Lawal stays, and Tech faces a year of promise and pressure
Paul Hewitt got an early Father’s Day gift. He learned his best player from last season will play for Georgia Tech next season, and there’s no reason — none — the Jackets shouldn’t be a Top 10 team.
But Hewitt’s present comes with a triple helping of pressure. For the first time in a while, the coach with the golden contract must actually deliver.
Gani Lawal, who removed his name from the NBA draft, will not be Tech’s best player in 2009-2010. The incoming freshman Derrick Favors, who heads a recruiting class ranked No. 4 nationally by Rivals.com, is better than Lawal, and Lawal is pretty darn good. And now the Jackets will have a team of talent and depth and seasoning. Last winter Hewitt described Wake Forest as “having the most NBA-ready talent in the ACC.” These Jackets will have even more.
Loading ...Favors and Lawal up front. D’Andre Bell, whom Hewitt made out to be last season’s missing piece once Bell was lost to injury, on the win. Iman Shumpert driving the lane. Moe Miller running the team when he isn’t dribbling the ball off his foot. The freshman-to-be Mfon Udofia of Miller Grove High perhaps beating out Miller at the point. Zachery Peacock popping from the wing. The newcomer Glen Rice Jr. hitting from the perimeter and making Dad proud.
It’s the most gifted aggregation Hewitt has had and, if we’re going on depth, the most talented Tech team ever. (Bobby Cremins tended not to worry about subs.) But Tech has underachieved under Hewitt before: The 2002-2003 team, which added Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack to holdovers Marvin Lewis, Ed Nelson, B.J. Elder, Luke Schenscher, Anthony McHenry and Isma’il Muhammad, didn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament, and the 2006-2007 Jackets, who would send four men to the NBA, made it only as a No. 10 seed.
This is the team that could take the heat off Hewitt and carry him back to the Final Four. But he has to coach it. The aforementioned Wake made the NCAA as a No. 4 seed but bombed out against Cleveland State in Round 1 because of undercoaching.
The ACC’s best teams from last season — North Carolina, Duke, Wake and Florida State — have all taken personnel hits, and there’s room for a team to make a big move upward. That team could be Georgia Tech. Could and should.
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104 comments Add your comment
wiley
June 14th, 2009
7:50 pm
agreed on all points!
TDone
June 14th, 2009
8:06 pm
Enter your comments here
Point taken.
Shack!!!
Greg
June 14th, 2009
8:10 pm
Yes, PH’s last chance to prove he can create an energetic but relaxed and confident team, rather than a team that is constantly anxious about making mistakes. No excuses now. This is make or break for PH.
AGTFan
June 14th, 2009
8:13 pm
I would think this is a make or break season for Hewitt. If he can’t win big with this much talent, he’s just not capable of winning big in the ACC.
brewdawg
June 14th, 2009
8:15 pm
Okay, so Tech is potentially a top 10 team. I’d like to think UGA is too. You know, one of the top 10 teams in the SEC.
rainman
June 14th, 2009
8:16 pm
Mark, it seems Tech has an abundance of power forwards — so, when the opposing team has a dominant center, who do think would draw that assignment? Would Lawal or Favors mind playing center since their pro position would be power forward? I’m not sure Peacock could handle it, and Sheehan is not a starter. Also, who do think is the best option at small forward after DBell — would Favors play some here?
gtchi
June 14th, 2009
8:18 pm
As nice as it is having Lawal back, I have watched years of “talented” players fail to develop under the coaching staff Hewitt has compiled. Lewis Clinch was a 5 star player that never developed, Morrow never learned how to dribble, Jeremis Smith never could shoot free throws… Unfortunately, if this coaching staff remains, Lawal might be better off practicing every day with a pro team improving his skills and riding the bench. If he puts in the time this summer on his own, he should improve offensively and at the free throw line and improve his draft status, but that will depend on him and not the coaches.
TS
June 14th, 2009
8:19 pm
Sorry to say, if you take away the lightning in a bottle Final Four run, there is absolutely nothing in Hewitt’s tenure that suggests he will do anything but underachieve next season.
cjohnson
June 14th, 2009
8:21 pm
Hewitt, please don’t be like Gailey and have loads of talent but undercoach. They’re both great recruiters, but poor deliverers. Break the curse, Hewitt! This year could be awesome for both basketball and football at Tech!
