March 22, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech’s first-year head coach Josh Pastner has been named District 2 Coach of the year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. District 2 encompasses most of the footprint of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its member institutions.
It is the second coach-of-the-year honor for Pastner, who earned top honors from the Atlantic Coast Conference earlier this month. In his first year on the Flats, he has coached the Yellow Jackets to a 20-15 record and the final four of the National Invitation Tournament. He has won more games than any first-year coach in Tech history.
Pastner coached a Yellow Jacket team projected to finish 14th in the ACC, having lost its top four players from last year’s NIT squad, into position to be considered for an NCAA Tournament berth as late as mid-February. The Jackets finished in 11th place in the conference standings with an 8-10 record.
Beginning with their 75-63 upset of ninth-ranked North Carolina on New Year’s Eve, the Yellow Jackets defeated three top-15 teams, including No. 6 Florida State and No. 14 Notre Dame. Tech has fashioned a 4-4 record against teams in the top 25 of the RPI rankings and has won six more games against teams ranked in the top 100.
Tech has won primarily because of its stout defense, which leads the ACC in field goal percentage defense against conference teams and is in the top three in scoring defense. The Jackets rank No. 6 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is in its first year under head coach Josh Pastner. Tech has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won three ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993), played in the NCAA Tournament 16 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.
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