UGA wins a shocker, but should we really be so shocked?
Tech's Paul Hewitt was brought low in Athens yet again. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
ATHENS – There’s a good team in there somewhere. Maybe it’ll show itself Saturday when Duke comes to Atlanta. It needs to show up soon. We’re into January now, and Georgia Tech still acts as if it’s just another collegiate aggregation. It could, and should, be much more.
“This team still has a pretty high ceiling,” Paul Hewitt said Tuesday night. He said this moments after his tall and talented team had run face-first into a closing door.
The Jackets came to Stegeman Coliseum to play a game not many folks watched — another Tech team was busy elsewhere — and for that Hewitt can be grateful. Tech fans, as we know, have seen it all before. But here, for late tuners-in, is a recap:
Once again the Jackets allowed a lesser opponent to dictate tempo. Once again Tech seemed determined to match every basket with a turnover. Once again it lost.
Yes, yes. We must credit Georgia at the same time we castigate Tech. The Bulldogs have one player (Trey Thompkins) who would make the Jackets’ 10-man rotation. Mark Fox is doing brilliant things with this undermanned team. And Hewitt … well, he’s not looking so brilliant.
Three days ago Georgia lost to Missouri by 28 points. On Tuesday it beat Tech and was the better team throughout. You kept waiting, as is always the case with the Jackets, for talent to have its way, but talent, as is often the case with these Jackets, meant little without direction.
Tech’s best play was an offensive rebound — it had 19 of those and 18 second-chance points. It didn’t make a trey until the game’s 33rd minute. Its famous freshman Derrick Favors finished with more turnovers (five) and fouls (four) than baskets (three). I hate to keep harping on coaching — really I do — but if you’re ranked 20th in the land and you can’t handle the team picked to finish last in the SEC East, what does that say about the man at the top?
It wasn’t as if the Stegasaurus took on the charged ambience of Cameron Indoor Stadium. The place was barely half-full. But Tech allowed Georgia to become the aggressor early, managing but 12 points in the first 11 minutes. You can’t do that on the road. You have to hit the other guy harder sooner. Tech did nothing but counterpunch.
The Jackets finished with 66 points. With their size and speed, they should be playing games in the 80s. But they don’t know how to press the issue without throwing the ball away. (They finished with 20 turnovers against 23 baskets and eight assists.) They’re young on the perimeter, sure. But they act even younger.
In the end it came down to Georgia making the assertive plays and the Jackets being unable to guard Ricky McPhee, who’s listed as 6-foot-1. When in doubt, the Bulldogs put the ball on the floor and made something happen in the lane. Thompkins drove for a huge hoop at the shot-clock horn, and McPhee, of all people, shook free down the lane for an underhand banker to clinch it.
Tech, by way of contrast, did its stand-around thing. When it got the ball low to Gani Lawal, it was OK. (He had 21 of the Jackets’ 66 points.) When it couldn’t, it was at sea. And that, sad to say, is the impression Tech has left after 14 games. It has won 11 times, but when put to the test by Florida State and now Georgia it failed. FSU is a decent-enough team. Georgia still has miles to go before it can lay claim to decency.
But say this for the Bulldogs: They know who they are and how they have to play, and they keep doing it. “We have limitations,” Fox said, “but we know what they are.” Contrast this with Tech, which has assets almost everywhere but doesn’t seem to know where to turn.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
451 comments Add your comment
Saint Clarkston
January 5th, 2010
10:13 pm
Interesting concept. Talking more about the LOSER than the winner.
SCjacket
January 5th, 2010
10:14 pm
Typical. 8 assists and 20 turnovers are numbers that show there is no team ball being played. It sure looks like the off season INDIVIDUAL workouts Hewitt is famous for are really paying off. This guy has turned our basketball program into a joke. Bradley is right, coaching is the problem and will be as long as he is here.
LJ of UGA
January 5th, 2010
10:15 pm
UGA wins a shocker, but should we really be so shocked?
9:27 pm January 5, 2010, by Mark Bradley
Who’s “we,” Mark? Speak for yourself.
olddawg
January 5th, 2010
10:15 pm
I am sick of hearing Mark and all he other AJC apologists continally making backhanded comments about Ga basketball when in fact we haven’t lost to Tech in Athens since 1974. And in the past 12 games we are 7-5 against them. We average almost as many fans at home games as Tech and that is without haveing a winning program lately. When we had Tubby and Harrick we filled the place. So quit saying we can’t draw.
As for poor Tech and Derrick Favors and the boys I said when they signed with Tech and say it again. They still have Paul Hewitt coaching so they won’t win or develop. Bet they are having second thoughts. When will these Ga basketball phenoms come on to Athens, get good coaching and help build a real winning program. My guess is it won’t be long with Mark Fox there.
Pi$$onatechie
January 5th, 2010
10:16 pm
just like football!!! just like football!! I never had any doubts that we will win! GoDawgs!!!!!!!
NastyNate
January 5th, 2010
10:17 pm
Seriously….how many UGA fans even knew that you guys were playing Tech in basketball tonite??? If it mattered, why can’t you fill up your glorified H.S. arena??? Don’t act like you are fans.
Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
Travis Leslie would start for Tech as well. He has just as much athletic ability as Favors, he just doesn’t have the height advantage like Favors does. Ware is a pretty good point guard. He quietly controls the tempo of the game, a lot like Wright used to do for the Dawgs. Hopefully, we can slip up on some teams in the SEC and build some momentum going forward.
Legend of Len Barker
January 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
Travis Leslie played a whale of the game for Georgia as well.
Ricky McPhee may not be the biggest or the most talented, but he’s usually the pluckiest player on the floor. I don’t know if he’d make the Tech squad, but he’s the type of player every program needs: a rock steady, court savvy, gutsy player.
I haven’t seen much of Tech (or Derrick Favors as I represent the redneck quadrant of the state), but Favors didn’t appear to have much floor awareness. He’s a beast, but unless he can develop a feel for the game, he’s just a slightly more athletic Albert Jackson.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE
January 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
LMAO @ all of tech’s so-called athletic programs – all I heard about after 30-24 was how tech was going to dominate UGA in basketball and that CPJ would bounce back when he had “bigger fish to fry”.
30-24 & 73-66! Keep Paul Hewitt!
west coast
January 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
Continues to have the same problem. Not enough shots. Let the players shoot. It takes at least 70 quality shots per game to consistently win. The 60 the team is averaging won’t cut it. It requires the
the defense to hold the opposition to under 40% shooting from the field, and the offense to make less than 5 turnovers. Lets get away from the perfection BS, up the pace, and get a little more offensive.
Jonny Two Times
January 5th, 2010
10:19 pm
What happened to all the Mark Bradley columns about how great Paul Hewitt was as a coach? The guy you loved to lambast, Jim Harrick, is on record saying how UGA hit the jackpot in hiring Mark Fox. I wonder who knows more about hoops, Bradley or Harrick?
rrich
January 5th, 2010
10:20 pm
not again go dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT
Denver Dog
January 5th, 2010
10:20 pm
Nate. Learn to spell!
PJ
January 5th, 2010
10:20 pm
This gent is a sorry excuse for a COACH. He has enough talent to win any game but he has no plan and leaves these KIDS to their own devices… what a shame. The real idiot here is the AD who decided to pay him a fortune… for a very long time. Well, time to take the loss and move on… we need a COACH for THIS group of very talented players… NOW!!!
Hill Dog
January 5th, 2010
10:22 pm
Does anybody know what happened to St. Simons? Did his momma close his AOL account? Did his basement flood. Where is he?
scott
January 5th, 2010
10:23 pm
Wow, some real biased coverage, are you the GT beat writer/fan/homer? If so, then you are doing a good job. So my apologies, I thought sprts witers covered the game. There was a pretty good team in Athens tonight, but they were wearing red/white. So FINAL FOUR TALK COMING SOON????:)
How about a little unbiased coverage moving forward, now that we own this state in both big sports. BTW, when was the last time Tech beat UGA in Athens, I think I was like 1yr old. Happy 34 Yr old Dawg fan tonight, sat right below you too, so I know you had a good view!
Half full? 7k+ fans, it hold just at 10k. Give it time Bradley, give it time. They still selling Orange Bowl tix? Maybe 1/2 price if you buy a 2nd half ticket?
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE
January 5th, 2010
10:24 pm
Mark Fox > Paul Hewitt. First win against a team from the basketball powerhouse known as the ACC!
Almost as sweet as 30-24!
Georgia Upsets No. 17 Georgia Tech 73-66
January 5th, 2010
10:26 pm
[...] UGA Wins A Shocker – AJC.com [...]
basketball fan
January 5th, 2010
10:26 pm
I must say that Paul Hewitt is the WORST COACH IN THE ENTIRE NCAA. They have 2 top 15 picks on their roster and they still suck.
Meanwhile Bobby Cremins is whopping UNC with players the equivalent of Georgia State. Tech had a class act as a coach in Bobyu Cremins. Now they Paul Hewitt.
Now I know why Tech fans are half a$$ about everything.
frank james
January 5th, 2010
10:27 pm
Great Win Dawgs! Anybody doubting Coach Fox is the man, you don’t know anything about basketball. Great decision making which is so important in team basketball. Well coached and going to get better.
superDawg
January 5th, 2010
10:29 pm
Cornhuskered.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE
January 5th, 2010
10:29 pm
What were the hoop jackets ranked entering the game?
Are you telling me unranked Dawgs teams beat ranked tech teams in BOTH football and basketball?!
30-24 & 73-66, how sweet it is!
NastyNate
January 5th, 2010
10:29 pm
Denver Dog: Everything seems grammatically correct to me. Good evening to you, Mr. Whitfield!!!
Clay
January 5th, 2010
10:29 pm
How ’bout them Dawgs?! It must stink to be irrelevant in the state of Georgia! You got to love the silence from the Tech crowd!
scott
January 5th, 2010
10:29 pm
Nice article homer, FINAL 4, RIGHT????????
