Live from Tech-Duke: Something big MIGHT happen
Zachery Peacock claims a carom against the Dookies in 2009. (AJC photo by Pouya Dianat)
Given the run I’m on in 2010 – only in its 10th day! — I hesitate to say anything. But it’s my nature to tell you folks what I expect to happen, and here’s what I expect:
I expect Georgia Tech to play well.
I’m not predicting a GT victory. (As we know, that would guarantee a GT loss.) But any good team that has had to endure the criticism – much of it from this correspondent – after losing to Georgia is all but duty-bound to give a stirring account of itself in its next game. Even if that game happens to be against a team ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Duke is the anti-Tech: Not outrageously gifted but outrageously sound. Its coach is the second-best ever. (Ron Jirsa being the unchallenged No. 1.) But Duke isn’t going to overwhelm the Jackets physically, and they’re past due to play well. And if they’re going to post a victory that will grab the nation’s attention, today’s the day.
But I have, as you also doubtless know, felt that way before. And Tech has won but two of its past 26 games against the minions of K. (The exceptions: At Cameron Indoor Stadium in March 2004, a game that presaged the Jackets’ surge to the Final four, and in January 2007 here.)
I’m here at the Thrillerdome, and already I wonder about the crowd. I saw bunch of folks in blue queued outside. And it is cold outside. But the roads — at least I-75 and 10th Street — are fine. Sidewalks along 10th are still snow-covered, so watch your step. But I’d think if a Tech fan had a hankering to catch just one game this season, the Duke tilt would be it.
Not that I’m in the business of selling tickets. That’s Dan Radakovich’s task, and I see him as I type. And he’s not wearing blue.
With that, I’ll turn it over to Willie Martinez and Sonny Clusters and anyone else who cares to join our shenanigans. And just remember: If Tech wins, I didn’t exactly tell you so. But I did kind of float the balloon.
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362 comments Add your comment
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
2:53 pm
Tech basketball has become too cumbersomne to watch. They always turn over the ball too much, they can’t make free throws,the stars underachieve(until the reach the NBA) and they can’t make three pointers.
They are always inconsistent and never seem in a flow offensively.I could make the post for any previous year of Hewitt’s teams(execp maybe 2004)
Wack Hyder
January 9th, 2010
2:53 pm
Mark, if the season ended today, would favors be a lottery pick?
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
2:54 pm
another turnover lol-pathetic. Its just always a clumsy team
bp
January 9th, 2010
2:54 pm
Favors is the most overhyped kid ever.He is light years away from the Pros
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
2:54 pm
Yes, he would be a lottery pick.
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
2:55 pm
wow another turnover from a clumsy kick out of bounds-shocker
Killer Bees
January 9th, 2010
2:55 pm
looking a bit like a HS team last few minutes
Benjamin
January 9th, 2010
2:56 pm
I’m not a big college basketball follower this year, guys, but is Brian Oliver related to THE Brian Oliver?
(In reference to THE Brian Oliver, I of course mean the version who played for Tech in the late eighties/early nineties? He was my favorite college basketball player as a kid.)
go tech
January 9th, 2010
2:57 pm
Mark, do we have something against drive penetration with a dish off to Gani or Favors? Are we adamantly opposed to it?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
2:57 pm
Brian Oliver is not related to Brian Oliver. But Glen Rice Jr. is related to Glen Rice Sr.
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
2:57 pm
Has any Coach in history gotten more out of basically one great year than Hewitt?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
2:57 pm
Duke bellies up pretty strong on D, go tech.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Going to have to tend to some business at the half. But I’ll be back.
cattle dawg
January 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Whats dennis scott doing now? I always liked him.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Mark,
Based on this article we here at the HR department feel that it is evident that we ask you to go to your local clinic so that the trained tech there can administer a drug test.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Scott is a broadcaster in Atlanta.
Benjamin
January 9th, 2010
2:59 pm
I had a special feeling on that one, Mark.
Thank you for clarifying.
Mark Price
January 9th, 2010
2:59 pm
Will there ever be a day when the calls will even out against Duke and UNC. Terrible. Like they need help.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
2:59 pm
Duke leads by six at the break. Took control late.
