OSU-Georgia Tech: Things to think about on game day
Published: 3/19/2010 2:42 PM
Last Modified: 3/22/2010 11:26 AM
A few things to think about before Oklahoma State’s NCAA Tournament game against Georgia State arrives:
--Yellow Jacket forwards Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors are getting ample hype, and rightly so. But, interestingly, their production in wins and losses is about the same. They average 24.2 points and 17.4 rebounds in victories and 23.0 points and 16.6 rebounds in defeats.
So, if those guys produce consistent numbers regardless of outcomes, what has been the difference in wins and losses?
“Turnovers, taking care of the basketball,” Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt said. “When we do a good job in that area, then obviously we’re getting more attempts. The other thing is defending that 3-point line. And obviously that’s crucial for (the) game against Oklahoma State, because they’re a great 3-point shooting team -- one of the better 3-point shooting teams we’ve seen all year. When we’ve struggled, we’ve really allowed people to get going from 3.”
--What about the other guys? OSU’s Keiton Page said Georgia Tech’s guards “kind of get overshadowed by the two big men. But after watching film and focusing in on them, they guard play is really good as well. I think they’re just a complete team.”
Point guard Iman Shumpert is one of three former McDonald’s All-Americans on the Yellow Jackets’ roster.
Ford said Georgia Tech’s guards can “jump up and bite you.” Ford estimated that he watched 15 Tech game films and said the Yellow Jackets’ guards played their best basketball over the last seven games.
--Much has been made of a decision by Georgia Tech players to abandon their cell phones during postseason play so they can actually interact with each other and bond. But that doesn't mean the Yellow Jackets have abandoned technology altogether. About 1 p.m. Friday, Shumpert tweeted about tonight's game. It was nothing salty. Shumpert just wanted his followers to know the game was starting soon.
--I was a little surprised to hear, during an NCAA Tournament press conference Thursday, someone ask the Cowboys about the plane crash that occurred nine years ago. Obviously, none of the current OSU players were part of the team in 2001. But Obi Muonelo (who was sharing a stage with James Anderson, Matt Pilgrim and Page) handled the question well.
“One of the guys (Nate Fleming) on the plane who passed was a basketball teammate of my brother,” Muonelo said. “It hit home at my house, and it was really big at my house when I was little.”
What possible reason would anyone have to ask about the crash? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer Michael Hunt wove the tragedy into a column about all the things the Cowboys have overcome since becoming a national basketball power in the Henry Iba days.
--Jimmie Tramel.
For more on the NCAA Tournament, visit ncaa.com.
Written by
Jimmie Tramel
Sports Writer
