Wreck Ramblin

Beesball is just around the corner

The football team fell short down the stretch (losing to UGhA, WF in the ACC CG, and it's bowl game).

The basketball team will probably miss March Madness despite having two of the top recruits in the country. (We can hope for a white hot finish, but there's no basis to realistically expect it.) Traditonally, a disappointed GT team rarely wins more than a game or two in the NIT.

GT fans can take hope in the Beesball team, which shows great promise. Last year's team also faded at the CWS, losing two games in which it had a lead.  But, last year, we could say "There's always next year" and next year is now about 11 days away. The fist game is in Savannah on 2/10.

In minor sports, the Women's Tennis team, ranked 7th preseason, plays Thursday morning.

GT fans stay GT fans, through thick and thin.

GT thrown out of the bracket

Georgia Tech was seeded No. 8 last week but is currently the ninth option out of the ACC after three straight losses. Even though each team is judged individually, being the "ninth" team out of a conference in a very tough sell for the selection committee. Recent history shows the committee is much more likely to reward teams from non-BCS conferences with the final at-large spots. Which means we see New Mexico State -- despite a middling RPI -- getting a bid over the Yellow Jackets and other similar teams.

[ML, Fox Sports, 31JAN07]

optional comments in the continuation

WF 85, GT 75

Kyle Visser scored 26 points and the Demon Deacons got key points off free throws down the stretch for an 85-75 victory over Georgia Tech on Tuesday night.

Harvey Hale added 19 points and freshman Ishmael Smith had 10 points for the Demon Deacons (10-11, 2-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), who snapped a six-game losing streak.

Jeremis Smith and Ra'Sean Dickey scored 14 points each for the Yellow Jackets (13-8, 2-6), who suffered their 17th consecutive road loss and fourth straight overall.

Thaddeus Young and Anthony Morrow added 13 points each for Georgia Tech, which whittled down an 11-point halftime deficit to make it a game late in the second half.

The Yellow Jackets cut Wake Forest's lead to three points three times in the second half, and trailed by four points after a Dickey free throw pulled Georgia Tech within 70-66 with 4:39 left.

Looking for a break needle in a dark haystack: The good news for GT? Its next three games — Clemson, N.C. State and UConn — are at home.

[AP, 30JAN07] [MW, AJC, 30JAN07] [AVB, 30JAN07] [N&O. 30JAN07]
[WF AA coverage (stats, quotes)] [GT AA]

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Around the ACC Wed 31JAN07

While GT was dropping its 17th road game to WF, FSU shot a red-hot 63.3% to step on the Terps, 96-79 and get back to 4-4 in the ACC. [theACC.com] Turtle Soap is disgusted. Turtle Waxing is losing hope. And to think GT couldn't even beat this team.

UM is at UNC tonight at 7PM on ESPN (details in the continuation)

The ACC SEC Blog make predictions for Wednesday's games.

At 2-6 in the ACC, GT now has the 10th spot all to itself (at least until UM loses to UNC tonight). Some think the ACC will send 9 teams to the NCAA.

Tech tidbits for Wed 31JAN07

Annotated links to news of possible interest to GT fans are in the continuation.

Please do add others via comments.

Down time for WF

Wake Forest's descent to the bottom of the ACC last season was sudden and apparently not so temporary.

"We're just bereft of guys in our upper classes," Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser said. "It's just the way it's worked out. We had four kids who would be seniors."

The Deacons captured the ACC regular-season title in 2003 and then won 48 games in two seasons with Paul running the offense. Prosser said he believes the nucleus is good enough for them to eventually rise again.

[JC, Tally Dem, 25JAN07]

Following its loss to FSU Saturday, Wake Forest is now 1-7 in the league and 9-11 overall.

GT is favored by 5 - 5.5 over WF on the road. No better time to finally win a road game and break that ugly 16-game road losing streak.

A positive prediction

Wake Forest vs Georgia Tech
I have been thinking a lot about this Georgia Tech recently and have come up with some truths.

- Georgia Tech lacks basketball IQ right now.
- They have a tough time getting five guys on the floor on the same page at the same time.
- Ever since Dean Keener left for James Madison after the National Runner Up season of the 2003-2004, the Yellow Jackets half court offense has not been the same.
- Tech has lost 16 straight road games, but they have their best chance for the rest of the year against Wake Forest
- This Yellow Jacket team is beginning to look eerily similar to the 2002-2003 team where NBA All-Star Chris Bosh was a freshman. That team did not win an ACC road game until March and settled for the NIT.

With all that being said, I think Georgia Tech pulls this one out on the road.

[ACC SEC Blog, 30JAN07]

Getting that "No road win" monkey off their backs should help the Jackets' mindset.

Lady Jackets beat WF Sunday

Georgia Tech had a simple plan for its game against Wake Forest: put the pressure on the Deacons and force them into making mistakes.

But it took a change of pace in the second half for the Yellow Jackets to come away with a 58-45 victory against Wake Forest yesterday at Joel Coliseum.

Janie Mitchell scored 18 points for Georgia Tech (13-8, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has won two straight games after losing three of its previous four.

[AP, 29JAN07] [GTAA, 28JAN07]

The ladies host NC and 3rd ranked MD at 7PM in the AJC Thursday (see continuation)

Unofficial word is the first 100 in will receive a free jersey.

Tuesday win over WF desperately needed

The Yellow Jackets play the Demon Deacons at 8 p.m. in Lawrence-Joel Coliseum needing a win like a lawn needs water. They have lost three games in a row, 16 straight on the road and own a 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference record.

And if they can't beat the Deacons, the ACC's worst team at 9-11 overall and 1-7 in league play, the Jackets should make plans for the NIT.

A defeat could be catastrophic. Georgia Tech has four road games remaining, including Tuesday's trip to Winston-Salem, and must win at least two of those to bolster its NCAA resume.

[AVB, Morris, 30JAN07]

Can GT hoops get it back together?

There is no one cure for Georgia Tech's basketball team because much is ailing the Yellow Jackets as they suddenly can't seem to get out of their own way.

Yet it might help tonight at Wake Forest if the Jackets would get in the way — of the Demon Deacons. It is time to stand firm if the Jackets (13-7, 2-5 ACC) are to separate themselves from a 16-game road losing streak.

[MW, AJC, 30JAN07]