Yet another chapter in the bleak tableau that is Tech hoops
The Tech student section Wednesday just before pregame introductions. (Photo by M. Bradley)
College basketball is supposed to be fun. What’s happening at Georgia Tech is not fun. It’s sad.
After Virginia beat the Jackets 62-56 Wednesday, players from both teams spoke of the difficulty in playing before such few fans. (Attendance was announced at 5,537. It seemed rather less.)
It didn’t feel like a basketball game between members of the conference that takes basketball the most seriously. It felt like one of those September games back in the middle ’80s when the Braves were in last place and there were 5,000 folks in the old stadium and you could sit anyplace you liked and you wondered, “Is anybody in the world watching this on TV? If so, why?”
As for this game: Tech didn’t play all that horribly. It outscored Virginia from the field and took 13 more rebounds. The Jackets made only 10 turnovers. There was no reason to lose, but they did. They led 46-43 with seven minutes left. When next they scored, the basket came inside the final two minutes and cut the visitor’s lead from nine to seven.
To its credit, the Jackets made a little rally. They usually do. Glen Rice Jr., who hadn’t played much due to a disciplinary intervention, stole the ball on the press and fed Moe Miller for a three-point play. Rice scored — his only hoop — to cut it to three. With fiveseconds left Mfon Udofia picked up a loose ball and hoisted a wild three-pointer while drawing a foul, and if the shot had dropped he’d have had a chance to tie the game. As it was, he had three free throws. He missed all three. (Only the last, presumably, on purpose.)
And so: Another Tech loss, this in a game in which it was favored. Another Tech loss, this to a team no more talented than the Jackets. (Virginia had lost eight of 11 games.) Another Tech loss, and at its end there came no cascade of boos. There was only more of the numbness that has come to enshroud this once buoyant program.
I feel for Tech fans. I feel for Tech players, who are trying hard with not much to show for it. I feel for everyone involved in this bleak tableau. There’s nothing fun here.
By Mark Bradley
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285 comments Add your comment
somebody must have added a zero
February 25th, 2011
7:55 am
to the attendance figures last night. The student section looked like the student union on date night. just a few lonely nerds with nowhere to go.
somebody must have added a zero
February 25th, 2011
7:56 am
test
somebody must have added a zero
February 25th, 2011
7:56 am
to the attendance figures…just a few lonely nerds with nothing else to do
Jim 70
February 25th, 2011
8:25 am
for the next coach (optimistic here), lets have a performance clause. If he makes the final 4, he can leave without penalty, but if he doesn’t make the ncaa tourney any two out of three years, we can fire him without penalty. fair to both, and more like a business.
BartBuzz
February 25th, 2011
9:18 am
What a sad looking crowd. But even sadder is Paul Hewitt. How can he continue? Has he no sense to know when it’s time to resign? Seven years ago he was on top and Tech paid the price to keep him. Mistakes happen. Show some class and move on.
Yurtle_the_turtle
February 25th, 2011
9:25 am
I used to enjoy the season and the off season as I’d follow who Cremins would be recruiting. I did that in the early days of Phewitt before we all knew how terrible he really is. It’s amazing how far this program has fallen and not even the idiot blogger known as HewettFan can disagree with that. Of course, that’s Duke and the ref’s fault too, isn’t it, HewettFan?
Chuck Allison
February 25th, 2011
9:25 am
Mark Bradley,
Thank you for your efforts to help Tech fans get a decent basketball coach. The fans didn’t write Hewitt’s ridiculous contract; Dave Braine did. If we can’t afford to buy CPH out, then we ought to just shelve our basketball program for a few years until he goes away. I have never considered him to be loyal to Georgia Tech.
ATLSN
February 25th, 2011
9:49 am
If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.
http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum
We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there! We’re looking for posters, moderators, bloggers/writers. Join up if interested.
GT
February 25th, 2011
10:39 am
A former Tech assistant coach hitting a player in some backwater NCAA bush league school spells out one of the gorillas in the room. Tech’s assistant coaches are maybe the weakest resumes in the NCAA. You keep thinking Hewitt has something up his sleeve that this cannot be this obvious and then this clown whose best opportunity outside Tech is this backwater low division school hauls off and hits a player. This is the kind of professionalism that shows absolutely no respect for a game of basketball and has no business on a college campus.
