Tech falls to KSU: The Wizard of Techwood dazzles us again
It's a brand new season, but it's the same old outcome. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
If Paul Hewitt isn’t the worst basketball coach in the country, it’s only because ours is a mighty big country. And now, having said that, I ask: At this late date, who needs convincing?
There are no real Hewitt defenders. There are a few excuse-makers, but nobody seriously believes this is a first-tier coach anymore. I could cite his record yet again, but here’s all anyone needs to know: In the spring of 2004 he won five NCAA tournament games in 15 days; in his other nine seasons at Georgia Tech combined, he has won two.
On Monday his Jackets took a ride up I-75 and showed us they aren’t even the best team in Metro Atlanta. They lost 80-63 to Kennesaw State, which has only recently become a fully vested member of the NCAA’s Division I. Tech never led. It trailed by 20 points after 15 1/2 minutes, by 15 points at the half. It was one of those games that was shocking and yet not surprising at all.
Afterward Hewitt was his usual serene self, noting that KSU “out-toughed us” and trotting out the boilerplate: “It’s just a matter of showing more maturity.” And thus did the Owls join the list of Hewitt conquerors, a n array that includes IUPUI, Winthrop, UNC Greensboro and Illinois-Chicago (twice).
Tech made nearly as many turnovers (19) as baskets (21) Monday. This from a team that essentially starts four guards. This from a team that lost two McDonald’s All-Americans to the NBA early but still boasts one more McDonald’s All-American than Kennesaw State will ever sign. (Although the Owls do employ what coach Tony Ingle called “our Wendy’s offense — get it to go, cheese on the fries, let it fly.”)
Afterward Ingle was asked if Tech had recruited any of his players. He said, “No.” But somehow the Owls, who were 13-20 last season when Tech was underachieving its way into the NCAA tournament, were much the better team. They didn’t have the better players, but they were the better team. Which is the story of post-2004 Georgia Tech basketball.
The biggest excuse for Hewitt — I heard it from longtime acquaintance Charles Barkley last spring — is that he’s always losing players early to the pros. And that’s true: S ix Jackets have left eligibility on the table to declare for the NBA draft, Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal most recently. But it’s not as if Hewitt has accomplished much with his one-and-dones: Chris Bosh, Thaddeus Young, Javaris Crittenton and Favors managed a total of one NCAA tournament victory.
And it’s not as if the guys who stay fare any better. Hewitt had Anthony Morrow for four seasons, after which Morrow wasn’t able to persuade an NBA team to risk even a second-round pick on him. He landed with Golden State as a free agent. This summer he signed a three-year contract with the Nets for $12 million.
This month Alex Raskin of the Wall Street Journal wondered if Morrow is the greatest shooter in NBA history. (Not just in the NBA now. In the NBA ever.) And here was a quote from Steve Kerr, the former Phoenix general manager whose status as the league’s all-time leading three-point shooter is being threatened by Morrow: “I saw him a couple of times in college and he didn’t really light it up. He got a little lost on his team. It just didn’t seem like he really blossomed there.”
Who does blossom under Hewitt? Bosh and Favors didn’t get the ball enough. Apart from Jarrett Jack, no point guard has ever really directed a Hewitt team. (Moe Miller, who saved last season after being relegated to the end of the bench, is again not starting.)
But enough. You know what’s going on. Hewitt is a lousy coach, but his golden contract makes him untouchable. Dan Radakovich, the Tech athletic director, sat behind the bench at the KSU Convocation Center last night and looked pained. The man with the $7 million buyout was losing to a school based in the county where Radakovich lives — by 17 points.
Oh, and if you haven’t seen my take on Kennesaw State and its coach … that post can be found here.
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496 comments Add your comment
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:43 am
Maybe if “D-Rad” had negotiating skills, he would contact us.
UGA is always looking to pay weak football teams to come to Athens to help produce a sellout (guaranteed) and guaranteed victory.
Have him call us…. maybe we can work something out.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:46 am
Just today, we decided to pay $7 Million (of our $84 Million profit last year) to upgrade the sprinkler system at Foley Field.
Hey Tech,…. do you guys need a loan or something??
