That Georgia Tech managed 62 points in its loss to Boston College without much scoring from big men Demarco Cox and Charles Mitchell was something of an achievement.
Cox and Mitchell lead Tech in field-goal percentage and are the Yellow Jackets’ Nos. 2 and 3 scorers, respectively. They combined for six points Sunday, a season-low output following their eight-point game against Virginia. Foul trouble limited minutes, but they still managed only seven total shots in 35 minutes. Prior to Saturday, they had averaged one shot for every 3:20 of play.
“We just need to have a little more poise in terms of getting the ball in there,” coach Brian Gregory said.
As Virginia did, Boston College aggressively double teamed the post, which also limited shot opportunities.
“They’re able to double the post because they’re playing off guys who have struggled to put the ball in the basket,” Gregory said. “That’s why we want to try to get (Cox) moving, get him on some rolls and some throwbacks into the post and get the defense stretched so he has a little more time in there (to shoot).”
New lineup: Gregory used a different starting lineup again Sunday, this time starting forwards Marcus Georges-Hunt and Robert Sampson, Cox at center and guards Chris Bolden and Travis Jorgenson. It was the first game that Mitchell did not start this season. It was also Tech's fourth different starting lineup in the past five games, none necessitated by injury.
In just his second start of the season, Sampson scored two points but tied his season high with nine rebounds.
Still winless: Tech's 0-7 record to start ACC play is the longest since 2002, coach Paul Hewitt's second season. The more optimistic Jackets fan would note that, in that season, Tech started 0-7 but won seven of its final nine conference games to finish 7-9.
The other two instances when Tech began ACC play 0-7 were the Jackets’ first two years in the ACC, 1980 and 1981. Tech finished 1-13 the first year and 0-14 the second.
Quotable: Tech forward Quinton Stephens: "We know that we can play. We've been in this situation with just the last four minutes, last eight minutes. We're right there. We're going to break through this wall. We're going to get through it together."
Etc: The road doesn't get easier. The Jackets' next game is Wednesday at Miami, which is 14-5 overall and 4-2 in the ACC. … Hawks guard Dennis Schroder attended the game prior to the Hawks' game against Minnesota and visited afterwards with Boston College guard Patrick Heckmann. The two were teammates on a German junior national team.
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