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
BigTimeTECHFan
November 16th, 2010
4:42 pm
Hewitt is a fine coach, This years team is not going to be great, Last year Tech team played Natl Champ Duke as good as Butler are anyone else at the end of the year.
Hewitt has taken a team to the NCAA finals.
One game and now he’s the worse coach in the nation, what a joke.
Mark Bradly writes garbage for the AJC for years and still has a job. And he wants to call for CPH to be fired, joke.
Paul in RDU
November 16th, 2010
4:43 pm
A year or so ago I would have said that Sidney was worse than Mark, but not any more. NCState is going to kill GT this year. Tracy Smith is going to have his way inside and CJ Leslie and Ryan Harrow (an ATL kid no less) are going to run wild as well.
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
4:44 pm
OK, I’ll go to $140K, but I gotta have health benefits.
BigTimeTECHFan
November 16th, 2010
4:44 pm
GT will finish 4th in ACC then make it to NCAA finals again.
kingster
November 16th, 2010
4:46 pm
I just don’t know, I have surpported Hewitt, for a lot of years, wishing he would put Tech in gear, I’m sorry to say, I give up, this guy really is going to have to do a more than outstanding job to remained .
Paul in RDU
November 16th, 2010
4:46 pm
Oops – meant Sidney was worse than CPH
CPH & Wife
November 16th, 2010
4:47 pm
Dear NoSham:
Thank you for your support of Georgia Tech and your well-intentioned advice. We will be staying in Atlanta and at Georgia Tech for at least another decade or so because we can. We don’t feel any shame or sense of obligation since GT signed the same contract we did. And our daughters are still in school, so we can’t leave, don’t you see. And the shopping here is great. If the girls decide to go to Emory, and maybe even med school, we may be here another twenty years. So, thanks again, but we know that ol’ Dan doesn’t have the cajones to kick us out.
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
4:47 pm
BigTime – Please share whatever you’re smoking.
Paul in RDU
November 16th, 2010
4:48 pm
I see someone has started drinking early – I’ll have whatever BigTimeTECHFan is drinking
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 16th, 2010
4:49 pm
BigTimeTECHFan…put down the bottle and/or pipe.
curt moore
November 16th, 2010
4:49 pm
This is not surprising to me…..I actually feel sorry for CPH. We’ve known for a long time that the 04 experience was an aberration. Since we can’t but out CPH we just go along and block out BB at GT.
I not optimistic that anything will change. All this makes Bobby look like the kind of coach we would like to have at GT.
Dave fromGT
November 16th, 2010
4:50 pm
I like Hewitt, but this has to stop……. before it starts.
Losing to KSU is simply not acceptable – unless at the end of the season KSU is the National Champ/
CPH & Wife
November 16th, 2010
4:51 pm
Dear NoShamSam & Tech faithful:
Thank you for your continued support of Georgia Tech and your advice that we leave. Since we feel no shame in losing and not graduating players we don’t feel inclined to release Tech from our mutual agreement at this time. Also, our girls are in school here and the shopping is great, so it will be another 10 years before we even consider retiring (maybe 20 if the girls go to Emory and med school). Of course, we know that ol’ Dan doesn’t have the cajones to kick us out of town. Love, CPH & Wife
CPH & Wife
November 16th, 2010
4:57 pm
Dear Dan Radakovich:
It’s about time you chastise the ungrateful Tech fanbase again and remind them how great Paul Hewitt is and how they should support/suck up to him. At our exhibition games there have been only a handful of students, and in our opening games there have been but a few more. We all know this is about my progressive social agenda and has nothing to do with my win/loss record, graduation rates, or coaching ability…and that is just wrong. I continue to be a victim of my success and race, locked in my prison of a million-dollar salary, a veritable slave to the Institute. But I will continue to suffer…I just wish you would jump on those ingrates and tell them to get behind the program.
Painfully,
Paul & wifey
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
4:57 pm
OK,, I’ll take the job for $125K + benefits, but I can only work Tuesdays and Thursdays since my real job requires about 3 days a week from me.
And I can’t travel, so I’ll have to get a blow-up doll for the team to put in front of the bench during the game. I’ll make sure the doll is made so that it adopts the appropriate kneeling posture and downcast expression; I can even sow one of the hand to the face if that is preferable.
FullMetalJacket
November 16th, 2010
4:59 pm
I supported CPH until 2006. It is time for a change, DRad. You know it, you just have to figure out how to make it happen.
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
4:59 pm
But that’s my last offer. Take it or leave it, you have until the end of the week to make a decision.
