It would be premature and, more important, probably wrong to suggest that, 4 1/2 years into the job, Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory has finally found the key to unlock the Yellow Jackets’ potential. But, his decision to move Marcus Georges-Hunt from the wing to point guard could prove a wise stroke.
It made an impression on at least one knowledgeable observer Saturday at McCamish Pavilion, where the Jackets upset then-No. 4 Virginia 68-64 after starting ACC play with contested road losses at North Carolina and Pittsburgh.
“If you look at the three ACC games, they’ve been right there with them,” said Dave Odom, the former Wake Forest coach who was courtside as an analyst for the ACC Network broadcast. “The difference might be they’ve found a winning lineup, and they’ve got something now that they can build on.”
For the Jackets’ road matchup with Notre Dame on Wednesday night, Gregory said he will stick with the same three-forward, two-guard lineup that he sent out for the Virginia game — Charles Mitchell and James White on the blocks, Quinton Stephens on the wing, Adam Smith at shooting guard and Georges-Hunt at the point. That lineup included three changes from the lineup Gregory used in 13 of Tech’s first 15 games — White was in for Nick Jacobs, Georges-Hunt moved over from the wing to the point, moving Josh Heath to a backup role. Stephens moved from the bench to the wing spot for his first start of the season.
“I know the offense. I know where people are supposed to go. I know how to read the defense,” Georges-Hunt said. “So being able, for the first time, for the first time to start at that position, it’s a great opportunity for me.”
Arguably, the big change is Georges-Hunt in the point-guard role, in which he initiates the offense and is the principal ball-handler. With Georges-Hunt at the point, Tech gives up speed it has with Heath and backup Travis Jorgenson, but gains size and strength at the point and more scoring punch on the perimeter. Stephens can be streaky, but overall has more pop than Heath. Against Virginia, he was the difference, scoring a season-high 16 points, with 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range.
“He’s a veteran player, so he knows every position already, so it isn’t like he has to learn all the sets or whatever the case might be,” Gregory said.
Georges-Hunt said that, having the ball more, he is in better position to attack gaps, a greater likelihood with Smith’s torrid 3-point shooting demanding attention.
“It’s kind of like you’re in control in a way,” Georges-Hunt said. “And if you see any opening, you can just go. On the wing, you might not have the ball at the time when you see an opening, so you can’t really take advantage of it.”
Gregory has used Georges-Hunt at the point in stretches previously, but had just not made the commitment to start him there. He said that, in the losses to North Carolina and Pittsburgh, the offense went through lulls. Having his leading scorer with the ball in his hands more often seemed a logical solution. Among other things, Georges-Hunt is among the more effective players in the ACC at getting to the free-throw line. He’s also a defensive upgrade.
The size and strength difference is pronounced. Georges-Hunt is a bullish 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds. Heath is 6-2, 179 and more sleight.
“That’s a tough matchup when you have a big guy handling the ball up there,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. “We probably have to make some decisions on who would match up with him if he’s handling the ball up on top.”
It isn’t necessarily permanent, and could be matchup-based. And, statistically speaking, Georges-Hunt actually didn’t have much of a game against Virginia — he scored a season-low five points on 1-for-6 shooting with one rebound, four assists, two steals and two turnovers. But with him at the helm, the Jackets toughed out a direly needed victory.
“I think Brian is on the right track,” Odom said. “I think they’re very dangerous.”
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