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JOL Mailbag 3/4 Sponsored by Auto-Owners Insurance

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I almost hate to ask this, but here goes. With the little bit we have been told on Collins it seems an argument could be made he was fired for cause after doing so many things that damaged the program. Do you think it was entertained, or just not worth the publicity and embarrassment it would have caused to seek it?

KQ- Being bad at your job isn't a great way to fight a bad contract. No agent or reasonable coach would want to deal with your program if you start going after people especially when there is a considerable amount of blame to also go to the former AD and his handling of his subordent.

Name your favorites sporting event since covering Georgia Tech?

I assume you mean my favorite GT games I've covered. I'd say the 2009 ACCCG win over Clemson, the two wins in Athens CPJ had that I covered in 2014 and 2016, the 2014 Orange Bowl, the 2016 BC game in Ireland, and the 2015 FSU game for football.

On the basketball side, the first GT-Duke game I covered that Tech won in the old AMC in 2010, probably the 2011 Kennesaw State game was the most memorable in many strange ways as it was the death knell for Hewitt. The last win over UVA which I think was in 2016 and they were #4 in the country, 2020 at UNC one of the craziest games I've been to, the win over Louisville in 2020 which was sort of the end of the road for the Cards as they were #5 at the time, those are the ones that stick out. I missed a lot of the good times.

When should we expect announcements from the likes of Davis, Pippen and Doryan?

KQ- Over the next three or four weeks. I'm working to get more specific timelines but the portal opening and their commitments are going to probably align as they'll want to lock up spots BEFORE that happens if they are smart.

Why is the Women’s team in Decline exactly? Nell started of hot as a coach, but now things aren’t looking so good

KQ- I'm not really sure. I could ask Hunter about it. I don't cover the ladies basketball team.

What is the reasoning for insisting GT & UGA play baseball in a cold rain on Friday, rather than postponing to a later date? Seems like a SRO crowd would have been a possibility if the weather was better.

KQ- You are assuming there is some date that works in the future for that game to be played. Chances are there isn't as the way schedules lay out it makes it pretty hard even if you wanted to play like on a Thursday and then you are taxing your pitchers and position players with four or five games in a row. Baseball is pretty packed in and they have a hard enough time scheduling these three-game series as is.

Were there ever any comments made by Brent Key or anyone else last year about the decision to have our spring game on Saturday again? (Which I like and prefer). Or was it just decided with no real commentary? Seems like we were one of the only schools in the country who was having it on a Friday night Lol. I’m sure Brent thought it was odd.

KQ- Wasn't the last one under GC3 on St. Patrick's Day too? Anyway, Key is a traditionalist, he wants to play the spring game during the day on a Saturday. He wants a lot of traditions back on the Flats. I'm sure the field will be grass as soon as that is viable with contracts and money too.

How are you feeling about the state of GT’s football roster heading into next season? What would you hope to see in spring? How do you feel about the matchup against FSU? Do you think fsu has fully reloaded after losing a lot of key players from 2023?

KQ- I have not spent one second of brainpower thinking or looking at FSU's roster. When the portal closes in May then I will start to think about that stuff. I think there is too much that can change between now and then for any team to get into the details of it and they are not a team that I've kept tabs on as much.

GT's roster is in decent shape, they need some help on defense in some spots. I'm curious how and what they are doing schematically on that side of the ball. I think the offense is in pretty good shape and they will score points. I'll have a more detailed pre-spring thing later this week hopefully up including what I'm looking for. I always do something like that pre-spring ball and pre-fall camp as a content item.

A while back I thought it was stated a few times that Collins and Johnson had made some peace and that Paul had more lingering animosity for Stansbury, but it seemed on that interview it was the opposite. Did Paul and Geoff ever have peace at any point? Also did Paul and Todd ever bury the hatchet from the 2017 schedule and allowing Collins to keep running his mouth?

KQ- It went from CPJ probably wanting to rip that muskrat off GC3's head to him being able to stand for a few minutes in the same area as Collins and not cuss him out. That was what I considered progress. Collins had to kiss his feet a little to get it there. I have no clue where things stand with ADTS and CPJ. I've heard enough of his thoughts on Collins and Stansbury to last a lifetime. It is like asking someone about their politics, it is a rabbit hole I will only go down willingly now for content. I try to talk to CPJ about other shit when we talk now.

