Posts
... or at least the hoop. This MSNBC article talks about which players will really need to step up their games in hoops in 2004/05 for their teams to succeed.
Sean Dockery - Duke
Taquan Dean - Louisville
Matt Harasz - Standford
Boo Wade - Wisconsin
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Step up to the plate...
Monday, May 10, 2004
Beesball Team Cracks into more National Polls
We crack the top 25 in the Baseball America poll............ We move up to #15 in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll........... The Dawgs are also in the top 25 in both polls, so Tuesday night's game will be a big one.
Rick Pitino Not So Happy These Days
After chasing the money around his whole career, Rick Pitino is getting frustrated that these young kids are chasing....... the money. In his own words:
"The agents have runners, the shoe companies have runners, the AAU teams have runners. Everybody's running. It's all part of this business, and it's all about one thing: M-O-N-E-Y."
Story here. He loses 2 prized recruits to the NBA draft and another one could possibly miss the entire upcoming season with an ACL problem (undetermined). Of course he did sign a talented kid Tello Palacios, who will help them immediately. Again, I'm crying puddles.
However, do you remember the inflammatory comments Pittino made about Donta Smith's JUCO coach? Said it was the poorest case of leadership he had ever seen, blah blah blah. Well, that coach has fired back, basically saying "I haven't talked with Donta and I've been telling him all along to go to college". Check out the last quote in this article: Franklin, who was born in Kentucky and said he grew up a UofL fan, said he felt he needed to speak out after fielding several phone calls yesterday from people upset by Pitino's comments.
I LOVE IT!!!!
"I don't know why he would say those things," Franklin said. "I guess he felt like he could get away with it because I'm just some dude out here in the cornfield."
ACC on the post-season
HOOPS
Looks like the ACC will not shift the ACC tourney sites, even though we are adding new teams and the demand for tickets should go up. Story here. While Greensboro does a nice job, I get sick of going into the tobacco road backyard - don't tell me this is a neutral site. Long term it looks like the Commish will wait until the contract expires with existing venues on the schedule in 2010 to make changes
FOOTBALL
In football, there are 9 sites vying for the ACC championship game (story here) - Jacksonville FL, Orlando FL, Tampa FL, Miami FL, Atlanta GA, Washington, Baltimore MD, New Jersey Meadowlands and Charlotte NC. My vote - #1 ATL #2 Jax FL #3 Orlando. Let's go for home court and if that cannot work out, let's head to the sun.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
I am trying to establish a permenant logo of this at the bottom of the link list on the left
Next Year's Hoops High Schoolers Not as Talented
This article is probably true - there are not as many high caliber prep ballers coming out of the 2005 class - but watch out in 2006.
Pressure on Tubby to win...
... what, like he didn't have pressure before??? Yes, but this story points out the pressure to win when you get extremely high caliber players (like 3 McD AA's) who may only stay around for a year. Also, some interesting comments on Randolph Morris:
"Certainly while he's there, they'll have a huge advantage in the frontcourt," Harrington said of Morris. "You won't have to talk about upside with Randolph Morris. He doesn't have to improve a lick and he'll be a good college player."
Oak Hill Academy Coach Steve Smith saw Morris as an exceptional recruit.
"A big guy that good doesn't go to college anymore," Smith said. "I don't think they'll be a transition period. He has the body. Some seniors in college don't look that good."
Not that Morris lacks weaknesses. As a high school star, he acquired a reputation as a player who coasted at times. "He could be so dominant, he didn't have to give maximum effort all the time," Gibbons said. "In college, he will."
Site Upgrades
Subtle improvements have been made to the site this weekend.
ABILITY TO LINK TO INDIVIDUAL POSTS
If you want to link to a particular post, that is now possible. Click the "permalink" word at the bottom of the post where it says "permalink posted by Scott", and that will take you to a page where only that post is showing. Now it is a permanent link - so when you send it to others they can see exactly what you are talking about. If you just send them to the main blog page, then the blog post might be halfway down the page and hard to find.
SEARCH CAPABILITY MORE EFFECTIVE
I am trying to incorporate the permalink pages into the search capability, so when you search a term, the exact post will come up, instead of just a link to the main page or archive page. This will make search results much more effective. Not working yet, but hope to have it working soon.
TAG-BOARD PROBLEMS
There are obviously problems with the tag-board service on the upper left. I think I have this up and running again. A problem with the service I was using. I guess you get what you pay for.
Charlotte Observer Picks GT Hoops #1
Of course we all know what a pre-season poll is worth - but what it really means is that expectations have graduated significantly. - story here.
The "Posse" T-Shirt People May not be done
Over at the Hive, someone reported finally getting their "Luke has a posse" T-shirt in the mail. On the back of the envelope it said:
The Posse Says
Reggie Ball for President
01 in '04
Coming in August
Folks - something has to give
Tuesday night UGAg and GT lace'em up at Turner field. UGAg is on a record 12-game winning streak, while the Jackets are on a 9-game streak. Time to round out the GT streak to a nice even 10. Story here.
A Great Look at the Offensive Line
Great look position-by-position across the O-Line heading into the fall - link here.
Meanwhile, GT is one of the few schools employees advanced Yoga techniques to condition and strengthen atheltes - story here.
Where are they now - Joe Hamilton
Joe had a good game, as his Predators defeated the VooDoo 45-40. Hamilton went 14-21, 160 yards passing, 3 TD's, ran for another TD, and rushed for 50 yards. story here.
Boomers Struggling but Luke Still Alive and Well
Looks like Luke still has a great shot to make the 12-man squad for the Aussie Olympic team. Go mate!!! Story here.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
2004 Pre-preseason Rankings ... The Top 25 Contenders
2004 Pre-preseason Rankings ... The Top 25 Contenders
Well CollegeFootballnews has GT in the #21 slot in their pre-season football poll and contending for a top 25 slot. Remember that we started last year in most polls closer to 75-100. That seems like progress.
LSU Gets Finally Punished for Peach Bowl Infractions
Remember when we played LSU a few years back at the Peach Bowl? Do you also remember that they tried to force some teachers to issue passing grades to ensure certain players would be available against us? Well they finally got punished - losing 2 'ships for next season. So instead of bringing in like 25 5-star players and forcing out a bunch of 4-star players, they will actually have to use some of their their "lesser" talent. I'm crying puddles. Story here.
