Tech’s in the ACC final, and are we shocked? Yes, but no
Derrick Favors goes up strong Saturday. Anyone still think he's overrated? (AP photo)
Greensboro, N.C. — On Tuesday the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets departed for the ACC tournament hours after their athletics director released a six-sentence statement regarding the basketball program without mentioning the head coach by name. On Thursday they stood 20 minutes from elimination in this event and surely exclusion from the NCAA field. On Sunday they’ll play for the conference title.
Are we surprised? Yes. But also no.
If we didn’t always see it during the middling regular season, we’ve seen it here. This is the most gifted team in this conference, among the five most gifted in the nation. It’s so good it can win without doing the things that are supposed to be part and parcel of winning in March. In three ACC tournament victories — victories, mind you — the Jackets have missed 34 of 75 free throws. Over the past two days they’ve won two games while making 42 baskets against 41 turnovers.
Said Paul Hewitt, the head coach: “We’re kind of imperfect sometimes.”
But these Jackets are also manifestly talented, and they have gears other teams do not. The two players who saved Friday night’s quarterfinal victory over Maryland did it again Saturday against North Carolina State. Derrick Favors made a basket and Iman Shumpert made a steal, and all of a sudden the team that didn’t win three consecutive league games this regular season had taken three in three days.
On Saturday night, its passage to the final against Duke booked, Gani Lawal was asked if this was indeed the Tech team we had awaited all winter. “Yes, we are,” he said. “I’d be lying if I said we were happy with 7-9 [in the ACC regular season]. That was not what we wanted.”
Credit the Jackets — and their head coach, too — for not bailing out on a season that fell below expectations. (Though Hewitt would surely dispute even that: “I know what the truth is,” he said Saturday.) Credit them for holding fast, if not always steady, when North Carolina led by 13 on Thursday and when Maryland stormed from 19 points behind Friday and when overmatched State overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to take a four-point lead Saturday. Credit them for continuing to defend when the offense turned to glop.
Said Shumpert, who induced Pack guard Javier Gonzalez into the fumble inside the final 30 seconds that had the same effect on this game that his strip of Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez had 21 hours earlier: “People gave up on [this team.] As long as the locker room doesn’t give up, I think we’re fine.”
Not many folks will give Tech a chance against the regal Blue Devils in the final. No team has ever won this event playing four games. (Though the Georgia Bulldogs, playing four games over four tornado-tossed days, won the 2008 SEC title — on Tech’s court.) Duke has played but twice, Duke has the great Krzyzewski and Duke is Duke. But have we not yet grasped the peril of discounting Georgia Tech?
Asked if there was any opponent the Jackets felt incapable of matching man-for-man, Lawal said: “We go out sometimes thinking teams can’t match up with us. I’ve said all season our team is as good as any in the country.”
Loading ...Understatement of this millennium and the next: Tech isn’t a model of precision. Said D’Andre Bell: “We’ve been inconsistent because we haven’t gotten the ball inside consistently.” But it’s getting better the longer it plays, and a season that teetered on the cusp of failure Thursday night is now guaranteed to include a berth in the ACC championship game — yes, just like in football — and next week’s Big Dance.
If you’re seeking a smooth-running squad, go watch Kansas. If you’re interested in an aggregation that can render you awed and apoplectic at the same time, here’s the ticket. “We’re always going to have something to keep you on the edge of your seat,” said Lawal, smiling. Then this: “I’m really proud of these three games.”
He should be. All theses Jackets should be. (The head coach, too.) This season could have ended with a shrug. Instead this team has grabbed us by the collar and said, “Watch us if you dare.”
If you tune in Sunday, you just might get to see this careening crew cut down two sets of nets.
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371 comments Add your comment
GT Trumpet
March 13th, 2010
7:58 pm
First!!!
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:00 pm
GT Trumpet earns kudos. But you didn’t say hello to me today, so I’m really downcast.
Pale Rider
March 13th, 2010
8:02 pm
2nd (Mark doesn’t count)
Pale Rider
March 13th, 2010
8:03 pm
Bell hit the nail in the head. Tech can get the ball inside on Duke, right? They’ve done it this year already.
