Live from Day 2 of the ACC tournament: Fear the Techsters!
Greensboro, N.C. — Duke lost at Georgia Tech in January. The Jackets were routed in Durham last month. So who wins Round 3 Sunday?
I know. I’m getting ahead of events. I’m also getting a feeling. (I know. Dangerous territory for me.) But the team that nearly played its way out of two tournaments last night — the ACC and the NCAA — will play better tonight. And if Tech plays well, it will beat Maryland.
Do I guarantee this? Absolutely not. With Tech, there are no guarantees. But the Jackets were unlucky to have lost in College Park on Feb. 20 — Cliff Tucker hit over Glen Rice Jr. at the horn — and I’m not sure how much the Terrapins want to be here.
They tied Duke for first place in the ACC’s regular season, and they’re safely in the NCAA field. And for all Gary Williams’ fretting, his team often arrives at the conference tournament and lays a big fat turtle egg.
The Terps have won the ACC once in 20 seasons under Williams, that in 2004. Since its title, it has reached the semifinals once. It has lost three times in its first game. None of those teams were as good as this, but it’s worth recalling that Williams’ two best teams — the 2000-2001 crew, which crashed the Final Four, and the 2001-2002 NCAA champs — didn’t reach the ACC title game.
A ton of lip service is paid to the concept of fatigue in a postseason tournament, but momentum is more important. Tech played last night, but Tech should have settled into this event — granted, it took 20 minutes — in a way Maryland could not. We saw this afternoon how much settling-in means: A Virginia team playing without its best player trailed Duke by two points with six minutes left, and Miami, playing without its best player, beat Virginia Tech.
The Cavs and the ‘Canes played yesterday. So, at least in the second half, did Georgia Tech. I see the Jackets hitting the Terps hard early and withstanding a wrath-of-Williams run. I see Tech playing Saturday and maybe even Sunday. (And surely the opposition in the title game would be Duke. Can’t envision Miami overcoming the minions of Mike K.)
Then again, I didn’t imagine Tech would trail the tepid Tar Heels by 13 points in the first half and by 10 at halftime. But I think the Jackets will relax and play tonight. They’re OK, NCAA-wise. (Know who wouldn’t be OK if it hadn’t won in Atlanta seven days ago without its second-leading scorer? Virginia Tech.) We’re going to see Georgia Tech play its best game of the season tonight. This I believe. But this in no way do I guarantee.
And with that, I’ll be happy to entertain your questions, your comments and the usual “Bradley, you’re a moron” proclamations. (And I must say, many among you were rather gloomy when the Jackets were in arrears against North Carolina. How in the wide world of sports did I become Mr. Optimist?) I look forward to our usual live chat tonight, and I fully expect — but will not guarantee — we’ll being doing it again Saturday.
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691 comments Add your comment
Kane337
March 12th, 2010
9:26 pm
Tech will play the winner of NC State / Florida St. That game is next.
George P
March 12th, 2010
9:27 pm
/me makes donation to St. John’s athletic association.
Burdell
March 12th, 2010
9:27 pm
Jackets2010: True Tech fans don’t keep up with what Dawg fans do.
El Bravo
March 12th, 2010
9:27 pm
Jackets2010, calls are missed all the time and they usually even out at the end. The refs were not the reason the game was close. You can’t possibly look at this game and feel good about how it unfolded. I feel good about the end result but this team is so obviously undercoached it is painful…
Buzzzed
March 12th, 2010
9:28 pm
Dan needs to make a move and give St. Johns a call.
Ozzy
March 12th, 2010
9:28 pm
Carpet Bagger – you are an absolute idiot. Congratulations, you could be the dumbest person to ever comment on a blog!
I wonder which school you’re a fan of? I think I know, and I hope they get an ass kickin tonight by the only school in the SEC that even hints of higher education.
MorningJacket
March 12th, 2010
9:28 pm
Despite the 25 turnovers, abysmal foul shooting and a haphazard second half of offense, Tech found a way to win. It was their defense that carried them, Shumpert’s steal the fitting close for this one.
groundfog
March 12th, 2010
9:28 pm
Good blog Bradley see everybody tomorrow,I’ve going to get some tums
Jackets2010
March 12th, 2010
9:29 pm
Burdell you’re full of it.
