Paul Hewitt is trying to get respectability for his Georgia Tech program. In his first year as head coach, he's trying to become the architect, and though this was an up-and-down week for his Yellow Jackets, he might have laid the foundation.

It has been a roller-coaster ride so far. Saturday was a big plus as Tech almost blew a 13-point lead to Kentucky. In crunch time, the Yellow Jackets came through on Shaun Fein's middle range jumper with 1.3 seconds left to hand the Wildcats an L.

	Tech's Halston Lane earned a lot more PT with his performance Saturday against Kentucky.

Tech showed great execution, poise and patience delivering the winning basket. The Yellow Jackets scored just one field goal in the last six minutes, but it came at the right time, baby!

That victory came after Georgia Tech suffered a disappointing loss midweek against Georgia, 75-70. The roller-coaster ride also included a victory over UCLA at the Wooden Classic.

Georgia Tech was not projected to have a big-time year. Monster W's over teams like UCLA and Kentucky give confidence to the program.

Hewitt's team got a solid performance from a surprising source. When Kentucky prepared for this game, you can bet the 'Cats didn't think much about Halston Lane.

It was the southpaw diaper dandy who came in averaging under five points a game who looked like he was playing H-O-R-S-E out there, hitting trifectas from all over the place. He got wide open looks and kept putting them down. Even his teammates looked like they didn't know where he was coming from!

You know Lane was Big Man on Campus down in Atlanta with 23 points. Kentucky had to wonder who he was. Now Lane will earn some more PT after sparking Tech to the Maalox Masher victory.

Why was this a big W? Whenever you are a first-year coach like Hewitt is, trying to set the tempo, there is no better way than posting victories against prestigious programs. It makes believers out of the players, the alums, the fans and the administration -- it gets you rolling in the right direction.

Georgia Tech can be a bit of a spoiler because they can hit the trifecta. Fein, Lane, Marvin Lewis and Tony Akins can all knock down the jumper. They can get hot and create havoc.

Hewitt is putting his stamp on the program. You can see his work ethic helping. He had his players practicing at 6 a.m. Hewitt also had his players working out in a swimming pool to improve stamina. Those little things can make a difference.

Replacing a coach like Bobby Cremins isn't an easy task. Cremins led Tech to a Final Four and several strong showings in the NCAA tournament. He was the Frank Lloyd Wright of the Georgia Tech program and I hope someone gives him a call down in Hilton Head -- he deserves another opportunity to coach.

Now the show belongs to Hewitt and he gets more popular with each big W.

Remember, with schools like Wake Forest and Virginia looking great early, plus Duke, Maryland and North Carolina expected to contend, throw Georgia Tech in and the ACC looks like it's back to being super, scintillating and sensational.