ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia Tech guard Shaun Fein is excited about the style
of basketball new coach Paul Hewitt promised to bring to the program.
Hewitt, introduced as the Yellow Jackets' new coach Thursday, plans to use
the up-tempo attack that made him successful during three seasons at Siena.
``I'm impressed. I really like that style.'' said Fein, who transferred to
Tech from Stonehill last year. ``We've got to really concentrate on
conditioning in the offseason. I think we can have a good year next year.
Anything can happen.''
The 36-year-old Hewitt, 66-27 with one NCAA tournament and one NIT
appearance with Siena, replaces Bobby Cremins, who stepped down after 19
seasons with the Yellow Jackets.
``That's my style,'' point guard Tony Akins said. ``He's the kind of coach
I want to play for.''
Hewitt, Tech's first black basketball coach, has a five-year contract worth
$400,000 annually.
He doesn't even have the pressure of having to produce immediately.
``We don't expect to go to the NCAAs next year and we're not putting any
pressure on him, but the greatest quality that he has is that he has a
great deal of self-confidence and inner confidence,'' athletic director
Dave Braine said.
``I feel like I'm well-prepared for the job,'' Hewitt said. ``I expect to
win next year. I have high expectations.''
He likened the style of play he employs to that of Florida, which eliminated
two traditional Atlantic Coast Conference powers -- Duke and North Carolina
-- from the NCAA tournament on its way to Monday night's championship game
loss to Michigan State.
``I think the people here are going to enjoy our style of play,'' Hewitt
said. ``We're going to run and press. I think it's the best way to play.''
Cremins had a 354-237 record at Tech, but failed to reach the NCAA
tournament his last four years when the team went 56-65. He took the
Yellow Jackets to the NCAA 10 times, reaching the Final Four once.
``I was looking for a place with a winning tradition, where it's been
proven that you can win,'' Hewitt said. ``When you talk about Georgia
Tech basketball, the guy who literally picked this program up and carried
it for the last 19 years and developed that winning tradition is Bobby
Cremins.''
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