IndyGT
January 5th, 2010
10:30 pm
I’ve been a Hewitt supporter. All throughout last year, I said on these same blogs – give it some time guys. We’re just a little unlucky.. next year is our time. No more excuses now. Its time to give Hewitt his pay out, and fire him. Looking at our schedule coming up, we can easily be 0-4 in the ACC.. and even worse. Right now, I don’t expect anything good out of this program. I only feel for Gani.. he could have been making millions right now.
scott
January 5th, 2010
10:31 pm
Yea, there was a good team in white/red tonight, stop the biased coverage and start reporting on a good BB team, you must be GT fan/alum/ticket holder/homer all in one?
scott
January 5th, 2010
10:33 pm
Nast Nate, our HS arena probably holds more than your little leagur FB stadium. Bet there were more there tonight watching UGA beat Tech than GT fans at the Orange Bowl. Pathetic!!:)
Go to Hell Tech
January 5th, 2010
10:34 pm
I went to the game and Tech didn’t look very good, but the Dawgs didn’t look great either, they just WON!!!! Tech loses again and you still think they are great athletes, obviously your coaching ability and judge of talent is about like Tech’s, not very good.
irk74
January 5th, 2010
10:35 pm
GT undefeated! (in being the suckiest team in the state).
frank james
January 5th, 2010
10:35 pm
I agree Tech should have never run Coach Cremins off, but in Atlanta they are use to alot of running. There goes Caleb and Knowshon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Other St. Simons
January 5th, 2010
10:35 pm
Bwahahahahahaha!!!!
Nerds can’t score!!!
Dawgs still OWN you.
pete
January 5th, 2010
10:36 pm
Travis Leslie would make their team and get playing time. Guy is an unreal athlete
CAM DAWG 1
January 5th, 2010
10:36 pm
bradley makes a living firing up dawg fans – cheering for the underdog – and writing biased anti georgia articles – he will jump on whatever wagon happens to be on track – he needs to understand he writes for the people of georgia – he would be wise not to alienate all of the readers or he wont be able to find a job when the paper finally goes bankrupt.
frank james
January 5th, 2010
10:37 pm
Oops I forgot about Ealey, he was seen running there also!
hahahahaha!!!
January 5th, 2010
10:37 pm
Yet another overrated, pathetic Yech team getting owned by their daddies from Athens!!
randy
January 5th, 2010
10:37 pm
well mark, you must really feel bad. you want even answer one blog on this story! cat must have your tongue! what a sports writer, go hide behind your wife! pitiful!
UGA > Trade School
January 5th, 2010
10:38 pm
Dawgs going for yet another sweep. What else is new?
frank james
January 5th, 2010
10:38 pm
Darn if Tech don’t need to hire an OC!
Puke
January 5th, 2010
10:39 pm
Mark, please keep writing about the lack of coaching on this team. I have suffered enough. To sit through another season of a roster full of “Rivals Top 100″ players playing like Georgia Southern (no offense, you guys would probablay beat this heap) is embarrassing. It feels a lot like UGA must feel with their football top 5 recruiting classes every year, only to get punked most of the time by teams they can beat every year. The only difference is that Tech’s goofy coach seems to continually lose to his “arch rival” with regularity, whereas the same doesn’t happen on the football field. Enjoy it, UGA, you deserve it. Until our “superior athletes” beat yours, pile on…
HungryDawg
January 5th, 2010
10:39 pm
Glad to give the tools another a$$whoopin at another sport!!!
GoJackets
January 5th, 2010
10:40 pm
Paul Hewitt has to go. Its as simple as that. If you cant win easy games with all the talent in the world then your time is up. 38% from the floor, 20 turnovers. Unacceptable. We had at least 4 possessions where our guys just stepped out of bounds. How can you expect to win games playing like that.
Mark Bradley
January 5th, 2010
10:40 pm
I’ve had to delete about 20 comments tonight. Either lay off the racist stuff or this section gets shuttered.
willie martinez
January 5th, 2010
10:43 pm
you sound a bit angry.
Kevin
January 5th, 2010
10:43 pm
we’ll see how much da’rick can catch when he shreds your weak pee wee defense the next three years
Mark Bradley
January 5th, 2010
10:43 pm
I shook hands with Mark Fox afterward and said, “I’m the guy who thought you were a bad hire.” He laughed. And I also said, “But I think you’re doing a terrific job, and I’d have said that even if you’d lost.”
I really thought Georgia was destined for another 20-loss transitional season. But Fox has his guys playing pretty close to their maximum. And that’s coaching, folks.
Mark Bradley
January 5th, 2010
10:44 pm
More frustrated than angry, Coach. It just gets old. You folks on the outside don’t see everything I see, and for that I’m glad.
Dawggy Dawg Dawg
January 5th, 2010
10:45 pm
………………….ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…………………………………….sweet sweet silence……………………….my ears are free from techies in every reason
willie martinez
January 5th, 2010
10:45 pm
He didnt say “congratulations”?
willie martinez
January 5th, 2010
10:47 pm
i thought there must be bad stuff not actually published.
like we said with the fouls, “why bother”