Atlanta Jacket
March 12th, 2010
9:29 pm
Big win hopefully we learn how to inbound the ball by tomorrow.
louisville slugger
March 12th, 2010
9:30 pm
Dang, I’m exhausted.
I'mBuzzed
March 12th, 2010
9:30 pm
It’s all about Fundamentals at this point.
1) I counted at LEAST 6 out of bounds plays that were turnovers.
2) We continued to force the pace. Tech excels at the half court game. Why we are forcing the pace on ourselves is beyond me.
3) Still a complete lack of HUSTLE.
Hewlett still needs to be “evaluated” at the end of the year. The NBA may say hes a great coach but I still see lack of focus in the fundamentals regardless of whether he gets good recruits or not. I still hope we have a new coach but I seriously doubt it now. He will be given one more year.
GTPhenom
March 12th, 2010
9:31 pm
Oh Burdell shut it, Jackets2010 has a point. I have UGA fans all over my family, so I have no choice but to know what happens with UGA. Hell, I am guilty of falling on this team at times, but I will take whatever win they can give us. I know for sure though that I haven’t given up on this team yet!!!
GA PEACH
March 12th, 2010
9:31 pm
Congrats Jackets….Now on to the next………..!!!!! Now they need to get focused and relax. If they would have made those free throws they could have won by 20 points! Come Jackets lets KEEP it together!
NoCoach Blewitt
March 12th, 2010
9:31 pm
The game is at 4ish tomorrow correct?
Decatur Tech Fan
March 12th, 2010
9:31 pm
Way to go Jackets… WTF, why cdnt u guys have playeed this way all year? I mean….Hewitt should bottle this up and save it for next year, whatever it is u did. Cause it looks like you saved your job. Now, I am CPH HATER, I wont deny, but what a time to gell. Go JACKETS!
Paul in RDU
March 12th, 2010
9:31 pm
In the immortal words of Jim Valvano – survive and advance.
Raycom picked Mo Miller as GT’s player of the game – who did ESPN pick?
I'mBuzzed
March 12th, 2010
9:32 pm
Game is at 3:30 tomorrow NoCoach
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:33 pm
Atlanta Jacket, if we haven’t learned how to inbound it at least since the NC State game, we certainly won’t learn by tomorrow
Ozzy
March 12th, 2010
9:33 pm
Let’s go Vandy!!
St. Johns would be a beautiful place for Phew. I’m saying my prayers!!
DRC
March 12th, 2010
9:33 pm
After over thirty ballgames, still cannot inbounds the ball or shoot freethrows. Do you really think St. Johns wants any part of that?
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 12th, 2010
9:33 pm
Gani has got to at least make 60% on FT’s if we are going to have any chance at a run. For that matter, the team needs to shoot at least 65%…that would seem like a doable goal, but not for this team
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:34 pm
I said it last night, but I’ll say it again, but Mo may make mistakes, but he actually looks like a point guard running the floor. Can’t say that about Shump
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
So frustrating, when I (a 46 yr old) can shoot 60% with my off hand. FT’s are not hard….
wordy
March 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
@i’m buzzed agree on hustle- they had a 5 second violation because they were to slow to line up on an inbound.
SamInAtlanta
March 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
Great game…too bad it means Hewitt stays another year
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
hey as far as St Johns goes, Blewitt is a fantastic coach and Tech would hate to lose him. But they can have him for next to nothing. lol
HAHAHA
March 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
I wish u all would quit saying we have superior talent…we have maybe 2 nba players(Favors and lawai)…We are in the big dance….please dont become a fan now…..but you u bandwagon fans have let Mark Bradley decide we have 8 nba players.. and even though he is playing 3 fresh and 1 soph, we should be underfeated….now Hewitt will leave for St. Johns….and graduate players,Have no off the courts incidents, and send players to the NBA….U atlantans deserve the Bobby Cremins era all over again…Hewitt is a great coach..but he is always young in the back court…the year he had veteran guards, he almost won the whole thing….GT also gets no calls night in night out…
Jackets2010
March 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
Thanks for backing me up GTPhenom.
Technophobia
March 12th, 2010
9:36 pm
Gee, Len Elmore went to Maryland. What a surprise, lol.
Ozzy
March 12th, 2010
9:37 pm
I’ve never seen a more hapless team at the free throw line. I’m serious, I really don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse free throw shooting D-1 team. How can Gani go to the NBA? Maybe Europe, but I don’t see him as a viable NBA player.
