With a focus on defense, Georgia Tech began its preseason practice schedule Tuesday evening with one key team member not able to participate because of an injury. The Yellow Jackets will be without guard Michael Devoe for about two more weeks with a toe injury, coach Josh Pastner told the AJC.
Devoe also missed time last preseason with a toe injury, but Pastner said it was a different toe. Pastner called the injury “nothing serious.” Having Devoe healthy as soon as possible will be of no small benefit, as the Jackets open their season with an ACC game at N.C. State on Nov. 5. It will be the first of six games against power-conference competition that Tech will play in its first eight games.
As a freshman, Devoe averaged 9.7 points and shot a team-high 39.3 percent from 3-point range.
Tuesday night’s practice followed out-of-season workouts, conducted since the start of the semester, that were focused on individual skill development. NCAA rules permit team members to be on the court for four hours weekly, and Pastner said that he had the team on the floor together only twice.
“We locked in on individuals,” he said.
While Devoe was out Tuesday, forward Moses Wright was back after missing the Jackets’ four exhibition games in Spain in August with an ankle injury. Pastner said that Wright was given full clearance to return Monday.
In Tuesday’s practice, Pastner said that he focused on transition defense.
“I think the guys look really good, body-wise,” Pastner said. “I think (strength-and-conditioning coach) Dan Taylor has done a really good job in the weight room with the guys. Now that we’re back into team practice, we’ll really ramp up our conditioning.”
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