Techfan
June 14th, 2009
8:24 pm
I am glad Lawal came back! The past couple of years has been brutal to watch. If PH and the Jackets struggle this year then we will need a new coach after next year. PH has always got great recruits but they cant seem to play together! I have never really understood how he subs his players either! I have seen him take out Lawal and Lewis Clinch when they had made 3 or 4 shots in a row! I have been losing faith in his ability to lead us! I have been a big fan of PH but now is the time! I dont care what all recruits Kentucky has coming in! Go Jackets
Kirk Larson
June 14th, 2009
8:32 pm
Great news for Tech and Lawal. He isn’t ready for the pros yet and can certainly develop his skills and strength, while being a big plus for Tech. Bell coming back is also great—a good leader (not to metion his defense). I agree–this is make or break for Hewitt–and let’s hope the former.
Go Tech
June 14th, 2009
8:34 pm
Hewitt is still the coach–so just to win 15 games would be a miracle
THWG
June 14th, 2009
8:40 pm
This is looking to be the best NCAA basketball team I’ve seen in Atlanta in a long time. CPH, don’t disappoint.
Mark Bradley
June 14th, 2009
8:41 pm
In my mind, there’s not much difference between a power forward and a center. But if I were sketching a lineup today, it might be: Udofia at 1, Shumpert at 2, Bell/Rice at 3, Lawal at 4 and Favors at 5. Favors is stronger than Lawal and a much better offensive player.
And that would leave a pretty fair reserve corps: Peacock, Miller, Lance Storrs, Brad Sheehan, Brian Oliver and either Bell or Rice. That’s a deep, deep club.
Tech-man
June 14th, 2009
8:43 pm
Not getting too excited–Hewitt is still the coach and from my understanding, it would cost more to run him off than Gailey. So win or lose, we are stuck for a while because of “the” teams play in the NCAA championship run, “not” hewitts coaching–remember,because of that run, he was given a big extension.
ben
June 14th, 2009
8:45 pm
I don’t think it’s as no-brainer as many might think. NCAA ball is all about the point guard and if any team has shown you how bad an otherwise talented team can look without one, it’s GT.
reebok
June 14th, 2009
8:50 pm
All the talent in the world can’t help with Hewitt coaching. After the Jackets miss the postseason again next year, MAYBE we’ll finally be rid of him.
Mark Bradley
June 14th, 2009
8:52 pm
If Tech doesn’t make the NCAA next season, I think Tech will indeed have a new coach in 2010-2011. But I don’t think either of those things will happen.
jj
June 14th, 2009
9:11 pm
Tech has the manning now to compete, and beat, Duke and UNC. Duke and UNC both have top coaches. Time for Hewitt to show that he can coach with the elite.
louisville slugger
June 14th, 2009
9:20 pm
Ben, you hit the nail on the head. I’m glad Lawal decided to stay, but until GT gets better point guard play and cuts WAY down on the turnovers, they will never get back to elite status.
Techfan
June 14th, 2009
9:22 pm
Well lets all just hope this recruiting class doesnt turn out to be as bad as Jeremis Smiths class.. that was a highly touted class that was just a bust!! I know Smith isnt a Favors but the overall class was suppose to lead tech back to the top and they kept us on the bottom
DE
June 14th, 2009
9:23 pm
What you guys don’t realize is that you must have chemistry to win and beat the elite teams in the nation. The team is loaded with 3 5 star players the others are 4 and 3 star players. They have talent, but it will come down to the chemistry of the team and how hungry the young men are.
bigstack19
June 14th, 2009
9:48 pm
And when this team woefully underachieves and makes the tourney as a 10 seed and loses in round one then Hewitt should be fired.
heeldawg
June 14th, 2009
9:50 pm
As a UNC grad, am I biased? Heck, yeah. But for Tech to compete in the ACC, Hewitt has to show he can coach the elite players at an elite level. Sure, Tech will have talent next season. But so will Duke and Wake Forest, teams which return almost everyone. And Carolina loses some great players, but will reload with the number one recruiting class in the country and perhaps the top returning player in the ACC. And guess what? Carolina and Duke have Hall-of-Fame coaches. I don’t see Paul Hewitt being immortalized in Springfield.
My guess? Tech competes with the ACC also-rans, wins one game (two at the most) from the Big Three mentioned above, finishes fourth or so in the ACC, and gets beat in the second round of the NCAAs. In other words, a typical Paul Hewitt team.
