Live from Tech: Going for a sweep of the reigning champ
The Jackets ready for the men of Roy Williams. (Extremely evocative photo by Mark Bradley)
How strange is this? For Georgia Tech, a home date against the defending NCAA champ has become one of two “should-win” games remaining. (The other involves Boston College.) Most seasons you’re happy — nay, ecstatic – with a split against North Carolina. These Jackets need to beat Carolina just to safeguard what seems to be an invitation to the Big Dance.
As 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 grease the chute toward the no-account NIT. The Jackets still have to go to Maryland and to Clemson, and they’ve got Virginia Tech, which is 20-4, here in the regular-season finale. With Tech’s RPI (29th) and strength of schedule (12th), a 7-9 ACC record would probably be enough. But 6-10 might not.
The good news: The Heels stink. They’ve lost seven of nine, and the victories were against North Carolina State, which is even worse than UNC-Chapel Hill. And Carolina will be missing its most talented man — forward Ed Davis broke his wrist in a loss against Duke last week and is probably done for the year. (And possibly for his undergraduate career. He was projected as a lottery pick not so long ago.)
Fun fact: If Carolina, which is 14-11, loses tonight, Roy Williams will have suffered a 12th loss for only the second time in 22 seasons as a head coach. His first Kansas team, inherited from the deserter Larry Brown, finished 19-12. These Heels will finish a lot worse than those Jayhawks, a realization that led Ol’ Roy, regrettably, to liken his team’s losing to the plight of Haitians. (Williams has since apologized.)
There’s so much about this game that feels bizarre. It’s the first time since March 1, 2003, that Tech has faced an unranked Carolina. (Williams was still at KU then, and Matt Doherty was about to be deposed.) The Jackets are unranked — they disappeared from the major polls yesterday — but are 6 1/2-point favorites. But I’m guessing there’ll be a goodly complement of folks wearing baby blue at the Thrillerdome nonetheless. Just wondering how many Tech fans show.
And with that, I’ll be happy to take your questions, your comments and your money. (Just kidding about the latter.) I’ll be here until the final horn, which stands to come a bit after 11 p.m. Join me, won’t you?
P.S. If you haven’t participated in today’s burning discussion — who’s having the better season, Tech or Georgia? – please avail yourself of the opportunity. We’ll hold your place in line.
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424 comments Add your comment
EPt Buzzer
February 16th, 2010
10:00 pm
Just finished my Jack on the way to clearing out my cupboard.
wardo
February 16th, 2010
10:00 pm
How can Carolina suck so bad? They make us look good.
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:01 pm
MB, my “less than 20″ prediction at the half so nearly came true. Good call on the idiotic timeout.
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
10:01 pm
Good thing Hewitt called timeout. Almost enabled Carolina to get a layup after Udofia shot too soon.
Tech by 20 at the half. I believe I sort of called that, if I do say so myself.
louisville slugger
February 16th, 2010
10:01 pm
Good choice, Dude; I’m a Basil Haydens man, two cubes…
David
February 16th, 2010
10:01 pm
So was there an actual play called in the TO???????????
EPt Buzzer
February 16th, 2010
10:02 pm
Wardo, that statement was a first. Carolina has never made us look good before.
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:02 pm
Jack? Traitorous for you… I guess being a brand new Tennessean compels me to support the local product, but give me sour mash over maple charcoal any day of the week.
David
February 16th, 2010
10:02 pm
Well I missed on the over/under on TO in the first half… Mark
Jon Dryer
February 16th, 2010
10:02 pm
What goes around comes around, Hewitt (take my word, I know). Sure the Heels stink this year; the sad thing is that you actually will consider this a good win.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:03 pm
Georgia State would be UNC right now without Ware, Zoeller and ED DAVIS!!!!!!! WTF cares ….wake me up when Blewitt learns how to win a road game until then we will win one more game the rest of the year (BC) and be a #1 in NIT ……..Can’t wait I will be again first in line to SELL MY TIX
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 16th, 2010
10:03 pm
No props for Page 3 First. No way man.
Mo Miller is our key. He hustles and is handling the ball for well
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:03 pm
I’ve not tried the Basil. I’ll look for it at the local candy store. Oh yeah, I’m in East Tennessee… I have to drive 20 miles to find the candy store. I’ll look tomorrow…
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:03 pm
*beat
RAMBLE ON!!!
February 16th, 2010
10:04 pm
really well.
EPt Buzzer
February 16th, 2010
10:04 pm
OK, vodka is the last in my stable. Need a good 2nd half drink.
HuckFinn, or is it HinnF...?
