Coaches always think the next year can always be better than the previous season. It doesn't matter who graduates or leaves early, but sometimes the optimism can be borderline crazy. As reported at RamblingWreck.com Georgia Tech basketball head Paul Hewitt says he optimistic about the upcoming season and expects this year's team to be better than last year.
Consider that last season the Yellow Jackets may have had the most talented frontcourt in the country in Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, two NBA draft picks. There was more than one NBA draft analyst that said these two were hurt by guards who couldn't properly pass into the post. A late season run got Georgia Tech into the NCAA's and they did end up with 23 wins, but it's these same guards that Hewitt will rely on to the lead his team.
Don't get me wrong there is some talent there. Moe Miller is a steady backup PG. Glen Rice Jr. is a good defender. Brian Oliver is the one legitimate 3-pointer shooter. Mfon Udofia showed the potential to a very savvy point guard. Iman Shumpert will be the lead guard that needs to make the team go. The problem is for 2 years, Shumpert has been spending time at PG, and he is more suited to SG. He's a gifted scorer, but not a tremendous ball handler or passer and Hewitt has been trying to turn him into Jarrett Jack for 2 years.
I'm sorry but even if the guards exceed expectations you need some size, and Georgia Tech has three roster players over 6-6. They are 6-8 Kammeon Holsey, 6-10 Nate Hicks, and 6-11 Daniel Miller. Add all three players collegiate game experience and it is equal to 0.
Throw in Hewitt's penchant for chronic underachievement since the 2004 Final 4 team, which includes 60 ACC regular season losses, and I don't understand where all the optimism comes from.
I suppose as head coach he has to do this, but at the moment I'm not seeing how the Jackets can possibly end the season as an NCAA tournament team.
