After limping into conference play with a rƩsumƩ that the NIT selection committee would have fed into a shredder (but only after laughing and passing it around the room), Georgia Tech is starting to puff out its chest three weeks later.
The Yellow Jackets are 3-1 in ACC play, good enough for third place in the conference as they prepare for No. 2 Virginia on Thursday at McCamish Pavilion. Gaining in health and confidence after a rocky November and December, their aspirations are high.
āI think weāre one of the teams thatās in the mix,ā coach Josh Pastner said. āI think anybody can beat anyone in the league so far. I think itās just parity. Itās wide open. Everyoneās even.ā
Pastnerās crew ā and perhaps his estimation of the ACC ā will face its most severe test of the season by far on Thursday. The Cavaliers, 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the ACC, have wrung out their opposition since squeaking past Boston College in their ACC opener. Virginia has defeated Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Syracuse and N.C. State by an average of 15.5 points.
Virginia is rated first nationally in defensive efficiency (KenPom), creating turnovers and challenging shots with its āPack Lineā defense like almost no team in the country. The Cavaliers are sufficiently efficient at the other end, ranking in the top 30 nationally in 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage and assist/turnover ratio.
Pastner evaluated the Cavaliers as the most athletic and long team that coach Tony Bennett has had in his 12 seasons as a head coach.
āTo beat Virginia, youāre going to have to beat Virginia,ā Pastner said. āTheyāre not going to beat themselves, and theyāre very sound and disciplined.ā
While Tech is 3-1 in the league, the wins have been gained against Miami, which is ranked No. 25 in the AP poll, but has stumbled in league play; Notre Dame, which was down its two best players and has now lost three in a row; and Pittsburgh, which is the weakest team in the league.
āI think this is a great opportunity for both coaches and players to kind of see what weāre made of,ā guard Josh Okogie said. āObviously, I think itās the first time weāve played a team of this caliber as far as being this good both defensively and offensively, so I think itās a big test for us.ā
The game begins a rugged four-game stretch over an 11-game stretch in which the validity of the Jacketsā strong start in ACC play will be challenged. Itās followed by a trip to No. 15 North Carolina on Saturday, to Florida State (No. 31 in KenPom) on Wednesday and then a home game against No. 20 Clemson on Jan. 28.
Success against any of the four will require better play than the Jackets have shown at any point this season. While Tech is playing fierce defense, the Jackets continue to have trouble on offense, succumbing to occasional lapses. Tech is shooting 43.3 percent from the field, third lowest in the ACC, and its 1.0 assist/turnover ratio is likewise third from the bottom.
In Techās favor, four of Virginiaās five ACC wins have been achieved at home. And the Jackets are playing defense at a level comparable to their standards at the end of last season, according to Pastner, which the Jackets finished ranked sixth nationally in defensive efficiency.
Okogie agreed with the premise that the Jackets will have to avoid going dry for prolonged stretches, ābut I have a lot of confidence in our defense, too,ā he said. āI think thereās not going to be any room for error for both teams. Weāve got to play with extreme energy and pace, and I think weāll be just fine.ā
Further, Tech has shown a remarkable knack for hitting its peak at moments like this. The Jackets are now 9-2 in ACC games at home since Pastnerās hire, and theyāve beaten four AP top-15 opponents, three by 10 points or more. Tech will play before its first home sellout crowd of the season, an assembly that likely will include a fair percentage of Virginia fans.
āIn the end, youāre going to have to make plays, and youāve got to score,ā Pastner said. āWe can sit here and come up with every situation you can think of ā in the end, youāre going to have to put the ball in the basket.ā
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