Georgia Tech

Josh Pastner made team watch all 110 turnovers

Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner answers a question during the Atlantic Coast Conference men's NCAA college basketball media day in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner answers a question during the Atlantic Coast Conference men's NCAA college basketball media day in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Dec 17, 2017

Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner knows exactly how many turnovers his team has committed through eight games – 110. His team does, too. In a recent video review session, Pastner made his team watch all 110.

“I say, ‘If I’m going to be miserable watching this, you’re going to be right there miserable with me,’” Pastner said. “We watched every single one.”

The exercise wasn’t merely disciplinary, but also intended to educate. With four freshmen getting playing time and other inexperienced players in the rotation, Tech has made costly mistakes with lazy or risky passes and other bad decisions with the ball. It has been punitive, with three of Tech’s four losses by three points or fewer and the fourth by seven.

“We can’t afford to give away a possession at least not getting a shot up,” Pastner said.

Tech is committing 13.8 turnovers per game, which accounts for 21 percent of its possessions, according to KenPom. That’s 264th nationally. The Jackets were slightly better last season, at 19.3 percent (13.4 turnovers per game).

Pastner said the turnover review session lasted about 30 minutes.

Tech plays Florida A&M Sunday at McCamish Pavilion at 4 p.m.

About the Author

Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.

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