GT88
March 13th, 2010
8:04 pm
It looks like they worked on the inbounds play. Why is that so hard for the team? I am happy that they won and we avoid the “fire Paul” discussion.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:04 pm
Hewitt’s quote is one of the top understatements in the history of the world. LOL
Ozzy
March 13th, 2010
8:05 pm
If you’d have said Wednesday that Tech would be in the final game on Sunday, we would have been happy as pigs in sh&^.
And now……..let the bitching begin.
SavannahBuzz
March 13th, 2010
8:06 pm
I will never doubt this team’s effort and heart.
Their execution (or lack thereof), however, can be mind boggling at times.
Good luck Jackets.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:07 pm
Just a hunch…for us to have a really good chance tomorrow (other than just getting it inside), I think we need a big game from either Oliver or Rice, Jr. If one of those guys gets 10 points, I think that would go a long way.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:07 pm
Savannah: I agree wholeheartedly with those comments.
TechDan
March 13th, 2010
8:08 pm
Good article, Mark. I’ll be tuning in tomorrow for sure. Wish I could be up there.
Pale Rider
March 13th, 2010
8:08 pm
Favors has had a very good tourney. Is he gone now?
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:10 pm
Yes, Pale, even the assistant coaches already told the ESPN announcers that he is definitely gone.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:11 pm
Thanks, TechDan.
And I’m not in sales, but if you’re a Georgia Tech fan and you were ever of a mind to catch your Jackets in the ACC final … you could probably find tickets available tomorrow.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:11 pm
From what is being said on the blogs, Favors is not even attempting the classroom stuff right now, cause he is a goner.
Puke on Duke
March 13th, 2010
8:11 pm
maybe DRAD needs to release a statement everyday lol, I’m kidding but I’m not…if DRAD had released one after last years’s 2-14 season, maybe we would have seen more of this in this year’s regular season. It has been a L O N G four years. Go get’em Sunday Jackets.
Joe Fan
March 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
Hopefully this makes Hewitt even more attractive to fill the St. Johns’ coaching vacancy. Possibly he will see the handwriting on the wall for next season and St. Johns will bail both he and Tech out.
GT Trumpet
March 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
Sorry about not saying hi Mark, I’m stuck in the band block the entire game playing. Maybe before the game tomorrow I’ll get a chance. I love my Jackets for making it this far, but my grades are really gonna suffer now. The plight of a Tech student I suppose.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
I guess I should be happy that we finally have enough talent to overcome Hewitt’s bad coaching. Since this won’t be the situation next year, we better enjoy while we can.
AshevilleJacket
March 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
This team plays to the level of its competition. NCSt was sloppy, and so was Tech. Hopefully, Tech will play to Duke’s level tomorrow.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:13 pm
Both teams were tired, too, AshevilleTech was 2 for 10 on treys; State was 6 for 26.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:13 pm
St. Johns: Please call Hewitt. There will be NO BUYOUT necessary. He is free to you or anyone else. Please take him now.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:13 pm
Why would Hewitt leave Tech for St. John’s? That’s a lousy job.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:14 pm
Hope so, too, Asheville. Tech did not play to Duke’s level at Cameron!!
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:14 pm
Mark: You are dashing our hopes. Please stop.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:15 pm
Let us dream.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:15 pm
If Favors hadn’t scored a bucket in this tournament, he’d still be gone, Pale Rider. He’s a one-and-done guy who would have jumped to the NBA a year ago if the league would have allowed it.
Bienemy
March 13th, 2010
8:15 pm
I’m more concerned about the refs tomorrow and the one sided “Krzyzewski effect”, especially against Favors. It happens every ACC Tourney Final. Heck it happened today against Miami. Here’s to hoping the Jackets can pull off one more!!
WR
March 13th, 2010
8:16 pm
Mark, for all we bash you, since the beginning you have had this team right, matter of fact, you might want to send this team some thank you cards because they have made you look like an expert. At first glance you look at this Tech team and you see one and done, both in the ACC and in the NCAA tournament, but if you turnaway and look back you see a team capable of beating any team any day. For as much as I like Hewitt, HE CAN’T COACH, chances are this team has delievered him another season on the flats, and thats sad to say. This team could very well reach the final four, which would definitely cement Hewitt for another season, but its a understatement to say that they could reach the final four, and my finger is pointing at the coaching. These young men need the fans support and as a fan they will continue to get mine, the program needs a better coach, but as a fan I will wait on the AD of GT. The Dukies would never say it, but even with Hewitt at the helm, the Devils would have rather saw the Wolfpack in the finals, with Hewitt at the helm the Devils have a chance and thats without considering coach K, with the talent on this schizo team, even the vaulted Devils know tomorrow could end very badly for the Dukies.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:16 pm
Just think: If Hewitt went back to NY, he could run for political office. He could be a thinner version of Al Sharpton. Think about it, Paul.