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:00 pm
Mark there is nothing big going to happen from this game but a loss by GTech! The good will come after the season when Hewitt gets canned and Favours stay another year because what I see, this guy is not ready to be on an NBA roster. Whoever the next coach is will have something to work with. This team is just poorly coached. They dont block out, they miss too many free throws, they are out of place on defense and i dont think they are conditioned that well.
wiley
January 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
So UGA A how full would the STEG be right now if Duke was playing? Would ESPN be there? Despite how bad GTech as a program is right now we are still more important than you to the majority of college basketball.
Benjamin
January 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
Free Bobby Cremins!
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
I think we need to find Reggie Ball at his cardboard house and let him coach this team……couldnt get any worse
Frank Wren
January 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
Will there ever be a day when the calls will even out against Duke and UNC. Terrible. Like they need help.
Is there anything more cliche than a Tech fan blaming the Refs?
Half Empty -- no, hell, pretty much Empty
January 9th, 2010
3:02 pm
Down by 6 at the half. Be 20 by the end.
UGA A
January 9th, 2010
3:02 pm
Wow! A tech fan blaming the refs! must be in the water!
Mark Price
January 9th, 2010
3:02 pm
Congrats Wiley.
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
3:02 pm
Tech has lost all 3 games decided by 8 points or less. No shocker-Hewitt’s team are gutless and always choke down the stretch.
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
3:03 pm
Tech fans-you have to root against Tech(as much as i hate it) or you will be stuck with this horrible coach another year.
Mark Price
January 9th, 2010
3:03 pm
Not a Tech fan, I’m a former player. Didn’t you see me setting all the frow throw records a couple of decades ago?
Benjamin
January 9th, 2010
3:04 pm
Frank, speaking as a non-Tech fan, Duke and UNC get a lot of calls that no other team gets. Duke has beaten a lot of teams in recent years on the strength of some horrible calls. While I haven’t watched much this year, their reputation for that has been earned… lol
(…and can you please stop going into offseasons talking about making “big moves” before trading our best players to the best teams for prospects/signing old guys with shoulder and back issues?)
Frank Wren
January 9th, 2010
3:04 pm
Hey Mark. If youre here then who is in Lexington?
John Salley
January 9th, 2010
3:04 pm
Mark, I must say you were a pretty bad dude.
bp
January 9th, 2010
3:05 pm
jacket 13 exactly
Fire Paul Hewitt
January 9th, 2010
3:05 pm
Bring Back Cremins he already beat UNC without the major talent tech has
Mark Price
January 9th, 2010
3:06 pm
I don’t know Frank, I guess Ashley Judd is.
cattle dawg
January 9th, 2010
3:06 pm
I bet a large stack of bills today on tech an uga to win. What ya think mark? Is my parlay going to hit?
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:06 pm
I would rather watch a Jersey Shore marathon that a BLEWITT coached Jacket team. Hopefully this November he’ll be bagging my groceries and I can again enjoy GT BB
Mark Price
January 9th, 2010
3:07 pm
If the refs will do their job and call it even you should be okay.
Malcolm Mackey
January 9th, 2010
3:09 pm
I wish I could still play.
chad
January 9th, 2010
3:11 pm
Bradley,
Why is it so hard for our team to understand that we need to get the ball down low?
Elmore Spencer
January 9th, 2010
3:11 pm
Me too
Ivano Newbill
January 9th, 2010
3:13 pm
Give me the ball. Just give me the ball…
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:13 pm
Malcolm i would love to see you in there laying pics against Duke. As long as you promise to take all those dweebs out ALA Bobby Hurley…………….best damn play i have ever seen even though they called it a foul which is wasnt
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:15 pm
Tech has outscored Duke on three-pointers. Duke has outscored the Jackets in the lane.
Elmore Spencer
January 9th, 2010
3:15 pm
Line is UK by 21. Mark do you see the dogs covering?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:17 pm
No, I don’t, Elmore.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:18 pm
MARK give it up by the end of this game you will look foolish. BLEWITT will come out and the team will stand around and turn the ball over 12+ times and we will lose by 20+
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:18 pm
Favors scores. Two free throws.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:19 pm
GT with the first four points of the half. Down by a deuce.