Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Hoops Notes

VOTE FOR GT TO GET IN THE DANCE
78% think Tech is in.


While most GT fans think we're about a 95% lock to get into the dance even with a first round ACC Tourney loss, others are not so sure. The Jackets will face a VaTech squad with the same conference record and a head-to-head win versus GT. The Hokies are fighting for RPI respectability and could get it with a win over the Jackets. The Hokies just plain need more W's as well, as not many teams EVER get in with only 15 or 16 total victories.


One thing is for sure - we are playing for seeding. Our tourney seeding (if we are in) could range from #4 to #10, depending on how we fare in the ACC Tourney. So don't think it's not so important and place all your focus on the big dance.


Gregg Doyel is one of those pundits who thinks GT has to play their way in with one win....... On the local radio show here in the Carolina's, "The Pac-man show", with Mark Packer (Billy Packer's son), they also think 1 win will be needed.


In addition to the bubble-issue, Doyel had this to say about GT:


6. Georgia Tech vs. oblivion: One year after reaching the NCAA championship game, the Yellow Jackets (17-10) are in trouble. Common sense says they're one of the best 40 teams in the country, but their resumé isn't as convincing. The Jackets have a difficult first-round ACC Tournament game with Virginia Tech, and if they lose it, they do belong in the NIT. The last NCAA finalist to fall out of the NCAA field one year later was Syracuse, from 1996 to '97.


I beg to differ......... but then..... OF COURSE I beg to differ. However, the fact that the ACC has potentially 3 #1 seeds HAS to factor into the selection committee's decision-making process.


AUSTRALIAN RULES - STORY ON LUKE
Just a heart-warming story about Luke and his decision to stay after a disappointing sophomore campaign.


JACKETS BELIEVE MOMENTUM CAN BE BUILT


TECH CAN CAUSE BRACKET PROBLEMS


JACK NAMED TO ALL-DISTRICT TEAM?
I'm not exactly sure what this is, but check it out at the bottom.

CREMINS ENJOYING DETACHED VIEW OF HOOPS
So is he ready for coaching again? Here's what his wife had to say:

"He says he'd be interested if the right job came along," Carolyn Cremins said. "But to my way of thinking, a couple 'right things' have come along and he really hasn't. I don't know."


Coach K comments:

"He is one of the most genuine people in the world," Krzyzewski said. "I think the longer he's away, there's less of a chance that he would be back in coaching. However, the longer I hear him in broadcasting, the easier he is to understand."


More funny stuff:

When Appalachian State, where Cremins broke in as a head coach, asked if he was interested in becoming athletics director, Cremins replied, "You'll be broke in a year."


"People ask me if I represent him," Howell (his agent) said, shaking his head. "I tell them, 'No, God represents Bobby Cremins.' "


One last nice quote from J.Jack:

Detached from the program his first year out to, as he said, "give Paul some breathing room," Cremins now slips into town unnoticed to catch a Tech game, or even more enjoyably, visit practice. Then as quickly as he arrived, he is gone, headed back home for Hilton Head.


"He'll chit-chat for a little bit," Tech point guard Jarrett Jack said. "He always tells me, 'Thank you.' And I say, 'No, thanks you. You're the one who started this whole thing.' "


GROWTH SPURT
Another ACC story with a bunch of quotes from Coach Cremins.


COACH K ON OUR SIDE...WHOOPIE

"I think somebody from that middle group can win. They will have the most motivation. You have three teams definitely in (the NCAA Tournament) and I think Georgia Tech has to be in. You have to be careful in how you do the ACC Tournament, you want to go there and win but you also know that there is a great tournament that you need to play (the following) Thursday.....


ACC EXPANSION HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THE TOURNEY


DE'ANDRE BELL TO PLAY IN ALL-STAR GAME
...On the west coast - the "Collision VII" all-star boys game, a west coast event.


JACKETS LOOKING TO MAKE A RUN


BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
A great read on the NCAA selection process from Seth Davis..... More from Davis here, including coaching rumors, like Rick Barnes headed back to the ACC (UVA).


GREAT SITE TO GET OLD NCAA BRACKETS
Want to know the 1990 full bracket and how it played out. Check out this site.




MOCK NBA DRAFT SITES
There are a few mock draft sites out there. Take them all with a gigantic piece of salt. NBADraft.net currently has NO YellowJackets going in the 1st or 2nd round, including Jack. Of course their list includes everyone who could go, not just those who will...... Hoopshype.com is another one, and they have Jack as the #20 pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. They have PG's Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Roko-Leni Ukic, Raymond Felton all going ahead of Jack.


BUBBLE-TEAM ANALYSIS
From someone at insidecarolina.com


ESPN SPORTSCENTER: FACT OR FICTION
This morning, Digger Phelps said that VaTech CANNOT beat GaTech with a healthy Elder.


ANXIETY ON THE BUBBLE
From the Wall Street Journal


ACC HOOPS VENUES STORY WITHIN THEMSELVES
This guy votes GaTech as the loudest ACC arena.


TECH TO LOSE CLIFF WARREN???
Could he be taking the opening at Sienna, where his current boss Paul Hewitt came from??? By the way, Warren was on staff with Hewitt at Sienna as well.

"It's a great job," said Cliff Warren, a possible candidate who assisted Hewitt at Siena and is on his Georgia Tech staff. "There are going to be tons of applicants. The school has a history of winning and a great tradition."


COACH K RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLAPSE


CLIMB ABOARD BUBBLE TRAIN


FOR SOME TEAMS, ONE LAST CALL


BILLY PACKER TALKS HOOPS AND GT

Packer said this year's Wolfpack could be last year's national runner-up, Georgia Tech, which played without top scorer B.J. Elder for a good part of the season.


"It's a lot like losing Whittenburg," Packer said. "Without Elder, (point guard) Jarrett Jack instead of thinking shot second feels he has to be the guy who does everything, including being the primary shooter. Can Georgia Tech go deep in the tournament? Absolutely. If they get in."


BROTHERS GREENBERG


THIS GUY THINKS GT IS IN


CENTER OF ACC UNIVERSE??


BEST BETS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK
On winning the ACC tourney:

Best bet: Duke +200, but don’t overlook Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are a tempting +600 despite the fact last year’s NCAA finalist squad is still largely intact.


JACK MAKES DICKEY V'S 4TH ALL-ROLLS ROYCE TEAM


MORE ON THE JACKETS AND BUBBLE CITY


SELECTION COMMITTEE MUST CRACK MYSTERIES
Gregg Doyel has us looking pretty. Also note the poll - go vote for GT.

Georgia Tech with B.J., Texas without P.J.: It's not enough for the selection committee to consider roughly 60 teams for the 34 at-large spots. The committee also much consider some teams twice.


Georgia Tech, for instance, is only 17-10 overall but has been 13-4 with once-injured guard B.J. Elder in the lineup -- and Elder has been back for weeks. Texas? The Longhorns are 20-9, but only 6-6 without forwards P.J. Tucker and LaMarcus Aldridge -- neither of whom would play in the NCAA Tournament.


FIRST ROUND A HUGE FACTOR
From Andy Katz, who also has us resting easy.

Georgia Tech – Beat Wake Forest and won at Miami; should be enough to earn a bid. Wouldn't hurt to beat Virginia Tech in ACC quarterfinals.


MORE ON HOW COMMITTEE CHOSES THE FIELD
...from Andy Katz.