More Daily Swarm

COACH HEWITT CALL-IN SHOW
Last call-in show was today - I was sitting in an airplane headed to Jacksonville FL unfortunately. However, our friend RamblinRed has provided a nice summary (thread here).

BEST GT MOMENTS OF THE ACC TOURNEY
So what were the classic moments of the tourney for GT fans?
#1 - J.Jack hitting the game-winner against UNC. Ranks up there with some of the top shots.
#2 - Tommy Hammonds getting honored at halftime as an ACC legend, then turning to the GT section to wave.
#3 - Coach K getting rung up for his 2nd technical against GT of the season. Probably a new record. Evidently the crowd gave a standing ovation when he was rung up. Outstanding.
#4 - Dook losing to Maryland, with Redick laying bricks and even missing free throws. Ain't life grand.

FINAL POLLS ARE OUT BEFORE THE DANCE
In the AP we are #14. In the ESPN/USAToday Coaches poll we are #15 (#18 last week). Maryland sneaks into both polls, which means the ACC has 6 teams in the top 25 of both polls - tough stuff........... As for the RPI and SOS numbers, GT finished #!6 RPI and #11 SOS. ACC Teams were RPI ranked at #1 Dook, #16 GT, #17 NCST, #18 MD, #19 UNC, #20 WF, #22 BC (future ACC), #52 UVA, #53 FSU, #90 Clemson, #108 VaTech, #171 Miami............ Sagarin Rankings have been updated as well. GT comes in at #8, along with a #6 SOS. Other Sagarin teams - #1 Dook, #8 GT, #11 WF, #12 NCST, #13 UNC, #17 MD, #28 FSU, #47 UVA, #92 Clemson, #38 BC, #115 VaTech, #128 Miami

FROM THE UNI MEDIA
Here is a story on UNI and their match-up with GT (from their perspective).............. Here's another one from their side of the tracks - they are hoping for good fan support........... Here's an article on our game.

UNI DISCUSSION BOARDS
If you want to see what their fans are saying or talk some smack, here are some links:
valleytalk.net
ESPNBoard

MEDIA CONTINUES TO LIKE GT
Here are some links to the "experts". Here is an online chat with a guy at the Washington post.............. More media bandwagoneers are piling on, including Bark Madley who in the print edition picked GT to the final four. I already mentioned that Tim Brando has picked GT the win the whole thing, while many other notables have picked us in the final four. On PTI on ESPN, they asked "Who is this year's Carmello". Wilbon said it could be J.Jack. He was very complementary after attending the ACC tourney..............Over a SI.com, they call GT "Underrated" (even at a #3 seed)............... Even good old John Salley has GT picked to win the whole dance. He keeps mentioning GT on the Best Damn Sports Show tonight. They had Rick Majerus as a guest and were joking about N.Iowa's chances. Tom Arnold was insistent N.Iowa would pull the upset, but Majerus said "No way they win that game. That coach has done an outstanding job losing Bosh and Nelson. They have 2 outstanding guards and 4 guys who can spray it in from 3pt range. They will be too much.". They also did an interview with the St.Josephs coach and Salley asked him what he thought about GT. Coach said that they were incredibly athletic and he thinks if they match-up with Gonzaga, that could be an incredible game.............Not all is roses though. This guy over at Yahoo Sports has us as the most likely upset in that region. Why? He says because N.Iowa can shoot. OK, but I don't buy it. We have been holding teams down in FG% all year (see stats below). The best way to beat GT is typically to outrebound us, force turnovers, break us down on the dribble. Outside shooting is not a typical method of our disposal......... But he's not the only one - here's another guy who says the same thing> - "But if I had to pick one first-round shocker, it'd be Northern Iowa over Georgia Tech. A No. 14 seed seems to beat a No. 3 seed every year". I give this guy some credibility though because of his reponse to this question - "Q: Why did television analyst Billy Packer have a problem with Saint Joseph's earning a No. 1 seed?"....... His answer - "A: Because Billy Packer's always got problems, most of which can be traced to his roots as a surly, self-absorbed twit.". That's pretty funny.............. Here's an article on the tourney and a look how wide open this year's field is....................... This guy does A-Z for the tourney. For Jacket fans - "G" is the letter - "G: is to get out of the way of Georgia Tech's Ismai'l Muhammad, the best dunker in the field. The explosive 6-6 sophomore can rattle rims with the best of them for the dark horse Yellow Jackets (23-9)."...................... Here is NY Newsday's take on the regionals.