Do you think mens basketball investment is finally here to stay even if Damon were to leave? Meaning as long as Batt and Cabrera are here there the discount hires are over?

KQ- I think it varies AD to AD, Batt is a UNC guy and loves basketball so he is invested. D-Rad had a different view of how to fill that role at least here. Brian Gregory is the only basketball coach he has ever hired in 20+ years as an AD. So we don't know. With Batt it is a priority. I think with most ADs here it will be a priority.

On a scale of 1 to 10, what score would you give the new recruiting hire? The new WR coach hire?

KQ- RJ can answer the recruiting guy, that is more of his world. The new WR coach I think is a very good hire especially given the timing of the move. He had to move quickly and he found a guy who filled two holes in his staff in one hire.

Obviously 1 series doesn’t make a whole baseball season, but with the track record, the opponent, and the way it happened is this weekend the first big step in change finally happening with GT Baseball program?

@Russell Johnson

Is GT Baseball the athletic loss leader to be able to do business with Teixeira?

KQ- Unsure of your question.

How loud were people after Techs performance against uga?

KQ- Which sport?

How mad was key when Crawford left?

KQ- He wasn't at all. He wasn't surprised. It was something I saw coming if the right opportunity arose. Key is fine with guys moving up. He knows where GT is TODAY in the CFB landscape. His job is to change GT into the place where people want to go work, that isn't the case YET.

HOOPS My story: the GT revenge tour claims another with the win at Wake 70-69

#GaTech men's basketball revenge tour continued in Winston-Salem on Tuesday night as they may have popped the Deacs bubble with a 70-69 win.

GTWB: Morgan, Dunn Tabbed All-ACC Second Team

Kara Dunn and Tonie Morgan earn prestigious recognition


GREENSBORO, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s Tonie Morganand Kara Dunn picked up prestigious honors on Tuesday, earning All-ACC Second Team recognition as the Atlantic Coast Conference announced its postseason awards on the eve of the 2024 ACC Ally Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Currently leading the team in rebounding (6.7 rebounds per game), field goals made (171), assists (154) and free throws made (101), Morgan has put together an impressive sophomore campaign. An ACC All-Freshman Team honoree last season, Morgan ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game. She has logged a team-high 26 games scoring in double-figures this season, including six games with 20 or more points.

Morgan also leads the team with seven double-doubles and has flirted multiple times with a triple-double. The Tallahassee, Fla., native was named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team in November after averaging 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Morgan currently ties for 10th in the ACC in rebounding and sits in 12th in scoring.

The team’s leading scorer, Dunn earned ACC Player of the Week accolades earlier this season after dropping a career-high 39 points against Georgia State. Dunn’s career-high mark currently ties for the ACC individual scoring high this season. The sophomore owns 20 double-figure scoring games this season, including eight with 20 points or more. Dunn logged her second 30-plus point outing of the season at No. 6 NC State, dropping 31 points to help push overtime against the Wolfpack.

Dunn currently ranks ninth in the ACC in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game and ranks 10th in league games only with a 16.72 points per game average. Dunn leads the team in free throw percentage, connecting on 78.7 percent of her attempts this year. The Dallas, Ga., native has doubled her offensive output from her freshman season when she averaged 7.6 points per game.

The all-ACC team honors mark the first for both Morgan and Dunn in their collegiate careers.

Headlining the postseason awards is Player of the Year, Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech) and Defensive Player of the Year, Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), who also picked up Rookie of the Year honors.

Georgia Tech returns to the hardwood at the 2024 Ally ACC Tournament on Wednesday, March 6 against Pitt. The Yellow Jackets and Panthers tip at 3:30 p.m. on the ACC Network.

2023-24 ACC Postseason Awards
Player of the Year:
Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse
Sixth Player of the Year: Oluchi Okananwa, Fr., G, Duke
Most Improved Player: Liatu King, Sr., F, Pitt

All-ACC First Team
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
Deja Kelly, North Carolina
Aziaha James, NC State
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Liatu King, Pitt

All-ACC Second Team
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Amari Robinson, Clemson
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Kiki Jefferson, Louisville
Kymore Johnson, Virginia
Tonie Morgan, Georgia Tech
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Reigan Richardson, Duke
Olivia Cochran, Louisville

All-Defensive Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Dontavia Waggoner, Boston College

All-Freshman Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Kymore Johnson, Virginia
Zoe Brookes, NC State
Oluchi Okananwa, Duke
Alyssa Latham, Syracuse

ACC Most Improved
Liatu King, Pitt

ACC Sixth Player
Oluchi Okananwa, Duke

BASEBALL Burress Named Perfect Game Player of the Week



Freshman outfielder garners national recognition for stellar week



THE FLATS –
Georgia Tech baseball true freshman Drew Burress(Houston County, Ga./Houston County) continues to impress nationally, earning National Player of the Week honors from Perfect Game, it was announced Tuesday.



