By beating Ohio State, Tech can turn haters into bee-lievers
Gani Lawal is among the reasons Georgia Tech has an inside edge. (AP photo)
Milwaukee – For no apparent reason, a Georgia Tech fan stood in the Bradley Center on Friday and, during pregame warm-ups, exhorted the Jackets by yelling, “History!” Turns out the guy was just premature.
History wasn’t on the line in Round 1 — No. 10 seeds oust No. 7’s all the time — but it will be Sunday. And it’s not history of the NCAA tournament factoid sort; it’s history as in memory, in legacy. If the Jackets lose tomorrow, we’ll recall them as a team that flirted with its potential but didn’t quite deliver. If it wins, everything changes.
If the Jackets win, we won’t much care that they were 7-9 in the ACC and were swept by Florida State and finished the regular season with consecutive losses. We’ll see them as a team that took its time learning how to play but one that, at the last possible moment, aced the final exam. We’ll see this as the second-best team of Paul Hewitt’s tenure, the team that reminded us — at a time when we’d all but forgotten — that this coach is more than a man with a golden contract.
The Jackets who were 20 minutes from missing the Big Dance stand 40 minutes from the Midwest Regional semis in St. Louis. They won’t be favored against Ohio State — then again, they weren’t favored against Oklahoma State on Friday — but they’ll have much in their favor.
They’re bigger than this OSU. (Let’s face it: Tech’s bigger than just about anybody.) They’re deeper. They have a guard in Iman Shumpert who defused Big 12 player of the year James Anderson of Oklahoma State in Round 1, and as it happens the Buckeyes’ best player also is a tall guard. His name: Evan Turner.
More than matchups, there’s also this: The team that Hewitt has described as “snakebit” during its regular season has played five close games in nine days and won four. The Jackets beat Maryland on a night they generated more turnovers than hoops. They beat North Carolina after trailing by 10 at the half. They beat Oklahoma State without scoring a basket in the final eight minutes. They are, as the saying goes, finding a way.
Forget snakebit. There’s a growing sense that these Jackets are coalescing in a way Hewitt’s finest team did. Tech reached the 2004 Final Four by winning five games that could have been lost in the final minute. Back then it was Jarrett Jack and Will Bynum making outrageous shots and everyone defending. There’s no Jack or Bynum on this roster, but the defense has been similarly unyielding.
Loading ...“This is no slap on Ohio State,” Gani Lawal said Saturday, “but the way our defense has been we feel like we can stop anybody, even the player of the year.”
To stop now would leave potential unmet. The Jackets didn’t convene in October hoping to slip into the NCAA tournament as a 10th seed and leave after the first weekend. “We did have expectations of how good we could be,” Zachery Peacock said. “And now we’re becoming a unit. We’re all working together.”
They are. But our lasting view of these Jackets will turn on what happens, or doesn’t happen, against the Buckeyes and Evan Turner. “If we win, and we do plan to win, we can get a lot of people riding behind us,” Peacock said. “I guess you could could them ‘haters’. We can win a lot of people over.”
At stake Sunday: A berth in the Sweet Sixteen and the biggest NCAA upset ever posted by a Tech team, but for these Jackets there’s something even more essential at play. They can validate themselves. They can turn haters into fans. They can rewrite their chapter of history.
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269 comments Add your comment
dawgdude
March 20th, 2010
11:02 pm
technophobia if you play Tennessee…look out. But you don’t have to worry about the Vols….Ohio State will be playing them.
Technophobia
March 20th, 2010
11:03 pm
At least we didn’t hire a schmuck like Kiffin. LMAO
Technophobia
March 20th, 2010
11:08 pm
UT would be a tough game but they are no better than OSU. Go Jackets!
BTW what the hell are all these SEC fans doing on a Tech blog? Jeez get a life.
GTPhenom
March 20th, 2010
11:10 pm
Wow, there sure are a lot of Tech haters on this blog right now. Pups, get over the fact that GT has had better Football AND Basketball seasons. Jealously is really bad for you. Gen, instead of mudslinging, I will give you facts. Your team is full of veterans. I will give you that. Chism is an amazing player. I will give you that too. But what I will also give you is that your will be playing your third game in a very short time, and your team is what, 6 deep, maybe? If GT gets into the sweet sixteen, which is by far not a given, then we are going to be MUCH fresher. We run 8-9 deep, AT LEAST. Those are facts. How bout this people? Instead of mudslinging, can we have honest, REAL sports discussions. It really is sad just reading all this pointless banter. Granted, little to none of it has been started by tech fans, but whatever.