And inbounding the ball, that’s an adventure EVERY TIME!! I think we need a sport’s psychologist, you know like Smoltz saw for awhile when he couldn’t throw a strike.
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:38 pm
I said it last night, and I’ll say it again tonight. In spite of mistakes, Mo actually looks like a point guard running the floor when he’s in there. Can’t say that about anybody else
Calif. Jacket
March 12th, 2010
9:38 pm
Hewett better work on the inbound passing. All future opponents will press hard. What’s with running to a certain spot and stopping? Everyone is covered. Doesn’t give the inbound passer anyone to throw too. Duh!!!!!
T3
March 12th, 2010
9:39 pm
St. Johns…we…have a winner !!
Dan
March 12th, 2010
9:39 pm
Final Four bound!
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:39 pm
Why can’t I say that Moe actually looks like a point guard when he’s in there, in spite of mistakes. I’ve tried to say it twice and it hasn’t gone through yet.
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:39 pm
hmm, it went through that time. go figure
Ozzy
March 12th, 2010
9:40 pm
I’ve had problems too supersize. Nothing offensive, just posts not showing up.
Effn Amazing
March 12th, 2010
9:40 pm
21 wins overall. 2 wins in tje tourney…If you count those 2 wins that put you at 9-9 against ACC teams this year. And yet people still complain….there aren’t to many 20+ teams around, be satisfied
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:41 pm
Ozzy, I changed the spelling to Moe that time. Maybe it didn’t like Mo
NoCoach Blewitt
March 12th, 2010
9:42 pm
Chris Monasch please please please don’t take our coach ….. What ever would we do without him?
jj
March 12th, 2010
9:42 pm
Worst coach teamed in America.
HAHAHA
March 12th, 2010
9:43 pm
I hope Hewitt takes the St John job…GT has the worst fans in the world….but then again u are the same people who turned they back on the braves,falcons and hawks….all Hewitt does every year is graduate players and send players to the nba..oh, and keep his players out of trouble….instead of complaining, Gt fans should complain to the ACC about the officiating…Even with the turnovers, Tech should have won by 10, but Hewitt never gets any calls in the ACC…
can anyone answere this….
Has there ever been a Black coach to win an acc title
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:44 pm
be careful, NoCoach, he might believe you, and then we would blame you as much as Dave Braindead. LOL
GTMAN:
March 12th, 2010
9:44 pm
Hey Terrapin Ale: What was that you were saying about Gt losing to the turtles? Speak up……..Can’t hear ya! Thought so, your wondering what seed your overated Terps will be now.
As for all you UGAG fans, GT is in the Big Dance now for SURE and your team is not, unless you win the SEC tournament, which I would love to see, as it pays me $1000.00 on a $10.00 wager. However, I am not sure what is more enjoyable, winning the grand, or watching your team sink into oblivion. I think I would rather see you lose a buzzer beater in the final game against KY. THWG! JACKETS are looking good!
NoCoach Blewitt
March 12th, 2010
9:44 pm
all he does is graduate players??? Obviously you have no clue what you are talking about …. Check the facts first please
Coach Hewitt
March 12th, 2010
9:45 pm
Thanks to all of you who have stood by this program. We’ve been on a roller coaster ride but in the end, the ride will be worth the wait. Come out and support us as we aim to become the 2010 ACC Champions!
supersize that order, mutt
March 12th, 2010
9:45 pm
HAHAHA, since when does Blewitt graduate his players? Take another look, bud. And I, for one, don’t look at the race of a coach, so I have no idea if a black coach has ever won or not
Ozzy
March 12th, 2010
9:47 pm
HAHAHA-
I guess you’re unaware that Tech has lost scholarships because of academics (or lack therof) on the men’s basketball team.
Don’t let the facts get in the way. Are you a UoG fan by chance?
Mutt H8tr
March 12th, 2010
9:48 pm
Just my opinion………….
Some of you so called Tech fans are as bad as mutts. I graduated from the Institute in 76 and I am not use to this mutt/Auburn/Alabama style win or fire the coach BS. Tech has not always had such powerful programs. Support and enjoy our teams!!! The AD will decide when it is time for a coaching change.
The Internet wall to wall negativity ruins sports. It’s suppose to be fun,