Final Four? Only if the rest of the field gets swine flu.
WR
June 14th, 2009
9:54 pm
Mark been a while since our heated debate over the state of the hawks, but I give you credit, you definitely hit the nail on the head with this post. This team on paper is loaded,on paper, sad to say if this team was coached by Coach K, or Roy Williams it would be a top 5 team in my opinion, so would you say this is a make or break season for Hewitt considering the failures in the most recent years.
m
June 14th, 2009
9:56 pm
Final Four or Tech needs to fire up gomer gailey’s Greyhound bus for Paul Hewitt. Time to put up or ride that bus out of town.
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » Lawal stays, and Tech faces a year of promise and pressure
June 14th, 2009
10:06 pm
[...] Mark Bradley | ajc.com – [...]
UGAissolastyear
June 14th, 2009
10:07 pm
Not getting excited either. It’s not as if Hewitt hasn’t had talent before. And he rarely delivers. This team should win 15-20 games hopefully but thinking NCAA Sweet 16 or Final 4 is just silly. I’ll take football at GT – basketball is just a casual diversion I’ll watch with one eye open.
P
June 14th, 2009
10:09 pm
m, Final four is a little strong…Certainly top 2-3 in the ACC and a sweet sixteen minimum. I think they get it done…but I’m ready to pay his bus fare if they come up short (4th or worse in the ACC, and don’t win two in the NCAA.) Maybe D. Bell will be the Clarence Moore of this team!
ga_tech_92
June 14th, 2009
10:15 pm
Agreed. Put up or shut up time.
BravesFan79
June 14th, 2009
10:18 pm
UNC fan… your in denial that GT will go farther in the tourney than UNC. We are LOADED this year.
A Final 4 run will be based on a few things:
1: Hewitt needs to hire back the assistant that left after the 05 season (Keener i think)
and should also hire Mark Price to work with the guards and on free throws.
2: Udofia must be ACC ready and ready to lead the team by March.
If Hewitt would just swallow his pride…and get some EXPERIENCED help… wed be alright for years to come. Because hes got the recruiting down…. he should let older white assistants do the real coaching like he did in 2004. To bad hes more focused on the BCA than winning at GT. I hope he proves me wrong, ive always been a supporter.
BravesFan79
June 14th, 2009
10:21 pm
Please tell me we play Univ Southern Cal again this year on national tv so we can beat them into the ground! Same goes for Alabama… this is revenge year!
Biff Pocoroba
June 14th, 2009
10:23 pm
The biggest recruit for next year will be the new assistant coach. Hewitt, like Cremins, needs a good assistant to help him coach since he has proved he is a one year wonder. Cremins fell apart when he lost Perry Clark and Kevin Cantwell took over as top assitant. Cantwell killed Cremins’ career the way Hewitt’s assistants are now. Without a great assistant, Hewitt will pull a Danny Hall and turn a top 10 team into another bust and waste of talent.
Milledgeville Dawg
June 14th, 2009
10:25 pm
Sounds like the AJC is in love with the jackets for next year. However the big DAWG will spoil it all!!
Navigator
June 14th, 2009
10:25 pm
Somebody’s smoking illegal drugs if they think the Jackets will be top 10 material. Hewitt has had great talent in the recent past and couldn’t even be the top of the ACC.
alum06
June 14th, 2009
10:26 pm
This team should sleep walk to a tourney bid but they won’t win much unless the guards step up. One of three things need to happen for Tech to do damage in the ACC Tourney and NCAA’s A) Udofia is as good as advertised and can lead the team from Day 1 B) Miller returns to the form he had late in his freshman year C) Shumpert doesn’t turn the ball over and lives up to his McDonalds All-American hype. This team will overpower most teams with Lawal and Favors down low, but the guards have to step up against the upper tier of the ACC.
Beelogic
June 14th, 2009
10:28 pm
heeldog wrote; Final Four? Only if the rest of the field gets swine flu
LMAO!
cjohnson
June 14th, 2009
10:32 pm
Navigator:
I’m not sure if somebody said that the Jackets will be top 10 material. They *should* be top 10 material, but like everyone says (even Jacket fans), Hewitt hasn’t been delivering
TechMan
June 14th, 2009
10:33 pm
With all this talent, old and new, Tech should easily reach the final 4—mark it down!
