Jackets out to prove they’re better than their record

The ACC’s last-place team insists it still has a lot to play for.

With five games remaining until the ACC Tournament, Georgia Tech wants to prove it’s not as bad as its 1-10 conference mark.

The Yellow Jackets — which have lost four straight and nine of 10 — need a confidence boost heading into the tournament, which will be played March 12-15 at the Georgia Dome. But wins, or even one win, won’t be easy: the stretch run starts with three ranked opponents.

Tech visits No. 8 Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, hosts No. 13 Clemson on Sunday and visits No. 3 North Carolina on Feb. 28.

“We look at it like we’ve got nothing to lose, so why not give it our all, go all out and see what kind of run we can make,” said senior forward Alade Aminu, who will be playing against his brother, freshman Al-Farouq Aminu, for the second time this season. “We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Forward Gani Lawal, who leads Tech with 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds, said the Jackets can finish strong if they don’t think about the larger picture.

“We can’t have a winning [ACC] record, but you win one game at a time, that’s all you can do,” said Lawal, a sophomore. “You can’t win three or four games at a time.”

Tech earned its ACC win, 76-74 over Wake Forest on Jan. 31, when Iman Shumpert hit a jumper at the buzzer. The Jackets have lost seven conference games by seven points or less, including three in overtime.

Their most recent outing marked a new low. Tech lost 86-65 Saturday at home to N.C. State by allowing the Wolfpack to shoot 61.4 percent.

“With the exception of that game, we were hanging in there close, so we know we’re capable,” forward Zachery Peacock said. “That really drives and motivates us.”

Peacock said the team is practicing hard and hasn’t given up.

“It’s a real tough thing to do,” he said. “I’m proud of the guys for not giving in.”

Tech has won three straight against Wake Forest. But the Jackets are 2-7 on the road this season, while the Demon Deacons are 11-1 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Coach Paul Hewitt said Tech’s motivation is simple.

“To quote Herm Edwards, ‘You play to win the game,’ ” he said. “We’re just playing to beat Wake Forest. That’s what we’re about right now and that’s all we should be about. I’ll leave all the other stuff to everyone else.”