UNC Fans discuss Hewitt Interview

Link here to see their discussion. I had to pipe in and wrote this long-winded editorial:

1. First, on the "easy road" to the Final Four. This keeps getting brought up. Yes, both Gonzaga(2) and Kentucky(1) choked and GT never had play them. That was a break for GT. However, let's look at the road of the various Final Four teams and the rankings of those they played:

GT - 14, 6, 10, 4, final four, 2, 2 (UConn)
UConn - 15, 7, 6, 8, final four 1, 3 (GT)
Duke - 16, 8, 5, 7, final four 2 (Uconn)
Ok.St - 15, 7, 3, 1, final four 3 (GT)

By average seed played to get to the Final Four:

Ok.St = 6.5
GT = 8.5
Uconn = 9.0
Duke = 9.0

So by average seed of the teams played, GT actually had the 2nd toughest road behind Ok.St. You can say GT didn't have to play KY/GZ, but Duke didn't have to play Cincy(4), Miss.St (2), Texas (3), UConn didn't have to play Standford (1), NCST (3), MD(4), Syr (5). In fact, Ok.St. were the only ones to have to play the lowest seeds - St.Joes(1), Pitt(3).

So don't say GT had some lucky magic run to the Final Four. It happens virtually every year and in every bracket. It's called basketball and it just goes to show why should not trust the judgement of men. You have to play the game.

Also, don't forget that one of the teams GT beat was Kansas, who is pre-season #1 in many polls and top 5 in almost all. No slouch there.

2. As to Hewitt's record so far in the ACC. He has NOT brought the team to the top of the ACC in his tenure so far. No doubt about it. Those close to the program know the challenges he has faced with 2 major rebuilding periods in only 3 years, if you can believe it.

Even in our glory season last year, we still only tied for 3rd in the ACC and didn't make it to the tourney finals. So there is much growth ahead.

GT has "arrived" once again, but we are not yet at the level of other elite programs with year-in, year-out sustained success. But check back in 4 years and I bet we can start talking about it.

What we can see is that he is building a base for future success. He has established a pace, an expectation for success, for off-season conditioning, for winning, for recruiting, for graduating his players. He has a presence about him and he will not accept middle of the road ACC as ok. He has established EVERY year the ability to get his teams playing their best at the end of the season. He is literate, well-spoken and out-spoken.

He respects guys like R.Williams and Coach K to no end, but will not accept them as above the rest of the ACC. When asked by the media if anyone would ever beat Duke at home he responded - "Who do you think WE are, the Washington Generals". The team then went out and promtly ended Duke's 41-game home winning streak.

All four players leaving the program last year graduated. Hewitt's first recruiting class will be seniors this season - Elder, Muhammad, Schescher, McHenry, and all will graduate. That's number 1 for him.

3. Freshman Class. The recruiting class coming in consists of 4 top 100 players. Each is very intruiging in their own way:

Zam Fredrick - "Mr.Basketball" in SC. All-time leading scorer in the state. Been to the state title game every year since 8th grade and won 3 state championships. A winner. A SG that can play the point. LONG range on the shot with the ability to drive and create. Needs better conditioning for ACC play.

Ra'Sean Dickey - Fredrick's AAU teammater. Gatorade POY in S.Carolina. 6'9.5" 270lb. Great footwork in the post, a good rebounder, nice moves around the hoop. Again, conditioning will be a major question mark.

Anthony Morrow - named "Mr.Basketball" in the state of NC. Led his team to NC state championship 2 years in a row and was tourney MVP. 6'6" wiry guy who seems to be a lot like Marvin Lewis, but with maybe a better ability to create off the dribble. A very-well coached young man. Seems like he will be a future team leader for sure.

Jeremis Smith - TexasRoundball named him the #1 player in Texas, yes even over Lamarcus Aldridge. Smith is a 6'7" 230lb monster who has out-played guys taller than him his whole career. Led his high school to a 101-6 record his last 3 years. State POY last season. Went head-to-head with Kendrick Perkins and L.Aldridge in his career and schooled them both. Here is a nice review of Smith at

www.texasroundball.com/pr...Smith.html

Ok, so the freshman have potential. The reality is that at most probably 2 of these guys will step up and make an impact. The other 2 will have to wait for future years.

So, GT had a great year, finishing 3rd in the nation, but only tied for 3rd in the ACC - go figure. That's what I call a tough conference. Nobody will ever convince me there is a better conference right now.