The Next Day

Well, the future is bright. The sting will wear off and what will be left are the happy memories:

- Crushing UConn in the pre-season NIT on national TV
- Crushing Texas Tech in the PS-NIT finals - having Bobby Knight say that this team had something special he hasn't seen in a long time
- Crushing Ohio St. in the ACC/Big10 challenge
- Beating Wake Forest on the road, ending their 25-game home winning streak
- Beating Duke at Cameron, ending their 41-game home winning streak
- Beating UNC in the ACC Tourney on Jack's buzzer beater
- The incredible run in the tourney, giving heart-attack and heart-attack but ending up one of the last 2 standing
- The fight at the end of the championship game, never giving up, to the end.
- Ish's high-flying ESPN-Highlight reel antics
- Coach Hewitt calling in the 790theZone and defending Luke
- Watching the fearless Bynum hit big shots and break ankles with his cross-over
- Seeing Jack develop and grow as a PG and floor leader
- BJ having some of the most incredible shooting streaks of the season
- C-Moore's absolute caring and enthusiasm and toughness.
- Coach Hewitt's absoultely classy leadership of this team

We all know I could go on and on. It was a special year. GT fans will remember this year forever. The beauty is that it should be just the beginning of big things for this program.

So let's move on the after-game coverage. I won't bother with the game re-caps. We all know what happened. I will try to focus on those stories that tell something unique.

HOW BRUTAL WILL THE ACC BE NEXT YEAR
You think the ACC was brutal this year? Think again. I feel very sorry for VaTech and Miami. On the whole, the ACC is losing very few seniors and NCST is probably the only team NOT improving next year. The ACC has once again landed the most top high school players to infuse even more talent. Here is a look from MSNBC at next year and how tough the ACC will be. Do not pay attention to the comment that Randolph Morris will go pro - there is no public info, so I think this is an inaccurate report................. Andy Katz over at ESPN has already put up his pre-season top 25. GT comes in at #3. Of course it doesn't mean much, but he has 5 ACC in the top 10, and throws in NCST at #14. Also, notice who is his #1 - Kansas, a team we beat and Nevada even makes an appearance at #25. However, it looks like Kirk Snyder will forgo his senior year and enter the draft, which will cause Nevada's stock to fall (story here). In all we beat 7 of the teams in his top 25 this season............. Stewart Mandel over at CNNSI.com has us his pre-season favorite (story here).

GREAT STORY FROM GREGG DOYEL
Thanks to Kenny on the tip for this story. A great piece on the Jackets and why they can hold their heads high. Here's what I love the most. This from Clarence Moore, who will not even be on the team next year - "That's why, 30 minutes after losing in the national championship game in his last college game, Moore wasn't crying or even frowning. Moore was talking big with assistant coach Cliff Warren, telling him that he planned to use his final summer on campus to get the incoming freshmen ready for another NCAA run. "I'm setting the tone," Moore said. "I'm going to elbow those freshmen. I'm going to be gritty and grimy. I'm ready to go, right now."...... That my friends is heart and soul............... Doyel has also posted his pre-season top 25, and has GT at #2. He also has 6 ACC teams in the top 25............ Here's a more general article from Doyel, but also complimentary of the Jackets.

ALL-FINAL FOUR TOURNEY TEAM
Luke and Bynum made the all-tourney final four team. Nice going guys.

NICE AP STORY ON THE FUTURE
Hope everything they say is true (story here), including the J.Jack will come back for his junior year.

HEWITT SHOULD BE PROUD
Decent article from Albany Times Union, the local paper where he coached at Sienna............ Here is a nice article on Hewitt, including his growing stature in college athletics, carrying on a legacy for black coaches started by guys like John Thompson, Nolan Richardson and George Raveling.

DREAM RUN OVER FOR THE AUSSIE
Nice story on Luke with a quote from his proud father.

LEWIS HEADED TO PORTSMOUTH INVITATIONAL
... for seniors, to help improve his stock with NBA scouts. (story here).

GET DOWN TO AMC TODAY
For the welcome party for the team.(story here).

ROBERT BROOKS FINAL FOUR DIARY
Nicely written journal by Brooks for his hometown paper, published at RamblinWreck.com. You can see the links to previous entires under his picture. Congrats Mr.Brooks on what you helped the team accomplish. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. The car-door on the Wreck is always open for you.

BRAVES FIRST PITCH RE-SCHEDULED TO SATURDAY
Coach Hewitt was going to throw out the first pitch with the team tonight, but it has been re-scheduled to Saturday.

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN ATL LAST NIGHT HAD WE WON??
Would we have done this???

BUCK FREDRICK READY TO ROLL AT GT
Nice story on Fredrick as he prepares to step on campus to begin his career at GT. Interesting comments on the possibility of Coach Hewitt leaving. Leads you to believe that Coach Hewitt did not call all these guys and tell them he was staying put.

ON THE RECRUITING TRAIL
In the post-game press-conference, Coach Hewitt said he and assistants would be hitting the recruiting trail on Wednesday of this week!!! Do these guys ever take a break??? That is why this team will stay a winner............... Here's more on the GT recruiting class, along with other schools........... Meanwhile, UNC's class could be falling apart - the all-time scorer in NC high school history is Jameson Curry, who just pleaded guilty to drug charges (story here). Rumor is that Roy Williams will revoke his 'ship this week after talking with his family. Two other highly touted recruits, JR Smith and M.Williams, appear to be possible NBA draft picks. My guess, Smith goes, Williams stays............... Texas center Lamarcus Aldridge has said he will attend Texas to play for Rick Barnes and not put his name in the lottery. This could bode well for Mr.Morris and his decision, as they are both top 5 centers out of high school.

MEANWHILE, IN OTHER SPORTS
Here is a blurb at ESPN on PJ Daniels and his off-season exploits............ In beesball, Clifton Remole was named ACC co-player of the week (story here).

MEANWHILE, IN NON-SPORTSHow about this story - G.Bush "pimping" for the Christian Coalition, straight out of the mouth of a GT prof. Ok then.