Live from Tech-Ohio State: Guess who’s getting a feeling?
Sunday, 12:27 p.m. CDT: The Georgia Tech players ready for the task. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Milwaukee – It’s eerie. In 2004 Georgia Tech entered as the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional, only to see second-seeded Gonzaga lose to Nevada (Mark Fox was a Wolfpack assistant coach) on Saturday of the first weekend and then No. 1 Kentucky lose to UAB a hour after Tech had dispatched Boston College on Sunday in the Bradley Center.
Here we are, six springs later, and seeds Nos. 1 and 3 in the Midwest are gone, and the Jackets can unhorse the second seed themselves. Should they get past Ohio State, they’d head to St. Louis with as good a chance to reach the Final Four as any opponent they’d find. Tennessee is nothing special. For all the stunning work it has done this season, Northern Iowa isn’t apt to win four times in this event. The final qualifier will be either Maryland or Michigan State, and Tech just beat one of those.
If you’re asking, “Are you having one of those Bradley Feelings?”, the answer is, “You bet.” Tech is playing well at the right time, and the bracket, which looked so daunting in theory, is breaking the Jackets’ way.
That’s provided the Jackets can upset the Buckeyes, which will be difficult. It will not be impossible. Tech is deeper and stronger. Tech has a defender it can run at Evan Turner, the Big Ten player of the year. (The Jackets have grown accustomed to the faces of POYs — Greivis Vasquez and Jon Scheyer, each of whom Tech saw in the ACC tournament in Greensboro, ran 1-2 in ACC voting, and James Anderson, whom Iman Shumpert defused Friday, was the Big 12’s player of the year.)
I didn’t pick Tech to win today, if that matters. (And it should not, seeing as how I’m the genius who picked Kansas to win the NCAA crown.) But I like the way the Jackets are defending, and I see in them a self-assurance that wasn’t there 15 days ago. Speaking of which …
Remember how galling those losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech in the last week of the regular season seemed? Well, Clemson was one-and-done in the Big Dance — when isn’t Clemson one-and-done in the Big Dance? — and Virginia Tech didn’t qualify. And that’s why, even after the Jackets flopped against V-Tech at home, I wasn’t ready to write them off even though every shred of empirical evidence suggested I should.
See, I’ve seen a few NCAA tournaments. (This is the 30th I’ve covered.) Weird things happen herein. Who saw Villanova coming in 1985? Who saw Kansas in 1988? Who saw N.C. State in 1983?
Speaking of which … Georgia Tech has lost 12 games. Should the Jackets win the NCAA championship, that would set a record for most defeats by a titlist. (Kansas had 11, N.C. State and Villanova 10.) File that away.
And with that, our latest live chat is up and running. Please join me. This could be a significant day for the Jackets.
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1,063 comments Add your comment
Jacket3
March 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
Hope Blewitt uses more Sheehan…the Iman shares the ball, and they work more paint.
Matt
March 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
Possibly the STUPIDIST bunch of basketball players ever assembled on one team. Beautifully illustrated by Schumpert at the end of the half, dribble for ever, don’t run a play, lose the ball and commit a foul!!! Mind bogglingly bad basketball.
Rex
March 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
12 fouls 12 turnovers 8 baskets. Vintage Paul Hewiit basketball.
Lochness
March 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
okay…here is a question for the crowd: Could Tech’s notorious turnover rate have something to do with how often CPH trades in and out players? Having played a good bit myself I know that it takes a few game minutes to get into a flow. Could moving in and out players so frequently be part of the problem?
Paul in RDU
March 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
With Favors and Lawal back in the game in the 2nd, GT will be able to go back to pressing OSU in the backcourt. We need to wear these guys out. Keeping them off the line might help as well
GTPhenom
March 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
Jackets2010, I agree with you on MOST things, but you can’t tell me that the refs aren’t giving tOSU a LOT of calls pretty consistently. I try to avoid blaming refs for most games, but sometimes things are just obvious. I specifically point out the “blocking” foul on Gani, which I would almost definitely say looked like a charge.
j
March 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
tech is it’s own worst enemy. if they take care of the ball in the second half they wil win easily.