Hoops Notes
WILL COACH HEWITT GO NBA???
We all know how much he likes the Knicks. The AJC tried to tease fans in ATL on their site by showing Hewitt prominantly as a potential candidate for the Hawks job, when in reality this won't happen. Here's an article about why NBA coaching is different with comments from Tubby Smith.
ARE WE STRONG WITH MARIO CHALMERS??
This kid is one of the top PG's for next year's recruiting class. Supposedly he is down to 5 finalists - Arizona, Wake Forest, Kansas, North Carolina and Georgia Tech. He and his dad were in San Antonio and watched GT play Kansas as well. We are not talking about competing with chopped liver here. Here is a story on him and his recruiting......... Someone on a board reported that Chalmer's dad said on TV that he was down to AZ, KS and WF - but we know everything on the internet is true - right???
WHERE WILL 6'11" CJ GILES - MIAMI TRANSFER END UP???
Well, GT has been mentioned, but the likely school is going to be Washington, Kansas or Cincinnati (story here).
Beesball Team sweeps Duke
Wow!! The roll continues. They have now won 9 in a row and 10 straight ACC games. Today's final 14-3 (link 1 here..... link 2 here......
So where are we projected in the NCAA regionals? ESPN insider has us projected in the Fayetville regional as a #2 seed, with Arkansas the #1 seed, Oral Roberts #3 adn Albany #4........... SouthEastern Baseball has us also as a #2 seed, in the Columbia Regional, with South Carolina the #1, Coastal Carolina #3 and Rutgers #4.
NICK WAGNER GETS NOTICED
The bullpen thrower and been strong in our recent winning streak, just in time to be noticed and possibly drafted highly by MLB. (story here). Evidently scouts have been hanging around our practices. I wonder if they are slimy like agents? Probably not. Wagner is a junior this season. Here is his profile.
Well well - Tubby recruits Morris's brother after all
So, it turns out R.Morris's older brother IS transferring to UK after all (story here). While I am tempted to downgrade that tactic as a low-blow way to entice Randolph, I guess we must keep in mind that his brother WAS a manager on the GT team. None of really knows the circumstances of how or why he was there, or why he is transferring, but it is what it is........... For more post-mordem on the Morris decision, read halfway down this article. Evidently Tubby only talked to Morris 3 times during his recruitment.
Check out these comments on Morris's candor from a UK news site. Quote - "It's too bad Randolph Morris will be muzzled by the UK censors when he gets to Kentucky. His candor in his brief news conference was refreshing. Not only did he say he picked UK over Georgia Tech because of its less-rigorous academics but that "Big Blue is not just basketball, it's a lifestyle." Mel Brooks said it another way: "It's good to be the king." OOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh KKKKKKKKKaaaaaayyyy. Good job Randolph for basically making it sound like you chose UK because the academics would be a cake-walk.
Here is an interesting article about players leaving early and the impact on the ACC. Has a lot of good quotes from ACC coaches, including ideas like eliminating the early signing period and possibly adding 2 more 'ships to make the max 15 to make losses less hurful.
Here is a fascinating article on recruiting and the AAU scene. Notice mention of powerbroker Art Alverez, who evidently fields calls from some big name coaches including our own Coach Hewitt.
Speaking of recruiting, here is an article on why some track-and-field athletes pick certain schools. There are comments on a GT recruit who ended up elsewhere.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Nice Story on Coach Gailey
Short story from SouthernPigskin.com.
Also, here is a short review of the team after spring practice from CFN.com.
Here is Tom Lemming's Top 100 2005 Recruits to watch.
Beesball Team Does it AGAIN!!!!!
Wow - folks, we are talking about 9 ACC wins IN A ROW. We are talking about going from no possible post-season to now a possibility of winning the ACC regular season. Yesterday, GT beat Duke in the 10th inning. Tonight GT gets the W in the bottom of the 9th, winning 9-8. FANTASTIC!!
Check out this line for Eric Patterson - 3-for-3, HR, 4 RBI's, 4 runs, 5 stolen bases - are you kidding me???
GT has now moved into 2nd place in the ACC behind UVA, although both teams are even in the loss column. Here are the standings:
1 Virginia 15-5 0.750
2 Georgia Tech 11-5 0.688
3 Clemson 12-6 0.667
4 North Carolina 13-7 0.650
5 Florida State 9-8 0.529
6 NC State 9-11 0.450
7 Duke 7-10 0.412
8 Wake Forest 4-14 0.222
9 Maryland 3-17 0.150
Luke Considering the NBA?????
Luckily for us, it does not appear to be the case - although he most certainly will get his chance after next season. This article talks about the buzz his play is creating - and there are a bunch of good quotes from Luke - well worth the read. He talks about his decision to go to college instead of playing in Europe.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Andy Katz says - don't forget the transfers
With all the talk of new recruits, Katz writes about the low-profile transfers that should make impacts this season - including Ed Nelson.
Countdown to Signing Day on Fox
Well, R.Morris was a no show tonight. The announcers said he was a "bit under the weather", but should make an appearance in the next two weeks. I'll be curious if the night he shows up if Bobby Cremins is there. The announcers (one of whom was at the announcement), said they were frankly shocked that he picked UK. They thought for sure he would be headed to GT. They cited Morris's chemistry with the other two McD AA's coming into UK and said the fit should be good for him there.
Coach Cremins did comment on the Morris decision. Here is what he said - "Listen, nobody likes to lose such a talented player from your home state, but don't feel sorry for Georgia Tech. They have three things going for them - 1 - they are returning a lot of talented players - 2 - they are bringing in an outstanding recruiting class and - 3 - they have Coach Paul Hewitt".
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Luke in the Aussie Olympics?
Luke will be heading to the first of the Aussie tryout camps on Monday for the Boomers squad. Story here. Sounds like he continues to work out hard and keep in shape. That's great!! Now Luke, if things don't work out with the Boomers, please make sure to come back to your adopted home in the ATL and workout like you did last summer. Make sure to give M.Mackey a call again if needed. Obviously what you did paid dividends - so keep up the hard work. We are going to need you more than ever in the middle next season.
Best of Luck !!!!!
