Jackets fizzle again, but Radakovich in Hewitt’s corner
Georgia's Gerald Robinson drives past Tech's Daniel Miller for a layup in the second half, and the Bulldogs rallied for a 73-72 win. (AP photo)
For most of the evening, it looked like early December basketball: Missed jumpers, mistimed passes and long stretches of mediocrity interrupted by the occasional highlight.
Actually, if you flipped back the calendar a couple of weeks, it was the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech football game.
In the end, the Bulldogs won this one, too, 73-72 at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The difference: a 3-pointer by the Dogs’ Dustin Ware that broke a tie with 18 seconds remaining, followed by a Tech team that looked again as if it lacked either a plan or an ability to execute thereafter.
Why would Glen Rice drive the lane for a layup with 6.8 seconds left rather than attempt to set up a three-pointer to tie it?
Why, with the Jackets inbounding the ball with 2.8 seconds left, would Brian Oliver attempt a low-percentage pass the length of the court to center Daniel Miller when there probably was time for a mid-court pass, a dribble and a shot? (The pass was intercepted by Travis Leslie.)
Neither team looked March-ready. Or even January-ready. But only one made plays to win the game, and it wasn’t the Jackets.
Georgia coach Mark Fox wasn’t thrilled with his team’s performance but said: “We feel like we’re leaving here with a good win.”
That’s more than Paul Hewitt could say. Of Oliver’s pass, he said: “Just a [bad] read. The next time he’s in that situation, he’ll make a good decision.”
But an impatient fan base isn’t allowing Hewitt much room for error. This was only the second time in 16 years since the Tech-Georgia game was shifted back on campus that the home team lost. Both times, the Dogs have won at Alexander. The last time: 10 years ago in Hewitt’s first season.
The masses aren’t happy on North Avenue. That’s when there are masses. It doesn’t speak well for the feeling around the program when there are 2,000 empty seats in a 9,000-seat arena.
But before the game, Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich stood up for Hewitt.
“We went to the finals of the ACC tournament last year,” Radakovich said. “We went to the second round of the NCAA tournament. That wasn’t a bad year.”
So you’re satisfied?
“You’re never satisfied unless you win it all,” he said. “But there was significant progress over the previous couple of years. I feel like we’re going in the right direction.”
He said he’s aware of the concern over the direction of the program, adding: “I’m not oblivious to it. But Paul and I talk an awful lot about where the program’s going the next couple of years, bringing in some players that we think will [not leave early]. One-and-dones aren’t bad if you understand them from the beginning. It’s the ones who leave when you don’t expect it that really put the program behind the eight ball.”
Three weeks ago the Jackets lost at Kennesaw State. That left the impression the program was under the eight ball, not behind it. (If the loss wasn’t humiliating enough, consider that the Owls are 0-5 since.)
Radakovich, with a slight smile: “Yeah, we hit a bump at Kennesaw State.”
A bump?
“OK, a pothole. A crevice. An iceberg.”
It pays sometime to have a sense of humor when the barbarians are at the gate. But this end-of-game fizzle won’t help Hewitt’s cause.
The teams shot a combined 25-for-62 in the first half. Georgia at least had an excuse. Leslie sat for most of the half with two early fouls. When he returned in the second half, so did some semblance of flow to the Dogs’ offense.
They made five consecutive three-pointers in one stretch. They finally took their first lead at 48-47 on a three-point shot by Sherrard Brantley with 11:36 remaining. The Jackets fought back. Effort wasn’t the issue, execution was. But that has become a familiar sight.
– By Jeff Schultz
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489 comments Add your comment
TomB
December 8th, 2010
2:21 pm
Ok Jake, since you started it. Lets look at the arrest record of recent players. Or maybe even AD’s? I can’t believe you want to start this?
jdl2
December 8th, 2010
2:22 pm
Losing to Kennesaw and Georgia is pitiful. So we could lose to Savannah State and Mercer too. Come on DR grow a pair and act. This is getting embarrassing for us as alumni. do you ever want to fill a stadium/arena again?
bigdawg8
December 8th, 2010
2:24 pm
TomB If our record was 1-11 is satisfaction enough as long as we beat tech every year!! Also, since I never go to tech’s page I do realize now that Schultz linked this article off the tech page to rub it in the their face. And please stop with the bitter “stupid” and “weak logic” comments because we all know now that you are far more superior than everyone else since you went to tech.
If Chan Got Fired
December 8th, 2010
2:32 pm
If Chan got fired for boos while starring in a Public Service Announcement at Grant what does DRad make of the pitiful crowd last night! Not even enough students to fill the ends under the baskets.Certainly few if any alumni to smooze and fund raise with while playing G-E-O-R-G-I-A for Pete’s sake. No fans while playing the Dawgs? Somebody gotta go DRad, you or Hewittless? Both?
