Nov. 23, 2002
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POST-GAME QUOTES Georgia Tech vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff November 23, 2002 – Alexander Memorial Coliseum
UAPB Head Coach Van Holt
“It wasn’t that we needed to respond after their opening run, because there isn’t much you can do when a team is making layups. It wasn’t that they were so much better than we were, but that we didn’t react and didn’t get back on defense and keep the floor balanced so that we could have balanced match-ups in transition. We told the guys to do what we’ve been talking about and what we’ve been practicing as far as keeping the floor balanced. I think that 18 of their first 25 points were in the paint off of layups and you can’t beat anybody with that type of defensive effort. Tech has a fairly good club, but they’ve got a long way to go too as far as the league that they’re in. I’m more pleased with our guys effort in a lot of areas, but we made a lot of mistakes and the mistakes we made are correctable.”
(On his bench scoring) “I’m not sure that we’re starting the five best guys. We have played 10 or 12 guys all along and they know that it doesn’t really matter who starts. Most of them will get their minutes and are very capable when they get on the floor. We’re trying to find the right combination of eight and the right chemistry that we need and once we do that, we’ll be all right. We’re not going to get down on these games because there are certain things that we know we can do and things that we know we cannot do so we need to pay close attention to the things we can do.”
Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Hewitt
“We could have played better defensively, especially at the end of press in the second half and overall in halfcourt. We feel one thing that has to be consistent is our effort on the defensive end of the floor. We’re probably going to be a little more sporadic than the last couple of years in shooting the ball. We’ve got capable shooter, but I just think we’re going to be a little more sporadic, so that’s why we have to be very consistent on the defensive end. But I don’t have any complaints. We won the game and now we’re looking forward to playing Georgia on Wednesday.
[On Bosh] “Not bad. He can play. There were still some times around the basket, especially on the defensive end, when he got pushed around. He only got four defensive rebounds; that number is going to have to improve. All of our big guys got pushed around – Luke, Ed. The only guy who didn’t get pushed around was Robert Brooks. He came in and gave us a great spark. I was very happy for him because he’s had his ups and downs in the preseason.
[On Jack] “He’s very good point guard. He’s got size. His decision making is going to have to improve. He did some good things, and he’s our point guard, don’t get me wrong. We’re going to hang with him, and every game there are going to be some things that he learns. I thought some of his turnovers were him getting sucked into some things that he thought were there but weren’t.
“We did a good job pushing and getting in transition. When were forced to play halfcourt, I thought we were OK. But that’s what you expect in an early season game.
NOTING GEORGIA TECH
Marvin Lewis scored a career-high 28 points. His previous high was 22 against Davidson (11-24-00). He also had career-bests for field goals made and attempted.
Chris Bosh’s 26 points is the second best game by a Tech freshman in his debut. Kenny Anderson scored 28 points in his first game against Georgia State in 1989-90. The only other Tech freshmen to score 20 or more in a debut are Mark Price (25 vs. Wofford, 1982-83) and Tony Akins (20 vs. Charleston Southern in 1998-99). Bosh’s 14 rebounds also ranks second, behind Bruce Dalrymple’s 17 boards against Alabama A&M.
Jarrett Jack’s 12 assists are the most ever by a Tech freshman in his first game, surpassing Dennis Scott, who had a triple double in his debut with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Alcorn State in 1987-88.
Tech’s 113 points are its high under Paul Hewitt. The previous best was 111 vs. Clemson in 2000-01. The 38-point margin of victory was also a high under Hewitt. The last time Tech scored more than 113 points in any game was the Jackets’ school record total of 135 vs. Loyola Marymount on Dec. 22, 1990.