Tubby Used Morris for Next Year's Class
Evidently Tubby Smith told junior high school player Tyler Hansbrough 4-5 days ago that Morris was going to sign with the Cats (story here). Hansbrough is a highly touted junior 5-star prospect and is currently ranked as the 3rd best prospect in the junior class. He's 6'9" 225lb (profile here), and obviously KY fans think he would fit perfectly at the 4-spot in between all the talented guards and Morris at the 5.
So RM knew he wanted UK for at least a month. Tubby has known for some time as well, becuase he was using it with other recruits. Seems like the only guy not in the know was our own Coach Hewitt. After thinking through this thing, I have come to accept that we are better off not having RM. Not because he wouldn't have an impact, but because he does not want to be here. He's a talented kid and should do great at UK - and if he is more comfortable there - more power to him. He made the decision that he felt was most comfortable for him. No problem. Ok, a courtesy call to PH prior to the press conference would have been the proper, classy thing to do. But that's water under the bridge now. Let's move on.
Do you realize that we'll be bringing in a minimum of another 5 players next season? Wow. No doubt the iron is hot during the 2004/2005 season. After that we are back to a group of talented frosh / soph's in the program. If Jack hangs around for a senior campaign that will help tremendously, but as of now, that is the cycle we seem to be on.
Rick Pitino Goes Off
Well, he knew he was going to lose Sebastian Telfair to the NBA before he even stepped on the Louisville campus. But he got a shocker this week when JUCO Donta Smith also announced his intent to enter the draft. Smith's big mistake - not consulting with Pitino. The result - read the story.
Quote from Pitino:
"It could be one of the five worst moves I've ever seen," Pitino said. "If it's the right decision, I'll tell a player I have no problem with it. This one I totally disagree with. Somebody is giving him advice who doesn't know anything about the game of basketball. When young people listen to the wrong people, they almost always make poor decisions." "This was very poor judgment," Pitino said. "He never called and discussed it with me. I couldn't be more upset with the player, and I'm very, very disappointed with the (junior college) coach. That's as poor a leadership from the coach as I've ever seen. "It's disappointing for (Smith), because he had a bright future ahead of him if he'd made the right decision."
This is a 6'7" kid who they say can play the point and has a 7 foot wingspan.
Taking UK to Task - from Vandy Site
If you are a top-notch recruit - talented enough to start in most programs - KY might be the place for you. You can get your minutes and exposure. However, if you actually need time to develop your game, you might want to think twice. Unless you can develop in practice, the off-season and sitting on the bench, the UK machine does not allow a "Luke" in their system. Luke Schenscher couldn't happen at UK. A "project" will not make it at UK. Just look at Bernard Cote, who is transferring. Look at the two 7-footers who sat on the bench last year. How much time do you see them getting next season? Will one of them become the next Luke? No way. Don't bet on it. I'm not even sure that an Isma'il or Mchenry would happen at UK.
Read this story from a Vandy site. A lot of truth - certainly some sour grapes from the Vandy writer, but truth is the truth.
Tubby has had 10 transfers in 7 seasons
Not exactly a track-record of keeping and developing players. And how nice that Bernard Cote managed to announce his transfer the day before Randolph Morris made his announcement.
Is Micah Owings "two-and-done"?
Sounds like a sure thing - just a question of whether he will pitch or hit in the bigs. story here.
If that's not enough - here is NOT the definition of a student (link here). Maybe he is sad about having to go into the real world.
The Impact on UK's Class Rankings
Well, signing 3 McD AA's has jumped UK's class to #1 by recruiting analyst Dave Telep (link here)............ Here's the Rivals story............... Hoopscoop online now has them #3 behind Memphis and Texas. Of course this site has ZERO credibility because they have GT #47 - absolutely crazy!!............ Here's the CNNSI article............. Macon Telegraph............. DeCoursey at Fox Sports.So what is reaction around the ACC - mixed. Most of it was of the flavor - "I'm glad because GT will be tough enough next year without Morris"............... The associated press.......... Here's the AJC version.......... From the Cincy Post................. Quotes from dad saying the relationship with Coach Hewitt and Reese was not as good as that with Tubby.......... Here is an article talking about the expectations of the program at UK and how it will be intensified even further.
Here is confirmation from RM's dad that Morris's brother could actually be headed to UK as a basketball manager............ Finally, Morris is quoted as saying something nice about Coach Hewitt. Notice Coach was out of town so could not comment........... Here are details about Morris and what some "are saying".
Well, what is the reaction on the ACC boards? Mostly this - "I am glad GT lost Morris because they are going to be tough enough without him"............ One thing for sure - they are eating up the comments about UK's "academic schemes".
Football recruiting - LB Marvin Sapp JR
Yes - there is a relation - this is Warren Sapps' cousin. Story here. As of now, Georgia Tech is in the lead. Other programs interested - UGAg, MD, Ohio State, Penn State, UNC, Duke, Louisville. Interestingly the Florida schools are not showing much interest.
Turning to Junior Recruiting
Well, we will be able to sign another big class next season as we will lose a minimum of 5 players - possibly 6 if Jack leaves early. One kid we are looking at is talented Chicago PG Bobby Frasor - but the other bigs are looking as well.............. Here's another kid on our radar - Anthony Goods - one of the top 5 shooting guards in the west.
Mom Finally Comments
Quotes from RM's mom (story here).
His mother, Patricia Morris, a teacher of the hearing impaired, said of Tech, "I think you have to have a particular disposition to thrive and do well in that environment."
Tech offered "a very challenging academic environment, plus you have to produce in a very challenging (Atlantic Coast) conference," she said. "It'd take a different type of Randolph to pull all of that off together. That caused him some dilemma."
Sounds to me like RM just was not confident in his abilities. Hard to imagine.
The definition of a Student-Athlete
Want to see THE representation in the dictionary of "student-athlete" - click on this link.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
The Big Picture
Ok - I will break this thing down in detail, but before I do, let's keep this thing in perspective.
1. Georgia Tech just finished a season where they played for the National Championship game after losing two ACC ROY's, one being a 1st round pick, and where we were picked to finish 7th in the ACC.