James
June 14th, 2009
10:41 pm
I don’t know about the rest of the field, but I sure hope Hewitt gets swine flu…
Anyways, I went to several Tech games last year, and have to say that it never looked like we lacked talent -just discipline. Hewitt gets his big shot this year, and I hope his job is on the line. I don’t think he can get it done, but I’ll give the man one last year…
Also, I find it difficult, besides my best hopes, to believe that a team that won 2 ACC games last year and got demolished by several bad teams (Alabama, etc.) makes a significant jump in the conference. Just don’t see it happening, but I hope I am wrong.
Mark Bradley
June 14th, 2009
10:46 pm
Tech was awful in 2008-2009. But it shouldn’t have been half that bad. And there aren’t many teams in the ACC or the nation that can out-talent the Jackets’ first 10. Maybe Kansas. Maybe Kentucky. Maybe Villanova. Maybe Carolina. (Ed Davis will be a great player.) But not many others.
GM
June 14th, 2009
10:54 pm
D’Andre Bell was the excuse last year. I’m hoping for a great year too with Lawal’s return and the incoming, but I’m also pondering what Hewitt’s excuse will be this year, and how Dan will “break” the contract. Hope my optimism wins out.
Matt
June 14th, 2009
11:18 pm
James,
I watch a few Tech games last year at times it did indeed look like we lacked talent. It was some of the worst damn basketball I have ever witnessed. Rec-league drop-outs could have put up a better game.
Maybe we didn’t see the same games.
alum06
June 14th, 2009
11:19 pm
Also nobody has mentioned Holsey who is apart of the incoming freshman class and the transfer from UGA. I can’t think of any team that has the bigs as good as Tech will this year. Lawal, Favors, Peacock, Holsey, Miller, and Sheehan that’s not too shabby. It’ll just be nice to not feel like Tech is in rebuilding year for once.
Morning Jacket
June 14th, 2009
11:23 pm
Tech’s Achilles heel remains at point guard. Shumpert is not a natural PG. Moe Miller just isn’t that good, nor is Udofia. And they still lack a lights-out shooter. Lawal and Favors playing together just means Tech will remain a plodding offensive team, with defenses packing it under the hoop because no one can shoot from the outside. And the big men can’t hit 10-footers, but they’ll brick their share. I expect a winning record in the ACC, but a short post-season. And then both big guys will be gone.
gtfan
June 14th, 2009
11:44 pm
mark i think yur dreaming….
as a few have stated, take away that lighting in a bottle year an phew is a less than average coach. LESS THAN AVERAGE!
anybody with a smidgeon of personality could attract top name talent to gt, atlanta and the acc. so where does that put phew?
a crappy coach that doesnt know how to recruit for chemistry or need! a coach *sic* that has only one system for both his o and his d. if you are a player who is unable to play under his sytem then you are screwed. we have been screwed now for the last 5 years. phew is a one trick pony and a tired trick at that!
eactly what pedigree does phew have? he played community college ball and he was an assistant under that bca breaker that coached at usc…. george raveling.
the only reason george raveling even had a name for himself was because he was one of the first black coaches to coach at a big time university.
last time i looked he was run off at usc and he had ncaa issues to boot. nice eh?
exactly what makes you or anybody else think that we can achieve something that more talented/experienced teams over the last 5 years couldnt under phew.
we will have 6 freshman next year. SIX! none are proven talent including favors.
if you go to the hive one of the posters there named vladimich gives a good recap on our overrated recruiting class. we have 2 ligit new comers. TWO and they are freshman.
and we didnt get rid of our worst issue… phew!
i agree with the poster who sees us finishing in the middle of the pack in the acc…. at best. if we get a ticket to the dance we will maybe win one game and then be sent home by a team with a real coach.
than we will be right back where we started. minus bell, minus favors, minus lawal. with the same crappy coach. deja vu all over again. look for somebody to be unahappy next year and they will be run off by hewitt. happens with regularity under phew.
the excuse dejour for next year will be….
‘i guess we expected to much from all these freshman’
go jackets
to hell with phew
Billy
June 14th, 2009
11:48 pm
i’m hopefully optimistic, but jaded after watching Hewitt coach every year other than 03-04. I just honestly don’t think that the guy actually “coaches” his players. Stupid mental mistakes and missed free throws point to the coach.
