In a season when the inexplicable has plagued Georgia Tech like clockwork — such as scoring one point in the final 9:52 against Virginia on Saturday after scoring 44 in the first 30:08 — guard Chris Bolden has his own personal undoing.
In 11 ACC games, Bolden averaged 4.9 points in the first half. In the second half, the average is 1.7.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out, too,” Bolden said.
Further, Bolden has run hot and cold from game to game. In the ACC games, he scored 11 or more four times and six or fewer seven times. The Yellow Jackets, who face Boston College on Wednesday night at McCamish Pavilion (7 p.m., Fox Sports South), are in dire need of dependable scoring. Bolden has been among those unable to provide it.
“It’s really frustrating,” Bolden said. “I know I can hit the shots.”
Bolden’s frustrations were at their confounding best against the Cavaliers. Bolden breathed fire in the first 20 minutes. He made four of five shots in the first half, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, for 11 points as the Jackets took a 30-29 halftime lead against No. 20 Virginia. He made one 3-pointer over tight defense with the shot clock running down.
After halftime, Bolden was 1-for-7, missing his last five shots. In the ACC games, Bolden shot 46.3 percent in the first half and 21.2 in the second half.
Coach Brian Gregory said the team needs Bolden to be in better rhythm on offense for all 40 minutes. The responsibility lies with Bolden and the coaches.
“I think you’ve got to take a look at it and see what’s happening,” Gregory said. “Is he getting the same quality shots in the second half? Is there a concentration lapse, because he’s made some shots already? But, obviously, certainly, we’ve looked at it to see, are we running some stuff to get him going again? Are we getting him some easy ones, or at least some easy opportunities to score?”
Beyond scoring, Gregory continually challenges Bolden and the other guards to rebound better. Rebounding by guards seems to be among his favorite topics and often a barometer of his team’s focus and effort.
Bolden’s best performances typically have led to Tech wins. In a win over Notre Dame, Bolden had 14 points and four rebounds. In the next two games, losses to Pittsburgh and Miami, he had a combined three points (on 1-for-13 shooting) and three rebounds. In Tech’s most recent win, Bolden had 12 points and five rebounds at Wake Forest.
Bolden is well aware of his capacity to give a boost to an offense that ranked 11th in the ACC in field-goal percentage (42.3 percent in league games) before Tuesday’s games.
Said Bolden, “I’ve got to pick it up. Definitely.”
Wednesday’s game is expected to be played. The ACC policy regarding postponements and cancelled games is that games are to be played if both teams and officials can reach the arena. Boston College arrived Tuesday, and game officials also were in town. In a release Tuesday, the school strongly discouraged people not within walking distance from attending. Fans who cannot attend can transfer tickets to a different person free of charge on ramblinwreck.com.
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