Thanks for your attention.
howard
November 16th, 2010
5:00 pm
Hewitt should have been let go AT LEAST a year ago. Now, another season will be lost and THEN it will take several more years to compete at the top levels again. So, Tech’s program is not 3-5 years away from getting better…it is 3-5 years from getting better after Hewitt is released….the longer he stays the further out the time frame goes…you do the math.
FullMetalJacket
November 16th, 2010
5:01 pm
Tech75, you win the bid. I wouldn’t watch the vestiges of the Hewitt legacy disintegrate in front of me for any less than $150K, and even then I would only work as a telecomuter. On the plus side, my clothing allowance would be considerably less, since I would only wear one new suit per game.
Einsteindawg
November 16th, 2010
5:03 pm
Question for my Tech bretheren…Does Hewitt and Mark Richt have the same agent? They both have “snowed” their athletic directors. Both need to be fired.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 16th, 2010
5:05 pm
It is really this simple and everyone knows:
You can pay him now or pay him later.
You’ll never have a panties type excuse.
Boras has nothing on his agent.
question?
November 16th, 2010
5:06 pm
I agree that Hewitt’s time is up, but REALISTICALLY who do you foresee will come to GT and have us in the ACC CG (like CPH just did) and in the NCAA Tourney (like CPH just did) and in the hunt for a title?
And don’t rattle off unrealistic names like Self, Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, etc.
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
5:08 pm
Thanks, FullMetal. I’ll put in the order for the doll tomorrow, start of business.
By the way, can I get a cash advance of about $600? That will cover the cost of the doll and it’s modifications, plus some …. uh …. “consulting” fees. Wait, wait… I meant “recruiting” fees.
Yeah, that’s the ticket!
JACKET89
November 16th, 2010
5:08 pm
A complete and utter embarasment. Can’t believe this clown was retained.
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 16th, 2010
5:09 pm
Phewitts agent went to UGA Einsteindawg. You should induct him into your HOF.
GAtor
November 16th, 2010
5:14 pm
Congrats to KSU on this win!!!!
Tethys
November 16th, 2010
5:15 pm
Scott Drew (Baylor) would be one of my first picks, if we can afford him.
Einsteindawg
November 16th, 2010
5:16 pm
Thanks Ramble On!!!..I knew there was something special about Hewitt. Afterall, Sonny went to UGA, too, and I bet you voted for him. Still needs to be fired.
Herchel
November 16th, 2010
5:16 pm
I almost feel sorry for Yech. Not quite, but almost. You have Paul Johnson and Paul Hewitt. You have a high school offense and two high school coaches. You can rag on UGA’s football season if it makes you feel better, but as bad as we are, we will be favored to beat Yech in both sports. Buzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Tech75
November 16th, 2010
5:17 pm
***For Immediate Release*** November 16, 2010 (Reuters)
ATLANTA, GA – Georgia tech announced today that Paul Blewitt has been released from his basketball coaching duties.
After due consideration, the Athletic Association Board said, “We want to thank Coach Blewitt for his contributions, and wish him well in his future endeavors propagating the virtues of street basketball in America.
We also wish to announce that the Institute has retained the services of an anonymous blogger called Tech75 (apparently an alumnus). Contract terms are confidential, but trust me, if you saw them you’d laugh.
Our expectations are high that Tech75 can get the basketball team playing more effective playground ball, or barring that, to at least walk and chew gum without hurting themselves or the fans. He also claims to have the ability to get players to go to class, although there seem to be some sort of financial strings attached to that claim. We’ll see.
We all look forward with optimism to this new dawn in the history of Tech Basketball. Go Jackets!”
TechRon
November 16th, 2010
5:18 pm
Right you are. Let him go immediately. He sucks, year after year.
shameful
November 16th, 2010
5:19 pm
BigTimeTechFan, I hate to slam a fellow Tech fan, but you, I am sorry to say, are a damn fool. CPH is not the worst coach in the country because of last night’s game. He was the worst coach in the country 3 or 4 years ago, and the Jackets lost last night because he is the worst coach in the country. I had almost convinced myself that with a possibly more balanced team (no one-and-done hot shots), he might actually produce something this year. But having to go to OT to beat Clark and then getting blown out last night shows me that it’s just going to be more of the same. HE NEEDS TO GO AND GO NOW !!!!!
Justathought
November 16th, 2010
5:19 pm
Can we swap Hewitt for Michelle Joseph?
TechRon
November 16th, 2010
5:20 pm
And by the way, the real problem is the AD and those above him who hire these imbeciles and give them long contracts based on one good season. Anyone remember how they gave Gailey a big, long deal, so we were stuck with him for years? Idiots.
Captain Obvious
November 16th, 2010
5:22 pm
It’s time to pull the trigger. Another lost season. Another long winter in Atlanta. The Jackets deserve much better than what this racist has to offer.
