Dec. 6, 2003
– Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Hewitt
[On turnovers] “We played like a team that is moving into final exams. We were a little sluggish. In the second half we did a little better job of taking care of the ball. We only had six turnovers in the second half. Consequently, we got more attempts and were able to put some points on the board. Fifteen turnovers in the second half, that’s unacceptable. Six in the second half was much better, and the passing was much more crisp. When we move the ball, we find open guys, and that’s why you see some balanced scoring. We did a much better job in the second half of moving the ball and not turning it over.
“Defensively, when we communicate the way we’ve been communicating these first seven games of the year, we’re a good defensive team.
[The crowd] “Our students in particular were tremendous. I compliment our students for doing a great job tonight. They helped us in the first half when we were struggling to take care of the ball. The crowd gave us the energy to go out play defense and hold them to 22 percent shooting in the first half while we were struggling offensively.
[On Jarrett Jack] “He can keep getting better and he knows that. That’s why he studies film as much as he does and that’s why he works out as much as he does. When you see the young man put in the time and the effort and then get these type of rewards, you’re very very happy for him.
[On Luke Schenscher] “He gave us a big lift on the boards. He’s starting to get those big rebounds where gets them over everybody else. He’s doing a good job of keeping that ball gripped tightly with his elbows out.”
NOTING GEORGIA TECH: The 51-point spread was the largest margin of victory for the Yellow Jackets under Paul Hewitt (previous high was 43 vs. Wofford in Hewitt’s first game, 11-17-00) and the largest by any Tech team since a 56-point win over Florida A&M on Nov. 26, 1994 . . . Luke Schenscher had a career-best 12 rebounds and 15 points, recording the first double-double of his career . . .The 15 points by Schenscher tied his career high, which he set against Cornell on Nov. 23….Tech’s 60.3 percent shooting from the field is its best performance since shooting 62.8% against NC State in 1999.
Tennessee State Head Coach Cy Alexander
“Unfortunately, the pattern continues. We played pretty well in the first half. We didn’t make shot, but we contested and gave maximum effort, but just didn’t shoot the ball well in the first half. We made 22%…6 of 27 shots, but we go into the lockerroom and we talk about our defense and what we need to keep working on. We put in a new zone this week and it worked fairly well in the first half. In the second half, Georgia Tech ups their intensity level, ups their transition game and we allow them to shoot 76% from the field in the second half and 63% from the three-point line. This is something that we have got to work on. We’ve got to be the worst defensive team in the second half in the country. Other than to keep practicing and to keep addressing it, I’m not sure what else to do. It’s absolutely baffling.”
[on Tech’s defensive pressure] “If you look at turnovers, we had 16, they had 21. The pressure didn’t bother us. We executed our press offense. What is bothering me is 76% from the field and 63% from the three point line in the second half. Until we can correct that, it’s going to be difficult to win. We address certain things at half-time and it appears that in the second half we aren’t as defensively in tune as we need to be.
“Georgia Tech is a very good team and I have the utmost respect for them and they are going to do well this season, and I think we have the chance to be a good team, but it’s just going to take some time.”