He reminds me a lot of Calipari. Able to recruit, but the teams always fold when it counts. At least we don’t have the NCAA on us. Yet.
techaroo
June 14th, 2009
11:50 pm
This is the year for NO more excuses but unfortunately I see they are already starting.
Who recruited Moe Miller?
Mark Bradley
June 14th, 2009
11:51 pm
All my friends — well, all two of them — back in Kentucky will be ecstatic over your comparison of Hewitt to Calipari, Billy.
BravesFan79
June 15th, 2009
12:08 am
Billy: Hewitt couldn’t hold Calipari’s jock when it comes to coaching!!
Like i said before…Hewitt needs to get some REAL assistant coaches in here.
The AD should see the problem…and force Hewitts hand! Im sure he can help one of his young assistants out with a assistant job at a D2 school. (where half of them should be getting experience)
When i look at Duke or UNC’s bench, i see assistants that could easily be head coaches at other schools. when i look at GT’s bench i see guys that are just to inexperienced to help us compete in the best conference in the land.
Whats the problem Mr AD: 2 cheap to spend more $$ on Better Assistants?? Wouldn’t that be cheaper than eventually firing Hewitt?
BravesFan79
June 15th, 2009
12:13 am
And yall get off Mo…… if the man works on his 3pt shot and plays better without the mask, i see him being a important part of this team as backup point. And Shumpert has gotta step his game up 2 and prove he belongs in the ACC.
blackprix
June 15th, 2009
12:58 am
Top 10??????
You must be talking about Kansas or some other worthy team. As long as Paul Hewitt is here … this subject has no validity!
blackprix
June 15th, 2009
1:00 am
By the way, GT has HAD talent — it’s the terrible coaching that makes us bad!
GT71
June 15th, 2009
7:18 am
Let’s say the PH is now about 8. A bit above the median…and holding. If Tech doesn’t win at least 25 games, win the ACC (or come very close) and go deep at the dance, the PH will drop to around 3, the atmosphere will cloud with acidic gases and old ‘PH’ will be heading back north.
reality stinks
June 15th, 2009
8:03 am
I don’t have a lot of faith in Hewitt because he’s done nothing to date to garner any faith. GT will finish somewhere around 4th or 5th in the league, maybe win about 8 or 9 league games and maybe win one postseason game. The reality is this…….how does GT get rid of him when he essentially has a guaranteed 6 year rollover contract (or whatever it is). I’m not sure GT is in a position to pay off another coach at this time.
gtfanfrom1951
June 15th, 2009
8:10 am
I am sorry but Paul Hewitt is not the right fit for GT or ACC. I am sorry we tied up by that big contract.
RK22
June 15th, 2009
8:21 am
Looks pretty good down low. Not so good out top. If you’re going to compete(no matter the level), and make a run, you’ve got to have the guards. Right now I don’t see it. Sure hope somebody proves me wrong. Go Jackets!
Jaxjacket
June 15th, 2009
8:39 am
Mark, as to your opinion that if Tech doesn’t make the tournament, we won’t see another year of Hewitt, do you see him bowing out with character as did Bobby Cremins, or with Tech stuck with a huge buyout?
bt
June 15th, 2009
8:40 am
We need guards. Just think how many plays Will Bynum and Jarrett Jack made during the FF run. Who is this team’s Bynum and Jack?
rainman
June 15th, 2009
8:47 am
Enough already — we all get the point that Hewitt must become better at developing and utilizing his talented players. I can promise you that he will give it his best shot this year. If this team doesn’t have considerable success — then let the hating begin. In the meantime, be happy that there is at least hope for a very good season.
With the return of Lawal, I think Holsey and Brad Miller should be redshirted. Holsey is listed at 190 lbs and needs to bulk-up before he will be able to play power forward in the ACC and Miller wouldn’t get enough playing time since Sheehan would come off the bench before him. Next year, Lawal, Favors, and Sheehan will all be gone.
michael
June 15th, 2009
8:52 am
THIS CAN BE ONE HECKUVA YEAR FOR FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL. LET’S HOPE HEWITT PAYS ATTENTION TO COACH JOHNSON AS FAR AS MOTIVATION. CHEMISTRY IS EVERYTHING. TEAMW0RK AND FAMILY ARE EVERYTHING. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEPT TO EARLY APRIL (BB FINALS)……
rainman
June 15th, 2009
8:54 am
Oh, and Peacock will also be gone next year. So, Tech may have plenty of bigs this year, but next year is a different story.