Born2Buzz
November 16th, 2010
5:25 pm
I had a long well written post that apparently was too long for the AJC blogs.
The abbreviated version is:
I got duped into paying my hard earned money for season tickets. Money I could easily have used to better purposes in this bad economy.
DRAD played on the “when a Tech Man is down, other TECH Men rally to his aid and help out to raise him up.” Plus they pulled the “if you want good seats in the new arena you better have season tickets”.
Watching this poor excuse for college basketball ain’t fun anymore.
Hewitt was given a wonderful opportunity to coach in a major market and in the best basketball conference in the NCAA’s. He has squandered that opportunity.
I implore Hewitt, at seasons end (I don’t expect him to resign mid season and I’d be surprised if DRAD pulled the trigger in mid season), be a man and walk away and not hold the Institute that gave you such a great opportunity hostage for the buy out money.
I would be delighted if the team found itself and the season turned out to be a success. But the past results tell me there is no way.
And Hewitt, if the product continues as we have seen, expect a lot of boos from the sparse crowds that do show up. Please tell the kids that the boos are not directed at them. They are not to blame.
Yellow Britches
November 16th, 2010
5:25 pm
Can anyone, I mean anyone, stand to watch this product. Year in and year out Hewitt teams display no court sense, discipline, tenacity or touch. No one gets better playing under Paul Hewitt. They make the same mistakes in year three (if they stay that long) they made in year one. Painful. We won’t win three games in our conference this year. Just a thought, will it be cheaper to buy him out when no one comes to games anymore? David Braine skunks us again.
Yellow Britches
November 16th, 2010
5:28 pm
Hey Born2Buzz, try sitting in on a Hewitt practice. Hear him scream and rant and give no direction. A screamer is, as we know, not a teacher and certainly not a coach.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 16th, 2010
5:29 pm
Radakovich statement from last March 25:
“In the case of Coach Hewitt and Georgia Tech basketball, we remain together because we are Georgia Tech. Coach Hewitt remains the same bright, desirable and coveted college basketball coach he was in 2004. If you have any doubt, just read the New York City newspapers from the past week. His credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and builder of character are impeccable. The mission here is clear. We need to win more basketball games. We will continue to do everything within our power to do that — as an organization — with Paul Hewitt as our basketball coach. It is not a one-man mission. We are all committed to scour every inch of the program, suggest and effect the needed changes and to give the coach every ounce of support.”
Read the rest of the joke at http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/genrel/032510aaa.html
Paul Hewitt
November 16th, 2010
5:30 pm
Mark: Once again you have done it. Because of your negative articles about me and Tech basketball you have been it impossible for Tech to win. It is all your fault!
82Dawg
November 16th, 2010
5:31 pm
I hear Dennis Felton is looking for a job…
Jacket76
November 16th, 2010
5:31 pm
Here is an aticle that came out January 30, 2009 that shows how things were back then:
http://georgiasports.blogspot.com/2009/01/dave-braine-will-keep-screwing-gteven.html
Now look around and see how things are, are they better?
The article also mentions Dave Braine’s extension of Chan Gailey’s contract that we had to pay off.
DRad’s paper boy needs to throw his AJC a little harder.
TechAllMighty,III
November 16th, 2010
5:33 pm
Enter your comments here
Ed Zachary
November 16th, 2010
5:33 pm
Ed Zachary
Contract Questions
November 16th, 2010
5:34 pm
Does his contract stipulate that he is the head coach at GT or just that he is employed there? Could he be demoted? Even if that is against his contract would he potentially agree to that kind of arrangement to save face with Tech? Keep him on staff until his contract is up and pick up an up and coming no-namer to be head coach. Make his contract last just as long as Hewitt has left and then figure out where we are going then. Can’t be any worse than letting Hewitt continue as HC.
Paul Hewitt
November 16th, 2010
5:35 pm
I can’t even write an intelligible sentence. That’s your fault too Bradley!
skobenland
November 16th, 2010
5:36 pm
GO DAWGS
blazer
November 16th, 2010
5:37 pm
Shumpert can’t even dribble the ball right! Bring over Machelle
Skeezix
November 16th, 2010
5:38 pm
Tech should go after the Butler coach or try and get BC back.
TechAllMighty,III
November 16th, 2010
5:38 pm
Enter your comments here HewittFan! Face it. PH has won approx 30% of his ACC games, never won an ACC Championship (unlike B Cremins), and never had ANY players improve under his tutelage. His teams play nothing but street-lot BB. If he had any class at all, he would resign.
By the way GloryGlory, weren’t you a reject from the movie “InGLORYous (sic) Basterds?”