Is Georgia Tech Better Off if Paul Hewitt Goes To
I read some rumors recently about St. John's having some interest in Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt. Well, this story has some real substance to it. According to multiple sources, including the NY Post, St. John's will interview Hewitt on Wednesday.
Hewitt is a native New Yorker and has on more than one occasion expressed how much he enjoys the area. At the same time, he's made it clear he and his family like Atlanta.
Sounds like a win a win for Hewitt whether he stays or goes, but what about Georgia Tech?
Would Georgia Tech be better off without Hewitt?
First off, in Hewitt's 10 years, he's always represented Georgia Tech with class. The school has never sniffed a recruiting violation during his tenure. Paul Hewitt the person has never been questioned, Paul Hewitt the coach has been.
This past year, Georgia Tech went 23-13, made it to the second round of the NCAAs, and went to the finals of the ACC tournament.
By and large a pretty successful season, but this is not happy fanbase. As a Georgia Tech fan myself, the frustration runs deep. When Hewitt first arrived, he took a team with an indifferent big man Alvin Jones, a lazy PG Tony Akins, and a Division II transfer Shaun Fein, among others.
I consider the fact that this team made the NCAAs a greater coaching achievement than when the 2003-2004 made the Final Four.
Though the Final Four team is considered Hewitt's crowning moment, after making the NCAAs three of his first five years, including the Final Four team, I thought Hewitt was the man to lead Georgia Tech to greatness.
It never materialized.
Over the next five years, Georgia Tech lost an incredible 52 ACC regular season games and won only six ACC road games. Combine that with teams that were turnover prone, fundamentally poor, and in general regarded as underachieving given their talent, and you can see why the Jackets' fanbase turned on Hewitt.
I'm having a difficult time deciding what is best for Georgia Tech. I saw some strides this year. Hewitt had been criticized for relying on one and done players. His last recruiting class will return every player except most likely Derrick Favors.
Glen Rice Jr, Mfon Udofia, and Brian Oliver will form the core of the Jackets' backcourt for the next two to three years. Hewitt hasn't had any continuity at guard since Jarrett Jack and Will Bynum were there. He is a good recruiter. There is no doubt about that.
I think Georgia Tech can succeed with Hewitt there. I would like to see a real emphasis on the fundamentals. There is no reason the Jackets should be turning the ball over 15-20 times a game. Overhauling his assistants may help there. The problem is that the fans aren't totally behind Hewitt.
The local media has challenged his near seven million roll-over contract, and Hewitt himself has bristled at the criticism this year. It sounds like the two parties are ready and almost hoping to split.
If Hewitt stays, the fans have to get behind him, because his NCAA tournament appearance and contract have ensured at least two more years in Atlanta. In addition, it would be wise of Hewitt to not fire back so much at justified criticisms.
His previous two teams to this one were pretty bad. He can't let the St. John's discussions go on too long. Bobby Cremins' interest in South Carolina in the early '90s marked the beginning of the end for Cremins' great run at Georgia Tech.
Upon final analysis, Hewitt may have just burned too many bridges with Georgia Tech fans the last few years with his team's performance, and it won't get better next year with likely losses of Favors and Gani Lawal, in addition to seniors De'Andre Bell and Zachary Peacock.
Maybe it's time Paul Hewitt and Georgia Tech just part ways.
Villanova's Reynolds, Fisher won't start opener
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -Villanova guards Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher will not start in the NCAA tournament opener against Robert Morris.
A team spokesman said coach Jay Wright benched the pair as a "minor teaching point," although they will play in Thursday's game.
Reynolds leads the second-seeded Wildcats in scoring with 18.5 points a game and Fisher is second at 13.7 points. Both had started every game this season.
Maalik Wayns and Corey Stokes started for the Wildcats.
Wright held forward Taylor King out the season finale against West Virginia for the same "teaching point" reason.
Reynolds and Fisher led the Wildcats onto the court and participated in all pregame drills.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.
Kansas vs Colorado Game: College Basketball Spread Prediction
It's time to make a point spread betting prediction in the ESPN 2 college basketball game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Colorado Buffaloes.