I am baffled by their inability to find one person to dribble past half-court.
WordofMouth
March 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
We play so dumb. Our guards better start doing something on offense. We are back to running the Hewitt signature clogged-toilet offense.
Jackets2010
March 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
The game isn’t near over.
Fat lady is not even warming up.
She will though if we do not protect he ball.
We need the Favors of the ACC tourney to make an appearance.
louisville slugger
March 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
Looks like GT has more talent top to bottom than OSU. Once again, unforced turnovers are killing us. But I agree, MB, given that Favors has given us nothing due to fouls, there’s still a decent chance to pull this out. Refs are calling it awful close, which benefits OSU due to style of play.
GTKen
March 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
Looks like ACC refs, taking out our bigs just as in 2nd Duke game. Not dead yet though, Favors has been non-factor, More Sheehan in 2nd half!?
Smitty
March 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
They may in fact win the game cause they are relatively in good shape but I dont think I have ever seen such a seemingly talented team ever play as stupid and/or badly coached as this Tech team.All year. I don’t necessarily want to blame Hewitt(honestly) but who else. He recruited em, he coaches em.
Hello?
BuzzSaw
March 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
“who’s the DORK-NERD that just scored.. WOW he is a Techieeee” – kegiee
The fact he has scored once puts him in a league far above you.
WordofMouth
March 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
Yep, Rex…more turnovers than made baskets is a hallmark of the Hewitt era at Tech. Oh, we have so much to be proud of.
Pi$$onaDawg
March 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
FAVORS are you sure you are ready for the NDA? HAHAHAHA don’t think so. Iman calm it just a touch and run the Offense for just 20 seconds maybe. OK?
j
March 21st, 2010
3:20 pm
Possibly the STUPIDIST bunch of basketball players ever assembled on one team. Beautifully illustrated by Schumpert at the end of the half, dribble for ever, don’t run a play, lose the ball and commit a foul!!! Mind bogglingly bad basketball.
—-
clueless bunch.
JacketMBA
March 21st, 2010
3:20 pm
We’ll be alright when we come out in the 2nd half wearing Florida football jerseys.
Common Sense
March 21st, 2010
3:20 pm
Too many Turnovers
Entry passes are pathetic
Choice of shots is awful
Hell, everyone can see this!!
Kay
March 21st, 2010
3:20 pm
We were down at the half against Oklahoma State.
yeller jacket
March 21st, 2010
3:21 pm
Had a chance to steal the game in the 1st half the wat OSU shot it, but way too many turnovers and dumb, low-percentage shots. Great job, coach Blewitt.
Matt
March 21st, 2010
3:21 pm
I’m happy Tech is only down 2 with all the fouls and no Favors..I agree the refs are calling some shady fouls but Hewitt better tell those guys to adjust..and for the love of God how come we dont have a set play THAT WORKS for inbounds or end of clock?????
Lochness
March 21st, 2010
3:21 pm
Hopefully the *other* Tech team will show up in the 2nd half.
Jackets2010
March 21st, 2010
3:22 pm
GTPhenom, I confess I missed that one.
Maybe that would change my view.
Basically I am pleased so far it hasn’t been called real tight.
I’m fearing it is going to be the same ole turnovers that cost us the game.
The team with the most fans tends to get a few more calls.
kegiee
March 21st, 2010
3:22 pm
Gt Phenom?? Were you the flag boy a couple of years ago.. last time I checked UGA beat you in football and basketball this last year and in 20 min, you will have nothing to do except root for your womens tennis team, b/c your baseball team will choke again this year, while doing their silly warmup moves….. your the pathetic one….. Go Voles……….Dumass to think I am a Dawg
tell it like it is
March 21st, 2010
3:22 pm
Fiddle fart around is the under statement. GT is playing to lose they need to get in a flow of some kind and quit trowing up bricks.
Pi$$onaDawg
March 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
Sorry NBA. I as so pi$$ed at my keyboard and my JACK ain’t helping.
Ryan
March 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
Wow 0 shots for favors. THat has never happened.
Banned By Cindy
March 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
GT has got to be one of the mentally challenged, careless teams I’ve seen. Constantly throwing the ball away. Wasted what should have been a 10 point advantage. That Shumpert clock kill was an act of complete brain deadness.
