Hewitt.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 6th, 2010
10:10 pm
Free Throw Shooting, Turnovers, In-Bounds Plays, Random pointless timeouts….EVERY GAME these 4 things kill this team and all four come back to coaching and being able to recruit the right kind of players.
Mark it down JEFF, Blewitt and the Jackets will be 0-16 in the ACC.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:11 pm
This is definitely my last year of buying tickets. I said that last year and let the allure of Favors’ coming to Tech distract me. NO MORE!!!!! And to think, I even drive up from Augusta for that crap.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 6th, 2010
10:12 pm
China Jim —– Hate to ruin GT basketball for you but GT has not run a designed PLAY in the last ten years
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:12 pm
A little hard to go 0-fer at this point, since we have won a few, but I sure don’t expect many more, if any
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:14 pm
I’m not ashamed to say that I and several people around me today were booing. I hate that anybody might think we were booing the players (I NEVER do that), but I sure as hell was booing Blewitt.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 6th, 2010
10:14 pm
Supersize —- I live in Buckhead and I think that would be too far to drive to watch this STREET ball garbage.
Hey Blewitt I think the next time you just throw your hands up and sit down and sulk with your hands on your head things will get better. I mean when things are going badly why would you try to coach the team up??? That would make no sense
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:15 pm
NoCoach, I guess you think I am stupid for driving up from Augusta, huh? Afraid I have to agree with you. LOL
hubbabubba
February 6th, 2010
10:16 pm
To WR … you’ve got a leader for that team. Mfon Udofia. His play has been off but he’s been moved to the wing to put Shumpert in at point. Coach/Shumpert won’t let him lead the team or shoot. I think that his confidence is now shot. How do you go from 26 points to 1 point in the last 2 games. Read his bio on Rivals … knows how to win and run a team. For the first half of the season that’s what he did.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:17 pm
Whoever it was who said earlier that he had emailed D-Rad, I would love to know what his reply was….also what exactly you said in your email
NoCoach Blewitt
February 6th, 2010
10:17 pm
Maybe we can all convince Blewitt that Wednesday’s game is at the Thrillerdome. This way we actually have a chance to win a freakin road game
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:18 pm
NoCoach, based on the way they played in the last 5 minutes today, I don’t think that would be any kind of advantage
NoCoach Blewitt
February 6th, 2010
10:18 pm
Supersize —- I would suggest selling the remaining tickets but I dont think anyone would want them
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:19 pm
NoCoach, once again you are right. LOL Why would any sane man pay money to see that crap?
Foothills football fan
February 6th, 2010
10:20 pm
Yeah, Blewett does need to take a look in the mirror-Fox would have this team sitting atop the A.C.C. Where is Craig Neal?
todd grantham
February 6th, 2010
10:21 pm
Jeff, you veggin?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 6th, 2010
10:21 pm
One funny thing today—an entire family of NC State fans were sitting one row down and to my left. They left when Tech went up by 16 with 5 minutes left. I told my Tech friends sitting with me that those people apparently didn’t know how Tech can so easily blow a lead. Damn, was I right on that count
NoCoach Blewitt
February 6th, 2010
10:22 pm
I dont know i guess i too am glutton for punishment because after every game I State “This is the last game i will watch til we get a new coach” yet i always tune in and spend 2 hours as frustrated as humanly possible