GTPhenom
March 20th, 2010
11:11 pm
Techno, I agree. But I guess if you look at the number of SEC teams left in the tourney, you have to find something to do. It’s typical SEC fashion. Arrogant and think they are better than everyone else.
Technophobia
March 20th, 2010
11:20 pm
So where are the big east fans? lol
Yellow Fuzz
March 20th, 2010
11:21 pm
GTPhenom
“It’s typical SEC fashion. Arrogant and think they are better than everyone else”.
AGREED. BUT I WILL SAY THAT ALABAMA AND FLORIDA CAN ALSO WALK THE WALK ON A NATIONAL SCALE IN FOOTBALL. georgia ON THE OTHERHAND CAN NOT! Except maybe around the Cowtow and the city of Shreveport.
Yellow Fuzz
March 20th, 2010
11:22 pm
Is georgia’s season over?
Yellow Fuzz
March 20th, 2010
11:22 pm
hahahahahahaha
Yellow Fuzz
March 20th, 2010
11:26 pm
Hommer3,
hahahahahaha.
Yellow Fuzz
March 20th, 2010
11:31 pm
I love running the dogs off these boards
Gen Neyland
March 20th, 2010
11:31 pm
Technophobia : How’s Reggie..? Rumor has it he tried out for the Down Marker sideline position in the NFL but failed the test to count to four…
Gen Neyland
March 20th, 2010
11:33 pm
Good luck tomorrow BumbleBees. I mean it. I don’t care who wins your game but ya’ll need something to raise your spirits from the pits, so again, good luck.
Jackets:
March 20th, 2010
11:37 pm
Hey OSU: Look out for the Jackets as we are on a mission. GO TECH! Sweet 16 and beyond is within reach. Play the game like you can, and you will prevail.
Jackets:
March 20th, 2010
11:39 pm
dawgdude: Hey ? for ya. Who are you guys playing/ I know, with yourselves. THWG! Your team suxs so bad they couldn’t even make the NIT, so be careful what you say on this blog. THWG! GO JACKETS! hey dawgdude, enjoy the game from your trailer.
Jackets:
March 20th, 2010
11:41 pm
I forgot to ask the questions again. Does anyone know the UGA score? Oh, that’s right……………my bad, their done for the season. LMFAO! GO TECH!
Jackets:
March 20th, 2010
11:44 pm
Hey Gen: Our spirits are high and are not in the pits, so not sure where you got that from. Anyway, the jackets will prevail over Ohio State and Tennessee and will meet MD, MSU, or UNI for a chance to go to the Final 4. Even if we lose tomorrow, which I don’t believe we will, we had a good year and much better than the other team in the state. LMFAO! THWG!
Jackets:
March 20th, 2010
11:47 pm
Hey Gen: We will see you at the Sweet 16. Your team isn’t as deep as ours, or as talented. If we get past OSU, we will beat UT. Sorry, but that’s just the truth. GO JACKETS! By the way, where’s crazy Lane Kiffin? LOL!
Jackets:
March 20th, 2010
11:49 pm
UGA baseball lost to Kennesaw State? Are you serious? That’s friggin great. Man, they suck in every sport, but the gym mutts. THWG! Enjoy the March Madness, coz your not in it.
Technophobia
March 20th, 2010
11:50 pm
Neyland, what makes you think our spirits are in the pits. We just beat a higher seed and play an even higher seed tomorrow. Looking forward to the challenge. You guys really haven’t beaten anything but mid majors so far.
Yellow Fuzz
March 20th, 2010
11:59 pm
georgia men’s sports = Tech’s bitch
falconfiend
March 21st, 2010
12:08 am
N. Iowa over #1 kansas? What!!! The midwest bracket is wide open. Man i can’t wait for wreck to get loose. ut i can’t wait to play u. we goin get physical.
blackprix
March 21st, 2010
12:19 am
Haters????
Come on Mark. GT fans have a valid gripe when it comes to the coaching of our program. Nobody hates the players (team), this has always been about coaching.