2. We return the core of our team and bring in one of the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation.
3. Our talented PG J.Jack will be returning for his junior season.
Ladies and gents, our team will be just fine next season. I am fine with people expressing disappointment, but not personal attacks on Morris or his family. I also won't put up with UK fans talking smack on the board - they will be killed quickly. As the old saying goes - "You cannot lose something you never had".
Now having said that let's look at some things surrounding Morris's announcement
HOW MUCH DID LOCATION MATTER?
Obviously it was not the deciding factor. Maybe the mystique of Lexington appealed more than a known quantity. "The grass is always greener...". From our standpoint, location was important, because Morris was a kid in our backyard and we lost him. In what could arguably be considered the most talented high school crop in ATL every, we got shutout. Of course the NBA got 2 of them. Add to that the loss of junior Louis Williams to UGAg and our in-state record has been a bit weak lately.
Having said that, let's remember that we took top players out of SC, NC and TX. This post on one of the boards from a South Carolina fan says it all - "I am from South Carolina and have been keeping up with Morris. I hate to see him pick Kentucky,because now we have to play him two times a year. If yall feel bad on here think how we feel. You came into South Carolina, and took our two best players. What comes around go's around lol. Dickey will be bigtime for yall,and he will be around longer then Morris. When Morris is gone Dickey will be putting in 15 a game and 10 boards."
I couldn't have said it better myself. So now Coach Hewitt needs to strengthen his game in the state of GA, which is tough, because lots of coaches are in our yard these days.
HOW MUCH DID FAMILY MATTER?
Well, mom wanted Randolph to stay close to home. Dad's comments hinted a bit towards UK, but were not clear. Typically moms win the close battles but not in this case. Older brother is a manager on GT's hoops team and obviously that didn't matter. In fact, that may have worked against us. First off, Randolph probably knew a lot more about the inside of the GT program than the average recruit would know because of bro's connections. Not that there is anything bad to know, but "access" to info probably gives him a better idea of both the pro's and cons of GT.
WHAT ABOUT THE STYLE OF OFFENSE?
Honestly, I think this played a role. We can talk about Luke's performance, but the offense did not run through Luke. All the talk about GT hoops was about a transition team, a run-and-gun team, one that was weak in the half-court set. UK on the other hand, focuses on an inside-out game - inside first. Stronger half-court sets. I really think this played a role in his thinking. Could be wrong but who knows.
WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH ACADEMICS?
Well RM himself said - "I would not be comfortable being a student athlete at Georgia Tech".
Here's another quote - "Kentucky, it's not as rigorous as it is at Georgia Tech," Morris said. "I get good academics with a support system, and I think I can be successful."
Another quote "Georgia Tech is a good institution, but I would not feel comfortable being a student-athlete. At the University of Kentucky, I think I would feel comfortable with the academic schemes....."
That speaks directly to the difficult academic environment at GT. Or does it actually speak just as much to the academic environment at UK? In some ways you have to give RM credit for being so honest about this. He seemed to have misgivings about his ability to handle the load and was honest about it. Now THIS is where his older brother at GT probably hurt the most. Anyone who has gone to GT knows about the difficultly of the weedout process. Well, older bro' could speak first hand about the difficulty. In fact, some of the UK radio guys were commenting on rumors that Morris's brother might actually transfer to UK as well. Randolph seems like a smart kid and could probably handle it but he was more comfortable with the academics at UK. Don't forget something else - RM says college is important, but he was asked about how many years he sees himself at UK. His answer "A college degree is important, and we'll just have to see how things work out. If my draft status improves a lot after a year, we will have to look at the situation". Let's face it - he sees himself in the NBA and wants to improve his stock. Why have to bust your hump too much with the books when you might only be there one year? (that's me talking - not RM).
This is a reality of recruiting into GT - everyone needs to remember that when we complain that we cannot beat the FSU's in football and compete in the top 10. Well, we ARE competing in hoops, but it takes special effort to recruit the type of kids that will make it here. That goes for all sports. This can never be underestimated!!! You have to recruit kids that want to be here and can and will do the work!!! Coach Gailey seems to be doing a good job in this area as well.
HOW MUCH DOES CHEMISTRY MATTER??
In this case it was critical. RM said he had a real chemistry with Rondo / Crawford, the other 2 McDonalds AA's. Rondo was even his roomate as we now know. He liked those guys, and enjoyed playing with them at that game. He developed a rapport. That could not happen with our four recruits because they did not play the same all-star game circuits. So chemistry with the incoming recruits was key. He just got to know those guys better. Heck, look at our recruits - Ra'Sean Dickey and Buck Fredrick are AAU teammates and talked a lot about being a package deal, which is what ended up happening. So chemistry matters.
WHAT ABOUT PLAYING TIME AND COMPETITION WITH LUKE?
Well, RM said that Luke's solid junior campaign didn't influence his decision. However, I would submit that playing time and a starting job were probably some level of importance to him. And at GT he would have to start the season on the bench and earn his minutes against a standout center taller than him. At UK, he probably starts from day 1, as the two 7+ footers continue to languish on the bench. If we want to really find out how good Tubby Smith is at developing bigmen, let's follow those other two 7 footers through the junior / senior seasons.
WHY DIDN'T HE NOTIFY COACH HEWITT?
The only thing that really upsets me about RM's comments is that he made up his mind about a month ago after the McDonald's AA game, but never called Coach Hewitt to inform him of the decision. Said the people at the press conference were the first to know. This bothers me. I know RM is only 18 years old and has a right to handle this anyway he wants. However, RM has been involved with GT since 9th grade and on a basic level, at least Coach Hewitt deserves the respect of a phone call - even if it is one hour prior to the press conference. But nothing.
The secondary impact of this is that we lose out of some other recruits that may have signed had he announced earlier. The most noteworthy was Aaron Pettway, who wanted to visit GT, but was put off pending a TM decision. He ended up signing with OSU. I am not upset that he waited until May 6 to announce. I am upset that he says he made a decision a month ago and did not at least notify GT coaches, so they could make other plans. Had he truly not known what he wanted to do until this week and still picked UK I could accept that. But knowing for a month and handling it like this doesn't sit well with me.
Maybe it hurt us in recruiting, maybe it didn't - but bottom line - not calling Coach Hewitt show a lack of respect in my opinion. That is not bashing RM, but it is just common courtesy in my book.
