Georgia Tech ran through La-Lafayette in the first round of the pre-season NIT like, well like Sherman through Georgia,
then
blew Hofstra out Thursday night. Neither win is particularly
challenging or scintillating, but next up is #1 UConn Wednesday night in the
Garden, and that's a different kettle of fish altogether. However, Jim
Calhoun calls his team "a celebration waiting to happen," and so far,
he seems to be right, they're playing down to their opponents. Tech has no
hope of matching big man Emeka Okafor,
unless he gets into foul trouble, but their backcourt can match up with just
about anyone's. We'd normally expect Tech to get creamed, but it's hard to
say they don't have a shot. Moreover, it's a chance for them to completely define their season at the outset.
Here's more on the Hofstra game.
State
starts up tonight against UNC-Asheville, and a bit of a surprise:
freshman Mike O' Donnell is starting at the point.
In Littlejohn, Oliver Purnell is set to get started with the Tigers. Tonight's
opponent will be Gardner-Webb. Not that anyone will
be paying attention.
Maryland's tiff with Jeff Jones
is tomorrow night at Comcast. Speaking of the Terps, remember Adrian
Branch? The former Terp is spending a lot of time talking to kids these days,
and sounds
like his priorities are in the right place.