Tech’s out of the Top 25, but it’s not yet on the bubble
Paul Hewitt to Iman Shumpert: "Please take me to the dance." (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
I keep hearing folks say Georgia Tech is in danger of missing of the NCAA tournament. It isn’t yet. Should the Jackets lose every game from here on, they won’t make it. But they won’t lose every game. (I feel very confident about this.)
Tech’s RPI is 29. If you’re a team from a major conference and you’re in the top 30, you’re a lock. (Yes, even if you go 7-9 in league play, which could happen. The Jackets are 5-6.) In his latest installment of Bracketology on ESPN.com, Joe Lunardi has Tech as a No. 9 seed, which isn’t bad for a team that has lost three of four.
Forget the Associated Press and coaches’ polls. They don’t register with the NCAA committee. (Good thing, since Tech just dropped out of both. In the former, it received only one 25th-place vote.) As esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach notes in ESPN’s Bubble Watch :
“Tech seems to be in OK shape. The Jackets have five wins over RPI top-50 teams (Duke, Wake Forest, Siena, Clemson and Charlotte) and are 7-8 against RPI top-100 foes. But Tech can’t afford to lose the games it is supposed to win down the stretch, starting with Tuesday’s home game against defending national champion North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets play at Maryland on Saturday and play at Clemson on March 2. They could use another road victory before Selection Sunday.”
Tech could stand to win on the road, sure. It would also behoove the Jackets to win a game in the ACC tournament. But as long as they win their three home games — Carolina and Boston College are terrible, but Virginia Tech is playing well — they’ll make it. Since they don’t play anyone ranked ahead of them, their RPI doesn’t stand to rise or fall much from here.
But there is one major negative to all this. The lower your seed, the worse your chances. Back to Lunardi’s bracket: He has Tech meeting Illinois in Round 1, and Tech would beat the Illini on inside power alone. (Georgia upset both teams, as you probably know.) But look who would be waiting in Round 2.
Kansas. The best team in the country. In Oklahoma City.
It was six years ago that the Jackets beat KU in overtime in St. Louis to qualify for the Final Four. But that was then. (And the Jackets were a No. 3 seed to the Jayhawks’ No. 4.) If Tech plans to stay long in the Big Dance, it needs to work its way up to a No. 7 or even a No. 6 seed. Otherwise it’s looking at one win, max.
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170 comments Add your comment
Massengill Nozzle, QB GT
February 15th, 2010
2:19 pm
Don’t have time to read the article.
I assume we’re talking NIT bubble?
Mark Bradley
February 15th, 2010
2:20 pm
You’re first, Massengill. Kudos for that. But you will have to read the post to find out.
That guy
February 15th, 2010
2:20 pm
Damn! 2nd so close
nickj0321
February 15th, 2010
2:29 pm
ahhhhhh FIRE PAUL HEWITT
Barry Gee
February 15th, 2010
2:29 pm
Tech has two of the most dominant post players in college basketball in Lawal and Favors. If Tech misses the sweet 16, Hewitt should be out of a job, period. What has he done lately besides underachieve and recruit “one and done’s”?
MagnaCarterGT
February 15th, 2010
2:30 pm
I just can’t see it happening. This team has regressed an incredible amount in such a short period of time – and just after everything was supposedly coming together.
I wonder
February 15th, 2010
2:30 pm
if blewitt reads these things?
BT75
February 15th, 2010
2:30 pm
How long ’till football season????
How can a coach do so poorly with so much talent!!!!
El Techato
February 15th, 2010
2:30 pm
Fourth?, who cares, I guess I Paul Blewitt on being First
That guy
February 15th, 2010
2:32 pm
I don’t see GT making any noise whatsoever this post-season.
Hey Bradley, how about your take on the Kennesaw State Owls basketball team? You know just for something fresh. They play Campbell tonight and can be heard on 920 am or 920am.com.
I’m just saying neither is likely to win a NC, so why not cover the upstart Owls who could possibly make a berth in the NCAA tourney in their first year of eligibility?
MagnaCarterGT
February 15th, 2010
2:33 pm
It’s also something you said earlier, Mark – a team with this much talent shouldn’t have to depend on RPI to get into the tournament, but it looks like that’s what’s going to happen.
Brandon from Warner Robins
February 15th, 2010
2:33 pm
Hello Mark,
Tech made a mistake by signing Hewitt to that huge contract. No way out of it, unless they want to pay.
lanier
February 15th, 2010
2:34 pm
they better win out if they dont want to get bounced early in the Big Dance
Michael
February 15th, 2010
2:35 pm
Georgia has a better team than Georgia Tech!
want me to prove it? 73-66
Hewitt is a Joke
February 15th, 2010
2:35 pm
Same sh-t, different day. Groundhog day.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
2:36 pm
I’ll admit I’m a fairweather fan to some extent but there sure are a lot of coaches in Tech’s history that were fortunate the internet did not exist when they were here.
Curry, a Rice hire too inexperienced to be any good, lost to Duke his first four chances.
Ah to be a grad like Goff and Shula.
Ross first two years were awful as well with 3 straight losses to the dukies.
Too bad we didn’t have the web to voice our opinions of that excellent coaching.
Another Rice hire was Bill Lewis who had to be fired midyear because his team hated him.
Ah the good ole days.
Why doesn’t someone get Mark Price to teach free throws or is he waiting the get the top job?
BT75
February 15th, 2010
2:37 pm
I think Hewitt will have a much harder time recruiting after this. Who wants to be on a team that has so much talent and still looses due to poor coaching.
Old School
February 15th, 2010
2:38 pm
Tech will win one(1) of their last 5 (at MD or at home vs BC) to finish 19-11 overall and 6-10 in the ACC. The will be “one and done” in the ACC Tournament, no matter who they play, and will go to the NIT. Paul Hewitt will write a book called “Great Expectations Unfulfilled Since 2004.” Mark Bradley will also come out with two new books, “How the Most Talented Team in GT History Fell Flat” and “Derrick Favors: My Love Child.”
BravesFan79
February 15th, 2010
2:40 pm
No doubt GT Will make the tourney, just like i predicted last year. However the lack of a great offensive minded assistant has clearly hurt the ceiling of what should be a Final 4 level team.
Tengo El Buzz Bien Grande
February 15th, 2010
2:40 pm
What if this happens during this years football season, ay Dios mio!
That guy
February 15th, 2010
2:40 pm
I don’t see Tech making any noise this post-season.
Hey Bradley, how about your take on the upstart Kennesaw State Owls? You know for something fresh. I like GT basketball, but they have been extremely dissapointing lately.
The Owls are in their first year of division I full eligiblity. IMO their success of late is worth the ink more so then the mediocrity of the Jackets.
KSU plays Campbell tonight and can be heard on 920 am or 920am.com. At the very least it’s more basketball for roundball fans.
That guy
February 15th, 2010
2:41 pm
Sorry for the double similar posts. They’re not going up right away.
jeff c.