The Houston County product has been unstoppable at the plate and etched his name into Georgia Tech history last week when he homered a school-record four times against Georgia State. Burress is just the 14th player and third freshman in NCAA Division I to accomplish the feat since 2012.



He then continued his offensive onslaught with a triple on Saturday against Georgia and two hits, including a double, against UGA at Coolray Field in the Spring Classic. For the week, he went 7-for-13, batting .538 with three walks, five runs scored and six RBI.



Through 10 games this season, Burress is already mounting a strong freshman campaign, hitting .419 on the season with 18 hits – a whopping 16 of which for extra-bases.



With an OPS of 1.733, the true freshman centerfielder leads the country in home runs (9) and home runs per game (0.90), while also leading the ACC in slugging percentage (1.233) and total bases (53). He’s third in ACC in RBI (20) and RBI per game (2.00) and is fourth with six doubles.



Burress and the Yellow Jackets kick off a five-game homestand on Wednesday, March 6 against Northeastern. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra. Tickets can be purchased by going to ramblinwreck.com

FOOTBALL Q's Update sponsored by Inteleca: Key follows his process to land WR coach

Thanks to our sponsor Inteleca for helping bring back Q's Take my weekly look at things around GT and college sports from my vantage.


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Brent Key remains consistent with his process in all phases of his GT football program and it was no different with the WR coaching search. My original planned update was to say that he was down to two candidates, but he was able to close the deal with Trent McKnight formerly of Georgia State.

With the hire done, I can share some of the processes that Key goes through when making his staff moves. There were numerous interviews this week for both this spot and for the final spots in the recruiting office as well.

The search was done under wraps intentionally. Key values the message coming from him or approved by him so there were no leaks, no names, or anything else until it was almost done. Key is from the Saban/GOL tree and they want to control the message and the info that gets out understandably. The four prior years to him being named head coach were often a misadventure when it came to that and it took time to clear things out and set the tone for how things run now. It is much more akin to how CPJ ran things as well. One voice, one message.

So in terms of making a decision I was told there were two main factors at play, one was coaching and player development and the second part was recruiting. Key believes every one of the position coaches and the coordinators must carry their weight with recruiting though the coordinators are generally going to have more specific roles and less ground to cover than a normal assistant coach. With this hire, Key was looking for someone to help Tech in South Georgia.

The Jackets only have four scholarship players from that area currently on scholarship and one of them is a stretch calling him a South Georgia kid, Isiah Canion from Warner Robins. The others for those wondering are Jamie Felix, Weston Franklin and a transfer Omar Daniels. That is an area where Key wants to improve and it has produced a lot of talented players over the years and ones really dedicated to the game of football. Key's staff has done a great job in the ATL area and North Georgia spot recruiting, but South Georgia wasn't providing as much talent as it should given the quality of players found down there.

So why McKnight? My sources told me that Key took the pulse of some trusted HS coaching sources in South Georgia and was told that no one outworks or outrecruits McKnight down there. He signed quality players and had Georgia State punching above their weight in the backyard of Georgia Southern and other programs down there as an assistant coach.

So that was one part of it. He brings a fit in an area of major need.

The first part is player development and his resume is full of all-conference performers at receiver both at Georgia State and Samford before that.

Here is a line that stood out to me in his Ga State bio

As receivers coach, he tutored six All-Sun Belt Conference receivers and three of the top five pass catchers in program history. During that time, the Panthers set school records for scoring average (33.3 ppg in 2020), points (406 in 2019), touchdowns (53 in 2019) and total offense (439.8 ypg in 2019) while producing the top scoring averages in program history from 2019-21.