I’m glad we’re winning but that doesn’t change for one second what I believe Paul Hewitt is … a very mediocre coach who can recruit. His overall body of work over 10 seasons is less than average, and that’s with some pretty good talent.
We have had plenty of time to watch and see what Coach Hewitt can do … and it’s obvious he can’t do much. I love the Yellow Jackets but just because we won a few games here at the end of the season DOESN’T CHANGE MY OPINION OF PAUL HEWITT.
falconfiend
March 21st, 2010
12:31 am
Georgia Tech fan all the way from San Antonio texas. lol!! I was born in the ATL. A product from College park. I still love THE ATL. GO JACKETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
StingerSplash
March 21st, 2010
1:32 am
Oklahoma State was still 22 of 44 from the field from 2-point territory. Everybody not named James Anderson was 19 of 32.
What won the game for the Jackets was a huge rebounding advantage and a simply astounding performance from the free throw line — not to mention the sticky defense on Anderson. Tech maintained its active hands in the passing lanes and on disrupting Oklahoma State’s dribble. There have been times when they haven’t maintained that.
Give Hewitt credit for conjuring up new ways to help the free throw shooting. But 0 FGs over the last 8 and change minutes isn’t exactly the second coming of Paul Westhead, either.
A talented team is finally playing to its talent level. There are still doubts on Hewitt’s efficacy as a coach. I don’t think a win over Ohio State will wipe those away.
vince
March 21st, 2010
2:50 am
Mark, whatever happens tomorrow these young men have showed us that they have heart. The coach has shown us that he has patience, which is what a young team needs…good job Paul!
Jackets:
March 21st, 2010
3:55 am
ASHEVILLE DAWG: Hey loser, where is your crappy team playing? Oh, that’s right…………they are not because they suck azz! LMFAO! Enjoy March Madness. It’s great to be a DAWGHATER when it’s hoops time. Your team is pathetic and by the way, your baseball team lost to Kennesaw State. LOL! Man, your sports really suck, as do your academics and city. LOSERVILLE
Jackets:
March 21st, 2010
3:57 am
My prediction: Jackets 72 OSU 68 Jackets advance to play Tennessee. Goold ole rocky top garbage.
Buckeye Boy:
March 21st, 2010
4:00 am
Hey GT: I must admit, we are overated and will lose to you guys tomorrow. We have been inconsistent all season and we just don’t have the heart GT has. Whatever the outcome, I will pick pecans from a tree, as that is what a Buckeye is. LMFAO! GO JACKETS!
vol hater
March 21st, 2010
4:06 am
one sweet 16 before today in your entire sleazy basketball history——and u are talking smack.
quit drinking that left-over kiffin koolade JACKLEG!!
IE81
March 21st, 2010
4:22 am
First, being critical of not meeting expectations does not make one a “hater” – especially when someone has given a lot of money and bought a lot of tickets. I love GT – graduated from there and 3 children as well. I am also not blind. Shooting free throws well and taking care of the basketball are fundamentals. Fundamentals are coaching issues. Vast improvement in 1 game. Let’s make it 2. Hopefully we go on a run, and Hewitt gets hired away. win/win GO GT!
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
7:22 am
Tech’s male student athletes = Over Achievers
Uga’s male student athletes = Under Achievers
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
7:24 am
Tech = Sweet 16
Uga = Sweet 116
Same schitt different season
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
7:36 am
Final BCS rankings In football that the dog nation won’t acknowledge:
Tech = 13
Uga = 33
Top 25 BCS Rankings 2010
1. Alabama 14-0
2. Texas 13-1
3. Florida 13-1
4. Boise St. 14-0
5. Ohio St. 11-2
6. TCU 12-1
7. Iowa 11-2
8. Cincinnati 12-1
9. Penn St. 11-2
10. Virginia Tech 10-3
11. Oregon 10-3
12. BYU 11-2
13. Georgia Tech 11-3
14. Nebraska 10-4
15. Pittsburgh 10-3
16. Wisconsin 10-3
17. LSU 9-4
18. Utah 10-3
19. Miami 9-4
20. Mississippi 9-4
21. Texas Tech 9-4
22. Southern Cal 9-4
23. Cent. Michigan 12-2
24. Clemson 9-5
25. West Virginia 9-4
26. Oklahoma 90 (votes)
27. Oregon St. 89 (votes)
28. Navy 85 (votes)
29. Stanford 67 (votes)
30. Oklahoma St. 40 (votes)
31. Rutgers 37 (votes)
32. Auburn 8 (votes)
33. Georgia 7 (votes)
34. Florida St. 6 (votes)
35. Arizona 5 (votes)
36. Connecticut 5 (votes)
37. Middle Tennessee 4 (votes)
38. Arkansas 3 (votes)
39. Villanova 2 (votes)
(((((((((((((((((((( 13-33 )))))))))))))))))))) hahahahahahahahaha
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
7:53 am
Speaking of NATIONAL rankings in all major Men’s sports…..
