By Andy Demetra | Voice of the Yellow Jackets
For the record, Josh Pastner’s pipes didn’t freeze during the cold snap that gripped Atlanta over the holiday break. Though you wouldn’t have known it from the way he described the first half runs that have sunk Georgia Tech in its first three ACC games.
“Everybody knows you’re going to have stretches where things aren’t going well. It’s our stretches in those segments, it’s like the water breaks and there’s a flood, and it just spirals downward,” Tech’s head coach explained.
“How do we not let the pipes break? There could be a drip and a little leak, but we can’t be having it where it just gets flooded,” he added.
| Opponent | Run | Time |
| North Carolina | 11-0 | 3:19 (end of half) |
| Clemson | 18-2 | 8:16 |
| Virginia | 9-0 | 1:58 (end of half) |
Different play calls? Different lineup combinations? Using timeouts more liberally? All of it came under Pastner’s microscope as Georgia Tech (7-6, 0-3 ACC) gears up for an opponent that can break open games quickly. No. 12 Miami (13-1, 4-0 ACC) has won nine straight games and seven straight on the road in ACC play.
Pastner’s metaphor was on brand – Hurricanes do cause flooding, after all. But after a frustrating day against Virginia, the Yellow Jackets will look for a competitive response in the finale of their four-game homestand. Enjoy the top notes from my chart in preparation for another game night at McCamish Pavilion (7 p.m. ET, Georgia Tech Sports Network from Legends Sports):
Miles Kelly has averaged 45.6 percent on three-point shooting in ACC games. (photo by Danny Karnik)
The schedule hasn’t exactly shown the Yellow Jackets much grace lately. Including Miami, Tech will have faced five teams that rank in the top 16 nationally in KenPom offensive efficiency – and all in its last nine games.
| Team | NCAA Ranking (as of Jan. 2) | |
| Marquette | #9 | |
| North Carolina | #11 | |
| Miami | #12 | |
| Iowa | #15 | |
| Virginia | #16 | |
Expect a Hurricanes team that uses DHO’s, high ball screens, and other staples of five-out motion offense. Preseason first-team All-ACC guard Isaiah Wong (17.1 ppg) is a smooth three-level scorer and pull-up artist with a high release. Georgia Tech will have to stay down and force the 6-3 junior to take tough twos. As the numbers show, however, Georgia Tech has been an Achilles heel in his career:
Isaiah Wong (5 games)
| FG% | 3pt.% | |
| vs. Georgia Tech | 33.30% | 5.9% (1 of 17) |
| vs. all others | 44.50% | 34.50% |
The Hurricanes haven’t won nine straight by Wong alone. Transfer guard Nijel Pack (11.8 ppg) led Miami with 21 points against Notre Dame and ranked fifth in the nation in three-point percentage at Kansas State last year (43.6 pct.). The Hurricanes also sprinkle in occasional post-ups for forwards Jordan Miller (14.6 ppg) and Norchad Omier (13.8 ppg), a pair of athletic, bouncy bigs who work well in DHO’s and pick-and-rolls.
Tech will need to shape up, be physical on screens, make Miami “see bodies” on dribble penetration, and play with good hand activity on their recoveries. The Hurricanes don’t usually rack up foul trips in bulk, but they attempted 51 free throws in their two meetings with the Jackets last year.
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Josh Pastner could only compare it to an out-of-body experience.
A day after lauding his team for its ball security – the Yellow Jackets were on pace for their lowest turnover rate since 1997 – Pastner watched his team commit an ungainly 23 turnovers against Virginia. At 35.9 percent, it was Tech’s highest turnover rate – i.e., the percentage of its possessions that ended in a turnover – since November of 2011.
Cleaning it up won’t come easy: Miami ranks third in the ACC in steals per game (8.0) and outscored Notre Dame 25-7 in points off turnovers in its 76-65 win Dec. 30.
“They go after the ball defensively, whether it’s weak side or ball side,” Pastner said on his radio show. In particular, the Hurricanes like to swipe down on dribble-drives and try to rake the ball away. They also bothered the Yellow Jackets last year by picking up their guards early, making it difficult for them to get in a flow. Being “ball tough” will be a priority Wednesday.
Another area to watch: can Georgia Tech generate more offense in transition? Pastner has talked about creating more looks off drag screens and roll-and-replace action, hoping to find some quick-hitting shots on the secondary break. Miami, though, has outscored its last three opponents 42-0 in fast break points.
Ja’von Franklin played his best game against Virginia since suffering a groin injury on Dec. 10. (photo by Danny Karnik)
A couple three-point numbers that could prove pertinent Wednesday:
In Georgia Tech’s three ACC games, Miles Kelly has shot 45.6 percent from three-point range. The rest of his teammates have only shot 24.3 percent.
Miami averages 35 percent from three-point range against man-to-man defense according to Synergy.
Against zone, they’re only averaging 23 percent.
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Six-foot-7 Norchad Omier joined Miami this offseason from Arkansas State, where he became the Red Wolves’ first Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year since 1999. His second fewest points (9) and rebounds (8) in a conference game last season came against South Alabama – when he dueled with Tech’s Ja’von Franklin.
The Little Rock, Ark., native showed his usual burst and bounce against Virginia, grabbing 11 points and nine rebounds in the second half. A small-ball “5,” Omier has a skill set similar to Virginia’s Jayden Gardner, with the ability to isolate and power-drive from the perimeter. He also ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounding percentage (16.1 pct.); Tech will need to neutralize him with multiple bodies on the defensive glass.
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The final minutes of the Virginia game didn’t change the outcome, but it did feature some surname synergy. Down the stretch, Georgia Tech played Deebo Coleman and Ja’Von Franklin. Virginia trotted out a lineup that included Chase Coleman and Armaan Franklin.
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Now that we’re prepared, we hope you are as well. Join us for pregame coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on the Georgia Tech Sports Network from Legends Sports. See you at McCamish Pavilion.
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ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team has completed six seasons under head coach Josh Pastner, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 2021 and making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years. Tech has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won four ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993, 2021), played in the NCAA Tournament 17 times and played in two Final Fours (1990, 2004). Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball on social media by liking their Facebook Page, or following on Twitter (@GTMBB) and Instagram. For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
