Jackets roll - AGAIN!!!!

Tonight I was driving down a cold highway outside of Bangor Maine, rushing to get to my hotel to catch the game. I ended up missing all but the last 4 minutes of the first half.

GT takes out Ohio State by 20 points (73-53) - another blowout - ON THE ROAD - IN OS'S HOUSE!!! And it clences the ACC/Big10 challenge for the ACC. OS was never really in the game. Tech didn't let them get inside of 8 points in the 2nd half, then opened it up to plunge the dagger and win by 20.

I was struck by the absolute slobbering over GT by the announcers during the game and even over on ESPN2 when I flipped over to the Clemson/Purdue game. Here are some comments I wrote down:

- "Georgia Tech not only has the best backcourt in the ACC, but the best backcourt in the NATION" (Digger I think)

- "Jarrett Jack is playing better than ANY point guard in the nation"

- "Paul Hewitt has to be considered a National Coach of the Year candidate. I know it's early, but he can flat out coach".

- There was talk about - can GT win a national championship with a small lineup like they have. They compared them to a bunch of other previous teams.

- "In two weeks, Georgia Tech WILL be a top 5 team in the nation. I just don't understand how they are not there now."

- Brad Dougherty when he saw the final on ESPN2 (he was announcing the Clemson game) - "Maaaaannnnn. Man. That's awesome. They will be excited in Hotlanta at the Varsity. They ought to give out free burgers tonight."

- the coup-de-gras that proves the media is a tiny bit overboard - on Luke - "He's big, he's agile and he doesn't even need the ball to be effective". Also, in the ESPN studio "...the big Aussie. You have to love the 7 footer in the middle. They have been undersized in the past". To be fair, Luke had a VERY solid game even though he fouled out (8 pts 4/9, 6 boards).

- even Dickie V - "I love the fact that Paul Hewitt never pouted when he lost Bosh and Nelson".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have to be perfectly honest. I don't get it. I am dumbfounded. Or maybe I am just dumb - along with the rest of the country. But come on - this IS the same team as last year - minus Bosh and Nelson. Here are my stab at why this team is playing so different

1. Experience - they are a year older and more seasoned. A lot of returning guys who got major minutes last year. Experience cannot be underestimated.

2. Intensity - the intensity on the boards and on defense just seems 3 notches above last year. Our oppenents are flat out shooting crappy (33% tonight, others 27,36,39,38,39 - nobody above 40% yet) That is intensity on defense. "Swarming" is an appropriate word. Ball movement on the offensive end is also more apparent. I think too many guys stood around last year waiting for Bosh to do something in the post. However, I don't think that would happen this year if Bosh was here. They could be playing this way just fine WITH Bosh, so the "we are better without Bosh" comments I just don't think are valid. But ball movement is intense.

3. Confidence - the solid ending last year in the post-season NIT seems to have carried over so far. Isma'il was finding his game at the end of the year. Jack was playing every bit as good at the end of last year as he is this year. Those 2 guys have raised up their games, and it started at the end of last year. You also have to give a TON of credit to Paul Hewitt. It is obvious from player comments that HE has this team believing in what they can do.

4. Chemistry - Losing Ed Nelson and adding Clarence Moore is probably MUCH bigger for team chemistry than we might think. Nelson wanted minutes. Moore just wants to do whatever Hewitt wants him to do to win. I think the team feels for the unfortunate personal challenges Moore had, but he worked out the entire summer with the team during the grueling off-season conditioning program Hewitt put them through. They flat out respect him for that. On the floor he is doing ALL the little things that make a difference. The team chemistry is outstanding and I am struck by the fact that everyone of these guys seems to want to do whatever it takes to win. Maybe the fact that we have a team for of "four year" guys makes a difference. I just don't get the sense that any of these guys care about the NBA right now. They seem to have a passion for GaTech. Now what happens to chemistry when Tarver and Bynum come back? Will be interesting to see.

Bottom line - I LOVE THIS GAME!!!! GO JACKETS!!!