Tech Topics - Winter 2007 - (Page 45) YellowJackets ETHAN TREWHITT Ring of Champions Members of the women’s tennis team show off their championship rings during halftime recognition at Tech’s football game against Clemson, a matchup the Jackets won 13-3. The tennis team won 21 straight matches in the NCAA tournament last spring to clinch the national title — Tech’s first in any sport. 2007-08 MEN’S BASKETBALL Coach Hewitt Sees Tough Schedule as ‘Tremendous Opportunity’ G eorgia Tech’s basketball team lost two of its top scorers, but seven letter winners return this season and coach Paul Hewitt says that will make the Yellow Jackets competitive. “We have a very good team coming back,” Hewitt said. The schedule is tough, but Hewitt likes it. In addition to its Atlantic Coast Conference competition, Tech plays Indiana at Bloomington on Nov. 27 and Kansas at home on Dec. 18. “It’s a very difficult schedule. But it’s one of those schedules kids want to play when they come to college and come to the ACC,” Hewitt said. “It’s tough, but it also gives us a tremendous opportunity to have a great year and put ourselves in a significant position down the line. It’s a good schedule.” The returning players are led by scoring guards Lewis Clinch and Anthony Morrow. Both were a big part out last season as a transfer, of the Yellow Jackets and forward Brad Sheehan, a hitting 49 percent of their redshirt freshman, are shots from the floor, a familiar with Hewitt’s system. high-water mark for the They are joined by a trio of Hewitt era, and outscoring talented recruits in Gani opponents by 9.2 points Lawal, a 6-8 forward from on average for the season. Norcross, Ga.; Maurice “Moe” Tech also returns its Miller, a 6-2 point guard from leading rebounder in Memphis, Tenn.; and Lance Jeremis Smith, who helped Paul Hewitt Storrs, a 6-4 shooter from the Jackets set a school Decatur, Ga., all of whom will be record and finish second in the ACC in contending for playing time. rebound margin at 5.8-plus boards per Hewitt said the team will have game. depth both on the perimeter and in the That core group combined for 54 post areas, and the opportunity to create starts last season and is backed up by a some excitement and wins on the floor. quartet of up-and-coming players in The team has the experience and Alade Aminu, D’Andre Bell, ability to score points, he said. Mouhammad Faye and Zach Peacock, Clinch, a 6-3 junior who played all of whom were significant only 14 games last year before being contributors and have 30 career starts declared ineligible, was averaging better between them. than 17 points, hitting 53 percent of his Point guard Matt Causey, who sat shots and 47.6 percent of his 3-point attempts through his first 10 games. Morrow, a 6-5 senior who took over most of Clinch’s minutes as the season went on, averaged 12.3 points from Dec. 30 on, and 10.6 points against the ACC while hitting 41.7 percent of his threes. Inside, Smith averaged 8.3 points a game while hitting 59.6 percent of his shots from the floor, while reserves Peacock and Aminu each contributed offensively at various times. “You look throughout the year, there were different times where different players stepped up,” said Hewitt. “That’s something on which we pride ourselves, being able to help kids to improve and get more confident, and then you become a team that can get help from everyone. “This team coming up should be more veteran, should be more Continued on page 46 TECHTOPICS | WINTER 2007 45
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