We’re live from a Georgia Tech road game (uh oh)
A win at Clemson tonight would all but secure an NCAA tournament spot for Georgia Tech.
CLEMSON, S.C. – Comedian Lewis Black is on the sign out front of the Littlejohn Coliseum. Unfortunately, he is not expected to be in attendance tonight when Georgia Tech visits Clemson.
Too bad. I figured if the Jackets lose tonight, Black could’ve provided some needed comic relief for coach Paul Hewitt, whose team is sitting on or near the NCAA tournament bubble.
We can’t be certain where exactly Tech fits in the tournament picture. The fact the Jackets are looking for only their second road victory in eight tries in the ACC doesn’t help. I checked bracket projections on three different websites and nobody is in agreement on how desperate the situation is.
Would a split in the last two ACC games and a first-round loss in the conference tournament get the Jackets in? Or do they need to go 2-0 or win their first-round ACC game?
– Bracketography.com projects Tech as the No. 12 seed in the Midwest and opposing No. 5 Richmond. The site also lists the Jackets under the heading, “Last Four In,” along with Saint Mary’s, San Diego State and Notre Dame.
– The RealTimeRPI bracketology puts the Jackets as the ninth seed in the East, opposing No. 8 Wake Forest.
– Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com is the most optimistic of the three, slotting Tech as the seventh seed in the East, opposing No. 10 Florida.
Feel free to choose your favorite.
With the ACC down this season, I don’t believe the Jackets should assume a .500 conference record locks them into the NCAA. There’s no guarantee how many tournament spots the ACC will get. Tech is 7-7 in the conference. A win against the Tigers (8-6) would put them in a strong position. This is the last chance for a road win for Hewitt’s team, and that would provide a needed boost going into the final regular season home game against Virginia Tech (which is 8-6 but has dropped three straight going into tonight’s game against N.C. State).
Hey, at least it has been quiet of late, following TwitterGate last week. For what it’s worth, Hewitt hasn’t posted anything since last Thursday. That’s the day he went Internet postal. As a fellow “cyber bully,” I hope he doesn’t take that characterization personally.
I’ll be here for a while if you have any questions. With early print deadlines tonight — because of the BLIZZARD OF 2010!!!! — I’m not sure if there will be much in the way of live blogging. But we’ll see what we can do.
So what do you think? Does Tech need a win tonight to get into the NCAA tournament and take the pressure off before the ACC tournament?
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329 comments Add your comment
El Bravo
March 2nd, 2010
7:03 pm
Tech probably needs this game to be in. The bubble is going to be rather volatile this year and all it would take is a few upsets during conference tournaments to kick Tech out…
Fed Up With Wren (Again)
March 2nd, 2010
7:03 pm
First
Fed Up With Wren (Again)
March 2nd, 2010
7:03 pm
Dangit.
carl
March 2nd, 2010
7:06 pm
first
carl
March 2nd, 2010
7:07 pm
doggone
El Bravo
March 2nd, 2010
7:07 pm
With parity being the theme of the year through College Basketball it should not be surprising to see a few upsets during the conference tournaments. A team like UConn could sneak in with a run. A split in the last two games does not guarantee anything for Tech…
El Bravo
March 2nd, 2010
7:09 pm
And I refuse to use the dreaded “F” word as a matter of principle…
Fed Up With Wren (Again)
March 2nd, 2010
7:11 pm
Double doggone dangit. I think Tech is definitely on the bubble and needs to win one of the last two and at least one win in the ACC tournament. Lot of talent will go to waste if they only make the NIT.
collegeballfan
March 2nd, 2010
7:11 pm
Yes Tech needs a win. Will they get it – NO. Clemson is tough and Littlejohn is tough.
Jeff, buddy, you are in for a long nite.
Ric Flair
March 2nd, 2010
7:17 pm
Anyone seen my wife? Anyway, GT needs to open up a can of it tonight. Gani needs to deliver a pile driver.
You are looking at the number one cause of divorce in the USA – woo!
todd grantham
March 2nd, 2010
7:17 pm
Jeffrey, you brought crummy weather back with you.
El Bravo
March 2nd, 2010
7:17 pm
I can buy that Fed Up. They need at least two more wins in any form. VTech and an ACC tourney win should suffice, however, I would hate to go to the ACC tourney needing a win to be in… This team has not displayed the ability to win away from home and then with the added pressure of needing such game to get in… ouch…
romebuzz
March 2nd, 2010
7:22 pm
just win, beat climpson
louisville slugger
March 2nd, 2010
7:23 pm
Looking for the same defensive intensity they’ve been pretty consistent with, as well as the lack of turnovers that they definitive HAVEN’T been consistent with. If they don’t turn the ball over and force a free throw contest in the end, I think they can win at CU.
Tech On
March 2nd, 2010
7:25 pm
Tech should beat Clemson pretty easily due to matchup advantages. I’m not worried.
JACKET88
March 2nd, 2010
7:26 pm
Tech loses due to poor free throw shooting and the inability to shoot over the top of Clemson’s zone defense – 75-64 Tigers….
Not Disappointed
March 2nd, 2010
7:26 pm
Let’s go Jackets!
