Talk » Nowell said. If he wants to come here, thatll be great. But if he

ATLANTA -- Josh Pastner has never been part of a losing season. Not as a player. Not as an assistant coach. Not as a head coach.He knows, in all likelihood, thats going to change.The former Memphis coach opened practice Monday with his new team, leading a Georgia Tech program that hasnt made the NCAA tournament since 2010 and lost nearly all of its scoring punch from Brian Gregorys final season.Pastner bluntly assessed the challenge he faces in his first year with the Yellow Jackets.Its a startup company. Theyve hit the reset button, Pastner said. Basically, start from ground zero and try to build it back up, and knowing that its going to take some time to do that. They didnt make that decision saying weve got to try to win right now, that its make or break this year. Its like, `Hey, were just kind of completely blowing it up and starting over.With his job on the line, Gregory went all in with a team built around seniors and graduate transfers. It didnt work; Gregory was fired after the Yellow Jackets only managed to qualify for the NIT.The 39-year-old Pastner was lured away from Memphis, where he was under a bit of heat after missing the NCAA tournament the last two seasons. He takes over a depleted roster that lost five players who combined to average 55.8 points and 25.6 rebounds per game last season.Georgia Techs top returning scorer is senior Quinton Stephens, who averaged 6.0 points a game. The squad is filled out by three freshmen, a redshirt freshman, a sophomore who redshirted last season and two graduate transfers.We shouldnt be judged on wins and losses, Pastner said. I think whats got to be looked at: Do we get better from day one to the last day? There might be some days when you just cant look at the scoreboard.The players realize what theyre up against.Its kind of like you have nothing to lose. Might as well go out there and give it your all, said junior center Ben Lammers, who will certainly be expected to improve on his averages (1.2 points, 1.5 rebounds) from last season. Theres no pressure on us. Obviously, well have a big chip on our shoulder going into most of our games. Well use that to our advantage, definitely.The Yellow Jackets have only two players who started at least 10 games last season: senior guard Josh Heath and senior forward Quinton Stephens. The new coaching staff is counting on them to help the tone that others will follow in the seasons to come, an important steppingstone even though they are unlikely to reap the benefits.My role will be to lead the team and really bring a fire to Georgia Tech. Were building a culture here, really establishing that culture, Stephens said. Weve already got some commits (for next season) and theyre going to be able to bring something to the table. I just want to build that standard, and it can only grow from there.Pastner is a top-notch recruiter, and he knows thats the only way to build a consistent winning program at Georgia Tech.Weve got to get a couple of studs to change the complexion, he said. The great thing in basketball is you only need two or three studs.Like so many others, he sees Georgia Tech as having all the elements needed to be a consistent national contender. There are state-of-the-art facilities, its location in the heart of a major urban area, and plenty of tradition and weight that comes with being a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.For some reason, the Yellow Jackets havent been able to take advantage.People bring that up. Theyre like, `Man, you should be able to build a national powerhouse there, Pastner said. Theres great potential here. But potential is a scary word, too. And hope doesnt win you games, either. But were doing everything we can. Its just going to take a little time.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . Brandon Gormley Jersey . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. Jason Demers Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/238z-connor-murphy-jersey-coyotes.html . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Christian Dvorak Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Phil Kessel Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Fresh off two first-round picks in last weeks NBA draft, Lorenzo Romar is building up Washington once again.Top-50 prospect Jaylen Nowell committed to the Huskies on Wednesday.You cant ignore the success of their players that theyve been sending to the league, Nowell told ESPN. The team is going to be very good by the time I get there, and most importantly, this is my town. I have to put on for my city.Nowell, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Garfield High School (Washington), is ranked No. 45 in the ESPN 100. California and Oregon were among the other schools pursuing Nowell.Despite the talent going through the Washington program, the Huskies havent been to the NCAA tournament since 2011. But after Marquese Chriss and Dejounte Murray were drafted last week and last falls signing of elite guard Markelle Fultz, Nowell feels good about the direction of the program.?If I didnt have any confidence in them at all, I would still have all the confidence in the world now, he said. I trust the coaching staff at Washington and I wouldnt feel right anywhere else.Washington doesnt have anyy other commits in the 2017 class -- as four-star guard Daejon Davis (No.dddddddddddd39) decommitted in April after originally pledging to the Huskies last August.In an interesting twist, Nowell and Davis are teammates in the Seattle Rotary AAU program.Ive always been the dude to let them make their own decision, Nowell said. If he wants to come here, thatll be great. But if he feels that there is a better place for him, I will be happy for him.?Nowell averaged 20.2 points during the spring Nike EYBL circuit, including 29.3 points in his final three games in May.?I feel like I can make a huge impact on both ends of the floor, Nowell said. I feel that I am an all-around player and that I can do whatever they need me to do in order to win.?Expect Washington to continue pursuing the five-star tandem of Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young, who play together with MoKan Elite on the AAU circuit. Romar hired Porters father last month as an assistant coach. ' ' '