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We definately had to fire Hewitt - the anger in the fanbase at the time of his firing was pretty palpable. This year reminds me alot of Cremins last couple of years. A fanbase that largely likes the coach but understands he just isn't getting it done at the level the the program has potential for.
I'd love to see Gregory succeed here, but it appears very unlikely. I will say this season reminds me alot of 2001-2002. That year GT finished 16-17 in Hewitt's second year. GT started 0-7 in the ACC and you just felt that if they could get one win they could really get going. They finally beat FSU in game 8 and ended up going 7-9 in the conference after the 0-7 start. This team does consistently just enough to lose. 4 of the 5 ACC loses have been a 1 possession game with 1 minute to play.
Offensively the team is getting really hurt by Carter's departure. He was supposed to be the #1 option on offense. That would have allowed MGH to be #2 and everyone else is in a more comfortable position. Chuck is largely trying to be Carter on offense, but he isn't nearly as natural offensive player as Carter is and it shows, despite Chuck being a pleasant surprise in my opinion (the TO's are killing us though)
Also if we are going to be fair, you have to give credit where things have improved. Both 3-pt shooting and FT shooting have been noticeably better since ACC play began (34% threes and 75% FT). It's inside the arc where GT is getting killed (sub 40%). Gregory has made a change at guard I don't really agree with. He has obviously decided to try to go with a defensive minded guard group - but that puts alot of pressure on others on offense. Jorgenson is easily the best PG on offense - he has a better than 2:1 A:TO ratio against ACC teams and avg assists at better than a 1 to 5 min rate. Nobody else is better than 1 per 10 min.
The right coach could get this team to the tourney next year - there are enough pieces, but they need some seasoning and a few changes.
I have a list in my mind as well, but won't talk too much until probably Feb. it wouldn't surprise people that Marshall would be #1 on my list, but he is so very unlikely. The comment he made last spring when he name was connected with Wake Forest was 'why would I leave a better job for a worse one'. I have names that i would like to hear, names that i expect to hear (some are the same, some are not).
FWIW, Mark Price would not be on my list. Unless he had made a 180 on his mindset of college recruiting he would be a failure and I don't want to see that happen at his alma mater. He is at a better place for what he likes to do. He does not like to recruit and he does not like to travel to recruit - given how many people on this thread have said we need to recruit better, that would seem to then be a problem. He's one of my 3 favorite GT basketball players of all time, but I do not want him as the HC.
RamblinRed
I'd love to see Gregory succeed here, but it appears very unlikely. I will say this season reminds me alot of 2001-2002. That year GT finished 16-17 in Hewitt's second year. GT started 0-7 in the ACC and you just felt that if they could get one win they could really get going. They finally beat FSU in game 8 and ended up going 7-9 in the conference after the 0-7 start. This team does consistently just enough to lose. 4 of the 5 ACC loses have been a 1 possession game with 1 minute to play.
Offensively the team is getting really hurt by Carter's departure. He was supposed to be the #1 option on offense. That would have allowed MGH to be #2 and everyone else is in a more comfortable position. Chuck is largely trying to be Carter on offense, but he isn't nearly as natural offensive player as Carter is and it shows, despite Chuck being a pleasant surprise in my opinion (the TO's are killing us though)
Also if we are going to be fair, you have to give credit where things have improved. Both 3-pt shooting and FT shooting have been noticeably better since ACC play began (34% threes and 75% FT). It's inside the arc where GT is getting killed (sub 40%). Gregory has made a change at guard I don't really agree with. He has obviously decided to try to go with a defensive minded guard group - but that puts alot of pressure on others on offense. Jorgenson is easily the best PG on offense - he has a better than 2:1 A:TO ratio against ACC teams and avg assists at better than a 1 to 5 min rate. Nobody else is better than 1 per 10 min.
The right coach could get this team to the tourney next year - there are enough pieces, but they need some seasoning and a few changes.
I have a list in my mind as well, but won't talk too much until probably Feb. it wouldn't surprise people that Marshall would be #1 on my list, but he is so very unlikely. The comment he made last spring when he name was connected with Wake Forest was 'why would I leave a better job for a worse one'. I have names that i would like to hear, names that i expect to hear (some are the same, some are not).
FWIW, Mark Price would not be on my list. Unless he had made a 180 on his mindset of college recruiting he would be a failure and I don't want to see that happen at his alma mater. He is at a better place for what he likes to do. He does not like to recruit and he does not like to travel to recruit - given how many people on this thread have said we need to recruit better, that would seem to then be a problem. He's one of my 3 favorite GT basketball players of all time, but I do not want him as the HC.
RamblinRed