His receivers overproduced under his watch and that is something I think that has been missing since Buzz Preston left the Flats. They haven't really turned out a good WR who is an all-conference player and a really solid all-around receiver with Eric Singleton Jr. being the closest to that and that was very much his raw talent on display as a freshman and not a ton of development yet. The WR rooms have been in the bottom half of the ACC for several years going back to probably 2016 or so. That is not a knock on Josh Crawford either as he was only with the program for a year, more of just an observation of the need for more talent and better player development.

He can also coach tight ends and quarterbacks so he gives Key some flexibility in the future as well if someone else leaves and he wants to shuffle bodies around.

Given the tight window Key was working with and the timing of the coaching change, McKnight seems like a great fit and it will give someone who has been a fast riser in the business in McKnight a chance to elevate his profile as well as try to build up GT's WR room that used to be one of the best in CFB and produced some really amazing talent from the 1980s through the mid-2010s.

GTWB: Jackets Sting Miami in Overtime, 71-66


Women’s basketball led by Blackshear and Morgan in final regular season game

CORAL GABLES, Fla. Tonie Morgan finished with a double-double and Kayla Blackshear dropped a team-high 18 points as Georgia Tech women’s basketball closed out the regular season with a 71-66 victory in overtime at Miami on Sunday. The Yellow Jackets shot 89 percent at the free throw line to pull out the road victory.

It was a back-and-forth battle in the first half as Georgia Tech (16-14, 7-11 ACC) held the largest lead of the opening 20 minutes, gaining a four-point advantage twice. The teams worked through nine lead changes and stood knotted at 14-apiece after the first quarter. Tied at 21-21 in the second frame, Morgan hit a triple to open a Georgia Tech lead, but the Hurricanes did not go lightly, crawling back to take the lead on a three-point play from Latasha Lattimore with 1:53 to play. Sydney Johnson briefly returned the edge to the Jackets with a three-pointer, but Shayeann Day-Wilson hit her fifth triple of the half to give Miami the 36-35 halftime lead.

After an even third quarter, Tech trailed by one entering the final frame. A pair of triples from Inés Noguero knotted the score at 57-57 with 7:24 to play, but Miami answered with a three-pointer of its own to retake the lead. The Jackets would tie the score twice more from the free throw line as Kara Dunn sank a pair of freebies with 33.0 seconds to play to tie the game at 62-62. A game-winner didn’t fall for the Jackets, forcing overtime in Coral Gables.

Johnson opened the extra period hitting a triple in front of Tech’s bench and the Jackets finished strong at the free throw line, going 6-for-6 over the final minute to capture a 71-66 victory on the road. Miami was held to a 28.6 percent shooting clip from the field in overtime and was 0-for-4 at the free throw line.

For the game, Tech converted 17-of-19 free throw attempts, while Miami went 6-for-16. Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field, while the Hurricanes won the battle on the glass, 46-44.

Morgan finished with a double-double behind 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Blackshear just missed a double-double performance with 18 points and nine rebounds. The Jackets hit eight three-pointers in the game amongst six different players connecting from long distance.

After scoring 21 points in the first half, Day-Wilson was held to six in the final three periods to finish with 27 points for the game. Lazaria Spearman added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Miami.

Georgia Tech returns to action at the 2024 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, which runs March 6-10 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.

Georgia Tech Golf Heads West for Lamkin Invitational



No. 13 Yellow Jackets get a taste of Southern California golf in 3rd spring event



Tech Schedule and Results | Pairings and Leaderboard (Golfstat) | Scoreboard Collegiate Rankings

THE FLATS – Continuing to work toward another berth in the NCAA Championship, which this year will be held in the San Diego area, 13th-ranked Georgia Tech heads to nearby Chula Vista, Calif., Monday and Tuesday to take part in the RE Lamkin Invitational.

The Yellow Jackets, No. 13 in the Scoreboard collegiate rankings and No. 11 in the Bushnell/GCAA coaches poll, finished in sixth place against a stacked field at the Amer Ari Intercollegiate in Hawai’i to open the spring, and tied for second place against another strong field two weeks ago in the Watersound Invitational in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Sixteen teams will compete over two days (Monday and Tuesday) at San Diego Country Club. The teams will play 36 holes Monday in a shotgun start beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the final 18-hole round Tuesday starting at 11 a.m. EST from the first and 10th tees. Three of the competing teams are ranked in the current Scoreboard NCAA Golf Rankings – Washington (4), Georgia Tech (13) and New Mexico (19) – with five others listed in the top 50.