JoeFan
November 16th, 2010
11:46 am
I am sure DRad has heard the chorus and barring a drastic change in the basketball program direction he will have no choice but to fire CPH at season’s end. Making this decision easier and necessary is that Gailey’s payout will be concluded and a new basketball structure will be in place for the 2012-13 season. This season will be difficult to stomach but with the right hire GT basketball should return to at least the upper level of the ACC within a couple of seasons.
Dawgwild
November 16th, 2010
11:46 am
Mark,
You could have added UGA to that list, because every year they are suppose to have All Americans and can’t beat the Dawgs in Athens.
Dust Jacket
November 16th, 2010
11:48 am
By keeping Hewitt year after year, Tech’s basketball program will just continue the rapid descent into total obscurity. This will cause more damage, and be harder to overcome, than the cost of the buyout. It’s time to bite the bullet and make it happen now.
GT
November 16th, 2010
11:48 am
Well put. Kentucky had like four one and done kids last year. Favors was considered the best out of high school, he never really showed up until the end at Tech, costing this one and doner a few draft picks and a lot of money. The offense, when the McDonald All Americans could get the ball inbound, and up the court ran through Gani Lawal, who would get fouled and miss most of his foul shots. Look at the assistant coaches, and compare them to any assistant coaching staff in the ACC. They don’t compare. Who wants to come work for a head coach both football and basketball tells you volumes about the head coach. There are high school staffs in this country, maybe in the metro area better than what Hewitt has hired to sit on his bench.
I was looking at Spurrier’s coaching staff the other day. Arguably the best coach of the active coaches in college football. Two of his own sons and a son of another great college coach are on his staff. Watch where the son’s of great coaches end up, what staff they learn under.
Mirror Mirror
November 16th, 2010
11:49 am
Yo, Glory Glory, since you seemed to have forgotten:
1. Damon Evans: “I was just holding her panties while I drove her home”
2. 2010 Fulmer Cup Winner with a RECORD 11 players arrested in 2010
3. Ealy: “I Hit & Run this state”
4. AJ Greenback “I did nothing wrong coach”
5. Todd Grantham: Nationally televised Choke artist
Yeh, UGAG has SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to be proud of.
UGA = The pride of the Double-Wide nation.
Mirror Mirror
November 16th, 2010
11:50 am
Oh, and just a little reminder: Jim Herrick
Dawgdad (The Original)
November 16th, 2010
11:50 am
Keep Hewitt, the Dawgs need the victory every year, but seriously why allow the contract to keep him in the job. You can pay him and a better coach as well. How, you find an up and coming coach like Mr Ingle and explain that you will give him the job and a chance to break into the big time, but you can’t pay much. You double Ingle’s pay and give him the chance. What is the downside, you are going to pay Hewitt anyway and lose, so spend an extra 100,000 and reward a good guy, who you know can do no worse.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:51 am
If we lent you $7 million, would you agree to play us in Athens for the next 5 years in football??
That way you get your BBall coach ousted, and we would make around $28 Million extra bucks.
SECWasteManagement
November 16th, 2010
11:51 am
GT = Mud Squad
JJ Red Panties
November 16th, 2010
11:52 am
CPJ will right the ship….CPH has has ENOUGH time! Get on with it. At least CPJ doesn’t make excuses like cph!
UGA89
November 16th, 2010
11:53 am
Glory Glory
November 16th, 2010
11:29 am
(((((30-24)))))
(((((73-66)))))
(((((35-10)))))
(((((80-63)))))
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
- – - – -
UGA football …4 and 5 star recruits ~~still not bowl eligible. No longer even a second-tier team in the SEC, but now a third-tier team. SC, UF, AU, BAMA, LSU, ARK, MISS ST ~all better programs than UGA right now. UT, KU, VANDY, OLE MISS ~teams UGA is on par with in the SEC.
Point- you really have enough problems of your own to be pontificating at all on any problems that the last school between GT and UGA to; advance to the college world series, advance to the field of 64, to win a conference championship, to earn a BCS bowl bid and to win a national championship, may be experiencing.
BOOM! you’re outta here.
Blue Fox
November 16th, 2010
11:54 am
Is http://www.firepaulhewitt.com back up and running?? Can Dave Braine be sued for incompetence to help pay for the buy-out?? Kudos to KSU, we just made your season!
