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
3:20 pm
Tech will go the final 4 minutes weithout scoring-as they always do
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:23 pm
Derrick Favours was able to use his athletic ability in high school to bully players, but in college, his basketball IQ is very low! Its like he does not know what to do on the floor. I would be suprised if this guy goes pro next year. He needs another year in
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:23 pm
DU is two for 16 on threes.
willie martinez
January 9th, 2010
3:23 pm
Thanks Mark. Thats close enough to a prediction. Best, willie
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:24 pm
Derrick Favors charges. His fourth turnover.
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:24 pm
See what i mean on that last play,,,, bull over the defender instead of shot the short jumper
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:25 pm
Lawal commits his third foul.
willie martinez
January 9th, 2010
3:27 pm
its familiar to say down by a duece or trey, why never down by an ace?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:29 pm
Duke leads 41-35 with 15:55 to play. Peacock will have a pair of FTs when play resumes.
Al
January 9th, 2010
3:32 pm
Gt will lose this game by at least 10. Once again pathetic free throw shooting is a problem. Nothing changes with Paul Hewitt’s coaching.
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:33 pm
Does Hewittt teach help defense?
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:35 pm
lets see what Hewitt draws up after this timeout! LOL
groundfog
January 9th, 2010
3:35 pm
Shumpert bricks a wide open three
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:35 pm
This could not be going any worse…GT could not be shooting any better and this is making BLEWITT look decent to the national audience but anyone that watches this team routinely can tell this is a fluke right now.
I would rather go winless the rest of the year to get a COACH then look good and play Duke close. Whoopee
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
Tech leads. Lawal on a turnaround.
willie martinez
January 9th, 2010
3:36 pm
i think, jacket, hewitt is actually playing tic tac toe on his board.
willie martinez
January 9th, 2010
3:37 pm
Lawal will be out of the game by 6 minutes to go.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:37 pm
wide open inside and they STILL dont pass it in
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:40 pm
Anyone think Blewitt can out coach RAT FACE in the last minute??? That is if they dont blow it before
Tim Tebow's Tears
January 9th, 2010
3:40 pm
Shumpert is the worst basketball player in that gym. He dribbles around with his head down missing cutting big men then takes a horrible shot or turns it over for a fast break. This is hard to watch
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:43 pm
On that last basket by duke someone on Tech team should step up and say you cant let them have easy baskets like that you have to defend and try to blk the shot dont give up a dam layup. Tech cant feed the dam post! WTF!
HewittMustBeForcedOut
January 9th, 2010
3:44 pm
Andy Kennedy at Ole Miss would seem to be a great candidate for the Tech job after DRad finally pulls the trigger and fired CPH. He is familiar with the ACC, proven his worth in a challenging coaching situation, and should be relatively affordable. Despite last year’s little fiasco, seems to run a class program.
Buzz Aldrin
January 9th, 2010
3:44 pm
You can’t call Shumpert the worst player in the gym…it’s just that Hewitt has kept Shehann on the bench this year.
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:44 pm
Why are we pressing and giving up 2 on 1’s cqn anybody answer that for me? I am sick of lookinig at bad bball at Tech!
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:45 pm
Tebow…..no truer words have been spoken……Tech was playing their best ball when Shumpert was hurt but BLEWITT had to bring him back into the starting lineup immediately
Cracker Jacket
January 9th, 2010
3:45 pm
Coach Hewitt sure wears expensive suits! Do we pay him that much money??