AlabamaBuzz
March 2nd, 2010
7:29 pm
Hope Tech wins, but Paul Hewitt is still the worst division 1 gameday coach!!!
O'Brien
March 2nd, 2010
7:31 pm
Jeff,
If Tech goes 8-8 and wins one game in the conference tournament, I think they are in.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:32 pm
El Bravo — “Volatile” is a good word to use.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:33 pm
Fed Up — Always the bridesmaid . . .
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:34 pm
Collegeballfan — Yes about this being a tough place. Clemson is 13-2 at home.
Sluggo
March 2nd, 2010
7:34 pm
If you can’t win on the road or at least go better than .500 in your league, then say “hello” to the NIT…
SatchelBuzz
March 2nd, 2010
7:34 pm
Joey Brackets is correct. 8-8 gets us in,….RPI will stay high enough. That is all.
THWG!
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:35 pm
O’Brien — I would agree with that.
MIKE
March 2nd, 2010
7:38 pm
TECH’S IN NO BUBBLE WATCH SPORTSCENTER BEEN IN FOR THREE WEEKS THEY HAVE ENOUGH WINS AGAINST BIG TEAMS LOCK AND IF GEORGIA CAN WIN THE SEC TOUR THEY MIGHT SURPRISE PEOPLE BUT THATS A IF. SO WATCH TV
EEJacket
March 2nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Go Tigers! Missing one more big dance is one more incentive for some big wig to write that beautiful $7 million check and get us a coach who, ya know, coaches.
matt r
March 2nd, 2010
7:46 pm
http://bracketology101.blogspot.com
has GT a 10 seed
ACC Hoops #1
March 2nd, 2010
7:47 pm
Thanks Jeff, dont set us up or anything.
matt r
March 2nd, 2010
7:55 pm
The RealTimeRPI seeding projections are nice but the actual bracket (matchups, locations, etc) are a joke. GT can’t play Wake Forest until the elite 8, much less the first round. What is the point of saying Duke plays in Buffalo and Syracuse plays in OKC?? These things aren’t going to happen.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:58 pm
Todd – Really. Crazy winter.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:58 pm
Jacket88 — You’re in the books.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
7:59 pm
Sluggo — NIT with this team would be major letdown.
louisville slugger
March 2nd, 2010
8:01 pm
matt, you’re right, RealTimeRPI loses credibility with those bracket projections.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
8:02 pm
Matt — Got your email. I’ll check it out.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
8:02 pm
ACC Hoops #1 — Not sure what that means.
louisville slugger
March 2nd, 2010
8:05 pm
JS, have you been around the team tonight? What’s the feel?
Melissa
March 2nd, 2010
8:10 pm
Go Jello Yackets!!!
todd grantham
March 2nd, 2010
8:12 pm
Jeff, does Hewitt consider you a personal enemy like he does some of the AJC staff?
Paul is the man?
March 2nd, 2010
8:12 pm
Since the league expanded to 12 teams (2005-6 season) I listed below the up to date total regular season ACC wins by team. Of course, GT is in last place. By the way, if you add tournament wins, GT is still in last place.
Can CPH and/or his apologists please explain the rationale for giving him a pass on the last five years of futility and why the newcomers & basketball powerhouses (not) such as Miami and Va Tech have performed better?
My manager always tells me to give him results not excuses if I want a raise or even to keep my job. It must be great to get a 150K raise every year for not achieving the fantastic status of last place.
REGULAR SEASON Total Wins
Duke 58
North Carolina 54
Maryland 44
Florida State 41
Clemson 41
Boston College 39
Virginia Tech 38
Wake Forest 34
Virginia 32
Miami 30
N.C. St 29
Georgia Tech 28
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
8:14 pm
Louisville — Wasn’t around team today. Can’t talk to players on game day (until after).
Ahh, last year
March 2nd, 2010
8:15 pm
Hey, remember when the AJC’s position was that Anthony Grant > Mark Fox? How’d that one turn out, anyway?
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
8:15 pm
Todd — Paul and I generally have had a good relationship, albeit sometimes “spirited.” I think that’s how he’d put it.
Jeff Schultz
March 2nd, 2010
8:16 pm
Ahh, last year — Careful how you write things like “AJC’s position.” I’ve liked the Mark Fox hire from the outset. You might be confusing me with somebody else.
todd grantham
March 2nd, 2010
8:16 pm
It probably wont be a cakewalk talking to Hewitt after this game Jeffrey.
Paul Hewitt
March 2nd, 2010
8:18 pm
Ugh. I can’t stand watch this team anymore. Anyone want to coach tonight? Think I’ll hit the bars.
todd grantham
March 2nd, 2010
8:18 pm
Jeff, when you go in a lockerroom after a loss do you have to play the fake grieving game?
Buzz Aldrin
March 2nd, 2010
8:20 pm
It’s good to see Favors coming on as of late and staying out of foul trouble. Good thing he is maturing just in time to improve his draft stock!
Paul Hewitt
March 2nd, 2010
8:21 pm
I found this great dive in Anderson the other night. Think I’ll get my game on there. Jeff, wanna take over?
todd grantham
March 2nd, 2010
8:22 pm
The Count was in excellent form early this morning. Especially his photo captions.