April 4, 2004
SAN ANTONIO, Texas–The “off day” between the national semi-finals and the title game is anything but that. Both Georgia Tech and UConn had NCAA required media obligations for the better part of 90 minutes this afternoon. Tech head coach Paul Hewitt answered an array of questions about the ball game against the Huskies and his coaching experiences from high school through his current post in Atlanta.
See the complete Press Conference Transcript.
Tech will meet UConn for the second time this season on Monday night. The Yellow Jackets beat the Huskies, 77-61, on November 26, at Madison Square Garden. There are several personnel differences between that game and this one for each school. Georgia Tech was without Theodis Tarver (knee injury) and Will Bynum (transfer eligibility), while Connecticut was missing 6’11 forward Charlie Villanueva (NCAA eligibility issues). The Huskies no longer have guard Marcus Washington (academics) and forward Marcus White to use from their depth.
THE JACKETS VISIT MR. ROBINSON
One of the highlights of Georgia Tech’s trip to San Antonio was Friday afternoon’s visit to Carver Academy, the independent private school founded by NBA great David Robinson to provide educational opportunities for children from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds.
Robinson, who retired from the San Antonio Spurs following last season’s NBA title, was a U.S. Naval Academy classmate of Tech senior associate director of athletics Mary McElroy. Robinson spoke to the Tech team Friday and is expected to attend Monday’s championship game.
Tech head coach Paul Hewitt has requested that Tech fans and supporters who would like to wish the team well should send small donations to Carver Academy in lieu of flowers, cookies, balloons, etc. Donations can be sent to The Carver Academy, on behalf of Georgia Tech Basketball, 217 Robinson Place, San Antonio, TX 78202. Fans can also visit the school’s official website.
ALUMNI REPORT
The history of Georgia Tech basketball has been documented several different ways in the days leading up to Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State. But the sight at the Alamodome against the Cowboys was second to none. On the radio, I said the “famous and infamous” were gathered, but one row of seats in the Tech section featured Dennis Scott, John Salley, Mark Price, Matt Harpring, John Kelly, Brian Domalik, Jon Babul, Winston Neal and former assistant coaches Kevin Cantwell and George Felton. A row below was former head coach Bobby Cremins, along with additional players and assistants. Tech great Roger Kaiser is here along with others from an era that precedes Coach Cremins. Off the top of my head, I would say that roughly three dozen basketball letterman are in attendance this weekend.
Expected in on Monday night are Chris Bosh, Kenny Anderson and possibly Stephon Marbury.
TECH TIES WINS MARK
The win over Oklahoma State also gave Tech its 28th win of the season, equaling the mark for most victories in a season by a Tech team that was set in 1990. Tomorrow night against the Huskies, Tech will try and set a new standard for wins in a campaign.
