The final seconds of Georgia Tech’s ticked away late Wednesday night in Viejas Arena on the campus of San Diego State. A sellout crowd voiced its approval of the Aztecs’ NIT quarterfinal win over the Yellow Jackets, a victory that will send them to the semifinals in New York.
Both literally and figuratively, it was a long way from where almost anyone might have guessed six weeks ago where this season would complete its course. The answer then might have been a first-round loss in the ACC tournament in Washington, a muted ending to a season of unmet expectations.
Instead, the Jackets ended the season in the NIT quarterfinals with a 21-15 record, Tech’s second 20-win season in the past nine seasons and the fifth in the past 20. Tech won nine of its final 13 games, including a 6-2 record in the last eight games of the ACC regular season.
Following the season-ending loss, coach Brian Gregory praised his team, in particular its five seniors, for its perseverance in the midst of trying circumstances and for its efforts to turn around the team and the season. Four of the five, Gregory noted, actually chose to join the struggle as transfers.
“Maybe we didn’t appreciate what these seniors have done,” he said. “You’re rebuilding a program, and when you go through that, sometimes it’s difficult, because you get competitive like we have the last two years, but you’re not able to get over the hump. And in this day and age, guys don’t stick with that. They just don’t.”
The season will be remembered for a number of things – guard Marcus Georges-Hunt’s all-around excellence, guard Adam Smith’s shooting touch and the productive interior play of forwards Charles Mitchell and Nick Jacobs. The Jackets lost second-half leads in losses to North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Duke, but rallied for thrilling wins over Notre Dame, Clemson (twice) and Pittsburgh. Before the San Diego State loss, they added emphatic NIT wins over Houston and South Carolina.
Was the season a success?
Tech improved on its 12-19 record last season by winning 21 games, ended its pattern of losing games by single digits and scored wins over five NCAA tournaments team (Virginia, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, VCU and Green Bay). Following the Jackets’ loss to the Aztecs, their RPI was No. 49, which is 99 spots better than their season-ending RPI last season.
The Jackets accomplished this despite a schedule that was among the most strenuous in the country. Of Tech’s 15 losses, 10 were to NCAA tournament teams or Louisville, which would have the field had it not removed itself from the postseason. Eight of those 10 were by less than 10 points. Of the other five defeats, three were to teams that played in the NIT.
After starting 2-8 in ACC play, Tech's 8-10 conference record in arguably the toughest conference in the country speaks to how well players, under the direction of Gregory and his staff, continued to practice and play hard amidst considerable negativity.
The offense showed vast improvement, ranking 36th in adjusted offensive efficiency in the Pomeroy ratings after finishing 210th last season.
Georges-Hunt earned All-ACC, Mitchell made strides to his potential, Smith was a difference-maker and center Ben Lammers, forward Quinton Stephens and guard Tadric Jackson grew in their roles.
“I would say (the program) is on the right trajectory,” Gregory said following Wednesday’s game.
Or was the season lacking?
It was a team with NCAA tournament potential, but fell short by perhaps two wins. Two one-possession losses at home in which the Jackets led late, to East Tennessee State and Virginia Tech, likely could have made the difference. (Of course, last-second wins over Clemson and Notre Dame could have gone the other way, too.)
While Tech’s improved play in the final 11 games was impressive, it doesn’t erase the inability to seize opportunities against Virginia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse and Duke, among others.
And while the Jackets improved by five wins in the ACC, it only meant a tie for 11th after finishing 13th last season. And this peak was reached not by a young group, but by a team that had 62 percent of its minutes and 76 percent of its points supplied by seniors.
Athletic director Mike Bobinski will have to draw his own conclusion about what the season meant, and if Gregory is the best available option for the team’s future.
As of Thursday evening, the two had yet to determine a time to meet. Gregory was in New York Thursday as a studio analyst for the broadcast of the NCAA tournament.
A year ago, Bobinski and Gregory met on the Friday of the ACC tournament after the team was eliminated on Tuesday, and Bobinski informed Gregory he would be retained the following Monday. A similar process is possible.
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