2010 FOOTBALL (final)
1. Alabama 14-0
2. Texas 13-1
3. Florida 13-1
4. Boise St. 14-0
5. Ohio St. 11-2
6. TCU 12-1
7. Iowa 11-2
8. Cincinnati 12-1
9. Penn St. 11-2
10. Virginia Tech 10-3
11. Oregon 10-3
12. BYU 11-2
13. Georgia Tech 11-3
14. Nebraska 10-4
15. Pittsburgh 10-3
16. Wisconsin 10-3
17. LSU 9-4
18. Utah 10-3
19. Miami 9-4
20. Mississippi 9-4
21. Texas Tech 9-4
22. Southern Cal 9-4
23. Cent. Michigan 12-2
24. Clemson 9-5
25. West Virginia 9-4
26. Oklahoma 90 (votes)
27. Oregon St. 89 (votes)
28. Navy 85 (votes)
29. Stanford 67 (votes)
30. Oklahoma St. 40 (votes)
31. Rutgers 37 (votes)
32. Auburn 8 (votes)
33. Georgia 7 (votes)
34. Florida St. 6 (votes)
35. Arizona 5 (votes)
36. Connecticut 5 (votes)
37. Middle Tennessee 4 (votes)
38. Arkansas 3 (votes)
39. Villanova 2 (votes)
BASKETBALL (current)
Tech = Sweet 16
Uga = Sweet 116 (tie)
BASEBALL (current)
1. Virginia
2. Texas
3. Georgia Tech
4. Texas Christian
5. Florida State
6. Florida
7. Louisiana State
8. Coastal Carolina
9. Louisville
10. Arizona State
11. Clemson
12. UCLA
13. Arkansas
14. Rice
15. UC Irvine
16. South Carolina
17. Miami
18. Oregon State
19. Vanderbilt
20. East Carolina
21. Mississippi
22. Kentucky
23. Stanford
24. North Carolina
25. Oklahoma
TELL ME AGAIN WHO’S irrelevant.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahhahahahahahah
Steve
March 21st, 2010
8:37 am
That’s pretty compelling truth yellow fuz
HBTD1
March 21st, 2010
8:56 am
Who is irrelevant? That would be YOU, Yellow Fuzz! You are a big pudding pants who wussed out by not showing up to your tailgate by the baseball field last year that you were talking all big on here. You blog, duck and hide by writing your junk all over UGA’s blog, but when it comes time to put your money where you big mouth is, you run like and scream like a little school girl. It is now proven that you are all blog and ZERO action. You are a weak, weak little boy. I bet you were the kid with the big mouth who always got pummeled in school. Heck! You probably still do?
Hey, Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
8:58 am
When will you acknowledge GT’s higher academic requirements for athletes is a myth?
Need and example? How about a 38% Graduation Rate at Basketball Factory U. LOL
Lil' Barry Bailout
March 21st, 2010
9:06 am
Coaches who do well at schools like Georgia Tech get offers to jump to schools like Kentucky and North Carolina, How’s that working out for Hewitt?
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 21st, 2010
9:13 am
Let’s just hope Tech can keep the TO down and keep making Free Throws. I think as the Turny has proven this year a diffcult matchup can allow any team to win.
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 21st, 2010
9:21 am
I heard Tony Blowhard is coming back. He will say the same crap as usual. The SEC will Win it all in Football, The SEC is to only Football worth watching blah blah blah. I haven’t read his crap in 2 years now, but I know it will just be the same crap.
VolNation
March 21st, 2010
9:26 am
Jackets, good luck today. I don’t see OSU being able to handle your inside game. Would be good to see a UT-GT matchup in St. Louis next week.
