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
kennyh
December 7th, 2010
10:41 pm
i didnt even watch tyhis.. i gave up on tech basketball years ago.. how do i contribute to the fire hewitt fund. i am sure we can find funds to can his sorry ass!
Outside Observer
December 7th, 2010
10:41 pm
It’s gonna be a long year watching GT basketball. Last year was frustrating because we had greater potential than we showed on the court. This year, we don’t even have talent to compensate for our lack of coaching. I have wanted a new basketball coach for the last three years. Please Dan Rad, save your own job and fire Hewitt. Otherwise, you could find yourself in the unemployment line as well, with your coach you apparently think is doing an adequate job.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
December 7th, 2010
10:42 pm
UGA Coaches MARK owns GT Coaches Paul. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHHA
GT Fan
December 7th, 2010
10:42 pm
ok stanford..peace
south
December 7th, 2010
10:44 pm
that’s correct DawginTX…his contract perpetually renews every Feb. Hewitt isn’t going anywhere…
GT Fan
December 7th, 2010
10:45 pm
Hewitt may be around but this boy will be over watching the Hawks are good HS basketball game.
USMC dawg
December 7th, 2010
10:45 pm
Great win for Georgia even though it wasn’t pretty.
We are so lucky to have Mark Fox as a Headcoach!
Merry Christmas Jacket fans, tonight might not have been much fun for you, but UGA did you guys a HUGE favor by beating Paul Hewitt.
It might sting in the morning, but you will get a new coach because of your friendly neighborhood Georgia Bulldogs.
Good luck the rest of the season Jackets.
Go Dogs!
Paul in RDU
December 7th, 2010
10:46 pm
RomeDawg – Nice well thought out post. Neither team looked very good – but one of them looked as if they had a plan and that team won.
I don’t agree with Jeff about the basket by Rice – I thought it was the correct move. You go for a steal or foul on the inbounds and at worse you are putting UGA on the line with over 6 seconds left in a 1 point game – and it is not as if UGA looked like they had Anthony Morrow, Mark Price or JJ Reddick taking FTs. UGA got the ball in quickly and ran a few seconds before the foul reducing the time – but there still should have been enough to have a 25 footer or so.
GT’s last play was classic Hewitt – if they have practised the last second play it sure didn’t show.
Hypocritical Dawgs
December 7th, 2010
10:46 pm
@Suwannee Dawg. Good one bro
Neville Austin
December 7th, 2010
10:46 pm
Maybe CPJ can lyposuction some of his triple chin off and donate it to sell on ebay for the Hewitt payoff….I’m sure the Triple Option, CPJ Kool-Aid drinkers would pay to touch the fat off the genius’s chin.
Hypocritical Dawgs
December 7th, 2010
10:47 pm
and GT Fan thats funny that you say that. Mike Woodson was at the Tech Game tonight
nola dawg fan
December 7th, 2010
10:47 pm
as a UGA alum to Tech fans… I am not going to get into all the name calling and taunts (those seem to come back and bite you …. see 2008).
But you guys do have MAJOR issues with CPH. Just watching that game, NO set offense for Tech. You hear the stat that late in 2nd half UGA had 24 FGs and 20 assists. Its called an offensive system. It gives UGA hoops fans hope. CMF can flat out coach. Paul H.. not so much. Fire him and start over… or maybe keep him so we can keep winning at “your sport” (see Jim Donnan)
DawginTX
December 7th, 2010
10:47 pm
Hewitt’s contract should be a lesson for any AD. Big buyouts should expire, and if they don’t, then they shouldn’t be more than 2 or 3% of your athletic budget.
Average Tech Student
December 7th, 2010
10:49 pm
I could not go to the game tonight because I had a meeting of the Warcraft Club at the student center…after that, I went to the drug store because I am running low on vaseline.
KSEE
December 7th, 2010
10:51 pm
“It doesn’t speak well for the feeling around the program when there are 2,000 empty seats in a 9,000-seat arena.”
IN MY OPINION…it doesn’t speak well for BOTH fan bases if there were 2000 empty seats. i sense disinterest from both schools.