Why don’t we have any white boys?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:46 pm
Lawal puts Tech ahead with free throws. Remember when he couldn’t shoot those?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:48 pm
Tech by five with seven minutes left. Gani Lawal with two putbacks.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:49 pm
OH MY I JUST SAW THEM THROW AN ENTRY PASS….It was a freshman so I am sure during this Timeout BLEWITT will have a word with the kid to let him know that isnt part of his gameplan
Salley, Price & Crew Are Back
January 9th, 2010
3:51 pm
Seeing the ‘85 players back in the ‘dome really brings home exactly how far we’ve come since then….unfortunately, Hewie has burned most of it all down in the past three years. Those Cremins teams weren’t always dominant, especially in the first couple of “building” years, but they were exciting and even inspiring. They regularly exceeded expectations whereas Hewitt’s teams consistently fail to meet expectations. I just spoke with a couple of juniors on campus who generally attend every FB and BB game at Tech, and they were sitting in their room watching the game on the tube. Their explanation: “it’s cold out–it’s never too cold or rainy to go see the Jackets, but we’re just too weary of watching CPH’s teams keep it close and then throw the game away late…we’ve seen it too many times already, it’s too cold to get out just to be disappointed again”
Gravy Train
January 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
Mark, bet you’d rather be covering UGA-UK?
CPJ’s choice wreaks of desperation, the games they lost are the ones where he stubbornly tried to pass with a one dementional run offense. CPJ knows he’s gone as far as he can go now. Better hope to beat a top ranked FSU and Miami team to ever make it any further. The ACC is just too low on the totem pole without the big-timers.
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
FAvours is just the pllayer i thought he was. He stands and watch the action too much and his reaction is so slow! On that last play he should have had an offensive rebound and put back. Whoever advises this kid better tell to stay in school! If his grades are up to par! I just dont see what great thing this kids does.
Old School
January 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
I know I am beating a dead horse, but Favors may have outstanding physical skills but he simply does not work hard. He does not hustle. He doesn’t move his feet. He does not work for shots. Yes, I know: I am being repetitive. He is a direct contradiction to the work ethic of Lawal.
Innocent Bystander
January 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
I’d be surprised if we hold the lead. We have a nasty tendancy to choke in the final 5 minutes of a good game.
Breaking News
January 9th, 2010
3:53 pm
I-285 southbound closed near Memorial Drive »
JacketUp
January 9th, 2010
3:55 pm
CrackerJacket: I’ve asked this question myself, and I’m a brother…especially when we play Duke! I respect Hewitt for giving minority kids a shot, but even I can’t believe that no white kids want to come to Tech. The man’s doing something wrong…very wrong. I’d rather win with the best players than have a bunch of gun-totin’,one-and-doners making us look bad at the next level.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
3:56 pm
This team should be amazing next year with Blewitt, no Lawal and no Favors……might be able to pull 7 or 8 out in Nov and Dec
Tim Tebow's Tears
January 9th, 2010
3:56 pm
Lawal is playing himself into a top 10 pick in next years draft
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:57 pm
Favors basket puts Tech ahead.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:58 pm
Really good game. Not artistic. But really good.
Old School
January 9th, 2010
3:58 pm
—on only is 4th attempt of the entire game!!
Innocent Bystander
January 9th, 2010
3:58 pm
Mark- Slightly off-topic, but who do you see DRad and CPJ going after to fill the recently vacated DC position? (Other than Al Groh, of course)
SelfishPlayersHaplessCoach
January 9th, 2010
3:58 pm
Taking bets, boys. Our man Hewie blows it and still loses to Duke.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
Hewitt calls his next to last TO after Lawal puts the Jackets ahead.
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
This full court press is a 2 point give away for Duke. Just play 5 on 5 man to man defense. Stop traping full court!!!!
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
4:00 pm
i would bet my car he blows it too
FullMetalJacket
January 9th, 2010
4:00 pm
Jackets are playing hard. Not pretty, but good to see them hanging tough against a better team…emphasis on “team.”
Tim Tebow's Tears
January 9th, 2010
4:00 pm
All I hope to see is someone cry at the end of this game
FullMetalJacket
January 9th, 2010
4:01 pm
Yeah, they’ll have to win this one and a couple of other ACC games to get my real attention.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
4:01 pm
Wow that just answered one of my questions…..why doesnt rice play much