Virginia Tech drops 102: GT falls 102-77 in Blacksburg

by BirdGT on Feb 13, 2011 9:24 PM EST in Georgia Tech Basketball

Georgia Tech's defense stifled Malcolm Delaney in the first meeting holding VPI's star guard to 8 points and a 5:8 assist:turnover ratio. Today's meeting was much better for Delaney as he racked up a season high 33 points and a 5:5 assist:turnover ratio. Despite defeating VPI by 15 four games ago, the Jackets never made a concerted effort to play defense in the 25 point loss.

The Hokies exploited GT's weak interior game as the Hokie starting forwards shot 16 of 25 from the floor accumulating 49 of the Hokies points. In fact, the Hokie bench didn't have to do anything as the starting Hokies scored 97 of the Hokies 102 total points. GT's starting five only scored 48 points...

It has become glaringly apparent that Iman Shumpert can score at will against any defense. He picked up 27 in the loss. The problem is obvious: his teammates cannot score at will like him. I don't think this can be remedied in 2011. It's something we're going to have to work on over the Summer and Fall and hope improves in 2011-2012.

I think the most disappointing thing for a lot of Tech fans this season was seeing the potential of this squad as we pushed a Top 5 Syracuse to the brink, handled a top 25 UNC squad, and handled NCAAT-bound VPI. We know we've got talent... particularly on offense.

I told Winfield that I think this team has the makings of a 2012 NCAA team. I don't think he believes me. I think Iman with a refined jumper, a bigger/stronger Daniel Miller, and veteran wings (Oliver/Rice) will give us a very solid ACC squad. UNC will lose a couple of dudes to the Draft, Duke will lose its core, and the rest is up for grabs. Tech could finish 8-8 or 4-12 in our 2012 ACC season and I wouldn't be surprised with either result. What else is there to say?

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Tech D hasn't given up 100 or more

in 64 straight games…

I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.

by BirdGT on Feb 13, 2011 9:30 PM EST reply actions

What else is there to say?

I don’t know. This team just becomes harder and harder to take. There is obvious talent on the team, but they just don’t seem ready to play. We have become a perennial cellar-dweller in a conference that really only has 3 or 4 top 25 teams. Painful to watch.

by scism on Feb 13, 2011 10:32 PM EST reply actions

I just don't even pay attention to basketball anymore

and refuse to until paul hewitt is no longer head coach. Beeesssballll in 5 daayyyssssss!!!

Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.

by GTNate on Feb 13, 2011 11:06 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I tried that approach once

But I can’t seem to stop myself from the torture. If they are on locally, I’m watching them. If they aren’t on, then I’m still hitting the internets to check teh score, Gamecast, etc.

I blame my insatiable need for all things GT sports related.

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Feb 14, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

So I was eating lunch the other day....

I’d prepared myself a nice, hot plate of FIRE HEWITT, accompanied by the traditional cold one. I took a bite of my FIRE HEWITT, and as I savored its deliciosity (a word, as far as I’m concerned) I pondered to myself what on Earth the GT basketball program could do to improve. They haven’t done well at all, and obviously have plenty of talent. I couldn’t really figure out the issue….so I just finished my FIRE HEWITT and went about the rest of my day.

by LilBroey700 on Feb 13, 2011 11:16 PM EST reply actions

Crap.

Just make it stop. Hewitt can recruit. That has never been the problem (keeping them in school has been a problem). I think on any given day he can out-coach anyone (I’ve seen it), the problem is he can’t do it with any consistency or regularity – and yesterday getting tossed from the game is so far off the mark its not even funny. So unless he develops some consistent quality coaching or we find someone who can, we will continue to be in the same situation.

by tebz1123 on Feb 14, 2011 8:15 AM EST reply actions

The decision is getting easy for DRad.

The program is now reaching new lows in terms of fan interest and team performance. I think the decision has to be an easy one for DRad . Hewitt’s time as the head of GT basketball needs to come to an end. I can only hope that he is now working behind the scenes to determine who the next coach should be. We don’t want to end up with our own version of Sidney Lowe at NCstate. DRad did a very good search and hire on the football side, I hope he does the same when he finally cuts Hewitt loose too.

by cltgtf on Feb 14, 2011 8:23 AM EST reply actions

Time for pre-Cremins

Brown bag headware @ games?

Will that help DRad make decision?

by DressHerInWhiteAndGold on Feb 14, 2011 9:17 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Speaking of Cremins

It was a bit before my time, but was the program as low as it is today when they let him go? How do the two scenarios compare?

by PeterInVA on Feb 14, 2011 10:23 AM EST reply actions

Answering subjectively I would say the two low points are comparable

The coach prior to Cremins had an unorthodox coaching style that depended on lots of people (assistants, fans, media, high school coaches, recruits) buying into it to work. The problem was recruiting to this style when there were so many nay-sayers from the get-go. Hence Tech never looked like it was going to break out of the cycle it was in. In my opinion (again subjective) people have been far more patient with Coach Hewitt. He has some likeable qualities and some strenghts but now after not delivering over time even these have grown stale for people. I never sensed this much patience with the previous coach.

by Atlanta's original team on Feb 14, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Unless they win the ACC tourney...

…there’s no way they make it in the NCAA’s with either of those ACC records you mentioned. Personally, I don’t see Hewitt doing anythign to get this team into the NCAA’s any longer. We can’t beat the bad teams, so how can one expect to beat the good teams, and do it consistently enough to warrant an NCAA bid?

Also, with the NBA CBA in question, you could see an exodus of players this year to try and get that contract in the NBA. That could mean losing Shumpert this year and I hate to say it, but does anyone feel like we have another leader on this team that can take charge and make everyone else better? Maybe Rice if he wasn’t so reckless and stopped shooting just for the sake of shooting, but outside of that I just don’t see it. That doesn’t mean that we can’t make things happen with a team like the 04 team, but we don’t have a lot of seniors nor this guy.

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Feb 14, 2011 12:50 PM EST reply actions