February 15th, 2010
2:42 pm
Look, CPH gave GT new life when Cremins was fizzling out. He has brought in some great players and a trip to the title game, but having said that, I think it is time for someone else to step in and re-energize the program. Even if Favors leaves (which judging by Sat. night he should not!) and Lawal, we still have a strong nucleus of players coming back, plus C. Holsley coming off a redshirt. A new coach could bring a lot of buzz back to ATL and the ACC.
The University of Georgia Tech
February 15th, 2010
2:44 pm
i hope gt gets it together, but i think it is all just to loose in first round. hire bobbyknight!!! lets start overahciving and quit underachieving
Mark Bradley
February 15th, 2010
2:44 pm
Not sure how good Tech will be next year. Figure four of the top six players — Lawal, Favors, Bell and Peacock — are gone.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
2:45 pm
I backed off my criticism of Homer Rice a few days ago because of the facilities he has added to GT but the most important function of ADs is the hiring of coaches.
Yes Paul Johnson is a good hire but that’s a long time between Dodd and him.
I didn’t like the way Cremens was run off and it got ugly at times and it looks like we’ll go through it again.
That’s the main reason I hoped this year we would do better.
Well I’m fairweather so why should I care?
Conyers Yellow Jacket
February 15th, 2010
2:46 pm
Mark: I wish I could be as optimistic as you are. Please tell me how a team playing like GT
is now expect to win enough games as you are projecting in this article. They
would be lucky to win 2 more regular season games as I see it unless they drastically improve in free throw shooting, getting the ball in bounds and have much better coaching from the bench. Also,
the hype about the great talent has not materialized on the court. I hope I am wrong and you are
right but I don`t see it happening this way. I don`t think the players or the coach have the mental
toughness to pull off a NCAA bid.
Paul Hewitt's Wife
February 15th, 2010
2:48 pm
who cares anymore…..if they make the tournament they will lose first round….my husband is good at that…….either way we still our getting our paycheck…..shout out to David Braine
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
2:48 pm
Tech hiring Bobby Knight would be ironic.
A past Tech star player, the center who died young from a heat condition I think, transfered to Tech to get away from him.
At least he was not real impressed.
Paired with Mussberger though he seems like the nicest guy ever.
jeff c.
February 15th, 2010
2:49 pm
It sounds strange to say, but this could be very similar to ‘04 when we lost Bosh & E. Nelson. BJ Elder= Brian Oliver; Anthony Mchenry=Glen Rice Jr.; Jarrett Jack=Udofia/Shumpert. Incoming freshman Jason Morris is compared to Ish. Muhammed. Maybe Daniel Miller can be the new Luke Schenser? I just know I want to see more Rice and Oliver. They seem to be the only 2 who are giving it everything right now.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
2:50 pm
Roger Kaiser turned out to be a very good coach. Why didn’t Gt eve look his way? I guess we were happy with Creens most of the time.
jacket
February 15th, 2010
2:51 pm
Unacceptable. Fire Hewitt now! He hasn’t developed any of his perimeter players to drive and penetrate to the basket. That’s why the 1990 team and the 2004 teams were so good – Kenny Anderson and Jarret Jack could penetrate into the lane and either lay it in or dish it or kick it back out for a 3 pointer.
Until we get that back, we’ll never be elite and never win the ACC – I don’t care how good the front line is.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 15th, 2010
2:55 pm
EPOCH FAIL!!!!!! Thats all I can say about Blewitt’s reign
NoCoach Blewitt
February 15th, 2010
2:56 pm
They will be 0-16 in ACC good next year with Blewitt back at the helm …….Guaranteed
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
2:58 pm
Mark I appreciate your going over what Braine might have been thinking since GT does lose coaches after they do well such as Curry and Ross.
But I really don’t like the box we have been put in.
I have noticed in football that when the legend retires, the fans jump with both feet on whoever replaces him and for a lot of reasons, doesn’t do as well.
Hewitt may well be a lousy coach but just like with Cremens, it gets difficult to think originally with fans on your back.
Now with revisionist history, Cremens is popular here again.
Ozzy
February 15th, 2010
2:58 pm
Is the UNC game on TV in Atlanta?
I’d rather watch from the couch than witness another Hewitt coached game in person. Especially with a 9:00 tip off.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 15th, 2010
3:00 pm
Gotta be on WATL if blacked out on ESPN ……..I have two tickets too but ugh I do not want to witness this train wreck ….if we lose to UNC without 3 of their top 4 inside players I am offically done watching and going to the games until the DONK is gone!!!!!!
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:00 pm
Not that it matters but I am not contributing one cent to the buyout.
Not my problema.
There is some alum who will step forward to pay it?
No one seems to be in a hurry.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:02 pm
Ozzy sorry to disappoint but the wealthy alum to buy out Hewitt is not me.
Ought to get Teixiera. Was he here more than a year?
The Dude
February 15th, 2010
3:05 pm
Barry Gee,
I agree with your statement about Hewitt needing to be gone. However, I disrespectfully disagree about Favors. When has he been dominant? He’s not even the best big man on the team. He’s close to not being the second best big man on the team. Sure he’s a prototype build for the NBA, but he hasn’t lived up to the billing as far as I’m concerned.
Ozzy
February 15th, 2010
3:10 pm
What’s the Over/Under on airballed free throws by Gani?
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:10 pm
Here is my suggestion, rediculous as it may be, for the team.
I would like to see us fast break constantly always pressing the attack.
I would like it to be a run and gun approach.
Guys want more shots?
This way they would get it.
And as Bobby Knight joked in agreement, if you shoot it fast, you might not turn it over so much.
But consider this offered for laughs.
matt r
February 15th, 2010
3:12 pm
The most accurate bracketologists also have GT an 8:
http://bracketology101.blogspot.com
NoCoach Blewitt
February 15th, 2010
3:13 pm
How about turnovers by Chumpert and Mfon combined? # has to be in double digits
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:14 pm
I agree with Jeff C and The Dude.
And I’ve come around to agree with someone who thinks we should avoid the one and doners.
You can’t plan ahead.
I wonder if other players with the NBA not in their immediate future don’t resent them.
But who knows?
Asheville Dawg
February 15th, 2010
3:15 pm
Out-coached,over-reated, and unranked. It’s time to see the sun in the western horizon. The new coach at Tech will be………………………….
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:15 pm
NCB that’s why I want us to put it up as soon as we can before we turn it over.
That may be laughable but can’t be much worse.
Don
February 15th, 2010
3:17 pm
Mark, I don’t know how a guy who has watched sports for as many years as you have can continue to hand games to teams, particularly mediocre inconsistent teams. Illinois won at Wisconsin last week. That was Wisconsin’s first home loss of the season and I think they had a win streak in the 40’s. This Tech team has shown it can lose to nearly anybody away from home.
You say Tech would handle Illinois because of their superior inside power. How many touches did Tech’s inside players get down the stretch against Wake? Guard play dominates the NCAA tournament, which makes Tech vulnerable to nearly anybody in the tournament.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 15th, 2010
3:18 pm
Jackets2010 ……I would be okay with that if it wasnt Chumpert and Mfon shooting …that is obviously a train wreck …..why can’t the starters be Miller, Oliver, Bell/or Rice, Favors, Lawal. …….thats what it should be but Chumpert was guaranteed position in starting lineup
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:19 pm
Asheville have u ever thought where Georgia’s program would be if Dooley had just done like DRAD did with CPJ and matched the offer for Tubby Smith.