Second Order Derivative
December 7th, 2010
10:51 pm
What is an A-Back? What is a B-Back? What is a co-ed?
nola dawg fan
December 7th, 2010
10:51 pm
And Tech, put together a decent season, we don’t want you to be a drag on our RPI…
Paul in RDU
December 7th, 2010
10:54 pm
DawginTX – You are correct about Hewitt’s contract being a lesson for any AD but I expect him to be bought out eventually. GT stops paying Gailey in the next year and the ACC contract with the World Wide Leader kicks in about the same time – meaning GT will have more cash. 2011 is going to be a very long season in Alexander Memorial and the empty seats and lack of support are getting to the point that the cost of keeping Hewitt is greater than the cost of negotiating a buyout (I’d guess 60-70% of the $7MM over a 5 year period).
kral
December 7th, 2010
10:55 pm
Take heart tech fans you beat us in women’s bb and still out there is golf, volleyball, baseball, tennnis, soccer, baseball..degree earning profitabilty…look up there is a cloud at the end of the tunnel want mention track or gymnastics..
kral
December 7th, 2010
10:55 pm
Take heart tech fans you beat us in women’s bb and still out there is golf, volleyball, baseball, tennnis, soccer, baseball..degree earning profitabilty…look up there is a cloud at the end of the tunnel want mention track or gymnastics..
BBFAN
December 7th, 2010
10:57 pm
Am I totally missing it? I see GT is 4-4 but can anyone tell me UGA’s record in BB?
USMC dawg
December 7th, 2010
10:57 pm
I went to the game and have to say,”Gosh, that was so much fun beating GT at Alexander Memorial.”
That hasn’t happened very often, and did I say We are so lucky to have coach Mark Fox?
He just seems to be the full package. He is great with the X’s and O’s, great with the players, etc.
I wonder if that kid who decommitted last year is kicking himself?
kral
December 7th, 2010
10:58 pm
6-2
kral
December 7th, 2010
10:58 pm
6-2
superDawg
December 7th, 2010
10:58 pm
I know you tekies do not fill up your stadium or buy gt garbage,but you should try and support your team.It might give your players a little more incentive to perform for you sorry beehind fans.Give it a try and have fun doing it.Oh and I would take the beat GEORGIA sign down because it should say here we go again irrelevant.
south
December 7th, 2010
10:59 pm
Paul in RDU…why in the world would Hewitt negotiate his buyout down??
carter is a fool
December 7th, 2010
10:59 pm
Fire the head coach idiot. He is a real clueless jerk.
puff
December 7th, 2010
10:59 pm
Fox rocks
Sundiata Gaines
December 7th, 2010
11:00 pm
Nerds lose……Nerds lose…..eat it…..have fun at your computers tomorrow….the UGA grads with interpersonal skills will be discussing the game…..St. Simons where are you?
kral
December 7th, 2010
11:01 pm
played the fisrt 3 or 4 games without the pre-season sec player of the year..maybe ..maybe not..but he could not prac.. for about a mon..nice ? bb
Paul in RDU
December 7th, 2010
11:02 pm
south – Hewitt is a young man. If he wants to coach anywhere after GT he needs to negotiate his buyout down – otherwise no-one will touch him.
PJO
December 7th, 2010
11:02 pm
Nothing left to say… 40 years of watching GT BBall and this is the worst coaching debacle I have ever seen… and an AD who “is in his corner” is devastating! I have never worried abouts wins nor records… just good basketball and that appears to be gone as there is no teacher/coach available to the GT players… SAD!
73-72 and 42-34
December 7th, 2010
11:02 pm
and 50,000 Seats
and Being “outsmarted’ by CPJ
and Free hotdogs and cokes
and 9 of 10
and joke by coke
and 30-24
and 73-66
and Laces Out Blair Finkle
and no one attends your games
and Shreveport
and BBBUUUHHHUUUWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAHHHAAA
and I love Hewitt
and Double BBBUUUUHHHUUUWWWAAAAAHHHAAAHHHHAAA
GTBob
December 7th, 2010
11:05 pm
@superDawg
We support our team plenty. We just want them to have a half decent coach who could maybe get them ready for a game. Its not fun always watching our good talent go to waste.
