By Andy Demetra
Wednesday’s game may have been a case of “Lost and Found.”
Yes, Georgia Tech lost its sixth straight game, falling to No. 22 Virginia Tech, 76-68. But the Yellow Jackets may have also found some ways to boost their sagging offense. For starters, there was – well, starters. Rather than play forwards James Banks and Abdoulaye Gueye together, Josh Pastner opted to use a single post, a look he had employed for most of the last two years. The result was better spacing, better ball movement, and Tech’s most three-pointers in a game (11) since the season opener. Pastner also gave Moses Wright and Kristian Sjolund ACC-high minutes at forward. Wright responded with seven points, more than he had in his previous six games combined. Sjolund added 11 points and six rebounds; he only had seven rebounds total all year. In spite of the loss, Tech finished with its fourth-best offensive efficiency rating of the season (1.09 PPP).
Those tweaks could be temporary, a one-off meant to counteract Virginia Tech’s quick, small-ball lineups. But they could also serve as a springboard for Georgia Tech (11-14, 3-9 ACC) as it prepares for another ranked opponent Saturday. Their opponent, No. 19 Florida State (19-5, 7-4 ACC), has won six straight and held Tech to an ACC-low 28.3-percent shooting in a 59-49 win February 2.
As you get ready for tip-off, here are the top five notes from my chart in preparation for Saturday’s sold-out matchup at McCamish (2 p.m. ET, Learfield IMG College):
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As he told us this week on the Georgia Tech Basketball Report, freshman guard Michael Devoe is a devotee of yoga. He came to love it from his Mom and aunt, a Pilates instructor, though it sometimes causes some awkward glances in the studio back home.
“I go in there with leggings on, and people are wondering, ‘Why is this tall kid coming in here doing yoga?’” the Orlando, Fla., native said. “But I’ve read a lot of articles about NBA guys, and they do it. So I’ve tried to emphasize that in my game as well.”
Devoe will look to stand out in more positive ways Saturday. His ascendance continued Wednesday in Blacksburg when he scored 22 points – his second straight game with a career high in points – against Virginia Tech. More than any team in the ACC, Florida State likes to send waves of long, agile guards to play up the line defensively (6-7 Terance Mann had the primary assignment on Jose Alvarado). That length frustrated Devoe and Alvarado, who finished a combined 3-of-23 from the field. If they get inside the paint, can they finish with more finesse – floaters, pull-ups, adjusting through contact – and not get caught too deep where turnovers become an issue?
Georgia Tech also had a season-low assist rate against the Seminoles (five on 17 made field goals). If the Jackets continue to play with a single post, they may get the spacing and ball movement they need to score more consistently. Head coach Leonard Hamilton also mentioned his team’s struggles “covering down” in the post. Will the Seminoles be more active with their help-side defense around the rim?