The Kansas Jayhawks come into this game as the #1 team in college basketball and it will be a wonder if the Colorado Buffaloes are able to escape with a home win on ESPN 2 tonight. The Kansas vs Colorado game is set to start at a time of 9:00 PM ET and it's not a big surprise to see the Jayhawks as the huge point spread betting favorites right now.
Sportsbook has the Kansas vs Colorado spread betting odds favoring the road-team Jayhawks at 14.5 while the prediction for the total sits at 151.5. Both Kansas and the over have seen some steam and I just can't see many people choosing the Buffaloes in this college basketball game. Make sure to take advantage of the 10% sign-up bonus for new customers that this sportsbook is currently offering.
Kansas will put their 20-1 record this year on the line against the Colorado Buffaloes (11-10) and this game could be a route. The Jayhawks have covered the spread betting odds in 9 games this season while the Buffaloes sit at 8-8-1.
One thing that the Colorado Buffaloes do have going for them in tonight's game is a 10-1 home record that trumps the 7-1 mark the Jayhawks have acquired away from their home court this year.
These two Big 12 teams are no stranger to each other and the Colorado Buffaloes have covered the point spread in 4 of the last 6 meetings against the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas has, however, covered in 6 of the last 10 with the under odds being the correct play in 8 of the last 10 times these squads have met up.
You'll want to make your Kansas vs Colorado betting prediction on the Jayhawks. Colorado simply doesn't have the inside play or rebounding to keep this game close and the Jayhawks should roll over the Buffaloes in tonight's college basketball game.
(c) TheOnlinewire.com, 2004-2008.
NCAA Basketball Insider - Defending National Champs on the Ropes
As the month of January comes to a close, BetUS Sportsbook poses five questions that should be on the minds of all NCAA basketball betting fans for the week ahead...
1: How much longer can the Kentucky Wildcats stay undefeated? Now that Texas has fallen from the ranks of the unbeatens, only Kentucky remains with a donut in the loss column. It's hard to see how much longer this can go on for, though.
The Cats probably don't have the best team in the nation, and the SEC slate from here on in is treacherous. If one of these next three games don't trip them up (@ South Carolina, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Ole Miss), then sure, the stretch of five games starting February 13th will yield at least a loss or two (vs. Tennessee, @ Mississippi State, @ Vanderbilt, vs. South Carolina, @ Tennessee).
2: How much farther will North Carolina fall? Things are starting to get sticky for the defending NCAA champs. UNC has fallen out of the Top-25, and it is just 12-7 SU and a stunning 1-3 in conference play. This is still a team that has yet to win a legitimate road game on the season, which doesn't bode well considering that three of its next four are away from Chapel Hill.
After getting reamed by an average of 11.3 points per game in their L/3 NCAA basketball betting affairs, the Tar Heels are going to be hard-pressed to keep their name alive for the NCAA Tournament so they can defend their crown.
3: Northwestern Wildcats: Fact or Fiction? There are certainly a lot of signs floating around that suggest that the Wildcats should be a legitimate NCAA Tournament team. They're 14-5, they've scored wins over Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, NC State, and Notre Dame, and they really don't have any glaring losses on their resume.
Yet, they only have two legitimate road wins, and neither one of those may be against NCAA Tournament teams (NC State & Michigan), and an RPI in the 60s. So with road games this week at Minnesota and Michigan State, prove it to us, Northwestern. Are you legit, or just a farce?
4: How will the Atlantic 10 shape up this week? This is arguably the most interesting conference in America right now. The A-10 is clearly a better conference than the Pac-10 is, and there are legitimately still a boat load of teams that have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. Starting on Tuesday, there are some big time NCAA basketball betting battles on tap. Rhode Island visits Dayton on Tuesday, Temple and Charlotte locks horns on Wednesday, and St. Louis plays Richmond on Saturday.
5: Are we watching two NCAA Tournament teams battle when Cornell faces Harvard this week? Don't kid yourself. Saturday's clash between Harvard and Cornell is going to be worth watching. These two teams are a combined 29-6 heading into this week, and those six losses came to Seton Hall, Syracuse, Kansas, Georgetown, Connecticut, and Army.
