BasketJackets: Game 11 vs Southeastern Louisiana, Mon. Dec. 21, 7:00 (ESPN-3)

[GTJT622]

The first of 2 quick home games before Christmas this week tonight against the 2-9 SE La Lions out of the Southland Conference. This will be 3 games in a 5-day stretch for the BJ's.

While the loss at the Cesspool is obviously very disappointing, a 1-1 week last week was OK. Not bad. Not good.

SELA has traveled to FSU and lost by 17 pts and is coming off a 3-pt loss at Florida A&M 2 days later while in Tallahassee last Tuesday.

This should be a win and move to 8-3 on the season for the Good Guys with Colgate coming to town Wednesday evening. Need to get Double-Double Chuck going again, though the team will have to generate its own enthusiasm these next 3 games as I imagine the Enormous Hooter will be over half-empty.

Go Jackets!

 

[BornAJacket]

I will be working a high school game tonight, the merchandise table. Glad its not food...

I will definitely have the GT app ready for the game broadcast.

 

[GTJT622]

FWIW, Tech has dropped to 82 in the RPI.

Our next 3 OOC opponents are: SELA (337), Colgate (235) and Duquesne (116). Duquesne is 10-2 on the season so far, but they've played the 267th toughest schedule to date per RPI.

We likely are 10-3 heading into the ACC schedule. To get into contention for the NCAAT bubble, we likely need to go 9-9 in the ACC to get to 19-12 heading into the ACCT.

From what I've seen, here's the way I'd break down our ACC schedule:

Definite Losses (4): at UNC, Virginia, Duke, at Louisville

Likely Losses (2): at Pitt, at Florida State

Toss Ups (8): at Notre Dame, Louisville, at NC State, at Syracuse, Miami, at Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt

Likely Wins (3): Va Tech, Wake Forest, at Boston College

Definite Wins (1): Clemson

I'm of course nervous to ever call any win by this program in its current state as a "definite win" - especially to a program and HC that has owned us over the past 6 or 7 years - but, we should beat the Kitty Cats at home like we (finally!) did last year.

Almost half of the games (8) I view as toss ups. If we were to split those, we finish around 8-10 in the ACC. That would put us at 18-13 heading into the ACCT. Would be great to see this team protect its home floor with more regularity. We went 2-7 at home last year...with 6 of the 7 losses by 4 pts or less. Need to get over the hump obviously in those close games.

The start to the ACC schedule is very tough with the first 3 games labeled as definite losses (at UNC & home vs UVA) or likely losses (at Pitt) before heading to Notre Dame in game 4 on a late weeknight game. Getting a W in any of our first 4 ACC games to avoid an 0-4 start will be huge. After those first 4, we play 5 of our next 7 at home with only home vs Duke as a definite loss. How we do in that stretch combined with whether we can pull out a surprise in our first 4 games will define most likely how this season goes.

The ACC certainly did us no favors in scheduling our early segment to the conference schedule. But, we have to play 'em some time and pull off a surprise or two and that provides momentum for when the schedule eases just a bit. And "eases" is of course relative because even the Hokies and Eagles and Tigers are not gimmes like other conferences have at the bottom. The Good Guys have been at and are projected again to be at the bottom of the conference and we are no gimme either.

 

[BornAJacket]

I think I'd rather play most of the tough games early, as long as they aren't put together in some kind of crazy stretch with quick turn around on the road.

Playing the tough teams will help the players get better, at this point they need to focus on getting better and playing their game.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Realizing CBG has a few years left on his contract, however 6 wins or less in the ACC gets him the door IMHO. Of course with the AD here, waiting for retirement-seems to be the norm.

 

[BornAJacket]

I have been convinced by others, mainly the comments from RamblinRed that GT is set for a coach next season. This is 100% due to the plan in place to retire the Hewitt contract and work the buyout for Gregory. It is clear that donors are not going to come through to retire that contract early and the fans are not supporting the team this year with ticket sales. This may actually delay things. So it is what it is at this point. But if GT does win only 6, maybe that opens things up again.