TomB
December 8th, 2010
2:36 pm
I didn’t start the academic argument bigdawg. A UGA poster named Snoop Dawg did. Go back and read his post if you want to know who started talking academics. Not being bitter, just responding to your sarcasm about techies and all. Re read your post and ask how one should respond.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
December 8th, 2010
2:36 pm
URBAN MEYER JUST QUIT
Buzz
December 8th, 2010
2:41 pm
So should HEWITT!!!!!!!!!!
Buzz
December 8th, 2010
2:42 pm
I have never been on a UGA Y blog… Why are they on ours??????????
The Red Panty Pirate
December 8th, 2010
2:43 pm
I suppose GT could sell out, take the low road and try to dethrone the CURRENT ARRESTS PER PLAYER CHAMPIONS OF THE ENTIRE NCAA…..Your state’s “flagship” school…..What a COMPLETE EMBARRASSMENT to the state and people of Georgia!
“Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest” “Sir, you are under arrest”
Did I miss any? Those words were uttered to thUGA football players THAT MANY TIMES JUST THIS YEAR!!??!?! Do you thUGA fans have no shame? Are you not even the slightest bit EMBARRASSED by what your football team’s NATIONAL REPUTATION has become?
No, you don’t have any shame….No, you are not embarrassed…Cause “We’s winnin’ them football games, ya know?” You silly morons don’t even have any concept of how ridiculed you are in other parts of the country for your degenerate football program…..It used to be for the hicks and rednecks…..Now it’s just a bunch of gangstas that should be behind bars, and probably will be some time in the near future. UGA FOOTBALL — WHAT A COMPLETE JOKE!
Atlanta had a wet fart and they named it Athens, GA….
jarvis
December 8th, 2010
2:44 pm
Little surprised by the timing of the Meyer announcement, but other than that, not really surprised.
jarvis
December 8th, 2010
2:45 pm
Think he might be headed to coach Denver? His love for Tebow is deep.
Wow
December 8th, 2010
2:45 pm
The level of douchebaggery by the sore loser Trek fans is hilarious.
We own you, as does Kennesaw State.
Laces out Dorks
42-34 BWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAA
Your B-Ball coach is aeven a bigger loser than your gynecomastic “genius”
BBBBWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA
73-72
At least you got closer this year in basketball
Your athletic department is in shambles
You can’t fill a 50,000 seater in downtown Atlanta, even with free food and cheap tickets
You are a joke
jarvis
December 8th, 2010
2:46 pm
Come on Shultzie! Where’s the Meyer story?
Hmmm?
December 8th, 2010
2:49 pm
Meyer said he wants to spend more time with his family – is that his immediate family or his son Tebow in Denver? Look for Dan Mullen to move back to Florida?
Wow
December 8th, 2010
2:51 pm
Hard to believe the “Hey Dawgy” guy took time away from World of Warcraft to post meaningless dribble that wouldn’t have anyones “goat”
While we’re talking about mascots, your’s is a bug
A bug that can be attracted by vinegar and water
http://www.ehow.com/how_1740_make-trap-yellow.html
The main components of a douche
You therefore being a douche is not a coincidence
TomB
December 8th, 2010
3:29 pm
Wow the UGA grad. Complements of a UGA degree: Can spell Dawg and bug, can use the internet, knows to reference ehow for answers to everyday problems, and can make a trap to catch pesky yellow jacket. WOW!
Pitiful Dogs
December 8th, 2010
3:34 pm
I thought the uga mascot was a drooling bulldog; now I’m confused. If you look at the picture on this blog it looks as if they dressed a pet monkey in a #33 uga uniform. Is this the mascot for the basketball team? If this is actually a player the uga fans should insist that ajc take this demeaning picture down.
jake
December 8th, 2010
3:35 pm
Yes, lets do take a look at it. Overwhelming majority are misdemeanor driving offenses, while you currently have a player that was arrested for rape. And let’s not forget good ol’ Houston a few years back who was busted in a nationwide FBI drug sting. He was also hunted down by U.S. Marshalls last year after he assaulted a woman at gunpoint in Marietta. And whoever that thug was that played at Tech for a couple of years that was involved in the Wizards locker room gun standoff last season as well.
Granted, Houston wasn’t under Coach Moobs, but you know good and well he would have played him just like Gailey did.
jake
December 8th, 2010
3:37 pm
I bet UF goes after our backup in Dan Mullen. Darn it!!!
