Coaches Poll is out; GT Ranked 21st

The brand new College basketball coaches Poll is out, and Georgia Tech is ranked 23rd. Some interesting teams are ranked ahead of the Jackets, but in my opinion will not even be seen come March. Dont ask me how UCONN can be ranked ahead of us, or Texas for that matter. These teams lost ALOT during the offseason. I think Georgia Tech will be much like the 2004 campaign, when they snuck up on people. For what it's worth, here's the Top 25 Coaches Poll:

1. Florida
2. North Carolina
3. Kansas
4. Ohio State
5. Pittsburgh
6. UCLA
7. LSU
8. Georgetown
9. Wisconsin
10. Arizona
11. Duke
12. Alabama
13. Texas A&M
14. Memphis
15. Boston College
16. Washington
17. Marquette
18. UCONN
19. Texas
20. Syracuse
21. Georgia Tech
22. Kentucky
23. Creighton
24. Tennessee
25. Nevada

Georgia Tech Basketball Practice Notes

Just some practice notes from Jackets practice:

**Jeremis Smith has lost some weight thanks to a diet that he calls "The Coach Hewitt Diet". The diet is basically no sugar, no carbs, and no fried foods. Seems like all of the players on this years team are hungry.

**The dissapointment of last years record doesnt sit too well with the whole team. When the team was lacking some intensity the other day in practice, all it took was one of the players shouting, "11-17!!". The seriousness of these boys this season is impressive. They have something to prove, and they will be working their tails off to prevent another dissapointment.

Injury Report:

Mouhammad Faye - Has been cleared to practice ahead of schedule for his surgery repaired wrist. Faye will not be allowed to shot for a couple more weeks from any distance, but otherwise will participate in conditioning activities.

Anthony Morrow - Will not practice as he recovers from the stress fracture in his back. Not too much concern about A-Mo practicing. This injury is more of a "not taking any chances". Morrow could practice right now, but the staff will let this injury heal totally before he is back out there.

Javaris Crittenton - Has a strained achilles tendon, but is not limiting much of his practice. Javaris has been wearing a protective walking cast between workouts, but as coach Hewitt stated, "If there was a game to play today, Javaris would be on the court".

Tech Basketball starts anew
Faye cleared to practice for Georgia Tech

As Practice Begins, Tech works on chemistry

It's that time of the year again, and for this years Georgia Tech basketball team, chemistry is what it may take for the Jackets to reach the Final Four. A stellar recruiting class and a National Top 20 selection in everyone's pre-season predictions, makes this years Yellow Jackets a team to watch. Chemistry is probably the most important aspect of a championship team, and it seems as though Paul Hewitt already has that taken care of. Mario West, who will be the loan survivor from Tech's National Championship run in 2004 may have his minutes drop with the talent surrounding the team, but that doesnt seem to bother him.

To a man, Tech's returning players (freshmen were not available Thursday) all but guffawed at the possibility that jealousy will be an issue, even point guard Mario West, the only senior on the team and a player whose minutes may drop.

"That's a good question," West said. "When I made the decision to come back, it was both to get another degree in economics [to go with the degree in management he earned in May] and to win. I'm going to have an effect on this team. I'm the Last Mohican, sort of, from the [2003-2004 season's] Final Four team. I remember the atmosphere and what it takes."

Hewitt said he spent little or no time massaging egos in the offseason. He certainly admits, however, that Crittenton represents ground zero for his team, yet without being its foundation.

"The returning guys know that if this team's going to be a good team it's going to be on the strength of Lewis Clinch, and Anthony Morrow, Jeremis [Smith], Ra'Sean, Mario — those are the guys who are going to make up the core. Certainly, the [new] guy who'll have the chance for greatest impact is Javaris, because he's our point guard.

It seems like the players have also worked very hard in the offseason to not allow another dissapointment like last year from happening.

"Nobody in America wants an incoming freshman to take their minutes or share their minutes," junior center Ra'Sean Dickey said. "So working on your weaknesses in the offseason, that's kind of what everybody did."

In the coming weeks, i will break down Tech's chances in the ACC and in the NCAA Tournament. We have big expectations from this years team because of the recruiting class and the talent we have on this team. In my opinion, this years team is more talented than our 2004 team that went to the Final Four. I really think Paul Hewitt has this team under control, and it seems like we are saying all the right things in practice regarding chemistry. It's only 2 weeks away from the tip-off guys, and this year is going to be exciting. Stay tuned for more updates.