Kurdt Kobain
March 13th, 2010
8:17 pm
Can’t accuse GT of being boring to watch… who knows what to expect tomorrow? Whatever. Go Jackets.
And I agree about Oliver and Rice Jr. They both didn’t do much today, and we’ll need them for sure tomorrow.
Reality
March 13th, 2010
8:17 pm
Bienemy – I agree 100%. Why cannot the ACC get impartial refs? It is so very obvious, certainly even MikeK sees it!
Technophobia
March 13th, 2010
8:18 pm
This game tomorrow represents an opportunity to put some sweetness to the end of a rather disappointing year. Go JACKETS, sting em.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:18 pm
Paul could be Obama’s COM, Chief of Mediocrity. Or maybe the MOU, Minister of Underachievement.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:18 pm
That would soothe a lot of pain, Phobe.
LikesThisTeam
March 13th, 2010
8:19 pm
I like this team. I like Coach Hewitt. I thought Tech got away from their offense at the start of the second half. Too many quick shots from outside the arc. If they stay focused on the inside game tomorrow, they can do the same thing to Duke that Georgetown did. It will make be a happy old Tech Geezer.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:19 pm
We will try not to think about the fact that we have another year of pain to look forward to next year. Just enjoy this talent for a little longer.
GTMom
March 13th, 2010
8:21 pm
So, Mark, what’s your take: has Hewitt saved his job? Will DRad really use the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately line of thinking or will he go with the “body of work” this season?
Opinion
March 13th, 2010
8:21 pm
Paul Hewitt will be here for another year and then will get the boot when Alexander Memorial gets demolished and rebuilt into McCollum Arena…….now thats the truth Mark Bradley (gut feeling) !
Opinion
March 13th, 2010
8:23 pm
I’d like to hire the Kansas State coach…..even though he just got a contract extension
Reid Adair
March 13th, 2010
8:23 pm
For all of their woes with free-throw shooting and protecting the basketball, Georgia Tech’s hustle and defense has been outstanding. I think they have a legitimate chance to win tomorrow.
BleedGold
March 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
DRAD DID release a statement last year. He said something like “Coach Paul Hewitt is our BB coach. He has no need to worry about his job.” Are you kidding me? You don’t remember that? The man’s been on thin ice for years and yet that contract of his just keeps doing it’s dog like imitation and rolling over and over and over again.
Opinion
March 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
go jackets !
jack bull
March 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
GO TECH!!! more of Hewitt,,,that’s what i’m talking about!!!! Give him 5 more years!!!
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 13th, 2010
8:25 pm
Good, BleedGold…only a stupid bulldog should roll over automatically, not a college coach’s contract!!
Mark's Valet
March 13th, 2010
8:25 pm
Mr Mark, I’m afraid we are out of deodorant.
Puke on Duke
March 13th, 2010
8:26 pm
well one thing is for sure…there are 10 other teams wishing they were playing in Sunday’s game….and if GT beats the mighty disciplined Dookies, it will be hysterical. GA TECH not only ACC football champions but ACC basketball tournament champs too, YOU CANNOT MAKE THAT UP!
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:26 pm
I never thought Hewitt would get fired this year, GTMom.
Golden Tornado
March 13th, 2010
8:27 pm
If I was sheep-like, following the disgruntled complainers a week ago, I’m cured. The coach is O.K., and the Jackets have so much heart that they may get the ball inside consistently, and beat mighty Duke.
What will ruin us, if anything does, is turnovers, inability to inbound
the ball, and inability to make foul shots.
Mark Bradley
March 13th, 2010
8:27 pm
Thanks, WR. I’ll concede that there have been games — like last Saturday’s — where I thought I was nuts for expecting more.