Hewitt provides personal touch at Georgia Tech

<p>When Paul Hewitt took over as coach at Georgia Tech in April 2000, Marvin Lewis' parents wanted a word with him.</p><p>Recruited by Bobby Cremins, Lewis had settled on Georgia Tech as much for its academic reputation as its basketball program. He was still pretty sure he wanted to go there when Cremins resigned, and a couple of phone conversations with Hewitt settled it.</p><p>But Lewis' parents still wanted to meet Hewitt. So while Lewis was at an AAU game his senior year, Nathan and Lachee Lewis met Hewitt in a diner in Winston-Salem, N.C.</p><p>"You've just got to tell them who you are and what you believe in," Hewitt said. "If you are going to turn your son over to a coach for the next four years, you at least want to meet him and talk to him to see what the plan is going to be."</p><p>The Lewises obviously liked what they heard, giving their blessing for their son to go to Georgia Tech.</p><p>Four years later, the decision has worked out well for both Lewis and the Yellow Jackets. Lewis, a management major, has made the dean's list all but one semester and already has a job offer for when he graduates this spring.</p><p>He's also helped revive Georgia Tech's basketball program, with the Yellow Jackets in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1990.</p><p>Georgia Tech plays Kansas Sunday in St. Louis with a trip to the Final Four on the line.</p><p>Lewis, the Yellow Jackets' captain, scored 23 points Friday night after B.J. Elder got hurt to lead Georgia Tech to a victory over Nevada.</p><p>"He obviously represents everything that the NCAA wants to project," Hewitt said.</p><p>___</p><p>PAYING A COMPLIMENT:@ Kansas has been to the NCAA tournament so many times, these off-day interview sessions are getting routine. But there was one question that got point guard Aaron Miles' attention.</p><p>When Keith Langford and Wayne Simien were asked to describe Miles' leadership skills, Miles grinned and scooted forward in his seat, staring directly at his teammates.</p><p>Langford went first, and was very complimentary of his friend.</p><p>"Out of Kirk (Hinrich) and Nick (Collison), he's probably given me the most confidence as a player," Langford said. "I trust him as much as anybody, on the court, outside of the court. Me and Wayne have been such a big part of this team's success _ everybody sitting at this podium. But when you look at the catalyst, it's Aaron. You can tell when he goes out of the game. It just doesn't run as fluid. He's needed for this team to win."</p><p>Obviously touched by the praise, Miles thanked Langford.</p><p>Then it was Simien's turn.</p><p>"As far as punctuality on the team, he's by far the worst I've ever been around," Simien said as Miles looked horrified and the rest of the Jayhawks laughed. "You try to go get something to eat and he's always the one that's being waited on."</p><p>"He's lying!" Miles said.</p><p>___</p><p>FOLLOWING A LEGEND:@ Roy Williams doesn't have to worry about being buried.</p><p>First-year Kansas coach Bill Self said he never considered doing anything to end the endless comparisons to Williams this season. He certainly never thought about having a mock funeral for Williams as Illinois coach Bruce Weber did for Self in December.</p><p>Weber was so sick of hearing talk about Self, who left Illinois for Kansas last spring, that he came into the locker room before the Illini's Dec. 11 game against Maryland-Eastern Shore dressed in a black sport coat, black pants and a black tie.</p><p>Self said Saturday he knew he'd be compared to Williams.</p><p>"When you leave a team like Illinois to go follow a guy that won 80 percent of his games, there's a good chance you're going to disappoint some people," Self said. "It was almost expected.</p><p>"I'm not going to be him, I'm not going to try to be him," Self added. "He was great. His entire tenure at Kansas, I certainly respect that and appreciate that. I'll benefit from that, but all I can do is be me."</p><p>___</p><p>WHERE TO GO?:@ When Will Bynum decided to transfer from Arizona after his sophomore year, he narrowed his choices down to two schools.</p><p>Either way, he would have been a game away from the Final Four.</p><p>The 6-foot guard wanted to go to Oklahoma State so he could be reunited with Cowboys star Tony Allen, a friend and teammate from their days at Crane High School in Chicago.</p><p>"I wanted to play with Tony pretty bad," Bynum said. "Me and him are pretty good friends. I've known him since I was little."</p><p>Alas, Oklahoma State had no scholarships available and Bynum decided on Georgia Tech.</p><p>The move has worked out pretty well for Bynum and both schools.</p><p>Bynum has become a key reserve for the Yellow Jackets, averaging 9.3 points a game and adding more depth to a team that had plenty of talent to spare.</p><p>Oklahoma State filled out its roster with point guard John Lucas, who transferred from Baylor after its scandal-plagued summer. Lucas, son of the former NBA star and coach of the same name, is a walk-on this year.</p><p>Bynum and Allen still call on each other on almost a daily basis, though. Sometimes to trade basketball tips. Other times to talk a little smack.</p><p>"He's been talking trash about how they're going to the Final Four," said Bynum, smiling. "Hopefully, we'll get there against them."</p>

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