Tampa Wreck
June 15th, 2009
9:04 am
To put Tech in the top 10 or even top 20 at this point in ridiculous. How many ACC games did we win last year with Lawal? Are we really going to bank on a bunch of Freshmen (yes, a pretty good bunch) who have never played a game together turning us from a bad (not just mediocre) team into a top 10 powerhouse? This whole discussion shows what is wrong with college basketball today. There is no continuity, and the whole game is suffering because of it.
Geori
June 15th, 2009
9:07 am
I predict 20-10, 8-8 ACC, and a 2nd round exit of the NCAA tournament. He’s going to squander talent again because he can’t coach. Paul Hewitt should be fired now rather than later. I’d rather move on like we did from Chan.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
9:18 am
If it becomes clear, JaxJacket, that it’s simply not going to work for Hewitt at Tech, I would guess — and this is but a guess — he’d agree to some sort of settlement and step down. (Meaning he’d take less than the $7.1 million he’d be contractually owed.) But that’s a long way off.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 15th, 2009
9:18 am
Mark, perhaps this is the end of GROUND HOG DAY (he was suppose to go pro).
My crystal ball is screaming 9-7 (Tie Hewitt’s big ACC winning record). Limp into the big dance and get beat by an inferior team in the first round of the sweet sixteen, if we don’t get beat before then.
The excuse maker, aka Paul Hewitt, says it was a disappointing lose, but a good season overall. We are stuck with him for another year. Then Favor’s and Lawal both go pro and we are right back where we started from…bottom of the ACC.
Or, the 10% of the Fan base that thinks Paul Hewitt is a good coach, will finally see that he is the worse coach in Men’s or Women Collegiate Sports.
Mark do you think if we get beat in one of the first two rounds of the NCAA’s, Hewitt will be back?
Not Disappointed
June 15th, 2009
9:19 am
The Jackets should make the NCAA tournament. They lost alot of close cames and went to OT several times with a young squad. Jackets should indeed be better. “Ramblin Wreck!”
Mac
June 15th, 2009
9:26 am
Wes Unseld proved a power forward can play center … a slow, can’t jump power forward, even.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
9:27 am
In a word, Ramble On, yes. I think making the NCAA — after not making it in 2006, 2008 and 2009 — would be considered a sign of progress. Now, not making the tournament would be regarded as something rather different.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
9:29 am
I saw Unseld play in the 1964 Kentucky state tournament. He was a junior at Louisville’s Seneca High. (Seneca won the title that year and the next.) He could, believe it or not, jump a little then. But he didn’t weigh 750 pounds then, either.
rainman
June 15th, 2009
9:43 am
It’s ridiculous to say that Tech will have an ‘all freshmen’ team.
Zack Peacock and D’Andre Bell provide the senior leadership. The junior class will feature a healthy Mo Miller, Lance Storrs, Brad Sheehan, and of course – Lawal. Add to that an improved Shumpert (Soph.), and you have a solid base of experience for the freshmen to compliment.
Trade School Junkie
June 15th, 2009
9:49 am
Watching the 2008-09 games was painful. It was liking a high-school team play. Lots JV-type mistakes. It seemed like some players were just plain lost on the court.
In several games, GT got way behind in first half, rallied to take the lead in the early second half, and just completely broke down in late second half to lose.
With the talent on this team, it could become a squad of competing NBA Prima-Donna’s competing for “showtime.” If this team doesnt start rolling thru the ACC schedule early, then it will mean their is no team chemistry, which will be a poor reflection on coaching.
GT66
June 15th, 2009
9:56 am
What happenned to the center they got from UGA? Does he have to sit out a year?
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
10:00 am
No. Daniel Miller is eligible immediately. Georgia released him from his letter of intent.
William Casey
June 15th, 2009
10:10 am
Have ANY of you guys ever coached a basketball team? Having Lawal and Favors inside will make the guards better. Other teams will have to double down, leaving the guards open. Paris Hilton could win coaching this team. Udofia is the real deal. Schumpert will prosper.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 15th, 2009
10:19 am
I’ll take Paris Hilton over Phewitt
Reality Check
June 15th, 2009
10:26 am
MB, do you a couple of Freshman will turn GT from a team that has won a couple of road games in two years into a pre-season top 10 team? My impression of NCAA tournament is driven by guard play and three point ability that Tech has none of or it is unproven. I can see GT maybe working into the top 20 by January but nothing more. After the season and maybe one or two tourney games the Jackets will be talentless when Favors and Lawal leave and all that remains will be a mediocre coach. That is the reality of it.
wiley
June 15th, 2009
10:26 am
what about Kammeon Holsey? he is a PF too
Frodo
June 15th, 2009
10:29 am
@Trade School Junkie
Lawal doesn’t strike me as a prima-donna, neither does Bell. I hope Shumpert has been humbled by the misery of last year and doesn’t some in with that attitude either.