Fortunately, OS looks to have one worthwhile player. Just have to buckle down like hairy dawgs.
GTPhenom
March 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
The difference Kay is that in the OSU game 4 of our players didn’t have 2 or more fouls. That is the biggest difference. But, I will agree with everyone else. Assuming Favors comes back to the stadium sometime during halftime, GT still stands a shot at winning this game, but Shumpert has GOT to make better decisions. And its not even just Shumpert. Miller is making the same stupid mistakes
plussizemodel
March 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
Again: tOSU is 34% from the field, 18% on 3’s. That will not happen again in the 2nd half. GT should be up by 12 right now if they had a shot in this game.
SW
March 21st, 2010
3:24 pm
Without the stupid turnovers we would be ahead by 6.
Technophobia
March 21st, 2010
3:24 pm
We were down by 6 against Ok St despite playing much better. That bodes well for us in the second half.
DRC
March 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
Lochness, you are spot on about subbing so frequently. I played a little bb myself and know you cannot get in the flow of the game going back and forth to the pine. When I played the only time we came out of the game was for foul trouble or blowouts.
Ryan
March 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
Not even a rebound for favors.
GA PEACH
March 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
Wow looks like EVERYONE is having foul trouble today. Maryland’s Vasquez is on the bench w/ 2 fouls early!!! Its anybody’s game!!!!
Jacket13
March 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
i know a lot of Techs problems look like coaching issues , but they have some dumb players! Their BBall IQ are 0
GTPhenom
March 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
“Gt Phenom?? Were you the flag boy a couple of years ago.. last time I checked UGA beat you in football and basketball this last year and in 20 min, you will have nothing to do except root for your womens tennis team, b/c your baseball team will choke again this year, while doing their silly warmup moves….. your the pathetic one….. Go Voles……….Dumass to think I am a Dawg”
Oh, I am SOOO sorry to mistake you for a pup. I guess that is just SEC fans in general. Obnoxious with no common sense. But, I guess SEC fans have to have something.
George P Burdette
March 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
Hey Mark,
How are you feeling about GT 2nd half chances from up close?
WordofMouth
March 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
GTPhenom: Anyone watching this game can see we are the much deeper and more talented (overall) team. We have to give games away to lose, and we do it.
So, of course we have “a shot at winning this game”, since we are a more talented team, but they have to turn their brains on this half, or an undersized, much less deep team will win again.
GodseyFan
March 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
respec to Sheehan, wow
Technophobia
March 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
I just don’t get the “can’t do” attitude of some of these “fans”. Go Jackets! Sting Em!
George P Burdette
March 21st, 2010
3:27 pm
Agree WOM
GTPhenom
March 21st, 2010
3:27 pm
I think the rest of this game comes down to how well this team goes back to what they did against OKST. IF they start feeding the ball to our bigs WITHOUT fouling, GT still has a good chance at winning this game.
Mark
March 21st, 2010
3:27 pm
Look at it this way. We are down 2 playing without our best player against a top 6 team and 2 seed.
plussizemodel
March 21st, 2010
3:27 pm
I must say however, that I don’t blame you for thinking this tOSU team is beatable right now. I thought the dame thing until I’ve seen bursts out of them that few can match. Any of them can get red hot, and often they do so at the same time.
George P Burdette
March 21st, 2010
3:28 pm
Mizzou giving WV all they handle. Terps coming back
GA PEACH
March 21st, 2010
3:28 pm
Im still proud of u Jackets and Im not going to give up!! AND YES we ALL know Favors is an amazing player, but everyone has bad days. Jackets just calm down and think about what you are doing. PLEASE!!!!
GTPhenom
March 21st, 2010
3:28 pm
Very true WOM. But will they is the question. I certainly hope they do. Then we can shut up these obnoxious UT fans that seem to keep showing up on Georgia Tech blogs.
clean up your yard
March 21st, 2010
3:29 pm
Wow how wonderful to be in the presence of so many out of work coaches.
It's in the spelling
March 21st, 2010
3:29 pm
kegiee=Dawg #1