Sorry Dogs
February 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
Yeah that was pretty bad GT, almost as bad as Damon Evans and the professionalism displayed in the DUI/Infidelity incident.
Although since he wasn’t at GT anymore, I’m not sure it even compares.
Manager
February 25th, 2011
1:04 pm
Extend Hewitts contract to 7 years! Oh wait, too late.
Jacket Dad
February 25th, 2011
1:29 pm
I actually have confidence in DRad. He’s been in a tough spot and appears to have worked through most of them well. I hope he realizes their is NO WAY Tech can continue to pay Blewitt. He has killed this program. (Fire him prior to the last game and I guaranttee you will have a sellout!)
Bill
February 25th, 2011
1:59 pm
It’s really sad when playing Tech actually drags down GEORGIA’s RPI. This team may not be a top 5 ACC squad, but the talent is there to be around 6-7 at this point. Watching espn Classic this week, saw GT’s win at UVa in 2002. Team played very hard. Hewitt called his usual bizzare timeouts, but team had a decent offensive half court scheme. KIds used double screens and picks to move off the ball. Staggered cuts off the top of the key. Talent was better, but kids were disciplined. Hewitt has lost his edge. Change is needed for all parties.
GTVegas
February 25th, 2011
2:58 pm
Hewitt Fan – Let’s assume you are right and the ACC Ref’s are the reason Hewitt (or anyone other than Duke or UNC) can’t win in the ACC.
Since you are correct in this assumption, then why are we paying Hewitt anything? If he can’t win, why not get rid of him and just hire a no-name? Why in anyone’s mind would we keep beating our head against the wall with Hewitt or any other big name, high dollar head coach if they can’t win?
Why we need to fire Hewitt doesn’t matter. He just needs to go, either because the refs won’t “let” him win or becasue he is incompetent or because he can’t coach or because he is a crook. It all boils down to he can’t win. Who cares why? According to you, it’s the refs fault and it doesn’t matter how much we pay a head coach. Hewitt has got to go.
As for getting the recruits you say GT will never get, what does it matter whether Hewitt is there or not? You are saying that the reason they won’t come to GT is the Refs. Well, let’s get rid of Hewitt and work on the Refs as well. We can control the destiny of Hewitt with respect to his future at GT, changing the leaning of the refs is a more long term challenge. Hewitt’s public complaining (whether right or wrong) is not going to win him any points with the refs. That is better done through different channels.
If your only arguement for Hewitt is that he is liked by his players, we can find people to be player’s friends all day long for a lot less money. The fact that the guy has no idea when or when not to call time-outs has nothing to do with the refs. The fact that he can’t win any games (putting Duke and UNC asside) certainly can’t be attributed to the refs. The game against the Chiropracter’s certainly didn’t involve interference from the refs.
Face it, Hewitt is inept and that is the one pice of the puzzle we have any control over.
Ain't it obvious
February 25th, 2011
4:15 pm
Fire Hewitt.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 25th, 2011
8:32 pm
Fire Paul Hewitt
Nuff said
refs are not the issue
February 25th, 2011
9:18 pm
Hewitt Fan,
You are nuts!!
The Duke and UNC loving refs would want Tech to beat and not lose to Kennesaw State, Sienna, IUPUI, etc. because it would help Duke & UNC in the RPI. So to use your logic Hewitt must have to be so bad to overcome the refs helping him to win the out of conference games.
Also, your implication that you like him because he is black and that GT fans want him gone because he is black is insulting. We do not care what the color of our coach, quarterback, bball players, etc are. We want to win, beat UGA, go to the tourney, etc. Hewitt has a losing record in the ACC and against UGA.
Also, Ohio State had the player of the year leave early last year and they are in the top 5 this year. Duke has lost their best player and are #1. Hewitt’s team has no depth and has no plan ‘b’ when misfortune comes. He was supposed to bring a 10 men system as opposed to Cremins’ iron five and to bring an up tempo game. Where has that been?
I think Hewitt has represented GT well and is a good man. However, he is not winning enough and fans/alumni/boosters have voted by disguising themselves as empty seats. Sometimes getting a divorce is the best option.
ga tech 92
February 26th, 2011
1:29 pm
Does anyone else (like me) go to the AJC GT sports section daily…hold my breath while the web page loads…waiting and expecting to see a headline about Hewitt having been fired? Then realize it’s still GroundHog Day?