Jack
June 15th, 2009
10:36 am
I think this should be a very good team, but the three keys will be point guard play, ability to hit threes to beat the zone, and free throws. Of those, I think PG is most important. If Miller progresses or Mfon beats him out, you’ve got a solid top tier ACC team.
The question for me is what happens to Hewitt if he makes the tournament and loses in the first round. I’m not a Hewitt hater. No matter how people try to dismiss it, he took GT basketball closer to a title than anyone else in the history of the program, but that only gets you so many years of grace. There will be a lot of pressure to fire him if there’s a first round exit.
E
June 15th, 2009
10:41 am
Regardless of all the differing opinions on Hewitt, we all can agree the this upcoming team on paper should be better than the three previous teams he’s coached. The talent (3 McDonald All-Americans), senior leadership (Bell, Peacock) are in place, will it turn into wins on the court? We’ll know soon enough.
Beast
June 15th, 2009
10:42 am
The positive: Lawal got a lot of time working against the best collegiate players, and he would not have come back if he did not believe Coach Hewitt could make him lottery pick.
The Negative: During all those workouts i am sure that he is well behind on school work.
BLAZER
June 15th, 2009
10:46 am
people are forgetting kameron holsey 6-8 freshman also
should win over 20 and go sweet 16 at least if not-the flames
will get much higher!!!
voiceofreason
June 15th, 2009
10:51 am
Most of the naysayers have probably never seen Favors play. I know he will be a freshman, but he really did look like a man amongst boys even in the McD AA game. He is arguably, at least in my opinion, one of the top three BB recruits to come through Tech all time. Match him with a core of experienced players on a deep team and the ingredients are there for a special season. I just wish there was some way CPH could convince Keener to come back into coaching. He is a top notch assistant and excellent at coaching Hewitts difficult to learn defensive schemes.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
10:53 am
I have seen Derrick Favors play. He’s outstanding.
nhe
June 15th, 2009
10:54 am
MB – you’re forgetting about Kameonn Holsey and Daniel Miller. (I think) Holsey is a higher rated recruit than both Rice and Oliver – he may the first first freshman off the bench if Ufondia starts……..and D. Miller is likely to get 1 or 2 small segments each half to keep our front line out of foul trouble. He could be pretty serviceable.
I would be shocked if at least one of the 3 of Moe Miller-Stoors-Sheehan doesn’t transfer. Miller has the best chance of the 3 to see regular reserve minutes…….but I honestly don’t think Sheehan or Stoors will see the floor.
nhe
June 15th, 2009
11:08 am
MB – you’re forgetting about Kameonn Holsey and Daniel Miller. (I think) Holsey is a higher rated recruit than both Rice and Oliver – he may the first first freshman off the bench if Udofia starts……..and D. Miller is likely to get 1 or 2 small segments each half to keep our front line out of foul trouble. He could be pretty serviceable.
I would be shocked if at least one of the 3 of Moe Miller-Stoors-Sheehan doesn’t transfer. Miller has the best chance of the 3 to see regular reserve minutes…….but I honestly don’t think Sheehan or Stoors will see the floor.
Tom
June 15th, 2009
11:29 am
Mark, is Maxie on vacation?
Captain
June 15th, 2009
12:09 pm
The 2009-2010 GT basketball team is, without question, the greatest collection of talent EVER on one team in the state of Georgia, college or NBA. As a matter of fact, the Hawks better be happy they don’t have to play GT as the Jackets are easily the more talented team. 20 pt wins should be the norm for GT this next season. The collection of talent is simply mind boggling. Derrick Favors is one of the five greatest talents ever from this state. With Lawal and FAvors GT has a monster front court and one which will leave opposing coaches sleepless. DOMINATION is the key, the 2009-10 GT team should totally DOMINATE their schedule and easily win the ACC. The 2009-10 GT may be one of the finest collections of talent in NCAA history. There’s skill, depth, and experience. The recruiting job Hewitt has done and the talent he has assembled boggles the mind, amazing doesn’t accurately describe what he’s done.