WW
March 21st, 2010
9:27 am
Peacock needs to hit his three point shots tonight, or were screwed…but no pressure:)
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:27 am
HBTD1
March 21st, 2010
8:56 am
Who is irrelevant? That would be YOU, Yellow Fuzz! You are a big pudding pants who wussed out by not showing up to your tailgate by the baseball field last year that you were talking all big on here. You blog, duck and hide by writing your junk all over UGA’s blog, but when it comes time to put your money where you big mouth is, you run like and scream like a little school girl. It is now proven that you are all blog and ZERO action. You are a weak, weak little boy. I bet you were the kid with the big mouth who always got pummeled in school. Heck! You probably still do?
hahahaha. I was there and security made us move (they must read these blogs as well). But I plan on setting up my tent next year in the exact same spot (60 feet from right field foul pole on baseball field). Third year in a row. PLEASE come by for a visit. Also, I attend 3-4 uga games every year but thanks to you trash stowing AH’s I will be forced to relocate. I will certainly notify you and the rest of the dog nation when we know where it will be.
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:32 am
HBTD1
“When will you acknowledge GT’s higher academic requirements for athletes is a myth”?
umm Never?
Dude other than Army, Navy and Air Force there are no harder D-1 college football programs to qualify for (possible exception of Duke, Stanford and Vandy). Stop smoking your Copenhagen!
buckeye10
March 21st, 2010
9:33 am
Enter your comments here O-H……
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:34 am
Who is irrelevant?
uga’s final rankings in
Football
Basketball
Baseball
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
JEWELL ROLLEN
March 21st, 2010
9:44 am
ST MARY’S HAS ONE THIRD OF THE AUSSIE NATIONAL TEAM. A BEAST DOWN LOW. FUNDAMENTLAY SOUND. SHOOTS THE 3. MAKES FREE THROWS….ON A ROLL….OH YEAH. NO WAY TECH BEATS OHIO STATE….
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:44 am
SROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get your facts straight dog nation!
When speaking of Current NATIONAL rankings in all major Men’s sports…..
2010 FOOTBALL (final)
1. Alabama 14-0
2. Texas 13-1
3. Florida 13-1
4. Boise St. 14-0
5. Ohio St. 11-2
6. TCU 12-1
7. Iowa 11-2
8. Cincinnati 12-1
9. Penn St. 11-2
10. Virginia Tech 10-3
11. Oregon 10-3
12. BYU 11-2
13. Georgia Tech 11-3
14. Nebraska 10-4
15. Pittsburgh 10-3
16. Wisconsin 10-3
17. LSU 9-4
18. Utah 10-3
19. Miami 9-4
20. Mississippi 9-4
21. Texas Tech 9-4
22. Southern Cal 9-4
23. Cent. Michigan 12-2
24. Clemson 9-5
25. West Virginia 9-4
26. Oklahoma 90 (votes)
27. Oregon St. 89 (votes)
28. Navy 85 (votes)
29. Stanford 67 (votes)
30. Oklahoma St. 40 (votes)
31. Rutgers 37 (votes)
32. Auburn 8 (votes)
33. Georgia 7 (votes)
34. Florida St. 6 (votes)
35. Arizona 5 (votes)
36. Connecticut 5 (votes)
37. Middle Tennessee 4 (votes)
38. Arkansas 3 (votes)
39. Villanova 2 (votes)
BASKETBALL (current)
Tech = Sweet 16
Uga = Sweet 116 (tie)
BASEBALL (current)
1. Virginia
2. Texas
3. Georgia Tech
4. Texas Christian
5. Florida State
6. Florida
7. Louisiana State
8. Coastal Carolina
9. Louisville
10. Arizona State
11. Clemson
12. UCLA
13. Arkansas
14. Rice
15. UC Irvine
16. South Carolina
17. Miami
18. Oregon State
19. Vanderbilt
20. East Carolina
21. Mississippi
22. Kentucky
23. Stanford
24. North Carolina
25. Oklahoma
TELL ME AGAIN WHO’S irrelevant.
hahahahahahaha-I hope you can hear me,ahahahahahahahahahahahhhahahah!
Buckeyes
March 21st, 2010
9:49 am
OSU will dominate. All the advantages especially coaching are with the Buckeyes.
OSU 68
Tech 56