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
FullMetalJacket
January 9th, 2010
4:15 pm
Tech is making its foul shots, God must be dropping everything else in the universe…..
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:15 pm
nice look on coach rat’s face
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
4:15 pm
don’t leave guys. it’s not over. well there goes our tag along fans. Tech up by 5 with 19 sec remaining
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
4:15 pm
Again Shumphert WHat an IDIOT
Ree Roe
January 9th, 2010
4:16 pm
Tech still can’t beat UGA
-REEcently Roe!!
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:16 pm
Shumpert to clinch it. Up three, two foul shots, 12.8.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
4:16 pm
Cant blame shumpert JACKET13…..I mean would you blame a kid who couldnt play guitar if his coach was Brittany Spears???
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:16 pm
Ballgame.
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:16 pm
need these free throws
Wisconsin Jacket
January 9th, 2010
4:17 pm
Doing a good job inbounding passes and not turning it over. That isn’t usually the case with Tech late in the game…
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:17 pm
come on mfon…be the man
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:17 pm
Scheyer with a three. Udofia with two free throws, 6.3.
Shawn
January 9th, 2010
4:17 pm
No way mark. If he misses and duke hits we lose or OT
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
January 9th, 2010
4:17 pm
Tech’s shooting 77% from the line … how critical is that?
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
Makes both. Over.
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
Mark, I’ve been holding my breath for 19 seconds
GT Fan
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
GT Wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
Damn we dont need to be winning games…ugh just get rid of the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
southsideDawg
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
Fans rush the court. They’re not used to beating Duke.
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
hoops there it is!! TECH WINS!!!
Dan the Nerd
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
tech needed this!
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:18 pm
how did this team lose to ugag/ugay/ugly dawgssssss
Jacket13
January 9th, 2010
4:19 pm
Its about DAM time we beat a good team!
southsideDawg
January 9th, 2010
4:19 pm
Good job for saving PH’s job he has a losing record against UGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan
January 9th, 2010
4:19 pm
Ha, what a bunch of losers! They ran all over the court? Did Tech win the national championship today? Tech lost to UGA! Ha.
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:19 pm
i guess this means ugag should be ranked number one….
snapshot
January 9th, 2010
4:19 pm
UPSET!!
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:20 pm
I’m asking myself the same question, GT76. But the surprise, at least to me, wasn’t beating Duke. It was losing to Georgia.
Elmore Spencer
January 9th, 2010
4:20 pm
Tech fans rush the floor
We FINALLY won something YEAH !!!!
GT Fan
January 9th, 2010
4:20 pm
Love the win….still Fire Hewitt.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
4:20 pm
If Georgia beats Kentucky today, Dogs are definitely Top 50.
GoJackets
January 9th, 2010
4:21 pm
Clutch free throws by Peacock, Shumpert, and Udofia. Good job guys. Way to finish that off.
wow
January 9th, 2010
4:21 pm
solid win…this has already been said, but HOW did this team lose to uga, fsu at home, or dayton?…amazing
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:21 pm
must be all the good players from 85 team in the dome that caused this win
wAw
January 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
Enjoyed the comments, guys. Now – can C-Boys and E-Gals both lose tonight?
Kurdt Kobain
January 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
can’t blame hewitt for the dumb losses, of which there are many, if you don’t give him credit for the good wins. and this was a good win. great game, GT.
HR Department
January 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
Kentucky by 30
Bill
January 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
gt76 reason, just look at the Coach
southsideDawg
January 9th, 2010
4:22 pm
State Champ in football, basketball, bring on baseball. We own Tech at Turner field.
Old School
January 9th, 2010
4:23 pm
Great win for sure. Will take ANY win. But it still gnaws me bigtime that this Tech team has to overcome Hewitt’s coaching and the lackluster play of Favors. I mean 7 pts and 8 boards (and at least 3 of those 8 were trash collection). And he sat the bench at crunch time for the final 3 mins of the game. I will give Hewitt credit for that in realizing that you don’t need someone who will not move and work hard on EITHER end of the court when the game is on the line.
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
4:23 pm
lets go see how well those dawgs do against a top 5 team….
GoJackets
January 9th, 2010
4:23 pm
Great win! Clutch free throw shooting at the end. Hopefully this gets our team going after some bad games. If we get Favors playing better then we will be tough.
Chan Gailey
January 9th, 2010
4:24 pm
I’m waiting on your job Paul Hewitt
gt76
January 9th, 2010
4:24 pm
losing to ugag in stegasarus is the game that should cost a coach his job, but beating duke will probably be used as an excuse to keep him
Benjamin
January 9th, 2010
4:24 pm
Good job, Tech. Good for you guys, Tech fans.
If Georgia beats Kentucky, I will be getting my telescope to see if I can find some stars aligning tonight…
Techs Biggest Fan.."UGA"
January 9th, 2010
4:24 pm
Nice win. still fire Hewitt!!!!!!
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
January 9th, 2010
4:25 pm
I don’t know what they’ve done differently, but this was about the best free throw shooting performance we’ve seen from a Tech team in years. 22 points from the line, shooting nearly 79% … and with a very balanced attack. Four different players shot six free throws each, and Favors also made three of four. If we could do that consistently from now through March, we would likely be at the top of the league come tournament time.
dcbl
January 9th, 2010
4:25 pm
Something big ,might happen’
MB will have to man up with a realprediction next time…
AND – David Pollack has just Tweeted that UGA just made a SMART hire…
https://twitter.com/davidpollack47
southsideDawg
January 9th, 2010
4:26 pm
Techs Biggest fan
Win outside of the Atl. Tech sucks you cannot win in Athens what kinda basketball program is that Overrated.