The flaw Georgia Tech has to address to earn NIT semifinal berth

March 19, 2017, Atlanta: Georgia Tech guard Josh Heath passes it off on a fast break against four Belmont defenders in their NIT tournament round two NCAA basketball game on Sunday, March 19, 2017, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Ken Sugiura

Credit: Ken Sugiura

March 19, 2017, Atlanta: Georgia Tech guard Josh Heath passes it off on a fast break against four Belmont defenders in their NIT tournament round two NCAA basketball game on Sunday, March 19, 2017, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Perhaps the most convincing evidence of the impact that Georgia Tech fans had on their team is this: The Yellow Jackets finished their home schedule at 17-4, setting a school record for home wins, and go into their NIT quarterfinal matchup at Mississippi at 2-10 on the road.

In the nine ACC home games and the two NIT conquests at McCamish, opponents shot 35.8 percent, which helped generate a 9-2 record. In Tech’s nine road ACC games (all but one of which they lost), opponents shot 46.2 percent.

“It’s a credit to our home court advantage that we got here, the crowd willing us to victory,” coach Josh Pastner said Monday. “It’s a straight, direct reflection on our home crowd, on our student section.”