WHAT ARE THE ODDSMAKERS SAYING?
Here are a couple of bookie sites. This one has GT at 10-1 odds to win the tourney............ This one has us at 20-1.................. As far as the N.Iowa game, we are about 12 point favorites.

GT NATIONAL HOOPS STATS
Thought you might be interested in where we stack up in some national stat areas (through 3/8):
#26.....Scoring offense
#106...Scoring defense
#16.....Scoring margin
#36.....FG%
#4.......FG% defense
#59.....3pt FG's made per game
#43.....3pt FG%
#168...FT%
#160...Rebound margin
#46.....Assists/game
#25.....Blocks/game
#28.....Steals/game
#38.....Won/loss %
#218...Turnovers/game
#282...Personal Fouls/game (meaing we have lots)

In terms of individual stats, only J.Jack is #21 in the nation in assists.

YOUTHPREPSTARS.COM CORRECTS R.MORRIS STATEMENT
Well, this did make a mistake in reporting Morris to GT - I said they didn't look too credible. Here is their new statement - "Georgia Tech is the front runner for Morris. Morris will probably announce his decision soon. We apologize for the previous typing error. According to a close source, Morris will weigh his options and make a decision. However, Morris is not projected to be a first rounder, but stranger things have happen. Coach Paul Hewitt success with big post players will make any big man consider Georgia Tech. Al Jefferson and Dwight Howard will enter the NBA Draft."

DOES ISMA'IL DREAM OF BEING NAKED IN FRONT OF CLASS?
That's what he said in this story about shooting free throws. Here is the excerpt on Isma'il - "It's kind of like that dream where you wake up naked in front of your school class, you know," said Georgia Tech's Isma'il Muhammad, who shoots less than 47 percent from the line. "It's hard for me. I work at it, but I just can't seem to get it done. "I don't know what's harder. Standing at Duke with all those nuts chanting at you, or being at home and all of a sudden having the whole place go dead quite and everybody staring down at you." Muhammad, a spectacular athlete who is responsible for at least one rim-rattling dunk a game, is the poster boy for why most people think free-throw shooting is a dead art. "Everybody sees this unbelievable basketball body flying through the air, shooting 3-pointers and just really being impressive athletically, then they see him brick those free throws," said Muhammad's coach, Paul Hewitt. "We have three guys on our team who shoot over 80 percent, but Isma'il just sticks in everybody's mind. "We maybe have made too big a thing about flying dunks and 3-point bombs. We need to talk more about the basics and the players who have honed their skills."

MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PG PLAY
Mention of J.Jack and the importance of Point Guards.

BEST NICKNAME OF ALL TOURNEY TEAMS - RAGIN CAJUNS

ACC ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDED
.... to WF's Chris Paul. It could have gone to either Paul or Luol Deng from Dook. Either guy was a good choice, but Paul probably deserves it more because he did it at the PG position, which is TOUGH for a true freshman.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - JASON COLLIER
Well, Jason got a 10-day contract with the Hawks and boy has he made the best of it. In 4 games, he is averaging 17.5 points, 6 boards with a 60.5% FG%. Also shooting 89% from the stripe. His most recent two games, he scored 20+ both times, and his last game was a double / double with 11 boards. I have a feeling his is going to be there for more than 10 days.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - KENNY ANDERSON
Looks like Kenny will not return to the Pacers next season as he turns 35 years old. For a great rundown of his entire career, check out this link. Go further down to read his year-by-year career soap opera.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - CHRIS BOSH
Chris has been stepping up his production the last few weeks. His last game he had 14 points and 16 boards (6 offensive), along with 3 blocks and 2 steals and no to's. He has scored double figures in points 5 games in a row. He is averaging 9.6 boards his last 7 games. For the season he is averaging 11.3 points, 7.3 boards, 1.4 blocks and shooting 46% from the floor.