After guiding the Yellow Jackets to the program’s 19th Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship last spring, head coach Bruce Heppler returned three starters for his 29th season on The Flats, including seniors Bartley Forrester (Gainesville, Ga.) and Christo Lamprecht (George, South Africa) and sophomore Hiroshi Tai (Singapore), each of whom are ranked among the world’s top 100 amateur players. They have formed the foundation of the Tech lineup throughout the 2023-24 academic year.

TECH LINEUP – All three of Tech’s returning starters – Lamprecht, Forrester and Tai – are in the lineup for the Lamkin Invitational along with freshmen Kale Fontenot (Lafayette, La.) and Carson Kim (Yorba Linda, Calif), the same lineup that has competed at the Yellow Jackets’ first two events this spring.

Lamprecht is currently ranked the No. 1 amateur in the world and No. 1 in the PGA Tour University rankings, and No. 2 in the Scoreboard collegiate rankings. The 6-8 senior won twice in the fall, winning the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational and the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, and missed a third victory by one stroke at the Watersound Invitational two weeks ago. He owns a team-best 68.47 stroke average, which is on pace to set a Tech program record.

Forrester, ranked No. 136 in the Scoreboard rankings, led the Yellow Jackets Amer Ari Intercollegiate, tying for eighth place with a 15-under-par total of 201, the second-lowest 54-hole score of his career. He posted a top-10 finish at Olympia Fields and two top-20s in the fall. Tai, ranked No. 89, tied for 18th place at the Amer Ari and followed that with a tie for eighth at the Watersound Invitational.

Fontenot is No. 60 in the Scoreboard rankings after tying for 14th place at Watersound, and won the stroke play portion of the East Lake Cup in the fall. Kim tied for 56th at Watersound and 30th at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate in the fall for his best finishes this year.

Sophomore Aidan Tran (Fresno, Calif.), who played in two fall events and tied for 49th at the Golf Club of Georgia, is competing as an individual for the second straight event, having tied for 37th at Watersound.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – Georgia Tech is in the RE Lamkin Invitational for the first time in the event’s 17-year history. The tournament follows the traditional collegiate 54-hole, 5-count-4, stroke-play format, with 36 holes Monday and 18 holes Tuesday. The event is contested at San Diego Country Club, a venue measuring 7,033 yards (par 72).

The 16-team field includes BYU (43), Cal Poly, Colorado (70), Colorado State (57), Fresno State (48), Georgia Tech (13), Hawai’i, LSU (29), Loyola Marymount (41), New Mexico (19), Saint Mary’s, San Diego, San Diego State (31), Santa Clara, Washington (4) and Wyoming.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING Reaction coming in from some top WR targets on the Crawford news..

Login to view embedded media "To be honest, I am very shocked and surprised. I just dropped my top ten on Sunday, and Georgia Tech is on there. The main reason was Coach Crawford. We built a strong relationship over the past year, and I went over to GT twice. I guess it is just business."
Login to view embedded media "Crazy. A lot of coaching changes everywhere in the last few weeks. It feels like I just spoke with him about GT. Congrats to him."
Login to view embedded media "Josh was really my guy.. him and coach Dre (Smelter) really treated me good and we had a decent relationship going on. Not sure where this leaves me, as I do not know if the next coach is going to re-offer. Have to wait and see now."
Login to view embedded media "I really liked him and GT, but I think he is in good hands at UGA. I really like him as a coach. As for my interest in GT, let's see who they bring in."
Login to view embedded media "Man that's crazy. Coach Crawford wanted me to come to GT so bad, and just like that he's gone. Crazy."

Disney and ACC “Crush” a New Collaboration – Dr Pepper Named an Official Conference Sponsor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TheACC.com) – Dr Pepper is the newest official sponsor of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as part of a new multi-year agreement with the ACC and Disney Advertising. Through 2026, Dr Pepper will introduce several new sponsorship elements as the brand returns as an official ACC sponsor for the first time since 2019, having served as a media sponsor for the last four years. As the exclusive carbonated soft drink sponsor of the ACC, Dr Pepper and its sister brand, Crush, will be featured across ACC signage and branding at championship events.​

“It is tremendous to have Dr Pepper, which is an amazing brand, as an official partner of the ACC,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “Having Dr Pepper and Crush’s support will directly benefit the ACC’s soon-to-be 18 member institutions, 28 sponsored sports and more than 12,500 student-athletes. We look forward to building upon the incredible relationship with Dr Pepper and we appreciate our partners at Disney and ESPN in further elevating the ACC.”