I know some people outside are asking about GT and Johnson, if you doesn't return to the top 3 of the Coastal next season, then there is an entirely new financial problem to solve. IMO, GT's President isn't serious about building top 10 programs and Bobinski does not seem to be the type to push them for it either. The alumni are not giving with this purpose either. Again it is what it is at this point.

 

[Texwood]

Realizing CBG has a few years left on his contract, however 6 wins or less in the ACC gets him the door IMHO. Of course with the AD here, waiting for retirement-seems to be the norm.

Our AD is good at hammering paychecks and laying low. Not sure he has it in him to do something as proactive as firing and hiring.

 

[GTJT622]

Not the least bit worried right now about our head coaching situation. This team has the potential to make a run towards a NCAAT appearance. I'll stay focused on that for now and the coming weeks. To be re-evaluated in late January of course.

 

[BornAJacket]

Some people believe there is not chance at Louisville, Notre Dame or NCST wins either home or away. I am not that pessimistic right now. I agree with you thinking those are winnable toss-ups.

 

[Buzzforlife]

My apologies for doubting Ramblin Red, however after speaking with a dear friend, and a Ga. State graduate(who coincidently was the Director of Basketball Operations for GT in a prior regime)-he knows that this Senior-oriented team cannot have another sub-standard season. That was before the Mutt game. I hear we have a new donor stepping forward, who is not going to tolerate us being one of the bottom dwellers again. Very aware of the attendance problems. If this doesn't move the AD, I have plenty of C.J.'s miralax(Polyethylene Glycol 3350)that I will gladly donate to the cause.

I totally admire our Coach as a man, have spoken with him every Tech season. Love his attitude, his hustle at practices, and his ability to graduate players. Another poor year is not going to cut it. Hopefully, we get it going because close losses are not going to count now. Trying to be optimistic, although after watching some other teams in the conference-urgency is needed.

Apologize for hijacking this thread. Thought you might want to hear what I've been hearing.

 

[GTJT622]

Though we only have him for 1 season, I'm enjoying watching James White on offensive follow up dunks. Wow!! Good stuff.

Jackets up by 13 at the half in front of 142 or so fans. Yikes!

 

[GTJT622]

Chuck gets back into double-double form tonight, though after a slow start. James White also records a double-double. I like the way the guys are looking to take good shots in their range when open earlier in the shot clock.

In comes Colgate Wednesday night where the guys play their 3rd game in 5 days before a break for The Fat Man to arrive.

 

[BornAJacket]

My apologies for doubting Ramblin Red, however after speaking with a dear friend, and a Ga. State graduate(who coincidently was the Director of Basketball Operations for GT in a prior regime)-he knows that this Senior-oriented team cannot have another sub-standard season. That was before the Mutt game. I hear we have a new donor stepping forward, who is not going to tolerate us being one of the bottom dwellers again. Very aware of the attendance problems. If this doesn't move the AD, I have plenty of C.J.'s miralax(Polyethylene Glycol 3350)that I will gladly donate to the cause.

I totally admire our Coach as a man, have spoken with him every Tech season. Love his attitude, his hustle at practices, and his ability to graduate players. Another poor year is not going to cut it. Hopefully, we get it going because close losses are not going to count now. Trying to be optimistic, although after watching some other teams in the conference-urgency is needed.

Apologize for hijacking this thread. Thought you might want to hear what I've been hearing.

For ten years now we have heard rumors of a new donor stepping forward. I guess we will see.
If alumni want to see real change, they will grab the President's attention and ask him to do something about the artificial recruiting barrier to GT athletics. The one constructed by the professors, deans and administrators.

 

[BornAJacket]

Though we only have him for 1 season, I'm enjoying watching James White on offensive follow up dunks. Wow!! Good stuff.

Jackets up by 13 at the half in front of 142 or so fans. Yikes!

White was given his first start and responded well. He is very athletic. I wonder if this new starting line-up will last or if it was an experiment? The inside game was very tough early on as SE La packed in the lane with their zone defense. GT tried to shoot over it with limited success.

Glad they finally gained the lead and pulled away.