Tubby Smith would have gotten Uga to the final four if not a championship and all you’ve gotten instead is basketball misery.
Harrick and Adams ruining Jarvis Hayes’ final season.
Terrible years instead of good ones ande just because Vince didn’t step up with the dough.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:21 pm
Jarvis Hayes was such a good player I even admired him and started to pull for Uga a little.
Ah but Adams panics when his hire gets in trouble and no post season.
Such a shame.
PMC
February 15th, 2010
3:24 pm
save us the trouble make them a 16 seed they can play a real team the first weekend like Kentucky or Kansas get blown off the court and then we can take up a collection.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:28 pm
One good thing for Tech’s future.
DRAD is ten times more popular with us than Adams is with Dawg fans.
Jackets2010
February 15th, 2010
3:30 pm
Maybe guys we ought to chill and let the season play out and DRAD take care of it.
He has a handle of Tech’s finances that most of us can just guess at.
Tech in the Tournament?
February 15th, 2010
3:42 pm
Atlanta isn’t one of the hosting sites so Tech better learn to win on the road quickly
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
February 15th, 2010
3:43 pm
What do tech students use for Birth Control? Their personalities
Vince "The Crook" Dooley
February 15th, 2010
3:45 pm
FIRE PAUL HEWITT NOW!
Alabama Jack
February 15th, 2010
3:47 pm
Lock up your sheep. dawg fans in the area.
79
February 15th, 2010
3:51 pm
“..Lawal, Favors, Bell and Peacock — are gone…” MB
0-16 in ACC next year whether it’s Hewitt or John Wooden.
There won’t be 6,000 people at the UNC game
Yawn—Who cares?
T3
February 15th, 2010
3:51 pm
What ACTUALLY happens at practice ?? What do they work on ??
This team appears to PLAY UP OR DOWN to the level of competition.
We lose to uga. Then 4 days later, beat Duke by 4 in Game 1. Then lose to Duke by 19 in Game 2.
We lose to cellar-dweller Miami, and almost choke against co-cellar dweller NC State.
We pound Wake by 21 in Game 1, and get smoked by Wake by 11 in Game 2.
If CPH’s goal is to get to the NCAA with a #12 seed, it’s working.
Why such a wretched road record ??
79
February 15th, 2010
3:53 pm
Yawn—- Who cares?
Pie in the Sky
February 15th, 2010
4:06 pm
I must be delusional, eternally optimistic or a sadist because I’m going to watch the game tomorrow night. I’d liked to see us play a good game and win but it’s like watching NASCAR and waiting for the crashes. If we can make free throws and cut down on the sloppy passes which lead to turnovers and rebound offensively and defend the inbound pass and . . . Man, there seems to be long list of needed improvements for half way thru February. Oh well, at least it’s a late game so my wife will be asleep and not have to listen to me after the game.
homer
February 15th, 2010
4:06 pm
Like most people here I agree that Hewitt has done a poor job but I also think a big part of the GT poor season (or fan disappointment) stems from the performances of some very over-rated players. Examples: Who decided Lawal is NBA material? This guy has no jump shot from as close as 8 feet and struggles to get the ball and do anything in the post. He is a disaster when he tries to put the ball on the floor. For these reasons, he totally disappears in some games even against mediocre competition. If he makes an NBA roster (after another year at Tech) he may sit on someone’s bench for a year or two. Derrick Favors is a great example of the poor job recruiting services do in evaluating players. Maybe some NBA team wants to draft him for a “future” project since big guys are scarce. His post “moves” usually include a dribble turnover, or a travel as he tries to figure out some way to throw up a shot. He should stay in college at least two more years and hope he can develop some kind of game. The other “walking turnover machine” on this team is Shumpert. He has had one good game in 2 years at Tech, so I guess you could call that luck. This guy is not a player. It’s nice of Hewitt to play Bell since he came back after the back problem, but both Rice and Oliver are better players, and should be in more than Bell. Moe Miller is also under utilized. Udofia can become a good player but should have played less this year rather than play a lot and lose confidence.
These guys are quite a burden for a team to try and overcome and play with any consistency.It may be that Hewitt’s biggest failing is in not recognizing the shortcomings of his so-called “stars”, and thus not getting his best line-up on the court for most of the game. If you define “talent” as looking good getting off the bus or in warm-ups, you can call Tech a “talented” team. I think, in fact, their “talent” is greatly over-rated, and their record is just about what you should expect from this bunch. Just my opinion.
nolarw
February 15th, 2010
4:07 pm
Tech has not played “tough” this year.
Favors has not played up to expectations. Gets in foul trouble easily, and doesn’t appear to play with much enthusiasm.
Nonstop substitutions does not lead to any cohesiveness. Often in close games the best players are on the bench. Peacock and Oliver ought to be starting.
Can’t make free throws.
Turnover City.
Intimidate easy. An opposing team can press, and Tech wilts. Can’t get the ball in bounds. Call a time out and run the same in bounds play continually.
Play to the level of competition. Play well against good teams and lose the games they are supposed to win.
Don’t play well down the stretch. Don’t know how to finish games.
Hewetts job security.
No Confidence
February 15th, 2010
4:13 pm
I hereby request a vote of no confidence in Blewitt. Maybe the supreme chancellor “D-RAD” can coach them for a few years until Mr. Contract is paid off.
Bob in SF
February 15th, 2010
4:24 pm
As usual Hewitt will have a just good enough season to keep his job, then stink next year while somehow managing pull in yet another good recruiting class of “one and done” prospects leaving GT basketball mired in perpetual mediocrity.
His teams play with no offensive cohesiveness or apparent planning and continually make mistakes of inexperience and poor coaching.
Mr. Radakovich, you decided break even was not enough in the football program, please make the same decision for basketball soon.
Dawglasville
February 15th, 2010
4:24 pm
Jackets2010- The “DRAD” thing is a little creepy. We will lose Fox too because we refuse to show a commitment to the program.
Alabama Jack- Stop being paranoid. Just because you spent Valentine’s with your sister doesn’t mean your sheep will be unfaithful.
Angus
February 15th, 2010
4:36 pm
Lunardi’s got Tech beating out Virginia for the last of 7 ACC slots. That’s not so improbable – Virginia has 7 left (4 away and Duke, FSU, & Maryland at home). If they both finish 7-9, Tech will get in first. However, I’m not sure the ACC gets 7 this year.
Tuesday night at home vs UNC appears to be a must-win for Tech.
GT
February 15th, 2010
4:37 pm
Hewitt is like Gailey all over again, except I think Gailey could coach he just took early retirement on us collecting checks and mailing it in, Hewitt can recruit but he must promise everybody so much playing time. You get the feeling as long as these kids get to play they don’t care how the game itself turns out, it is all calculated for them to audition for the next level. At Carolina or even Duke you see a pride in the college on their jerseys, players return, there is a love for the place. It use to be that way with Cremins. When he thought of going to South Carolina there was a table full of ex players in town, I saw them at Houston’s on West Paces Ferry that night, all back in town to talk Bobby into staying with Tech. You think you will see that with Hewitt?
