Nice article on Bynum going into the weekend

Found this nice article on Will Bynum from a Chicago Sports site (Bynum is from Chi-town). It is subscription only - here is the link. However, it is an AP story so it will show up on other sites soon (non protected). Below is the article.

Chicagoan Bynum ready to play
December 12, 2003, 3:15 PM CST

ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech guard B.J. Elder was sitting in coach Paul Hewitt's office earlier this week when transfer Will Bynum walked in.

Elder quickly got up and gave Bynum a big hug, saying over and over, "I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here."

So much for Bynum disrupting the chemistry.

The guard, who prepped at Chicago's Crane High school, becomes eligible Saturday, when the No. 10 Yellow Jackets (7-0) play St. Louis in the opener of the Peach Bowl Classic doubleheader at Philips Arena. He hasn't been on the court for a game since Dec. 30, 2002, when Arizona beat Boston University 85-71.

Soon after, he decided to come to Georgia Tech, and sat out the required two semesters while practicing with the Yellow Jackets.

Like other new players in the program, Bynum isn't allowed to talk to reporters until after his first game. But he certainly is a welcome addition, judging from the effusive comments of his new teammates.

"People are talking about our backcourt already, but having him, that just takes us to another level," guard Marvin Lewis said.

Georgia Tech started the season unranked and wasn't even among the "Others Receiving Votes." Four victories in the Preseason NIT -- including a 77-61 blowout of then-No. 1 Connecticut in the semifinals -- changed all that, and the current ranking for the Yellow Jackets is their highest since Jan. 11, 1993.

The quick start came mostly from stellar play from their guards, including Elder, Lewis, Jarrett Jack and Isma'il Muhammad. They all average double figures in points and help confuse and frustrate opponents with the frantic, full-court pressure that is a part of Hewitt's system.

Now, Bynum joins the mix.

"Our defense is what's been doing it for us all year," Hewitt said. "Now you add a guy who's an outstanding on-ball defender who also has great quickness off the ball, and it's going to make us even better defensively."

Bynum is more than that, though. At Arizona, he was known mostly for his offensive outbursts, like the 19 points in 23 minutes against San Diego State last season. He hit 4-of-8 from beyond the 3-pointer arc in that one, and made 35 percent overall in his eight games with the Wildcats.

As a freshman, he started nine times and averaged 6.4 points, helping Arizona reach the regional semifinals in 2001-02.

His playing time with the Yellow Jackets should come mostly at point guard, helping give Jack a break instead of Elder having to do it. But Bynum also will spell Lewis at shooting guard.

"It's a big relief off my shoulders, taking some of the point guard duties off me at times," Jack said. "And it's a lift off B.J.'s shoulders. I know he's not the most comfortable person at the point.

"Will helps us play fast, gets that up-tempo style that helps us a lot."

And no one appears worried about losing playing time.

"I think the biggest thing is everybody knows his role," Lewis said. "Will knows that coach is going to bring him along slowly and not just say he's going to play 20 minutes.

"Jarrett's done well, you can't just put him on the bench. Will knows his role, and as a team, we know what he can bring."
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press