UGA = Yawn
February 26th, 2011
4:19 pm
Hewitt is gone? He should have been gone 3 years ago! Funny how Bradley and all the other reporters are now on his case daily. Where were they 3 or 4 years ago? You and I could fire a basketball coach that is this bad. An AD should see it way before this time and should have made the decision years ago before allowing our program to spiral out of control. It’s like a baseball manger (Bobby Cox), who after his starting pitcher has given up 3 home run and 10 hits and 8 runs over 5 innings takes him out. Ah duh. A good manager would be smart enough to take him out before the game gets out of control. As of now, I really don’t care anymore. Could care less what AD does. He is way too late. The program is finished and won’t recover for years – if it even recovers.
ga tech 92
February 26th, 2011
7:42 pm
I think we can get a lot better fast with a new captain on the new ship.
Technophobia
February 26th, 2011
7:50 pm
We’re screwed. Hewitt just can’t seem to get it done but the 7 million it would cost to get rid of him would hurt the entire athletic program.
Technophobia
February 26th, 2011
7:56 pm
I wonder if it might be cheaper to just demote him to assistant coach and hire someone else.
Lil' Barry Bailout
February 26th, 2011
10:34 pm
Letter from Dan Radakovich to Tech fans, one year ago:
—————–
“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. This is what we do at Georgia Tech.”
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2010/03/26/radakovichs-letter-to-fans/
Lil' Barry Bailout
February 26th, 2011
10:38 pm
Hewitt is coasting. Has been for years. Hell, I’d coast too, with that contract. Why get all stressed out about practicing, working out the kids, teaching them offense/defense. Relax and enjoy a glass of wine on the deck around 4 o’clock after work each day. Ain’t life grand?
Ed brewer
February 27th, 2011
6:28 am
Tech basketball just lost to NC State. you can take the Duke and Virginia losses off the Tech page
and put some new Tech info on it.
GR82BAG8R
February 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
Ed, the AJC not updating Tech basketball to the latest loss is emblematic of the state of Tech basketball – - irrelevant to the point even the local paper doesn’t care.
Go G8Rs.
juvenal
February 28th, 2011
9:48 am
apathy about NCSU is amazing….just waiting to see if we’ll see some shotgun at the spring game. agree with uga fans football is plenty……
Bill
February 28th, 2011
10:52 am
What so many of you backing Hewitt don’t seem to get is that if Favors didn’t come to Tech and went to UGa, Felton would still be coaching and Hewitt would have been gone that year or last year.His record on the road is beyomd pathetic. Any other coach would have been gone for similar results. No one has ever gotten more time from doing so poorly as CPH. Thing is, the coach GT hired has changed so much since 2005. If you don’t believe me, just look at games from 2000-05. There is no way Tech can justify renewing his contract unless they come out and say they can’t afford to fire him.
In reality, if Tech doesn’t wish CPH well, the hole he is creating won’t be fixed for years. Just look at Iowa, Indiana, NC St ….programs that didn’t fire a coach until it was way too late. Look at where they have been last 10 years.Tech is at that point right now.
Stan
February 28th, 2011
11:06 am
The stands show just how loss this program has become all at the hands of Blewitt. Did you see the shot on TV of Paul Johnson shaking his head at Tech’s play (priceless).
NEW opening at Ga. State. If Hewitt loves Atlanta so much then this is the perfect fit althoguht still not out of my sight.
Still think the mid-major coach at George Mason is the guy!! JIM LARRANAGA .. who will be dancing at the Big Dance soon!!
Roll it Over!
February 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
Hewitt’s contract—just rolled over again! The state owes him even more millions—pay up! He needs the cash–he has a long list of trips and expensive things he wants to buy this year with your money.
DunkinDon
February 28th, 2011
10:03 pm
Mark Price has alot of cred on the “streets” go with him Tech
derek
February 28th, 2011
11:42 pm
The good news is that Mark Price is on the way. He will be the coach for many years to come.
Stan
March 1st, 2011
1:54 pm
I certainly would be behind Mark Price if this should happen. Mark, is this happening behind the scenes? If anyone knows more, please respond and help end my sleepless nights.
windu
March 1st, 2011
3:44 pm
That section looked identical at the women’s game I went to on Sunday, but I bet our crowd cheered more. Oh well, I told them not to rehire Hewitt. Won’t get my money until he’s gone.
hhh
March 2nd, 2011
11:04 am
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