GTMAN:k,
February 15th, 2010
4:41 pm
Hey Mar
GTMAN:k,
February 15th, 2010
4:41 pm
Hey Mar
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 15th, 2010
4:42 pm
OK, think about this. There has to be one coach in Men and Women Sports who is the worst in the NCAA.
I submitt, Paul Hewitt.
One and done is this teams future.
Gordon
February 15th, 2010
4:42 pm
That Kansas win 6 years ago was the most expensive in Tech history. A great party that came with a 6 year hangover.
GTMAN:
February 15th, 2010
4:43 pm
Sorry Mark, as I can’t type. I am like most UGA grads. Anyway, is UGA going to make it into the NCAA’s? I mean they are 11-11 and last in the SEC, that ought to get them in. LOL> THWG!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 15th, 2010
4:46 pm
What good would fast breaks do us? Instead of driving the lane for a layup, they pull up and hoist a brick. First few minutes of the Duke game in Atlanta, the Jackets had 4 fast breaks and came away with one point. They don’t know how to make layup shots. In short, they just suck, and I am almost to the point of hoping we lose out and end the misery.
Buzz Buzz
February 15th, 2010
4:50 pm
At least we used to be able to say we were a basketball school when we got trounced during football season.
Now we can’t, thanks to loser CPH.
I guess we’ll have to tout our superiority at dungeons and dragons and forget about athletics altogether.
Scoreboard
February 15th, 2010
4:52 pm
7
3
t
o
6
6
Technophobia
February 15th, 2010
4:53 pm
Mark, how confident are you that both Favors and Lawal will go next year. Yeah, Favors is a lottery pick but all the “mock drafts” I have seen show Lawal as going in the low 20’s. If he stayed he’d be “the man” down low with plenty of shooters to kick out to or draw pressure off of him. Probably wishful thinking but if one of them stayed we’d have a pretty balanced and experienced team.
Tony
February 15th, 2010
4:53 pm
Not on the bubble yet, but suds are rising! I have been a Tech fan in all sports for as long as I can remember. First of all, this is not the most talented team in Institute history. Maybe the article was written to generate a lot of feedback, but this team doesnt even compare to those which had future NBA point guards at the helm…and to boot, the likes of Ferrell, Scott, Hammonds, Salley, Joseph, B. Oliver, Harpring, the Barry’s, Dalrymple, Neal…etc. Should I say more. As they say on ESPN, “come on man!” What is lacking with the Yellow Jackets is consistency and that competitive fire that only can be generated from coaches. I like Coach Hewitt, but has he become complacent? The Jackets have a great team, and should not be outplayed and coached by Georgia, FSU (2), Miami, Wake Forest, and Virginia. Tech is much better than these teams. They desperately need a season sweep headed into the ACC tourney, and subsequent NCAA’s. A poor showing in the ACC tourney would indicate a sincere look at a coaching change. May I suggest Mike Anderson (long overdue for a big time team). Otherwise, Tech is in jeopardy once again of losing some key players in the off season, and then right back to square one. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Coach Hewitt, I am pulling for you to regain that competitive fire of old!
GT Fan
February 15th, 2010
4:56 pm
Fire Paul Hewitt asp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T3
February 15th, 2010
5:09 pm
I wonder if CPH is the only D-1 B-Ball HC that has an automatic roll-over in his contract.
If so, if would have to make Dave “Sh** for Braines”, the stupidest AD in history.
Jeff
February 15th, 2010
5:10 pm
Hewitt needs to bring in an assistant who can install the Princeton. One and dones will avoid Tech like the plague and bring some form of consistency to the overall program. Shooters will be attracted and actually improve in all areas if taught correctly. Similar to what the football program has done, gimmicky yes, but if taught and installed correctly, difficult to prepare for. Translated, wins. Go get Kevin Carroll from the Air Force Academy.
protest
February 15th, 2010
5:17 pm
@jeffc 2:49 How DARE you slam Jarret Jack by comparing Udofia and Shumpert to him!
techster
February 15th, 2010
5:30 pm
I do not have it in me to care about this mess much longer to even be encouraged enough to comment but instead of the would of..could of..should of..articles, Mark, why do you not sit down with DRAD and get the real scoop of what in God’s name is going on
GIVE ME A BREAK
February 15th, 2010
5:33 pm
Good point about recruiting damage. Why go to GT only to be coached down. Sounds like what Richt is doing at UGA. What a shame.
neil marlowe
February 15th, 2010
6:09 pm
I’ve seen three games on TV and have yet to see Favors get the ball 12-15 feet out and make a move to the basket. All he does is hit layups on the front end of a fast break. I don’t think I have ever seen a tech recruit fail to live up to expectations as Favors. And how can we forget the
Wake game – four points!! Are you kidding me?!?!? This years tech team is a bunch of overrated kids with a poor coach.
Gold Jacket
February 15th, 2010
6:32 pm
Favors… someone needs to get the kid about 5 redbulls. I think we will be better next year…
I hope.
Old School
February 15th, 2010
7:03 pm
I ridiculed the Dawg fans this past fall for all their vitriol spewed at Mark Richt. Considering his record year in and year out in the toughest football conference in the US of A, I could not believe some of the derogatory comments made by many UGA fans.
And then….I, a Tech fan for more than 50 years, have found myself writing even worse diatribes against Paul Hewitt. Is there a difference? I think so. Richt has averaged 10 wins a year since he came to Athens, won the schools’s first SEC title in more than 20 years and consistently been ranked among the nation’s top teams. What has Hewitt done? Taken one team to the Final Four and then absolutely zilch with more than decent talent for six conseutive seasons!
And this year is the nadir of all the last six seasons! Hewitt has taken arguably the best talent he has had during his entire tenure at Tech and in the weakest top to bottom ACC in years he is going to floor what will undoubtedly be a sub.500 team in conference play, and in all probability be a “one and done” in the ACC Tournament.
And the prospects for 2010-2011? If Hewitt can’t win with these players— although I don’t think they are nearly as good as Mark Bradley continues to espouse– what is he going to do next year with all these so-called studs gone!?!?!
Even if Tech does get a shot in the Big Dance, Radokovich still needs to get rid of Paul Hewitt. If Hewitt is given yet another roll-over year after this season’s mess, then what will it take for the Powers-that-Be at Georgia Tech to say “enough is enough.” Like the old saying: the definition of insanity (fiscal or competitive) is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
It’s getting old folks.
Dan
February 15th, 2010
7:51 pm
Still going with Tech outlasting Duke in the NCAAs?.
Mark Bradley
February 15th, 2010
8:03 pm
Yes, Dan. Thanks for asking.
louisville slugger
February 15th, 2010
8:06 pm
Hewitt is a great recruiter, but that’s it. He is lousy at teaching fundamentals, lousy at X’s and O’s, and lousy as a game coach. Call me old school (with apologies to Old School), but I’d rather root for a team without the McD All-Americans who play as a team and are fundamentally sound. In other words, it’s time to seriously consider a coaching change.