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:54 am
Maybe you guys shouldn’t encourage your donors to build your golden coach a new castle, and spend their money on improving the actual tenants of said castle.
On a side note….. I am sitting behind my desk right now deciding where to donate this $23 Million in true philanthropy style…… because that’s how UGA Athletics rolls!
redhairpimplefacenerd
November 16th, 2010
11:54 am
GET THEM OFF THE SCHEDULE!!
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:55 am
$7 Million……. I got this because I’m faaaaaaaaaaaaaast!!!!
Frontman
November 16th, 2010
11:56 am
Hewitt Fan,
I want some of the same drugs you have…
Derrick Favors isn’t walking through that door; neither is Gani Lawal. This team is going to absolutely SUCK this year. If only 10,000 people give $700 apiece, we can buy him out and tell him not to let the door hit him in the tail end on the way out. This team will win no more than 4 games in the ACC and probably a lot less than that. Coach Hewitt is one heckuva snake oil salesman, though; he’ll talk a great game – I will give him credit for that.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:56 am
$7 Million…… freaky like my LADY PYRAMID!!!!!!
Dawglasville
November 16th, 2010
11:57 am
Holy crap Mark, I’ve never seen an Atlanta sports writer go after a coach with such passion.
To quote the great philosopher Michael Stipe, “Everybody hurts, sometime.” There is a lot of pain in Atlanta and Athens now.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
11:58 am
$7 Million
The equivalent of 1 (one) home football game for us.
The euivalent of 2 (two) football SEASONS for Tech.
Pained beyond words
November 16th, 2010
11:59 am
How many more years do we have to suffer under this clown excuse for a coach?
Jason
November 16th, 2010
11:59 am
Hewitt is a pathetic coach and person. But he and his wife were smart enough to stay and wait for the pay day. There has to be some clause in that contract somewhere. Just ask everyone at the football game Sat to donate what they can to get rid of this loser.
Dust Jacket
November 16th, 2010
11:59 am
Mirror Mirror,
People in glass houses…
Since you’re so concerned about the past, anyone can can come up with a list of GT’s transgressions as well. There have been plenty over the years, but why bother?
You keep copying and pasting the same thing over and over in these blogs. Your obsession with UGA is showing. You are sad.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
Tech…. why don’t you go to Title Max or JG Wentworth and ask for the $7 Million??
“It’s my money! And I want it NOW!!”
dobearsbare
November 16th, 2010
12:01 pm
“The biggest excuse for Hewitt — I heard it from longtime acquaintance Charles Barkley last spring — is that he’s always losing players early to the pros. And that’s true: S ix Jackets have left eligibility on the table to declare for the NBA draft, Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal most recently.”
This sounds familiar. Some observers suggested it’s the same thing that ushered Bobby Cremins — the guy with his name painted on Tech’s court — out at the NATS.
Hankie Aron
November 16th, 2010
12:01 pm
Glory Glory- You disgrace all decent UGA fans. Please get off the Buzz Blog. Thank you. Yours sincerely
UGA Dawg Fan
UGA=YAWN
November 16th, 2010
12:01 pm
it’s; drad@athletics.gatech.edu
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:02 pm
I just signed a check for $7 Million to widen the sidewalks around Stegman Colisium.
That was easy.
Dan
November 16th, 2010
12:03 pm
Mark – does this mean you will not be renewing your prediction from last season that Tech will go deeper than Duke in the NCAA tournament?
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:04 pm
Just signed a $7 Million dollar check to fund the athletic Department getaway weeekdn to Destin, Fl this coming Spring.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:05 pm
GREAT NEWS!!!!!
We just got word that we made $7 Million in sales of AJ Green’s replica jersey!!!
Hankie Aron
November 16th, 2010
12:06 pm
Mirror Mirror- You replicating the same garbage as Glory Glory makes you no better than him. You know that right? Sounds as if you both need to get off the computer and get back to class or at least something more productive than what you are doing
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
12:07 pm
Excuses, excuses. He’s just a lousy coach. It’s not complicated.
This year he has a ton of ball handlers that can’t defend OR take care of the ball, much less run a motion offense.
