Teamsiliconvalley - Sports Blog

Jackets Causey taking advantage of last chance

January 30th, 2008

Column by Patrick Hite
patrick@accnation.com

Just to put things in perspective, in Georgia Tech's first 16 games Matt Causey scored 81 points and had one double-figure performance, an 11-point game in a win over Notre Dame in mid-November.

In the past three games, the two-time transfer, who arrived in Atlanta after stops at Georgetown and North Georgia, has scored 66 points. It's probably no coincidence that the Jackets have won all three of those games, the first three-game winning streak of the season for Georgia Tech.

It appeared his magic - a 30-point outburst against Virginia Tech and 18 points against N.C. State - would be briefly lived when Causey went scoreless in the first half and had just six points after regulation against Virginia. He even missed a three-point attempt at the end of the second half that would have won the game for Tech.

But in overtime, the magic was back. Even after missing more shots that he took in regulation (3-of-7), including all four three pointers, Causey didn't worry about putting the ball up in the overtime period.

"Down the stretch I always want the ball," Causey said. "If you're not a competitor, then you don't want the ball, but if you are then, of course, you want it."

Against the Cavaliers in overtime, Causey hit two threes, plus a short jumper, and buried four foul shots out of six attempts to give Tech the win. He scored 12 of Tech's 16 overtime points, doubling Virginia's production in the extra period.

"I'd like to take every shot, but I know that's not the best choice for our team. Just when I had the opportunity, I took it," said Causey from the hallway at Virginia's JPJ Arena, where approximately 10 reporters, mostly UVa. beat writers, bolted from the media room when it was announced the new Tech star was ready for interviews. That despite the fact that Virginia's Dave Leitao was scheduled to do his postgame interview at any moment.

After playing in 28 games off the bench at Georgetown as a freshman, the Gainesville, Ga. native decided to transfer to North Georgia. He averaged more than 23 points in his two seasons at the NAIA school, but wanted another shot with the big boys.

He transferred to Tech, where he sat out last season, and is now playing his first, and last, season with the Jackets. Coach Paul Hewitt watched him in practice last year and, while he knew Causey would be a solid player, he never envisioned he was capable of the point production he's show the last three times out.

"The point production comes from the fact that the kid is just fearless," Hewitt said. "He doesn't mind taking and making a big shot and that's really something that was lacking with our team early in the year."

Last season, the Jackets had Javaris Crittenton, who, at the end of games or in crucial situations, didn't mind taking the big shot. But Crittenton isn't there this season after jumping to the NBA after his freshman season.

Enter Causey.

"Matt's kind of evolved into that role," Hewitt said. "He's kind of doing a lot of things that Javaris did late in games or late in shot-clock situations for us."

After starting for much of the season, Causey returned to a reserve role following a loss to Georgia on Jan. 9. After seeing Causey in the first practice following the change, Hewitt quickly realized going from starter to bench player wouldn't affect Causey's style of play or his attitude.

Said Hewitt, "I made a point to the team at the end of practice about how he came out and played with as much energy and enthusiasm as he has all year even though he was being taken out of the starting lineup."

And, for now, Hewitt doesn't see an advantage to putting Causey back in the starting lineup, although freshman point guard Moe Miller's sprained ankle may force the coach to change his strategy. But if Hewitt can keep Causey coming off the bench, it may be just what Georgia Tech needs to continue its winning ways.

"I think he plays with a lot of energy and when he comes in the game it's usually after the initial excitement and the guys have settled down and here he comes with a burst of energy," Hewitt said. "I think he's really ideally suited for that role because we want to play up tempo and when he comes in not only is there not a drop off, but there may be a pick up in the tempo of the game"

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