CONCLUSION
So in the end we lost. We went head-to-head with the of the most storied programs of all-time and we didn't win this battle. There have been many battles in the past and there are many more to come. But just battling to the finish and being one of two options left for him should be considered an important sign. If our program is truly on the rise, then it means our battles for top talent will now consistently be the Arizona's, UK's, Duke's, UNC's, UConn's, Syracuse, etc, etc. To be the best you have to beat the best. And for one more cliche - you can't win them all.
Randolph Morris, we wish you success in your future. We are disappointed but hope this works out for you. We hope to be cutting down the nets next season but don't 2nd guess yourself. However, if your freshman year at UK is a poor one - and you find next off-season that UK is recruiting a new stud 7-footer for the team, and they need to make room with a 'ship - keep us in mind. Because if you don't produce and UK doesn't win, you're days as a favorite son are over - just ask the guys who are transferring, the recruit who is going to prep school because in his words - they need you more than they need him - or ask the two 7-footers on the bench. What you did in high school don't mean squat any longer. Not sour grapes - that's reality.
Work hard and play hard - we wish you the best.
ON TO OUR REAL RECRUITS
To Jeremis Smith, Zam "Buck" Fredrick, Ra'Sean Dickey and Anthony Morrow - we could NOT be more excited about next season with you guys coming in. We are all excited about the team and what you can accomplish. You will be learning the ropes from some guys who have been to the NCAA finals. Work hard in the summer - bust your humps - when they say it makes a difference - they are speaking from facts.
Thanks for committing to the Jackets. You made the right choice. We look forward to you building on the legacy and taking it to an even higher level - GO JACKETS!!!!!!!
Morris Interview
For video of the announcement - click here.
Comments from Morris:
- Said he made his decision after the McDonalds All-American game after playing with the two UK-bound PG's (Rondo and Crawford). Said he really saw how talented they were. Felt like he had real chemistry with those guys over the GT class.
- said Tubby Smith's track record spoke for itself - he didn't have to do much
- said Luke's strong junior year didn't play a role in his decision. Said that the freshman class made a difference for him and he felt UK had the class he wanted to play with.
- said he would not be comfortable being a student athlete at Georgia Tech
- said he had NOT notified anyone at GT, including Coach Hewitt. The people at the press conference were the first to know.
Quote from Randolph Morris
Straight from his announcement:
"I would not be comfortable being a student athlete at Georgia Tech"
- R.Morris
Coach Hewitt not Notified
The guy hosting the UK radio show said some of the following things following the press conference:
- Morris's brother could be transferring to GT (rumor)
- He may have picked UK because GT academics might have been too hard (wrong imo - Morris is a smart kid)
- The NBA could still be an option - he could still put his name in for the draft.
- Morris nor his family notified Coach Hewitt of his decision - the press conference today is when Coach found out
- As early as Tuesday, a Morris family member told Coach Hewitt he was coming to GT
- RM himself said he made the decision a month ago.
During the annoucement, he started off by saying he was declaring for the NBA draft, then he was talked about how GT was close to home, had recruitied him since 9th grade, etc, and that's why his decision was a perfect fit. Then he said that's why I'm a Wildcat as of now. Had the crowd in an up-roar laughing. Of course GT nation is not laughing now.
The Rumor Leaks Accelerate
Well - this site is saying "highly placed sources" have Morris committing to UK (link here). Hope it's wrong. Of course let's look at this line from the article:
"....the highly touted 6'11" canter from Christian Academy..."
First isn't a "canter" something that horses do? Of course - being in Kentucky, maybe they look at all big athletes as thoroughbreds.
Second, Morris goes to Landmark Christian, not "Christian Academy".
So while this site may be 100% correct in the Morris decision, they have not exactly distinguished themselves as a literate, fact-checking, bastion of journalism. For those who want to cite my mistakes I make on occasion on this site - I don't want to hear it - I don't claim to be a media site. Just a fan trying to make the world a better place through GT Sports.
Ok - well I could be wrong
While I stated my opinion below, evidently R.Morris's father was quoted last night as re-confirming that the NBA is out. (link here). He also says strongly that this is not a one-year decision. If that is a serious comment, then you might give GT a slight edge. Yes - he will have to compete with Luke this season, but next year - no doubt - he is the man down low.
Although here is the crazy quote from the article by his father - "I don’t know for sure where he’s going. I think he’s made the decision, but he’s not communicated that with me.”
That's bizzarre to me. Either he is just trying to keep privacy about this thing, or he is not really talking in detail to his son about this decision. Either way it is RM's decision - and we will know in just a few hours.
My Opinion where Morris will end up
After thinking through all the facts and non-facts here is my prediction........... R.Morris tonight announces that he will enter his name into the NBA draft, not retain an agent, and reserve his right to return to school prior to the June 17 deadline to take his name off the draft-board.
He and his family have waited so long to make a decision that I think they will continue to string this out to get a better feel for draft position. By declaring for the draft, Morris will be able to participate in the all-important Chicago pre-draft camp - and he will get a much better feel for where he might go. He will still be able to head to a school if things don't work out. He would not close any doors by making the decision this way.
Here are some facts:
- he can still go to college by declaring for the draft if he removes his name by June 17
- Reports are that neither coaching staff has been contacted or notified by RM of a decision
- His "press conference" is a private dinner party, and evidently it is not clear if any media outlets have been officially invited.
- While his father said "no NBA" awhile ago, all has been quiet on the subject the last month.
- His AAU teammates have already declared (D.Howard, Josh Smith).
- A guy 11 inches shorter than him has declared out of high school (Telfair)
- The NBA drafts on potential, not current ability, and RM has tons of potential
- How can you say college is super-important NOW in his life when he will probably not go there for more than 2 years. Important - yes....... important now - not so much.
As far as which school he would end up at if this didn't happen - don't have a clue - although I really believe GT is a slight favorite. Did you know that it appears (not confirmed) that Morris's family never even visited the UK campus?
So, here are my odds:
35%.......NBA - not retain an agent, GT as back-up
30%.......NBA - not retain an agent, UK as back-up
20%.......GT all the way, no NBA
15%.......UK all the way, no NBA
In other words, I am guessing a 65% that he heads to the NBA with an option to pull his name out. Of course all this is pure speculation. I hope I am wrong and hope that GT is the answer "all the way".