GT should win the ACC with an undefeated conference record and waltz to the NCAA Final 4. There is no team across the country that can hope to compete with the juggernaut Coach Paul Hewitt has assembled. Mark Bradley could sit on the bench and coach this group to 25 wins, I’m confident Coach Hewitt can put together a 28+ win season.
Get ready Techsters – it’s going to be big time hoops in the Thriller Dome, buy your tickets early and often. Great players, great coaching, great fans = GREATNESS in the form of a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Get those National Championship Banners, Tags, and window decals ordered….it’s happening, this is the year!!!
.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
12:11 pm
I’d say the Captain is understating.
Charles
June 15th, 2009
12:24 pm
To play basketball you have to be able to get the ball in from out of bounds, and tech does not know how to do that.High school ball can get the ball in why is it that tech can’t?
UGAIsSoLastYear
June 15th, 2009
12:43 pm
No William Casey, most of us have never coached. That being said, doesn’t look like Hewitt has either!!! I agree with Ramble On – I’d take Paris over Paul!!!
Tom
June 15th, 2009
12:57 pm
Captain, tell us again how much $$ was paid to get Favors to Tech?
Stick to selling life insurance to old widows in Lithia Springs.
Greg
June 15th, 2009
1:04 pm
I’d say that Captain has a little bit of the Captain in him…
looking forward to basketball for a change
June 15th, 2009
2:36 pm
I’d like to see some double post by the big men with many dunks!
(Tech seems to have many players…does georgie even have enough to practice?)
Phil
June 15th, 2009
3:25 pm
What’s the point? Its One and Done for GT in 2010. College Basketball is broken- its not PH’s fault- but the system needs to be like Baseball. If you go, you are there for 3 years- One and Done is bad for the schools (How many more OJ Mayos are there out there?) and what do we want to see out of COLLEGE athletes. Using a school as a “Stopover” on the way to the NBA stinks. I don’t blame GT or PH- the SYSTEM is broken. I hope GT does well, but it will be a team that is a “One Year Wonder” if it does.
Scott
June 15th, 2009
3:35 pm
FIRE PAUL HEWITT…He will have a great team and they will leave after one year for the NBA and we will under achieve again afterward.
Hewitt has had more than his chance, he’s gotta go !
GO JACKETS !
Ernest
June 15th, 2009
4:04 pm
Mark, I like the lineup you proposed in your 8:41 post. Mfon is a great young man and a better player. I believe he is going to open eyes this season and help lead Tech back to the NCAA Tournament.
Rob
June 15th, 2009
4:10 pm
Tech could add Mark Price at the point and still have a lousy year because of Hewitt…well maybe Price would be the coach on the floor but sans that Hewitt would screw it up. At least it is put up or leave time!
Willy
June 15th, 2009
5:21 pm
Mark switch Favors and Lawal that’s your starting lineup. Favors has expressed that he wants to play PF and has a better jumper than Lawal.
Udofia/Miller at the 1, Shumpert at the 2, Bell at the 3, Favors at the 4, Lawal at the 5.
GTSteve
June 15th, 2009
5:37 pm
If this team jells and Udofia takes control running the team, it will definitely be a sweet 16, if this much talent does not win PH needs to go. And I also agree with the posts about needing better assistant coaches.
Greg D
June 15th, 2009
6:29 pm
There will be pressure for sure, but the pressure will totally be on the shoulders of CPH.
This year we will see what CPH can do with a loaded bench. There is one main question, how will the pg position perform? If the pg position plays average, then this team could go a long way and I don’t think the implications to CPH will have that much impact on the players.
TS
June 15th, 2009
6:40 pm
The only reason they made the Final Four was because they had 2 NBA-caliber point guards (Jack and Bynum), so when the offense looked as lost as they always do on Hewitt’s teams, one of those guys would take charge and make something happen. You’re not supposed to require 2 NBA point guards to be a good college team.
It's a big year for Paul Hewitt, even if he doesn't think so | Mark Bradley
June 19th, 2009
11:00 am
[...] to put things right over the next 10 months. The signee Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, who just removed his name from the NBA draft, give Tech the most gifted pair of big men in the nation. This team should go at least 10-deep. [...]