Tobacco Road Report

Pre-Season Preview: Georgia Tech
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
2006-2007 Results: 20-12 Overall, 8-8 Conference
Head Coach: Paul Hewitt
Record at Tech: 127-95 (.572), 7 seasons
Overall Record: 193-122 (.613), 10 seasons

Where is Jimmy Chitwood when you need him?

Last Year in Review:
The 2006-2007 season can be best described as mediocre at best for the Yellow Jackets. With a highly touted freshman class, the Jackets never had the chemistry to consistently play with the conference heavyweights and stumbled to a 20 win season and a first round exit in the NCAA Tourney.

To Coach Hewitt’s defense, it is a challenge when your point guard is a freshman and your touted small forward Thaddeus Young was a post player prior to college…BUT good teams find a way to adapt, the Jackets didn’t.

Other factors in the Jacket’s performance were a suspension of scoring guard, Lewis Clinch, and a slow injury recovery to Anthony Morrow. The chemistry issues showed up in the turnover category as once again, the Jackets averaged 15 TOs per game and shot a disappointing 68% from the foul line. The 2007 edition of the Jackets added further criticism of Hewitt’s ability to win with great talent. The season result seemed quite similar to NBA star, Chris Bosh’s, one season on campus.

Offensive leaders for the Jackets are shown below:
Scoring: Javaris Crittenton 14.4 ppg
Assists: Javaris Crittenton 5.8 apg
FG%: Jeremis Smith 59.6%
FT%: Anthony Morrow 84.5%
3PT Made: Anthony Morrow 61

2007-2008 Outlook:
TRR expected the Jackets to challenge for the ACC title in 2006-2007. We won’t make the same mistake twice. There is potential with the Tech squad as this version may actually play better with less talent. The point guard slot will be manned by solid freshman Maurice Miller and senior transfer, Matt Causey. Both are pass first point guards which will help the Jackets establish a low post game, which should be a strength. The baseline for Tech should consist of highly touted freshman Gani Lawal, Jeremis Smith, and Alade Aminu at center. Aminu was a bright spot for the Jackets down the stretch last year as he basically pushed the lethargic Ra’Sean Dickey to the bench. Aminu and Lawal make the Jackets LONG inside and more athletic. With a driven Smith, the Jackets could control the paint.

At the shooting guard, the Jackets have two of the conference’s best. Most likely, senior Anthony Morrow will start and stretch the floor for the Jackets. Back to 100% health for this season, Morrow should be a scoring force on the perimeter. Returning from suspension, Lewis Clinch is a dynamic scorer who can take over the scoring for Tech in stretches. The key for both of these players will be their defensive improvement.

Other players that will see time are Mouhammad Faye, Zack Peacock, and D’Andre Bell. We omit Ra’Sean Dickey as we are not sure of his academic status for the spring.

Projected Starting Five and Rotation

PG Matt Causey SR
SG Anthony Morrow SR
SF Gani Lawal FR
PF Jeremis Smith SR
C Alade Aminu JR

Heavy Minutes:
PG Maurice Miller FR
SG Lewis Clinch JR
SF Mouhammad Faye SO
PG D’Andre Bell JR

Some Minutes Here and There:
SG Lance Storrs FR
C Brad Sheehan FR

What do we expect from the Jackets?
The pundits have the Jackets picked to finish 7th in the ACC. On paper, they do not match up with NC State, UNC, or Duke. TRR thinks they can play with anyone else, and their final standing will depend on their attention to detail----ie turnovers and execution. Let’s go ahead and stick our neck out again…Jackets finish 4th in conference play and make the dance.