Both have proved that they can play ball with the big boys, and the inside track to the Ivy League's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament will be up for grabs when the Big Red face the Crimson this weekend. When it's all said and done though, both teams should have at least 22 or 23 wins to their resume, and especially if it's Harvard that captures the conference crown, both teams may be dancing come March Madness.
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
College Hoops Odds: Marquette vs Syracuse
Coming off a devastating loss Wednesday night, the Marquette Golden Eagles come into this weekend's college basketball betting action in desperate need of a win. It won't come easy however, as they travel to face one of college basketball's best teams the Syracuse Orange.
After ending last year in the Sweet 16 and losing point guard Jonny Flynn to the NBA, expectations were low coming into this season at Syracuse. However, there hasn't been a better surprise this season than the Orange, who've lost just one game in 2010, to Pittsburgh three weeks ago. They return to the court after a dominating road win at Notre Dame Monday night.
Here are some NCAAB Betting Trends which may impact this game:
Marquette: 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games
Marquette: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 games
Syracuse: 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games
Syracuse: 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
Syracuse: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 games
Syracuse has maybe the most balanced starting five in all of college basketball. Brandon Triche is the penetrating point guard, Andy Rautins the long range shooter (48 3-pointers made this season), with Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson down low. And doing a little bit of everything is junior transfer Wesley Johnson. On the season, Johnson has made a strong case for Big East Player of the Year, as he's averaging 17 points and close to nine rebounds per game. Syracuse is the top field goal percentage shooting team in college basketball, making 53 percent of their shots from the field.
As for Marquette, they are coming off their worst loss in recent memory Wednesday night. Not only did the Golden Eagles lose to helpless DePaul (8-10 overall, 1-5 in the Big East), but lost the game in crippling fashion. Leading comfortably most of the game, they missed two foul shots late, blowing a four point lead in the final 20 SECONDS! Marquette will certainly need more than the 50 points they scored Wednesday night if they are to hang close with Syracuse.
The Golden Eagles biggest problem coming into this game, has been one that has plagued them for the better part of three years: They simply don't have the size to compete with the Big East's best. Their best player is Lazar Hayward, a workhorse down low that averages 18 points and seven rebounds per game. However, he is just 6'6, and is often forced to face much bigger players. The rest of Marquette's lineup is filled out by lightning quick guards, and another smallish forward, Jimmy Butler.
Because of Marquette's lack of size, their biggest problem coming into this game will clearly be on the boards. Syracuse ranks 40th in college basketball, grabbing 39 rebounds per game, while Marquette ranks 224th. If the Golden Eagles are to have any chance, they'll need to get Syracuse's big guys in foul trouble early.
Even still, it's hard to picture Marquette winning Saturday afternoon. Although they're definitely better than they looked against DePaul Wednesday, they have no where near the talent level of Syracuse either.
Because of it, the Orange should be able to control the paint, guard on the perimeter and let the home crowd help them to victory.
Take Syracuse in this weekend's betting odds.
Aaron's Pick: Syracuse by 13
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
NCAAB Mississippi vs Tennessee Spread
Two key SEC powerhouses go head to head in this important confrontation.
Mississippi vs Tennessee on Saturday appears to have the makings of a very important game. They are both ranked in the top 25 and the loser of this game will likely end up with a lower seed when the SEC tournament comes around.
The Vols have opened as 8-point favorites on college basketball odds.
Tennessee (13-2, 1-1 road ATS) has really come together since star player Tyler Smith was kicked off the team permanently and three others were suspended for an arrest. UT has won five in a row overall and three straight -- including an upset of No. 1 Kansas -- since those four have been sidelined. The Vols were in a tough game with Auburn at the half on Thursday night but then outscored the Tigers 43-18 after intermission. UT shot a season-high 60.8 percent from the field in the game. Without Smith and the suspended players, the Vols have little depth and heavily rely on Scotty Hopson (13.6 ppg) and Wayne Chism 11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
While UT has to play about 40 hours after its last game, the Rebels (13-3, 2-3 home ATS) will have an extra day's rest as they won at Georgia by four on Wednesday. All three of Ole Miss' losses this season have come against ranked teams (Villanova, West Virginia) or one that soon will be (Mississippi State). The Rebs are led by guards Chris Warren (seventh in the SEC in scoring at 16.4 ppg) and Terrico White (16.2 ppg, eighth in SEC).