The chief reason he is able to get the players he does is because of that BCA thing he does, and because he’s gotten a few into the NBA – where they have to relearn everything because they learned nothing from Hewitt & Co. at GT.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:07 pm
Sorry Tech….. that $7 Million from AJ’s jersey sales was just spent. We decided to restore the abandoned railroad tracks right behind Sanford Stadium as a shrine to the “Railroad Gang” of the 60’s and 70’s.
Sorry…. did you guys need a loan or something??
TDone
November 16th, 2010
12:07 pm
I have been mostly quiet about Hewitt. However, I think he knows he is in over his head. Personally, I think Hewitt should do the right thing and resign. I think the longer he stays, the more he will be despised. But if he were to resign, we would sing his praises for doing the right thing as we did for Bobby Cremins.
So Coach Hewitt, for the sake of your legacy, please resign.
Buzz
November 16th, 2010
12:08 pm
Glory Glory …. F$%^ Y#$
Dagny
November 16th, 2010
12:08 pm
I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?
As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see many alums and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school most people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole state of Georgia.
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:09 pm
Tech, why don’t you sell that car of yours….. that should raise a couple hundred bucks towards the ousting of CPH??
UGA Athletic Department
November 16th, 2010
12:10 pm
Today’s donor totals: $7 Million.
T3
November 16th, 2010
12:11 pm
This is all doing long-term & permanent damage to
Hewitt’s reputation and career.
Coach Hewitt:
The ONLY “High-Road” left is to negotitate
a new and RESPECTALE buyout with DRad and resign.
Buzz
November 16th, 2010
12:14 pm
7 Mil the amount of bail money paid on behalf of uga athletes this season? Oh, I am sorry, that would also include your red panty, wife cheating, former alum who was the AD
Mortician
November 16th, 2010
12:14 pm
juat goes to show you, you are able to pay a coach 75000 a year and be successful
Mortician
November 16th, 2010
12:14 pm
or 7 million and be a total failure
PMC
November 16th, 2010
12:15 pm
So um… change the recruiting and go the Duke/Butler etc route.
Go find 4 year college players. Lanky, dull, bounce passers that are receptive to coaching. Go sign the next Bobby Hurley… go find another tall uncoordinated high school center who will play hard.
Go get a JJ Reddick who did nothing but shoot jump shots for 12 years.
He keeps squandering talent. So go get some average players that want to go to Tech for the education and run the princeton offense or something.
Stop treating the team like it’s an NBA D league squad and getting guys who OBViously only need to be in college for a year.
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
12:15 pm
I think Tech has plenty of access to capital if they want to fire Hewitt.
I can only conclude that DRad has had that conversation with BPeterson, and there is some threshold of pain that has to be exceeded for them to pull the trigger, $7MM buyout or not.
Then again, perhaps BPeterson has already made the decision that, defacto, GT’s performance on the basketball court is just not that important to the image of the school, or to the alumni who contribute to the Institute in some way, shape, or form. If so, expect a descent over time to the bottom of the ACC.
Paul in RDU
November 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
Mark – You pretty much nailed it with your blog. Hewitt is a terrible coach and he needs to go for the good of the program. There are 2 reasons why Hewitt is still coach – the contract (of course!) and the fact that b’ball is not as important at GT as at some other schools. Wake Forest fired a coach with a much better record than Hewitt. NCState ran off a coach because they didn’t like his offense. UNC pulled the trigger on Matt Doherty after 3 years.
Bob
November 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
Hewitt is complete garbage…been saying it for the last 5 years.
Hankie Aron
November 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
UGA Ath Dept- PLEASE GO AWAY. You make intelligent UGA fans seem ignorant.
Lilburn Dawg
November 16th, 2010
12:17 pm
Correction for Glory, Glory…….KSU is not an “itty bitty” school. Most people seem to think it still is small………but it’s got about 22,000 students and is the third largest university in Georgia. It is a LOT bigger than Ga. Tech if you are counting the student population. The only thing they lack is enough land to expand their campus. There campus is relatively small and landlocked but they are expanding on the east side of I-75 as well as having built several new buildings on its main campus in the last several years. So they have more students than Ga. Tech and are still growing!