MB, you’ll be glad to know that Oldham County got 6-8 inches of snow today, don’t you miss Louisville??
J
February 15th, 2010
8:11 pm
From a UGA perspective….Recently, I attended the GT vs UGA Basketball game. As the game unfolded, I was shocked at how poorly-coached GT looked. As I was watching the game I had to remind myself that GT had all McDonald’s All-Americans while we had one go-to guy with a collection of roster players? Months later, Coach Fox looks like a steal while CPH looks like his best days are behind him.
louisville slugger
February 15th, 2010
8:18 pm
J, I agree, I think UGA did well with Coach Fox. That’s my point precisely, UGA has been more fun to watch this year than GT (and you have no idea how painful that is for me to say…).
RussThePaintedMascot
February 15th, 2010
8:24 pm
Hewitt has us sitting on the bubble in porcupine pants. We must assume he is already history, and it’s time to start scoping out possible replacements.
Paul Hewitt's Wife
February 15th, 2010
8:30 pm
pay my Hubby the money, and we will gladly leave…..and also take the money as a token of our appreciation………….
Phil The Cucumber
February 15th, 2010
8:36 pm
Don’t even want to win any more games this year. Anything that gives the AD hope or encouragement is not in the program’s long-term interests.
GT/Falcons fan
February 15th, 2010
9:06 pm
Where u think CPH ends up after this year…im thinkin hes done unless he wins ACC tourney and makes Sweet 16. there are now NO supporters of PEEEHUWET on the blogs anymore D Rad has to know….Im thinkin Ga State or maybe even Albany State
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 15th, 2010
9:09 pm
UNC will have the home court advantage tomorrow night.
Phewitt will scratch his head and wonder way (like last year).
messin with sasquatch
February 15th, 2010
9:09 pm
mark, you gotta be lovin this. as for me and my tech fund money, think it’s going to the fox theater til order is restored.
Jo Bling
February 15th, 2010
9:11 pm
I’m just completely blown away by the argument posed in this blog post by Mark Bradley. Tech’s not on the bubble? Oh, really?
Last time I checked, Tech was in eighth position in the ACC. I can’t see any circumstance under which eight ACC teams are going to be invited to the Dance. So, even if we accept your dubious premise that they’ll somehow improve their position, by what reasoning does that not make them on the bubble now? RPI doesn’t make a bit of difference when you are in eighth place!
Mark Bradley
February 15th, 2010
9:11 pm
I’ve been hearing the snowfall amounts from Covington and Maysville, louisville slugger. But we got four inches of snow here Friday.
Mark Bradley
February 15th, 2010
9:13 pm
Actually, RPI makes a huge difference, Jo Bling.
Jo Bling
February 15th, 2010
9:16 pm
Enter your comments here
Jo Bling
February 15th, 2010
9:21 pm
Well sure it does. But when your RPI is 29 and dropping, and you’re in eighth place in the conference and your team is playing worse today than it was three weeks ago, I again posit that Tech is very much on the bubble.
Gt4ever
February 15th, 2010
9:26 pm
Favors gone…. What does this say about the state of NBA basketball? This team is a JOKE… The talent that this team has is second to none! I don’t think that the talent is NBA talent, but if Coach K had this talent at Duke, they would be the undisputed number 1 team in the country! Period..
Tech Home
February 15th, 2010
9:33 pm
If hewitt can’t make the NCAAs with all this talent, he should be fired after the last nit game with no buyout, for cause.
scott
February 15th, 2010
9:47 pm
JUST Glad to see they finally beat FSU…!! Oh wait a min., that was the woman’s BB TEAM, My BAD!
Ned Racine
February 15th, 2010
9:49 pm
Tech makes the ncaas easily—mark it down. Look for a sweet 16 run–hewitt will have them ready to roll at tourny time. He’s a motivator.
GT/Falcons fan
February 15th, 2010
9:55 pm
Ned…lets me an u hook up. I want some what U R SMOKIN!!!!!
BartBuzz
February 15th, 2010
10:22 pm
It really doesn’t matter what the RPI ranking is for Tech. Paul Hewitt cannot coach in close games on the road. He has a hard time winning at home even though Tech has only one loss. I expect Tech will make the NCAA, assuming they beat Carolina. But do you really think Paul Hewitt can coach more than one win in the Tourney? I hope I have to eat my words.
73-66 Burst the Bubble
February 15th, 2010
10:29 pm
As did 30-24 on the gridiron.
Same as it ever was.
Tech Forever
February 15th, 2010
10:30 pm
No way….not this year. Tech is BARELY on the bubble right now. The Selection Committee has had two VERY STRONG penchants the last 1/2 dozen years or so and BOTH go against a GT bid….as of right now. First they have been weighing bad losses much more heavily than strong (top 50 RPI) wins. And secondly, the first factor has allowed them to let more mid-major programs into the tournament which is exactly what the mission became a few years ago. Given those two facts, Tech right now AT BEST is on the bubble, but I say right now they’re still on the outside looking in…mostly because of the strength of the Big East, which could send as many as 9 teams, and the Big 12, which could send 8. Both conferences top to bottom right now are more marketable than the ACC and their basketball fans travel better than the ACC (save UNC and Duke). I think the ACC will get 5 in, tops.
At best to get off the bubble Tech is going to have to beat UNC, Boston College, and either Clemson or VT. And even then that might not be enough if two or three underdogs win conference championships pulling at large bids from the majors. Personally I think Tech will have to win 4 of the last 5 or 3 of the last 5 and 1 in the ACC Tourney to get in. Anything less and it’s NIT time.
A loss to UNC tomorrow night, and I don’t think that’ll happen, will make it necessary for Tech go 4-0 down the stretch with a win in the ACC to make it in.
jeff c
February 15th, 2010
10:34 pm
To Protest @ 5:17…That’s why I listed both Shumpert and Udofia. I was hoping that 2 of them equals 1 Jarrett Jack. I know it’s wishful thinking, but it’s hoping that Udofia comes into his own after this year of experience. JJ was one of a kind. Players with his passion and leadership just don’t come around anymore, and the ones that are close only stay for a year.
Tech Forever
February 15th, 2010
10:36 pm
jeff c, I ahve seen games where the two of them together don’t add up to Brian Domalik.
