Duke @ GT

(photo by Christopher Gooley)

It sucks that GT has started playing their best basketball of the year right when the toughest part of the schedule hits (NCSU, @UNC, Duke). 1-2 in those games, with double digit second half leads against both UNC and Duke isn't anything to be too upset at with this team. At the beginning of the year I felt that 6-10 in the ACC would be about where Tech finished ... and if the Jackets take care of business against Wake and Clemson they'll finish at 5-11. The world isn't coming to an end, and this team will be much better next year - heck, they'd be much better this year if there was a PG who could effectively pass into the post when a man is fronted. Seriously, Duke changed defenses midway through the second half with McRoberts fronting Dickey and it was like a light switch was flipped - multiple turnovers and absolutely no success in the paint from that point on. Simple skills like that will make a huge difference.

Anyways, here's video Jeremis Smith's nasty facial of DeMarcus Nelson - complete with Dick Vitale's required antics in the background. As normal if the embedded player doesn't work, you can use this link.