“Disney and Dr Pepper have a longstanding relationship, especially when it comes to supporting college athletics,” said Marco Forte, SVP of Sales, Disney Advertising. “Whether it’s on the field, on the court or through the ACC Network, Disney Advertising continues to prioritize and identify new, unique ways for brands to connect with audiences.”

As the premier sponsor of all ACC Championship events, Dr Pepper will have a prominent on-site presence throughout the season during ACC Network (ACCN) events and at the ACC Football Championship Game. Through a variety of branding, signage, and activation opportunities, Dr Pepper will play a vital role in providing hospitality, tickets, and unforgettable experiential moments to the ACC’s biggest fans. Additionally, both Dr Pepper and Crush will enjoy full access to ACC intellectual property and marks, integrating the conference’s promotional rights into national marketing campaigns.

During the college basketball season, Crush will sponsor the ACC Network's signature basketball show, Nothing But Net, featuring integrations throughout live games alongside an interactive fan voting feature, powered by Telescope, in select ACC evening shows.

Across college football and basketball, Dr Pepper will retain its existing sponsorship activations, including:
  • Presenting sponsor of weeknight college football on ACCN
  • Sponsor of custom Dr Pepper Fansville Studio Updates
  • Tuition Throw Halftime Promotion at ACC Football Championship
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HOOPS Notes and Quotes 3/1

I was unable to attend due to my youngest having his four-year-old doctor's appointment and shots today.

Damon Stoudamire

On his three seniors Kyle, Ty and Carter, he said it has been great coaching all three and they are great guys. I wish he had them earlier in their careers from a selfish standpoint. They've done a great job. Kyle and Ty have had a bigger impact on the court in games, but Carter has had just as big of an impact with his voice in the locker room and the maturity of who he is and where he came from. He is a walk-on, but he played at Air Force last year and played a significant role there and then came here to GT to be an engineer. His whole thing was being able to help any way he could. He really appreciates haveing him around with his experience and knowledge on the floor.

On Kyle's clutch free throw shooting, he gives you have comfort zone and that is always great to have your ball handler as you best free throw shooter and Kyle has been money at the free throw line and he has done a great job and it always gives you a comfort zone having a guy like that at the end of games.

Stoudamire said the season isn't over yet and he isn't in self-reflection mode yet on his first year here. They are still trying to win games and they've won 2 of 3 and this is a big game for GT against FSU and they pose different challenges. They need to handle their pressure, not turn the ball over, rebound the ball, and on the defensive end limit them to one shot and that is their focus. It is not the last game and they are not buried yet. They are playing every game left as if they have something to gain.

The last time, they had bad offense and they've got to share the ball like they did last weekend at Miami. If they have that they'll be in a position to have a chance to win.

He said there is a lot to play for and a lot with the seedings. They are still playing and trying to be the best they can be and FSU tomorrow will be a chance to improve that.

Stoudamire said they gave the guys Wednesday off to rest and they practiced the rest of the week. The break was needed and they got some rest for guys with nicknack injuries and worked on a few things as well. They are looking forward to finishing the season strong.

Stoudamire said they do a lot of film work and they watch film all the time. They just need to get it. This part of the year is more mental than physical. You will get more done off the floor than on it this time of the year.

On Nait George studying under Kyle, it is the seasoning part of it, just seeing how Kyle reacted to a lot of things that were going on. I know in a lot of respects he had a good year, but he was a part-time starter last year and started the last 10 games for Tech last year and he hasn't started a game this year and I think he has handled that well. I thought he showed a great sense of maturity in handling that on and off the floor and I hope Nait can take that away from him. Kyle is a high-character individual to be able to do the things he did. He is what a student-athlete embodies.

Stoudamire said part of the offensive issues is guys getting bored doing the same things over and over again and he thinks the Miami game is the recipe, but it has been the same recipe all year and that has recipe has worked for the most part in their wins this year. They have to share the ball and they are a better team when they share the ball. Getting guys to stay the course of what they are doing and that is why there have been so many inconsistencies, getting too high off wins and too low off losses. Good teams/good programs do that, don't get too high or low.

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