TomB
December 8th, 2010
3:42 pm
Dang Jake, you got to go back all the way back to old Ruben Houston. That player that you speak of arrested for rape was acquitted two years ago. Do you know what that means? Have you compared the number of players arrested from both programs recently? Do you want me to go back as far as you have? Didn’t think so. Didn’t want to talk about you former AD? Can’t understand why? Such an interesting and colorful(red) story.
TomB
December 8th, 2010
3:45 pm
Your backup, Jake. What is that? So, Mullen is now your backup plan?
AllDawg
December 8th, 2010
3:53 pm
Talk trash Tech, and Gators haaaaaaaaaa!
AllDawg
December 8th, 2010
3:54 pm
Great to be a Dawg
TomB
December 8th, 2010
4:07 pm
Great to be a 6-6 Dawg, All Dawg. Dawgone it.
SouthGaDawg
December 8th, 2010
5:35 pm
I’d rather be a 6-6 Dawg than a 12-0 Tech fan any day of the week.
Go Dawgs!
Wreckmaniac
December 8th, 2010
5:56 pm
Earth to DRAD: Are you on a sabbatical this year ?
Born2Buzz
December 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
DRad has to be in Hewitt’s corner, for now. The season is 3 weeks old. At the end of the season it will be evident what has to happen.
While players have to make plays, there has to be some coaching to get them into the right position to make plays. The most egregious coaching misstep was calling the timeout after Rice made the layup with 6.8 seconds left. I didn’t mind the layup to cut it to 1 point, but you just called timeout to set up the play and you should have told them THEN to go for the steal and then foul immediately (which is what you did). But now you have no TO to set up something after UGA missed their FT’s. THAT is poor coaching. And I’ve seen a lot of it the last 5 years.
Paul Hewitt
December 8th, 2010
6:59 pm
Ha Ha ha ha Ha ha Ha……………….Ga. Tech is the biggest sucker………ha ha ha Ha Ha Ha ……….well time for my daily massage, sponge bath and manicure………SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bobby C.
December 8th, 2010
7:01 pm
They are paying him how much?
Ga.Tech B-Ball Fans
December 8th, 2010
7:04 pm
Hey Paul: See what Meyer just did? Please follow his lead.
wesleywhatwhat
December 9th, 2010
11:13 am
should have asked him how long he expects to keep his job while the paul hewitt disaster is left unfinished.
Tommy Lawhorne
December 9th, 2010
11:33 am
Add me to an exploding list of people who will never watch another Tech basketball game while that loser, Paul Hewitt, is coaching. I know of a number of people who let their season tickets go this year for that same reason. Maybe when the coliseum is virtually empty, D Rad will have the guts to do something. Tech Forever is right. We made the final four in 2004 in spite of Hewitt, not because of him. It just happened that we had a group who could play without coaching. I did not watch but I am told that in the Georgia debacle, we once again had no time out left when we had the ball out of bounds with only a few seconds left. That is typical Hewitt coaching. Mindless, aimless, basketball is his game. I honestly don’t think he has a clue. The guy is the worst coach in the country. I am done until he is gone and, as I said, the list is growing rapidly of those who feel the same. Wake up D Rad.
Buzz
December 9th, 2010
1:53 pm
Why is CPH still employed????????? Fire CPH!!!! Fire CPH!!!!!!!!!!
Tech Buzz
December 9th, 2010
4:57 pm
Will Hewitt get a big raise again at the end of the season and bonus?
Wow
December 10th, 2010
11:35 am
Ok, so I’m a miserable Dawg fan that has cried buckets of tears about my 6-6 Dawgs. To help offset my misery I have absolutely nothing else to do but try to harass strangers on an anonymous blog. I can say stupid meaningless insults with impunity. I don’t have a life. I am a Dawg fan. I am miserable and jealous of the superior institution in Atlanta that I could never get into. Because of that I will spread my bitterness and envy on these blogs. My name is WOW and I’m a Dawg fan.
neil malowe
December 10th, 2010
3:21 pm
for whatever reason, the powers that be at Georgia Tech are satisfied with mediocrity with the
basketball program. what a shame.
The UGA Inferiority Complex
December 11th, 2010
12:53 am
My name says it all, baby.
jacket44
December 12th, 2010
6:27 pm
Dan your an idiot. you dont know what you are talking about they may have had an alright last year, but over the past few years paul blewitt has been going downhill. he needs to be gone.. end of story and if the people of atlanta or the alumni’s never show up to a game to watch Ga tech play a game that should tell you something. need a new coach or maybe we just need an AD who has a brain and can think realilistic.
wreckmaniac
December 13th, 2010
9:38 am
Maybe this “McCamish” money will allow us to get rid of Groh and Hewitt. A two-fer is what we need.