Written by Andy Demetra | Voice of Yellowjacket
The final horn rang in Charlottesville on Saturday night, simultaneously marking the end of one season and the beginning of another for Georgia Tech.
The flat finale at Virginia shouldn't take long for the Yellow Jackets to bounce back from. It also shouldn't slow down the momentum they've built in recent weeks as they head to Washington, D.C., for the 2024 ACC Tournament.
“We've been playing well. Losing to Virginia doesn't change anything. The message was, bring it, don't worry about this. We're going to turn the page,” head coach said. Damon Stoudemire He said this on his radio show on Monday.
In the opening game, Georgia Tech (14-17, 7-13 ACC) lost to Notre Dame (12-19, 7-13 ACC) in the regular season, a game that eliminated the Yellow Jackets. Get a chance to flip the page. In Atlanta it was overtime and in South Bend it was up to three points. When the Jackets and Irish come together, the margin of error is always slim. This trend will be even greater in games where the outcome of the conference tournament is at stake.
seeds and opportunities. Georgia Tech will look to accommodate both as it begins its bracket run in Washington, D.C. Yellow Jackets prepare for second-ever matchup with the Irish in the ACC Tournament (2 p.m.) Enjoy top notes, quotes, and anecdotes from my chart as I prepare (ET, Georgia Tech Sports Network):
The last time they were scoreless, Myles Kelly (13) scored a career-high 36 points. (Photo by Danny Karnik)
Want another illustration of how whirlwind this season has been for Georgia Tech? Highest field goal percentage and highest field goal percentage for the Yellow Jackets defense in conference play both suffered losses.
| Category | percent | Opponent | Score |
| FG% | 54.50% | at duke | L, 84-79 |
| FG defense power% | 31.80% | at Notre Dame Cathedral | L, 58-55 |
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Notre Dame survived that frigid shootout night and defeated Tech 58-55, following a 75-68 overtime victory over the Jackets in McCamish in January.The biggest through lines in these games were rebounding and free throw shooting – Tech outrebounded by a total of -24 and Notre Dame finished with that mark. Highest and 3rd highest offensive rebound percentage of ACC play. More offensive rebounds led to more stickbacks, scrambles, and fouls against Tech. Unsurprisingly, Notre Dame also won his two awards for the best. free throw rate Also played ACC's (FTA/FGA). For a team that ranks at the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency, those free throws were crucial in filling holes in Notre Dame's offense.
Now, good news. Since that night in South Bend, Georgia Tech has outscored each of its past six opponents by one point. Total +71.
Georgia Tech – ACC Rebound Margin
- First 14 games: -55
- Last 6 games: +71
Could a rededication to glass spark a turnaround for DC?Stoudemire also emphasized the importance of winning. 50-50 balls The Fighting Irish, on the other hand, had a clear advantage in this category during the regular season meetings.
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Miles Kelly There's good reason to believe he can shake off a scoreless night at Virginia. For starters:
- In his last scoreless game against Wake Forest on February 6th, he lit up Louisville. Career-high 36 points In the next game.
- Obviously, he really like Play in conference tournaments. In three career ACC Tournament games, Kelly averaged 7 points He shot 51 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range (10 of 22).
He will have to contend with Notre Dame's defense again. Defensive efficiency ranks 27th in the nation. Look for the Irish to stuff the paint and force teams into jump shots, as Stoudamire says. “Test your principles on the offensive side.” The Jackets can't penetrate too much or hold onto the ball for too long while exploring the perimeter. With premium 2-point jumpers, Kyle Sturdivant Would you like to rejoin the fray?Tech's leading bench scorer did not score against Notre Dame in the regular season, but averaged points per game. 13.1 points The Yellow Jackets won the ACC.
Baye Ndongo is the 15th ACC freshman to average at least 12 points and eight rebounds in the past 20 years. (Photo by Danny Karnik)
Damon Stoudemire He has an affinity for point guards under 6 feet, which is not surprising considering he was a point guard himself.
But in the case of Notre Dame's 5-11 guard and ACC Rookie of the Year Marcus Burton, that admiration may turn to worry. The Mishawaka, Ind., native is a Quicksilver point guard who is constantly moving his body off the dribble and trying to get defenders inside. Laser pointer that chases cats level of mischief.expect him to work mostly on holidays Stagger and pin downGeorgia Tech had a hard time containing this action against Virginia on Saturday.
With flares, back screens, and plenty of two-man action in the half-court offense, the Irish are joined by cerebral freshman Braden Shrewsberry (41.4 percent, 3 points, ACC), one of the league's best young three-point shooters. ) is also featured. . Burton and Shrewsbury led Notre Dame in scoring, but some of the success against Tech was due to the boost provided by Tay Davis, who averaged 6-9 points. 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds In two games against the Yellow Jackets. The technician needs to keep him away from the glass and prevent him from falling downhill with his right hand.
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Baye Ndongo He became the 15th ACC freshman in the past 20 years to average at least 12 points and eight rebounds per game.
Of the 14 before him, 11 players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. 13 played in the NBA. And the only player they haven't signed yet, Duke's Kyle Filipovski, is projected to be a first-round pick this summer.
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The preparation is now complete. I hope you're ready as well. Join us for pregame coverage starting at 1:30 PM ET on Georgia Tech Sports Network. See you in DC
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About Georgia Tech Men's Basketball
The Georgia Tech men's basketball team is in its first year under head coach Damon Stoudemire. Tech has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, winning the ACC Championship four times (1985, 1990, 1993, 2021), appearing in the NCAA Tournament 17 times and reaching the Final Four. I participated twice (1990, 2004). Connect with Georgia Tech Men's Basketball on social media by liking his Facebook page or following him below. Twitter (@GTMBB) And Instagram. For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
