April 01, 2004
Who says Georgia Tech can't win?
Georgia Tech Out to Prove It Belongs in Final Four
Despite outplaying some illustrious teams, Georgia Tech is considered the Cinderella story of this year's Final Four, a group of mostly underclassmen lucky to be in contention for the national title. While other members of this year's contenders have big names from big-time programs, Georgia Tech's players are unheralded, largely unknown and without doubt largely underrated.
"You guys have a chance to be as good as anyone in the country," coach Paul Hewitt remembers telling his team during the first 10 days of practice.
He was right.
Saturday, Georgia Tech face Oklahoma State with the victor playing for the national title Monday against the winner of the Duke-Connecticut match-up. Hewitt's Yellow Jackets have come a long way, expected before the season to finish in the lower echelon of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Losing freshman Chris Bosh to the NBA was expected to be a fatal blow to this year's team. With the team's lone big name succumbing to the lure of the professional ranks, Georgia Tech was left with a crew of unproven yet talented players. But they won their first 12 games and seemed to find their swagger.
"The fact that we have a lot of depth, people may not value the talent we have," Hewitt said. "We have some very talented players. What we have are some very mature and unselfish players."
That became obvious during a 77-61 whipping of Connecticut earlier this year and a late-season 76-68 victory over Duke.
Afterall, they have sophomore sensation guard Jarrett Jack.