GT man
February 15th, 2010
10:49 pm
Season began with an overtime win against Indiana Pa. in an exhibition game. That just about set the tone. NIT for Tech. Hewitt has been to GT basketball what Bill Lewis was to football. Hewitts championship run was because of Jack and Wil Bynum getting hot at the right time. Had Elder, because of injury, been on the bench, then GT just might have been N. C.’s. Hewitt got contrct exstension and its been downhill ever since. Favors made a wrong choice to come to GT, had he’d gone to UGA or Kentucky, he’d been averaging about 20 per game. Because at Tech, he has stunk.
tlkool
February 15th, 2010
10:51 pm
I think Paul Hewitt should resign as head coach at Georgia Tech especially if they only win eight ACC games and with three so called Mc Donalds all american players and with decent bench players they should be a NCAA top ten at least i wish GEORGIA TECH were coached by a great coach and a NCAA. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP head coach jus’t like BILL SELF see # 1 ranked KANSAS JAYHAWKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR JOHN CALIPAIRE see # 1 or # 2 KENTUCKY WILDFCATS now those are superb HEAD COACHES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PAUL [ BLEWITT ] HEWITT is nothing of a head coach to me any more jus’t a loser !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dubious
February 15th, 2010
10:51 pm
The sad thing is that this team has not gotten better, matured if you will, as the season has progressed….In fact, it has gone the other way…..Tech has lost way too many winnable games against objectively inferior teams….This team could very well miss The Dance
For those looking to 2010-2011, the key big men all leave….I think Tech will be looking at a .500 team next year….
Paul Hewitt Fan Club
February 15th, 2010
10:55 pm
We Run This Conference!
jeff c
February 15th, 2010
10:59 pm
Hah! Brian Domalik…I remember him. Matt Causey was a nice player. We need more guys like him. Fearless and fired up.
4 jacks
February 15th, 2010
11:38 pm
If Hewitt really had any class, or cared about GT the way Cremins did, he would take a reduced buyout and resign. Since this so called coach told us that no one wanted the job when he took it, I saw the true nature and character of this “coach” abd just how much he cares about GT. The man is not the “classy” person some would have you to beleive, but more than that he has made GT completely irrelevant in the ACC much less nationally. There is no more excitement at Alexander…that place use to rock. If he cared one ounce about GT he would resign.
GT Rival
February 15th, 2010
11:54 pm
Nothing much more disappointing than seeing young men underachieve. Tourney or not UGA has more to be proud of than GT.
CitizenK9
February 15th, 2010
11:59 pm
If they are anywhere close to as good advertised, both Felton and Fox would have at least a Sweet 16 team with the GT players. Felton won an SEC tourney with scrubs on Tech’s court.
neil marlowe
February 16th, 2010
12:30 am
a highly rated school in a major market, with a great sports history, and we are tolerating this mediocre effort by a bunch of underachievers, most notably Derrick Favors. we were led down the primrose path by those who thought this kid was the second coming. Go with Lawal, Peacock, Rice, Oliver and Miller the rest of the way, with Aminu coming off the bench. What were Schlumpert and the other guy last game? 0 for 14? !?!?!
GT Fan...
February 16th, 2010
12:54 am
A 5-year, $7 million deal that’s ALWAYS in its FIRST year …… I’m in disbelief every time I think of the contract Hewitt has. How in the H#LL did this broken-record contract get approved!?!
WHEN Hewitt’s guides this team, in an abnormally weak ACC, to a 8-8 or 7-9 conf record, NCAA Tourney or not, his integrity if he has any says he should resign with no buyout. He’s made plenty of money from this absurd contract, and his 34-57 career ACC records says he’s not worth a cent of it.
Wow, how nice it must be to be so protected by a contract. A. It never runs ends … B. if he takes another job HE owes GT $3.45 million … C. if he gets fired he gets ALL $7 million. A & C are hard not to take.
BravesFan79
February 16th, 2010
12:55 am
If Favors was somewhere else he would NOT be averaging 20 pts a game! He has NO hook shot or bank shot (Lawal has gotten much better since adding a little Tim Duncan type shot from midrange). Id like to see Favors work on a hook shot, and come back for another year. If he does, GT will still be top 20 material.
Now i do agree the guards could do a better job of getting the ball to him and Lawal (does Hewitt not teach the bounce pass??)
Am i the only positive one left? Because i see GT winning enough games to get to the tourney, and if we played any 1 seed besides Kansas, id give us a good chance to win and then make a run! i know it sounds like ive been drinking… but im sober.. .swear…
BravesFan79
February 16th, 2010
1:13 am
All that has to happen is for Hewitt to change the starting lineup… putting Oliver with Udofia and Bell,… with Peacock and Lawal starting and Favors/Rice/Miller off the bench for the 1st half. A Oliver/ Peacock combo would open up the inside game for Lawal/ Favors… because Udofia and Shumpert don’t scare anyone from 3 point range. How many times must we start out the game with NO shooters in the lineup!? All is does is make us have a bunch of turnovers trying to force the ball inside, and then the other team jumps out to a early lead. Sound familiar? I think, and hope these problems can be fixed. Then again, i also expected Hewitt to be smart enough to bring in an experienced offensive assistant last summer. (a old man, not another recent ex player!).
heeldawg
February 16th, 2010
5:03 am
Tech will probably beat my Heels tonight, but this game is truly a battle of the underachievers, and neither team will do anything in the NCAAs even if they do make it (and the Heels may well miss it this season, which is ridiculous, given the talent level in Chapel Hill). Tech at best will win one game in the tourney. Like Carolina, they’ve not improved as the season has gone on, which is a shame. There’s a lot of NBA talent on this Jackets squad.
Mark Fox in Athens is winning games with smoke and mirrors (and some damn fine coaching). His team’s talent level doesn’t come close to Tech’s. If the team could learn to finish people off when they are ahead, they’d be in the tourney this season, which would be a miracle. As it stands, they may well make the NIT. Right now, I’d take the job Fox has done with what talent he has over the jobs both Hewitt and Roy Williams have done with their respective loads of raw material any day of the week.
Notso Fast
February 16th, 2010
6:30 am
Tech has to look at their program. They get players and pull upsets from time to time but can’t win when they should win. They seem to play without any passion for the game. Maybe their players are thinking too much about turning Pro rather than doing what it takes to win games.
Roylee13
February 16th, 2010
6:33 am
Does not anyone else think it is a problem that a team with a losing record in their conference is a “lock” to play for the National Title? As Bradley says, almost the only way GT will not make it is if they finish 5-11 in conference. I have never seen him say anything about the fraud of teams like this playing for the National Title. And this is not just a slam on GT, several years ago when Felton was campaigning for GA to make it at 7-9, I said the same thing. VA made it a few years back at 6-10 and there was not problem with that in the sports media.
I’ve been trying to think of any American Sport where the regular season plays an important role in deciding the championship of that sport. College Football is about it (and now ESPN, the sports media and most college football fans want to change that- soon teams that finish 6-5 in the regular season will be rewarded by what is apparently their “right” to play for the national title).
What does it say about the reliability of RPI that a team like GT could lose the rest of its games and not fall much in RPI?
Hewitt's the Man!