February 16th, 2010
10:05 pm
Hehehe. I just read “CatsFly”’s comments. Please tell me that is sarcasm and not sincerity. How pitiably uninformed this cat is.
louisville slugger
February 16th, 2010
10:05 pm
OK, signing off, getting the kids to be hoping they won’t have another snow day tomorrow…
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
10:05 pm
It’s hard to believe Tech leads Carolina by 20 with Shumpert not scoring — he got two quick fouls — and Lawal with one basket. Hard to believe until you note that Carolina has seven baskets, 15 turnovers and 12 fouls.
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:05 pm
Good luck with the vodka, East. I’m going to go fix another Wild Turkey.
louisville slugger
February 16th, 2010
10:06 pm
…to *bed*…
Kay
February 16th, 2010
10:07 pm
Mark, who is the young man sitting with Paul Johnson?
They were shown on TV just before the half.
EPt Buzzer
February 16th, 2010
10:07 pm
Got a few high gravity’s, Dude. Just tryin to not pour it down the drain tomorrow.
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
10:07 pm
I don’t know, Kay. I haven’t seen PJ tonight.
RatchetMan
February 16th, 2010
10:08 pm
Hey, Flycat. Cat caught in your fly? I can think of no other reason you would call Hewie a “good” coach”. Wait a sec, you’re that “coma baby” who just woke up after bumping his head celebrating after the 2004 Final four appearance, aren’t you? That explains it.
Technophobia
February 16th, 2010
10:08 pm
The effort looks much better tonight. A little sloppy at times but it seems like they finally really want it.
RatchetMan
February 16th, 2010
10:09 pm
I’m not Catholic, but I am giving up drinking for Lent, too. BTW, what’s the freezing temperature for bourbon?
East Point Fire Dept
February 16th, 2010
10:10 pm
Dear EPtBuzzer: Praise God for Lent.
Technophobia
February 16th, 2010
10:11 pm
The effort looks MUCH better tonight. A little sloppy at times but much better.
Kay
February 16th, 2010
10:12 pm
He looked like a recruit.
SamInAtlanta
February 16th, 2010
10:12 pm
Mark, this has to be Favor’s best half of the season.
WatchinTheDogShow
February 16th, 2010
10:12 pm
Don’t let PJ get anywhere NEAR PH….he might catch something.
wardo
February 16th, 2010
10:13 pm
Can anyone tell me why Moe MIller was buried under the bench until 2 games ago? Is there a good explanation?
Technophobia
February 16th, 2010
10:13 pm
The effort looks MUCH better tonight. A little sloppy at times but still a big improvement from recent games.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:14 pm
Mark you think it is a surprise we are up by 20 without Chumpert scoring??? Are you serious??? This is the second best game Chumpert has had at Tech!!!!! He need not shoot ever again
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:14 pm
wardo ……simple BLEWITT
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:15 pm
Wardo, I’m certainly no defender of Hewitt, but Shumpert was having a pretty decent season until the last 4 games. We all know he gives a slumper plenty of time to try to regain the streak, but is quick to shutdown the upstart.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:16 pm
Which is the same reason it took how many games to realize that either Rice or Oliver should start and Mfon should ride pine
wardo
February 16th, 2010
10:17 pm
Wasn’t Chumpert a McDonalds HS All American? What happened? I want to blame Uncle Hewey but even I can’t on this one. Chumpert is out of control, can’t shoot, handle the ball or think. What’s up?
ExecutiveStinger
February 16th, 2010
10:17 pm
There are a handful of recruits at the game along with CPJ and a couple of other coaches.
Buzzzed
February 16th, 2010
10:17 pm
Yeah Mark, go strike up some conversation with CPJ. Who is he sitting with?
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:18 pm
you forgot doesnt know how to pass ……which is a great attribute of a PG
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:18 pm
I would bet Shumpert is much better at shooting something other than a basketball, being from Memphis and all.
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
10:18 pm
I don’t even know where PJ is. In a suite?
The Dude
February 16th, 2010
10:18 pm
I just laughed like hell at NoC B’s comment.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 16th, 2010
10:18 pm
Yeah I think the ol cheater Calipari didnt get Chumpert for good reason
Buzzmaster
February 16th, 2010
10:18 pm
After this Tech blowout, they’ll go on a roll in the ACC and win the tournament—bet the house! A #3-4 seed is on the horizon in the NCAAs!!!!
GTPhenom
February 16th, 2010
10:19 pm
Am I seeing things!?! GT is up by 22!?! Crazy. Are we sure Hewitt is coaching, or has Carolina just become that bad . . .
louisville slugger
February 16th, 2010
10:19 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
10:20 pm
Have you seen Carolina tonight, GTPhenom?