Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Hoops Notes

AWAITING ELDER'S RETURN

Hewitt seemed cautiously optimistic that B.J. Elder could return as early as Saturday, when the Yellow Jackets host Virginia Tech. Elder has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring in the first half of Georgia Tech's 70-68 loss to Kansas on Jan. 1. Hewitt said Elder practiced some this weekend and the coach is hopeful that Elder could return to practice Thursday. Georgia Tech has lost two straight road games without Elder, most recently falling to North Carolina State on Sunday.


"Our decisions in transition are not as good," Hewitt said of his team's struggles.


GREGG DOYEL: TOP 10 MOST SIGNIFICANT INJURIES

6. SG B.J. Elder, Georgia Tech: After a 9-1 start marred only by a loss to Gonzaga, the Jackets (11-4) have lost three of five games since Elder (hamstring) got hurt. That includes the loss that started the slide, a 70-68 heartbreaker at Kansas, because the Jackets were dominating Kansas until Elder (13.2 ppg) got hurt midway through the first half. Since then the Jackets have gone from awesome to average, winning the games they should (at home against Miami and Virginia Tech) and losing the games they could (at North Carolina, at N.C. State). The Jackets are obviously an NCAA Tournament team, but they're seed is dropping.


AROUND THE ACC: GT REPORT

Following back-to-back defeats, the Yellow Jackets get a rare six-day break. Coach Paul Hewitt's first goal is to work on some problem areas - particularly taking care of the ball. The second goal is to get people healthy. Guard B.J. Elder, who has missed three games with a hamstring injury, could return to practice this week.


A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: THE ACC


GARY WILLIAMS AND BOBBY CREMINS
Williams is about to pass Cremins in ACC victories:

Williams would also move into a fourth-place tie with former Georgia Tech head man Bobby Cremins in terms of wins in ACC conference games. Williams currently boasts 133 wins at Maryland over teams in the ACC, while Cremins totaled 134 from 1982-2000 with the Yellow Jackets.



RECRUITING NOTES


INTERESTING HOOPS STATS


THE WHAT-IF GAME
I don't know why people insist on beating this dead drum. A look at a make-believe top 25 if there was no early entry into the NBA. This guy has GT #1:

1. Georgia Tech can not only beat you outside with its explosive guards, it can beat you up inside with junior Chris Bosh and freshman Dwight Howard.