February 16th, 2010
7:14 am
Hewitt will get the jackets to the NCAA–but if they fire him, he’ll demand a large buyout of $10 mil!!! He’ll be snapped up right away by another big time program, with plenty of cash in the bank!!!
mike
February 16th, 2010
7:45 am
TECH WILL WIN 3 MORE GAMES.. PAUL HEWITT GETS US IN THE TOURNAMEND 2ND ROUND THATS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME THIS YEAR BUT NEXT BETTER BE ELITE 8.. ATLEAST YOU GO AFTER TOP TALENT.. PAUL JOHNSON IS A GREAT COACH BUT WHAT IF HE DONT GET US BACK TO A BCS GAME THIS YEAR.. MATTER OF FACT WHAT IF HE CANT RECRUIT TOP PLAYERS.. HE STILL HASNT WON ANYTHING WITH HIS PLAYER.. HE WON WITH DWYER,NESBITT,THOMAS,BURNETT,MORGAN CHAN GAILEY PLAYERS.. IT’S KIND OF SCARY WHEN YOUR BEST 2 RECRUITS IS CB AYERS N A RB CHARLES PERKINS 3 STAR PLAYER.. TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP U GOT TO GET SUM 5 STAR PLAYERS TO COMPETE WITH THE TOP 5 TEAMS.. U CAN SAY ACADEMICS ALL U WANT BUT I KNOW A STUDENT ATHLETER THAT BARELY GOT INTO USC FOR FOOTBALL HE SCORED A 1180 ON S.A.T N HAD A 3.5 GPA SO YEAH THEY COMPETE SOUTHERN CAL SMART SCHOOL
Jacket13
February 16th, 2010
8:01 am
This team has talent, but the coaching is horrible. Hewitt has lost at least three games himself this year including the two against Fl State. He starts two guards Udofia and Shumphert who in the last two days have produced absolutely nuthing! In the meantime Mo Miller, and Brian Oliver are playing wvery well. He constantly calls these rediculis timeouts while making no adjustments at all. If you gave Mark Fox, tech lineup, Tech would be ranked in the top 10. They cant win on the road. Not only does the players look shaken at the end of the road games and home games, but the coaches look lost! Hopefully if Tech gets smart enough, they will fire him and the new coach will come in and have something to work with. If they dont win tonight, they are done and so is Hewitt.
Vidalia man, bubba
February 16th, 2010
8:13 am
Will he let Peacock play outside tonight, and shoot three’s? Will he pull Rice and Oliver, when they get hot, and put reliable Shumpert in, who will make a bunch of turnovers, and drive to the basket with three men on him, and lose the ball, or am I talking about m. Miller? He certainly will change up things, if we get any rhythm going. We don’t won’t to have any chemistry, do we?
reebok
February 16th, 2010
8:20 am
missing the tourney would be best for the program in the long run, as well could quit kidding ourselves that hewitt is a good coach and the team is going to go anywhere w/ him at the helm.
tell it like it is
February 16th, 2010
8:30 am
It an’t all blewetts fault.What about all the underperforming players.You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
Bryan
February 16th, 2010
8:42 am
Uconn beating Nova was bad for Tech. Imo it replaces them with tech. If tech wins 3 out of 4 then they are back in. win 2 and you are out.
eddy
February 16th, 2010
8:45 am
I am just upset as anyone at how this team has underacheived so far this season and looked completely lost at times, but why not back this team instead of down it? Your suppose to call yourself Tech fans but all y’all do is talk crap bout Hewitt, the program, etc. Personally I hope fans like this stay away and continue to be fair weather fans. Support this team good or bad. Period. And thanks Mark again for a good article, like always.
Greg
February 16th, 2010
8:45 am
Paul Hewitt is a joke. The only reason he has a job is b/c he’s black. Which is total BS. Again how many acc winning records has he had since he’s been here? Is it really that complicated? 2004 was a fluke.
Phildo
February 16th, 2010
8:46 am
As a Tech fan, I say, “Go, Heels.” Let’s get this Hewitt charade over with and get a real coach.
Tom
February 16th, 2010
8:50 am
Unc is bad mark? Well did you see uconn last night? People said the same thing about them. GT is anything but a lock. If they lose 3/4, they are NOT IN unless they win 2 tourney games. Their rpi is going to plunge when they play 4 unranked teams.
GT
February 16th, 2010
8:53 am
I keep looking at Hewitt as a similar coach to Richt. One is a religious man the other is a man of roots. They recruit well, some because of their make ups which appeals to the target recruit and some because of the location in the SEC and ACC plus being in Atlanta. What you see with really great coaches is where ever they go it works. Roy Williams moves to UNC from Kansas both places he won national championship, Saban pull the same trick at LSU and Alabama. You see this win with yours or mine with Paul Johnson. There is really no warm up time they just go out and start winning. Some schools like Wake Forrest are very good at picking coaches, time and time again they come up with winners. Tech basketball and Georgia football should and could be much better that they are.
sidewalk74
February 16th, 2010
8:54 am
In the past 6 years what has Blewitt done to justify keeping him as coach? NOTHING. 3 loosing seasons and only 1 NCAA Tourney win.
Gt4ever
February 16th, 2010
8:57 am
eddy, Just because we talk crap about a coach doesn’t mean we don’t support the team. This coach has had plenty of time to produce! He has a team full of potential NBA players, some would argue the degree these players are ready to play NBA ball, but none the less, CPH has had plenty of talent. GT has a history of mediocrity in athletics, allowing a coach to continue, when it is obvious that the coach is done. If your at a program that expects to win this coach would already be history, CPH is paid enough money to be held accountable. CPH has had plenty of time, if he doesn’t produce this year, then DRAD should pull the trigger as he did with his football coach.
Paul Hewitt's Mom
February 16th, 2010
9:04 am
OK, after much consideration, I agree with everyone else. Paul Hewitt stinks as a coach and should be fired.
Ed in Gastonia
February 16th, 2010
9:07 am
Unc stinks mark? Let’s see. We blew out NC state. Something Gt couldn’t do and nearly lose. We lost by 10 to Duke. A little better than Gt. You better hope you beat us tonight. If you don’t, you’re done. Conn winning last night pushed some team out of the tourney.
Tech Takes on Tarheels tonight… do they stand a chance? | Park Lake
February 16th, 2010
9:12 am
[...] On a good day, I would say “No.” The Carolina Tarheels were once by far one of the best teams that would play in the ACC Tournament, but lately it seems as if they haven’t been in the news lately for leading roles. So is Georgia Tech really in danger of missing the NCAA tournament? [...]
Jackets2010
February 16th, 2010
9:38 am
Enlighten me fellow Tech fans.
George O’Leary was a dumb coach who would not overrule his dumb offensive coordinator and was about to fail as a coach.
Did he get the brainstorm to hire Ralph Freigen who saved him from his fate or was the change forced on him as I suspect?
To save Hewitt this year, why couldn’t someone good be hired as an assistant. I would be glad to beat whatever the Hawks are paying Mark Price just to get him teaching our PGs and the whole team free throw shooting.
I would do that even if I hated Hewitt because I would not want to pay him the 7.2 million dollars on his contract.
Heck Price might be worth a million a year or lower with a promise like FSU did with Jimbo Fisher.
O’Leary was going to fail without Freigen, probably never beat Uga just like Gailey.
Ed
February 16th, 2010
9:41 am
Unc has played better than Gt the past few games against common opponents. Tech better win tonight or their bubble will burst. Pretty scary to have to beat unc. They could turn it on any second like uconn did last night.