When deciding your college basketball bet at Bodog on this one, know that the home team has won each game in this series since the 2003-04 season. And Ole Miss is not a good road team in SEC play, going 3-13 over the previous two seasons. The Rebels have never beaten a Top 10 team in Coach Andy Kennedy's four seasons. Tennessee, meanwhile, has won nine in a row at home and 21 of its past 24 SEC games in Knoxville. Look for plenty of points, as Ole Miss leads the SEC in scoring (83.4 ppg) while Tennessee is third (81.5 ppg).
(c) CRUNCH SPORTS.
NCAA Basketball Saturday 3-Game Parlay
The NCAAB basketball lines aren't out on Saturday's games just yet, but that's okay. We can still provide a decent preview of some of the more interesting games so that when the odds do come out tomorrow morning, sportsbook gamblers will have enough information to make good betting decisions.
Let's take a look at some of the key games this Saturday in college hoops.
Big East: #13 Connecticut Huskies vs. #12 Georgetown Hoyas
Tip-off: 12:00 pm EST
Analysis: Connecticut is 11 and 3 and the Hoyas are 11 and 2. Georgetown's success relies on the play of terrific guards Austin Freeman and Chris Wright. Both guards can score and both, more importantly, can dish the rock. Wright has the ability to put up 15 points and around 6 assists a game. Freeman, in the Hoyas' last game, went for 20 points and 6 assists. Center Greg Monroe is a big kid from Louisiana who not only gets points, he averages over 14 a game, but can pull down rebounds, he averages close to 10 a game.
Connecticut will try to counter the Hoyas' balance with fantastic guard Jerome Dyson. Dyson averages close to 20 points, over 5 assists, and almost 6 rebounds per game. He runs the show for the Huskies. Guard Kemba Walker is a terrific backcourt teammate to Dyson.
These teams are evenly matched except in the center position where Georgetown has the edge. With two terrific guards and a good center, the Hoyas should be able to protect their home court.
Winning Pick: Georgetown Hoyas to win by at least 3 points.
Big Ten: #4 Purdue Boilermakers vs. #20 Wisconsin Badgers
Tip-off: 1:30 pm EST
Analysis: Wisconsin is 6 and 1 against the spread at home. This was supposed to be a down year for the Badgers but they have a 12 and 3 record straight-up and have beaten Duke, Marquette and Ohio State this season.
They have another advantage in that 6' 10'' forward Jon Leuer, who averages over 16 points per game, could guard Purdue's fantastic big man Robbie Hummel one on one. Hummel, unfortunately for the Badgers, isn't the only star on Purdue's front line. Jujuan Johnson averages over 7 rebounds per game. Leuer will need some help to tackle both Hummel and Johnson but no team in college basketball plays better team defense than the Badgers.
Purdue Boilmakers is undefeated and has beaten a couple of decent teams in Wake Forest and West Virginia, but battling Wisconsin at home is something all together different. Wisconsin should go off the underdog in this game. I think there's a good chance that they will hand Purdue their first loss of the season.
Pick: Wisconsin to win straight-up
ACC: #5 Duke Blue Devils vs. #17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Tip-off: 2:00 pm EST
Analysis: The Dookies have lost only once this season and that was to Wisconsin. The Duke Blue Devils have looked exceptional in victories over Clemson, Connecticut, Penn State and Gonzaga. 6' 5'' guard John Scheyer is averaging 6 assists and close to 20 points per game. With Scheyer having such a good season, the pressure is off of forward Kyle Sigler who can still put a dagger into the hearts of opposing defenses by stepping behind the 3 point line and draining the basketball.
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
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