Randolph Morris - Half a Day To Go
UK Player Bernard Cote will transfer - and thatopens up a 'Ship for Morris. Story here. The mystery is no longer. Based on the quotes from Bernard, you could draw the conclusion that he believes Morris is coming and he wants to go somewhere where he will get more PT. Here's another story.
Finally - some coverage of the Morris decision by Atlanta media. This story from the Gwinnett Daily Post says that the GT staff had not been contacted by Morris with a decision as of Wednesday night. On one hand - that's not good. On the other, it could mean he has only contacted Coach Hewitt - or it could mean they are keeping things quiet. Notice yet another national "expert" who believes GT will get him. Of course, all that is just a feeling from the guy. Same article
Meanwhile, Miami center signee CJ Giles has been released from his 'ship. Kansas and Washington are at the top of his list, but evidently the GT staff has made inquires. What does this mean? Who knows - again.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Nice Story on Luke and the Olympics
from RamblinWreck.com. Although Luke, you do know that burning music CD's will spell the demise of the music industry - right?
Ivan Maisel's Pre-season top-25 Football
Link here................ Meanwhile here is a look at the ACC teams after spring practice.
The Latest on the Morris Saga
Well, 24 hours away, and the countdown continues for many. UK fans are practically wetting their pants in anticipation. Interestingly, many of their "insiders" are starting to show some cracks in their armor. As soon as days ago they were all "solid" on Morris going to UK. One guy has gone from 105% to 99% and is now at 70% UK, 20% UK & test NBA, 10% GT. Others are still saying UK but making some doubtful comments. Of course, UK nation is starting to have doubts as well. Their local radio station guys were predicting GT based on personal feelings and many of the recruiting experts are saying GT is the favorite.
So what is GT nation saying? Some are preparing for the worst, but most are just waiting for the saga to end, wishing Randolph Morris the best whichever way he decides. That's my position.
Oh, one last note - remember that UK already had 13 players on 'ship? Not anymore. Bernard Cote has announced his intent to transfer. The question of the missing 'ship has been answered. Does it mean anything? I'll tell you in 24 hours.
Isma'il in the NFL???
Not seriously, but this is not the first time that Gregg Doyel has mentioned Isma'il on his site as an NFL prospect.
Hoops Recruiting Notes
Story on how development on fundamentals is more important than contracts. Easier said than done........... Here's a week-old story on Adam Williams, the UK recruit who was convinced by Tubby Smith to go to prep school for a year. Quote - "They need Randolph Morris more than they need me," Williams said, candidly, before adding, "which is common sense. If people can't see that, then I don't know what they're looking at. I need to go to prep school.". I guess turnabout is fair play, as the more talented kids get to do what suits them best. In this case, Tubby gets to do what's best for his program............ Here's more biased UK media coverage trying to convince Morris to go there................. Here's a story about the new academic rules with a pot-shot on Coach Hewitt at the very end. Obviously the writer has not looked at the details of the GT graduation rate, nor actually looked at the years the study cited (he says it refers to "the past 6 years" - NOT)............. Here's some interesting comments about the players who have declared for the draft. Did you know that the entire USAToday Prep 1st team this year has declared for the draft - the first time that has even happened................ One last story on S.Telfair.
Here's a short blurb on 6'8" Juan Diego Tello-Palacious, who is expected to sign with Louisville anytime. Evidently Coach Hewitt made a late push for him. Kind of makes me wonder about our real probably of landing R.Morris - but we will know for sure in one more day.
Where are they now - Donnie Davis
Congrats at the GA Force hire Donnie as their new Offensive Coordinator. Story here................ Here's another blurb.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
One Crazy Scenario
Wow - check this out. What if Shaun Livingston were to declare for the NBA draft - get drafted - and STILL legally play 1-2 years at Duke. Obviously Mike DeCoursey over at FoxSports.com thinks it is technically possible. Wouldn't that be a coup for Coach K?
Recruiting Guru Dave Telep Guesses GT on UK Radio Show
Evidently he was on WLAP radio in the KY area tonight saying that he feels Morris will end up at GT. He evidently said that he thinks Coach Hewitt has sold Morris on his ability to develop big men - using Luke as an example. WLAP is evidently "the home of the Wildcats".
Recruiting - It's Official - Telfair headed to the NBA
It was really a forgone conclusion - looks like Telfair will become the shortest guy ever drafted - not even sure he is 6 feet tall. Story here.
GT Hoops - The McDonalds All-Americans
In case you were curious, here is the complete list of GT MCD AA's.
Georgia Tech (13)
Chris Bosh (2002)
Dion Glover (1997), Atlanta Hawks
Jason Collier (1996), Houston Rockets
Stephon Marbury (1995), Phoenix Suns
James Forrest (1991)
Travis Best (1991), Miami Heat
Kenny Anderson (1989), New Orleans Hornets
Darryl Barnes (1989)
Dennis Scott (1987), Washington Wizards
Brian Oliver (1986), Washington Bullets
Tom Hammonds (1985), Minnesota T'wolves
Duane Ferrell (1984), Golden State Warriors
Bruce Dalrymple (1983)
Here is an interesting post about transfer rates of the various ACC schools in hoops, with details about the particular players involved.
Where are they now - Stewart Cink
Did you know that he is currently #8 on the PGA Tour money list, only one spot behind #7 - Tiger Woods? Outstanding!!
Great Report on Hoops Celebration Night
For a detailed report, with comments from Coach Hewitt on our incoming players, next year's team - click here. Some interesting takeaways from RamblinRed:
- Coach says all of our incoming recruits are excellent passers
- Jeremis Smith has bulked up to 6'7" 240lb (holy cow). Mostly needs to work on the left hand & outside shot
- Coach teases Isma'il all the time that Jeremis is an even better athlete than he is.
- Anthony Morrow has bulked up to 6'6" 200lb.
- Ra'Sean Dickey could be a real steal and help us right away
- Nothing whatsoever on Morris (as is legally expected)
- With a lot of seniors and a couple of guys with real shots to go to the NBA, he plans on giving them more chances to shine.
- Thinks we could be a much better passing team and a more consistent shooting team next season.