Paul in RDU
December 7th, 2010
11:07 pm
PJO – What do you expect DRad to SAY with over 20 games to go in the season? That he thinks that Hewitt is doing a poor job and he has to win or else? He has to support Hewitt in public.
Coastal Dawg
December 7th, 2010
11:07 pm
Great win for the Dawgs, although it wasn’t very pretty. Hope UGA is really on the rise with Coach Fox. We came back in the 2nd half instead of fading.
Would love to rub it in to the obnoxious Tech fans who spot nonsense like St Simons, etc., but as we all know the game was very tight and could easily have gone either way. Coach Hewitt is a nice guy, but I am a Georgia fan and will not get into your affairs.
To Tech fans such as the ones that sat next to me in Athens for the football game and came in talking about arrests, etc., hey we killed you again.
To reasonable Tech fans, wish you well the remainder of the season and hope we both improve on our performance of tonight since we will both need it for conference play. Just glad I don’t have to hear the abuse most would have posted here if Ware’s 3 pointer had been a brick.
Go Dawgs!
73-72 and 42-34
December 7th, 2010
11:08 pm
Oh yeah…
and Kennesaw State
BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
south
December 7th, 2010
11:10 pm
sorry Paul…I don’t see it…he already has coached his way out of any other decent job…he’s going to force DRad’s hand…although I still agree better to make the move now…it won’t take long to recover…Tech has had very good programs on small budgets for years…no reason to panic…just get rid of Hewitt
Jim S
December 7th, 2010
11:12 pm
It’s sad when you sign a top class every year but can not win. talk about sorry coaching gt wins this award every year 42 – 34 73 – 72 hewterd worst coach in the history of basketball. he sign the best and coaches them down. no player has improved under hewterd they only get sorry, sorry sorry.
Yngwie Malmsteen
December 7th, 2010
11:13 pm
You can’t get your extra value meal unless we fill your fries!
DAWGS run this state!
Clay
December 7th, 2010
11:14 pm
So, UGA beat Tech, again? This isn’t even news anymore.
We can still out-cheer the dogs
December 7th, 2010
11:15 pm
which is better than scoring homerun baskets
Differential X,
Differential Y,
A Square, B Square,
Integral of Pi !
Engineers Touchdown,
Engineers Yell,
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Fight like Hell!
Take that mutts
Clay
December 7th, 2010
11:15 pm
“Yngwie Malmsteen”
There’s a name I haven’t thought about since about 1987…
We can still out-cheer the dogs
December 7th, 2010
11:16 pm
E to the X dy dx,
E to the X dx,
Tangent Secant Cosine Sine,
3.14159,
Square roots Cube roots Poisson brackets,
Dis-integrate ‘em Yellow Jackets!
In your face UGA
recruitnik
December 7th, 2010
11:17 pm
UGA runs this state. Get used to it georgia tech fans.
kral
December 7th, 2010
11:17 pm
Well Gt maybe you found a post player tonite..because if you did not you are in troble..ph..it is not fair that you have recruited top pro picks who left you early…but what did you do with them when you had them…Bosch.. Favors….GA’s big guy went straight to the pros..have to coach or recruit around it DW
grandpa jacket
December 7th, 2010
11:18 pm
Sorry to see D Rad’s comments. He is now I think in jeopardy of his job. I really thought he had more smarts than to hang on to a looser, who will eventually bring him down as well.
We can still out-cheer the dogs
December 7th, 2010
11:18 pm
Oh yeah, well GT runs most Gamestops
kral
December 7th, 2010
11:18 pm
Enter your comments here
Paul in RDU
December 7th, 2010
11:19 pm
south – I’m not sure Hewitt has coached his way out of a job yet. He could have been a HC in the Big East this year and there are teams besides St. John’s who would take a chance with him.
Unless something miraculous happens (like finishing 7-9 in the ACC with a win over Duke or UNC), I can’t see Hewitt lasting past the end of next season. GT will have the money by then to pay him off.