Melo
February 16th, 2010
9:52 am
Tech fans don’t like Hewitt just because he’s African-American. They need to find a white coach.
eddy
February 16th, 2010
10:02 am
I do agree with you Gt4ever. I have been a lifelong Tech fan and have never seen a team with this much talent do so little. Granted, I do think we will be in the tourney but unless we learn how to win close games then we have no shot advancing past the first weekend. The lack of free throw shooting, the turnovers, wasted timeouts, not inbounding the ball, etc. is a reflection of coachiing, even with freshman at key positions that isn’t an excuse anymore, we’ve played 25 games now. It’s just that I think the blame has to go to some of the players, not just PH. I mean, what has happened to Shumpert and Favors? Bell?
LOST
February 16th, 2010
11:42 am
Reason #1 why CPH should be gone (if true). I have it from 3 different sources with close ties to the BB program and athletic department that Mark Price approached Hewitt about his open coaching job during the off-season. Price wanted the job and wanted to work with the guards. Hewitt said no.
LOST
February 16th, 2010
11:43 am
Hit enter too quickly… Price wanted the job and wanted to work with the guards. Hewitt said no – ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! That’s enough right there to say goodbye…
Buzzzed
February 16th, 2010
11:47 am
I agree with Jeff C. way back at the beginning of this blog. This team may be better next year (not knocked out in the second round). Rice and Oliver are the future. These guys are the type of players we need (big-time four year players).
BuzzMaster
February 16th, 2010
1:07 pm
Tech should beat unc easily. The heels are terrible this year. Look for a tech blowout and a deep run to the NCAAs!!!
Yurtle_the_turtle
February 16th, 2010
1:20 pm
I’m officially done watching Tech play. I am not spending money to support this jacka$$ of a coach and I’m not wasting time seeing a team that has no fortitude or game-manship
nickj0321
February 16th, 2010
1:32 pm
does anyone have the details on hewitts contract?
Jaded Jacket
February 16th, 2010
1:54 pm
I hope they don’t make it. Whatever it takes to get Hewitt then I hope it happens, even if we lose the rest of our games.
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
2:06 pm
Hewitt’s contract, as noted often, is a five-year rollover that automatic renews every season. If Tech were to fire him today, it would owe him $7 million. If it were to fire him in 2012, it would owe him $7 million.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
February 16th, 2010
2:49 pm
How many more years can GA Tech afford to keep Hewitt??? That is the “REAL” question. I agree with some of the other bloggers who have questioned how many top talented players will want to come to Tech with Hewitt in charge……time is running out!!!!
Daniel
February 16th, 2010
3:40 pm
Mark D’Andre Bell is not one of the top 6 players and Lawal may come back. Top 6 players are Lawal, Favors, Shumpert, Peacock, Rice and Oliver. The team will be guard orientated next year.
Blewitt Must Go
February 16th, 2010
3:51 pm
Pulling teeth out with pliers couldn’t be anymore painful than watching GT basketball.
Tech Money
February 16th, 2010
5:02 pm
I heard Hewitt’s buyout is around $12 mil—which is peanuts for the millionaire Tech boosters—pony up the cash and get a real coach!
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
5:05 pm
Hewitt’s buyout is about $7.2 million. It’s not $12 million.
Tech Hoops
February 16th, 2010
5:32 pm
Bell is not one of the top 6 players on the roster come next year. In fact next year I don’t think he’d be a starter. Yes we will lose all of our inside game. Favors could relaly do well staying an extra year, but the hype and money are just too big a draw for him to stay. Such a shame, look at Al-Faraqu. He was #1 last year and stayed and Wake is really rallying around him.
What sucks is that this team would be really good with Favors coming back. A true Wing Forward, some real experience in the back court, shooters being sophomores not freshmen. We have not had a good wing forward since 2005. And then not really because Ish had bad knees and could not penetrate like he did in 2004. So that spot has really been hard to fill. No penetration = many long scoring droughts, which we all remember and have painfully endured over the past few years.
But those of you who want HEwitt gone, be careful what you wish for. Yeah UGa beat us and a 2nd tier SEC team. But they are below .500. So you UGA fans saying your hoops team is better than ours can suck it. You will not be in the NIT.
If Hewitt is run out of town, expect some of the talent he brought in to go too. I don’t see everyone staying if he is fired. Tech puts players in the NBA. Now if we could win jsut a few more games while doing that, then everyone is happy. But you replace Hewitt with a coach who doesn’t develop the players like Hewitt and they will be gone. And you guys say “Oh Hewitt sucks can’t coach and develops noone” – You are wrong. Mario West is in the NBA for 3 years counting from HEwitt alone. He would not be in the NBA in any other program. The problem is that the teams gell a bit too late. They are playing good basketball at the end of the year but the record is trashed. WE have been blown out of 1 game. Had 3 games we could not win in the final minute. That’s not too bad, but too many losses have the masses asking for the coaches head on a platter. Look at Maryland. The AD wanted to fire Williams last year. Look at them now. 2nd best team in the ACC. Im just saying, be careful what you wish for. The only difference from Gary Williams and Hewitt in the new millenium is 1 rolled ankle and early fouls called against us when we played UConn. (Schenscher did a block that got all ball and got a foul. Okafor could push him to the ground and nothing called) Otherwise Hewitt would have brought a championship to GaTech.
So what are you gonna say when he’s gone and we are getting blown out by 20 against teams we used to play tough?
wes
February 16th, 2010
5:32 pm
Mark, you fail to realize that Bracketology comes out in the middle of the week.
Joe Lonardi (sp?) hadn’t even factored in the WF loss yet. He’s probably got us as a #10 seed now.
just an FYI
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
5:36 pm
Wrong, Wes. Bracketology is released on Monday afternoon. And this one was. Click the link.
Udofia will be great
February 16th, 2010
5:36 pm
Udofia will be better than Jack. He is better as a Freshman. Doesnt have to run the team though like Jack did. Jack worked hard and developed a lot. But if Udofia takes that same mentality, he and Shumpert can both be better than Jack. they are higher caliber players. Either one of them can be special at the next level if they develop. Jack will never be great in the NBA but has an insane work ethic. He always plays hard and you love to see that as a fan.
Go Jackets
NYJacket
February 16th, 2010
5:37 pm
Jackets 2010,
Our present basketball coach has been here long enough to start producing on a consistent basis.
The bottom line he has not!
Bill
February 16th, 2010
7:02 pm
Tech probably will win tonight, but before Davis got hurt, I wasn’t as confident. They get Md on Sat at a good time as Terps will be playing 4 th game in 8 days. Well, Tech blew it vs Miami and couldn’t get back on track vs Wake. Lose tonight and it will be the beginning of the end for Hewitt. No way they run off the last 4 to go 9-7. That is really what they have to do. Maybe get a 6 or 7 seed if they are 9-7 avoiding 8-9 game. Of course, loss tonight and it doesn’t matter. What angers me is Tech should never have been 5-6 at this point. Poor, poor coaching this season. No doubt.
Live from Tech: Going for a sweep of the reigning champ | Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
8:13 pm
[...] noted yesterday, Tech is in decent shape for a team that has lost three of four and is 5-6 in its conference. But losing tonight could [...]