- Plan on seeing Isma'il shoot the ball more next season.
- Looks like ATL will have some FM radio coverage soon - still in process.
These are just snippets - you need to read RamblinRed's entire write-up. Outstanding as usual.
Recruiting Notes
Looks like the high scoring, drug-dealing, ousted recruit Jameson Curry (from UNC) is going to show up on the Oklahoma State campus in next season. Seems the Grinch Eddie Sutton, always to upstanding, highly ethical guy he is, will give Mr. Curry a 2nd chance. Add to that Aaron Pettway - and they look to be tough. Wonder if Curry has read Donald Trump's classic book "The Art of the Deal". Sorry - had to do it.
Small blurb on the Morris announcement............... More on KY and Morris.
Looks like Sebastian Telfair will announce his intentions to go pro today, as well as a nice little shoe deal with Adidas. By the way, did you know that Telfair's high school and AAU coach is a paid consultant with Adidas and their teams are completely funded by said shoe company. Wow, what a surprise Nike was nowhere to be found.
On a football note - this GA running back is interested in the Jackets - Stephone LeFrance................
AJC Resorts to High School Writers
The AJC writers are mostly lacking, so they turn a step up in the food chain - high school students (story here). This kid writes a story indicting athletics in the state of Georgia, wraps GT in the mix, but only cites the UGAg hoops scandal. Pretty crappy if you ask me.
Here's one example of a young man that should not skip college and go directly work for a paper.
Monday, May 03, 2004
More on the Winners and Losers in the ACC
For once, it appears UNC and Duke are the losers (story here).
Here's more on other recent defections.
Wake Forest vs GT in hoops - who is better
Interesting discussion on the Maryland board on the topic. Lots positive comments on Hewitt and Prosser.
Morris Announcement Set
Well here it is: It looks like Morris will announce at Paschell's Restaurant on Northside in downtown Altanta at 6:00 on Thursday night. The UK boards are reporting that all television crews have been invited (both schools). However, one of their posters, TCCAT (one of their experts) called channel 27 in Lexington, who told him they had not received an invitation yet.
So let the speculation continue. If Morris was going to announce for UK, would he chose to do it right in the heart of ATL - the home of the Jackets????? Is the fact that he is a star at Landmark Christian and a Georgia prep bigger than the fact that GT happens to reside in the same town? If you were Morris and you were committing to UK, where would you announce? Personally, I would announce at my school.
So what is the latest?
- UK Insiders are in the 90-105% confidence range that he is UK bound
- GT Insiders are really mixed - with no clear opinions except a couple of zero-credibility guys who claim to know people and say GT all the way.
- Most "experts" - nationally recognized guys continue to have GT as the favorite.
My personal opinion.............I don't have a clue. My heart says he will pick GT - because of all the connections, his mom's preference, his brother's school, W.Reese was his early coach, he is from GA, lives 30 minutes away, the success of GT going to the Finals, etc............... However, mentally, I am setting myself up for the loss, so I am not too disappointed if he does pick UK. What do they have - winning tradition, more titles, a solid recruiting class with some flashy PG's, blah blah blah. I don't think the education will play a big factor, because he probably doesn't see himself as more than a 2-year guy (maybe less).
Again, the bottomline is that he cannot go wrong either way. I hope he makes the right choice and picks GT, but in the end, we will have one of our strongest teams ever next season with or without him. He could play a major role next season, but without him, it just means Luke and Dickey and Tarver will be on the floor more. We'll be just fine.
Although I sure wish Thursday was done already.
The Tarheels AND Bluedevils Lose Another Set of Recruits
Well, the UNC class has gone from unbelievable to downright average. (story here). The only shred of hope is that JR Smith does not plan to sign with an agent, so he could theoretically return. First Jameson Curry gets busted for dealing - and he's out. Now Smith declares for the draft. At least they are returning Felton, May and McCants. If any of those guys had left - ouch.
Also today came news that Shaun Livingston, the tall talented PG out of Illinois will also declare for the draft.
So with Deng leaving, Livingston leaving, JR Smith leaving, Jameson Curry ousted by his own doing, how tough is our ACC going to be? Certainly Duke will suffer but should manage to stay in the upper echelon. UNC might be alright with the returning players, but again - depth is an issue. Do you realize Duke may only end up with 8 players on 'ship?
On general recruiting news - Mike DeCoursey over at FoxSports.com calls out the NCAA for its recent changes - citing a quote from our own Paul Hewitt. He is becoming quite an outspoken leader - I like it.
Players Leaving Early Not a Death Wish
Story from Fox Sports. Certainly if a coach plays a deep rotation like Coach Hewitt, he can make up for the loss. Doesn't always work out that way though.
Mercifully, a new poll is up
OK - I got a little lazy with the Poll. So a new one is up - thanks to Ray for the suggestion. For personal research into the answer, I suggest going here (media guide). You can see the all-time records, etc.
Hilarious Discussion between UK / UNC fans
Check out this discussion thread. Pretty funny stuff as they debate who was more overrated - Adolf Rupp or Dean Smith. There is actually some pretty good smack talk here until one of their guys GEEKCAT actually has to resort to vulgar language. As we all know, once you have to resort to bad language, you lose. By the way, this GEEKCAT is one of the boards premier hoops "insiders" who has predicted Morris to UK.
Here was one of the articles cited about UK, and why 4 of their National Championships should be taken away.
I have to admit, I enjoy seeing some of those UK fans get ripped. While many of them are reasonable and good people, many others think they are gods of the hoops world and we should all bow in worship.
Let's make sure that after Morris makes his decision that we are courteous, respectful and humble about the decision either way. We don't need to give our fans the same rep. as some of those fans. Rest assured if Morris picks GT - there will be some fans over there ripping him bigtime. I don't expect the same thing from GT fans.
Women's Track Team wins ACC Sportsmanship Award
Interesting - (story here). The track team comes in 2nd place and wins this award, which is voted on by the other teams. I didn't realize that every sponsored sport has this same honor. Here are the major sport winners:
ACC Football: Duke
ACC Hoops: Clemson
Are we seeing a pattern here? In the major sports it appears the teams that suck the most are the best "sports". I can see the award ceremony. "Thanks for allowing the rest of us to beat up on you all year. You were really good about it. Here, have this trophy and please come back again next year. We would love to see you compete again".
