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
Buzzzed
February 16th, 2010
11:18 pm
Yawn, now win on the road.
uberVU - social comments
February 16th, 2010
11:18 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by MarkBradleyAJC: Chatting live from Georgia Tech’s game against North Carolina, which should be a win for the Jackets. Join me! http://bit.ly/a1140e…
Pi$$onaDawg
February 16th, 2010
11:20 pm
I bet if you put Algiebra II questions around the 3pt. line not a single player on the court from either team could figure it out before they were given a free shot.
Tech in the Tournament?
February 16th, 2010
11:22 pm
“If Tech didn’t score again, could Carolina win? I ask with the score being 45-24.”
Looks like that would have been a yes.
51-45 NC Win.
Robb
February 16th, 2010
11:23 pm
Tough game to watch as a Carolina fan. Although you can obviously see Carolina is just plain awful this year. When does baseball season start?
Pi$$onaDawg
February 16th, 2010
11:23 pm
I don’t think I have ever seen so many OVER PAID PLAYERS(in their soon to be NBA minds) on the court at one time that can’t really play the game as a team.
Tech in the Tournament?
February 16th, 2010
11:24 pm
“I bet if you put Algiebra II questions around the 3pt”
spelling questions would do it too
Pi$$onaDawg
February 16th, 2010
11:25 pm
It was ment to be a JOKE DUMD ARSE.
Pi$$onaDawg
February 16th, 2010
11:26 pm
Do you get it now? DUMD ARSE.
GoJackets
February 16th, 2010
11:27 pm
Solid win. Good to see. We needed it. Tournament hopes still alive.
Pi$$onaDawg
February 16th, 2010
11:28 pm
Was Dale Jr. playing for UNC?
Pi$$onaDawg
February 16th, 2010
11:31 pm
Coach Paul Hewitt the grey hair does not make you look old and distingushed. It makes you look okd and STUPID. Try the Thurmond Look. Bad All Black RUG.
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
11:50 pm
Roy Williams in his press conference: “I’m stunned. I’m shocked … I’m at a loss.”
Then, later: “I’m shocked. I’m flabbergasted. It’s not fair to say I’m embarrassed because I was part of it, too … Without a doubt, that first half was the most frustrating thing I’ve ever gone through.”
This from a man who has two NCAA titles and seven Final Four appearances.
Mark Bradley
February 16th, 2010
11:52 pm
As much as I’d like to say Tech has turned a corner, I’ll withhold judgment until I see what happens Saturday at Maryland. It would have taken some doing to lose to this Carolina team. To Tech’s credit, it left no doubt. Still … this has been a rather different team on the road than at home.
With that, I’m headed home. Thanks to all who hung around this long night. It was, as always, a blast.
Technophobia
February 17th, 2010
12:01 am
Yup, too early to say they’ve turned a corner but the best they’ve looked since before the Duke game. Basically you can play well against a good team and lose and you can play poorly against a bad team and win. Tonight they played pretty well, especially intensity wise, against a poor team and won big. If they bring that effort against Maryland it will be a good game and I’ll be somewhat satisfied win or lose. I really liked the fact that the uniforms had no names on the backs tonight. Focus on the name on the front. Go Jackets.
Tech Forever
February 17th, 2010
12:15 am
Come on Mark, say “Tech has turned a corner.” It’d only be about the 3rd time this year you’ve said it (4th or 5th time you’ve alluded to it).
What’s going to happen in Maryland on Saturday? A Terp win. 18-9, 6-7. I have correctly predicted 6 of th last 7 games on MB’s blog (missing only the Miami game when I didn’t make a prediction because I couldn’t make it to a computer). The rest of our season will be L, W, L, L. 19-11, 7-9
I Bleed White and Old Gold
February 17th, 2010
12:48 am
Hey Mark!
Why is it necessary to inject name-calling (the deserter Larry Brown) into a blog which in reality had nothing at all to do with Larry Brown? Does it help your ratings, does it cause more responses? Does it feed your ego? WTF?
Mark Bradley
February 17th, 2010
1:05 am
Larry Brown left Kansas after winning the NCAA title with the Jayhawks facing probation. That’s desertion.
Drexel Gal
February 17th, 2010
1:17 am
Tech WILL make the NCAA “dance” this year … but will be ousted in the first round. Same old same old.
Innocent Bystander
February 17th, 2010
1:27 am
Thanks for the play-by-play, Mark. And I would hesitate to ever say that Tech has “turned a corner”… That is, until CPH is gone.
Mark Bradley
February 17th, 2010
1:31 am
I’ve already called the Duke win on Jan. 9 a corner turned. Naturally, Tech lost its next game. So I’m going to go slowly from here on, Innocent Bystander.
NoCoach Blewitt
February 17th, 2010
8:11 am
Techno (AKA Mrs. Hewitt) —– I said Chumpert had his 2nd best game ever last night …that sounded positive to me ,…….can not wait to see how you defend your husband when we drop another game on the road this weekend
Buzzmaster
February 17th, 2010
9:21 am
Tech is back! Hewitt’s getting the jackets ready for a deep run into the ACC tourny and NCAAs! The hewitt bashers have run for cover!
Old School
February 17th, 2010
1:54 pm
You’re right, Mark! I wholeheartedly agree with you in not penning one of your “turning the corner” columns. Fool me once, you’re fault. Fool me twice, three times, four, etc….my fault.
In reality, the UNC rout proved nothing because the Heels are a shadow of themselves from a month ago, In fact, you could have put the Roy’s Boys in the White and Gold last night, and you would have seen how Tech has played recently. So all this win did was up the count in the left hand column. Will it lead a REAL turning-of-the corner in these last 4 games before the ACC Tournament? Nope, the Jackets will return to the directionless, coachless, undisciplined, somewhat lazy (aka Favors getting back on D)team that we have seen way too much of this season.
As posted earlier, Tech will go 1-3 in the last 4, and then do a “one and done” in the ACC. Will they get a Big Dance bid? Probably. Will they deserve one? Definitely not. Will Hewitt be doing it all again next season? Probably unless the Powers-that-Be at Tech come up with the money and end this madness.