The real negative is for GT and UNC. GT lost to Duke in football and UNC lost to Clemson in hoops - thereby almost disqualifying them for the award.
New UGAg AD rubs Jackets noses in it
Obviously he likes to stoke the rivalry, which is great (story here).
Recruiting - Mario Chalmers for 2005
This kid is considered by some to be the top point guard in his class. Right now, his dad is listing Kansas, Arizona and Wake Forest as his favorites, but GT is in the running also. (short story here). Coach Hewitt is planning on signing a major PG talent for next season's class, as we all expect J.Jack to make his junior year his final one.
Another guy who is likely to be considered the #1 kid out of the state of South Carolina next season is Casaan Breeden, who happens to be Ra'Sean Dickey's teammate. He has many offers already, including from USC, Clemson, UGAg, NCST and Tenn. Others interested (besides GT) include Wake Forest, Kentucky, UNC - the list will only grow bigger. He is about 6'8", but rail thin. He can handle the rock, shoot it, play inside / outside - really a perfect player for Coach Hewitt's system. Will need to gain a lot of weight but very athletic. In some ways he reminds me of J.Hodge.
Lastly, here is another mention of De'Angelo Alexander, who will be transferring from Oklahoma. It looks like Charlotte is the team to beat.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Where are they now - Tony Hargrove
Hargrove gets a finger in his eye on the final day of camp and is now swollen shut. (story here). Sounds like he has a good sense of humor about it though. I am sure trainers will keep an eye on it.
Beesball Team Sweeps 2 from NCST
Well, the double header got rained out on Saturday, but they managed to get to legal games in on Sunday. GT won both. Story here. Way to go Jackets - keep it going!!!
Crushing Starbury
Talk about a harsh, to the point article about Stephon Marbury. I cannot see he is far off. Until Stephon proves he can lead a team to the promise land, I am not sure his legacy will be one of sacrifice, leadership and team-play.
Where are they now - Jay Nichols
The former GT Golfer is being inducted into the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame. (story here).
More on Morris
This from a Kentucky Paper:
Morris the Cat?
We should know by the end of this week whether big man prospect Randolph Morris signs with Kentucky or Georgia Tech. Or if he's decided to skip college and enter the NBA Draft.
Morris, a 6-foot-10 player from the Atlanta area, has set next Friday as the date to announce his plans.
From what Oak Hill Academy Coach Steve Smith hears, Morris will sign with UK. Oak Hill star Josh Smith, who also is from Atlanta, has been lobbying on UK's behalf. Why? Because one of Josh Smith's Oak Hill teammates, Rajon Rondo, is UK bound.
"Rajon is (Josh Smith's) best friend," Steve Smith said. "If Randolph goes to Kentucky, that will make (Rondo) that much better."
As Josh Smith apparently sees it, Kentucky has sewn up Morris. "Josh is taking credit for it," Steve Smith said.
Where are they now - Matt Kuchar
Sometimes he still feels like a rookie on tour, learning the ropes. (story here).
Oklahoma's De'Angelo Alexander Considering Transfer to GT for Hoops
He led Oklahoma in rebounding last year and will have to sit out this next year due to transfer rules. But along with GT, he is considering DePaul, UNC-Charlotte and St.John's. (story here). He will have 2 years of eligibility remaining.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
For the Math Crowd
Saw this over at Fark.com and couldn't resist for the engineering crowd. (link here). My personal favorite below.
THINGS MY MATH TEACHER DID LAST YEAR:
32. When the word asymptote comes up, she is the one who is quick to point out that it starts with "ass
Coach K Showing Concern for his Kids
Per this article (yeah right)
LIVINGSTON WATCH: While some signs indicate that Peoria Central basketball star Shaun Livingston will opt for the NBA draft in June, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski gave the 6-7 point guard some good reasons why he should spend at least one or two years on the Duke campus.
During a visit last week to Peoria, when Krzyzewski and Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins met with Livingston, his father and grandfather, Coach K pointed out that Livingston has not done anything since the Class AA finals in March to prepare for the NBA. He hasn't spent a minute with fitness guru Tim Grover in Chicago, as he once promised. Instead, he has spent more time visiting his girlfriend in Richmond, Va.
Where are they now - Matt Kuchar
He calmly shoots a 9-under today at the HP Classic of New Orleans. He is currently tied for 3rd at 12-under. (scoreboard here)
Where are they now - Keith Brookings
Keith is changing positions, moving over to weakside LB with the Falcons.
Congrats to the real student athletes
Marvin Lewis, JP Foschi, Greg Gathers, Kelly Rhino, Nate Curry were just a few of the standouts who walked the stage and received their degrees today. (story here). Congrats to all - you are what GT is all about. We wish you the best in your future endeavors, whether they be pro sports or business or whatever. Heck, Nate Curry likes it so much he is going to play this year and go for a graduate degree!!.
Congrats!!!
Beesball Team Puts Egos Aside
Story here. For now at least - I guess that's what happens when you have all kinds of potential MLB talent on the roster. Tough to focus on the college game and keep winning in the forefront. Maybe the beesball team needed to spend some time with the basketball team.
Where are they now - Ken Owen
Seven new members will be added to the Salisbury-Rowan (NC) Sports Hall of Fame, including former GT football star Ken Owen. Story here.
Where are they now - Tony Hargrove
Nice story on Tony as he prepares for life with the Rams.
"But in the afternoon, the rookie defensive linemen got to square off against the new offensive linemen in pass-rush drills. Granted, Hargrove wasn't going up against Orlando Pace, but nobody could stop him. He beat would-be blockers with a burst of speed around the edge. He displayed a spin move that got him into the backfield and then a "swim" move that had the same result."
Luke Gets Ready for Olympic Tryout
Nice quotes from Luke, who really wants to represent his country with a passion.
Coach Hewitt continues to speak out
Story here. You know - this new legislation may hurt GT more than the average. While we are able to attract the smart athletes who may be interested in difficult majors like engineering, what happens if a player finds he doesn't like it? What if he wants to switch half way in? Anyone who has gone to GT knows that switching majors by the regular student body is a common thing. For student-athletes, it is definitely going to hurt programs if they are not careful.
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