Against the No. 2 team in the country, Georgia Tech’s shortcomings on offense were laid bare.
The Yellow Jackets submitted to Virginia 57-28 Thursday night, unable to produce create open shots consistently or make them when available. The Jackets’ point total was their lowest since 28 in a loss to Tennessee in the 1946-47 season and also set a record for fewest points scored in an ACC regular-season game, including the pre-shot clock era. They scored 12 points after halftime.
The Jackets’ offensive struggles reached a nadir before a full house at John Paul Jones Arena.
Coach Brian Gregory returned point guard Travis Jorgenson to the starting lineup after having him come off the bench for the past two games. Gregory had mentioned prior to the game the need for as many easy baskets as possible against Virginia’s vaunted defense, ranked No. 3 in the country in defensive efficiency by the website kenpom.com.
Open looks at the basket were rare for the Jackets, first as Virginia’s transition defense prevented freebies in the open court and second because the Cavaliers’ halfcourt defense strangled Tech. Repeatedly, the Jackets worked the ball around the perimeter until less than 10 seconds remained on the shot clock, leaving forward Marcus Georges-Hunt or another perimeter player to make a last-ditch attempt to free himself one-on-one.
Tech scored 16 points in the first half, making seven of 24 field-goal tries (29.2 percent). It was Tech’s lowest output in a half since scoring 15 points in the second half in a 64-45 loss to the same Cavaliers last February.
It was exceeded by the second half, when Tech shot 5-for-25 from the field and didn’t get past four points for the half until less than four minutes remained in the game. It was the result of an offense ranked 342nd in the country in 3-point shooting playing poorly against a superior defense that was playing near its peak.
Tech is not alone in getting manhandled by Virginia. Rutgers scored 26 points against the Cavaliers earlier this season.
Tech (9-9 overall, 0-6 ACC) has lost its first six games in ACC play for the fifth time in school history. Virginia (18-0, 6-0) is off to its best start since the 1980-81 team, led by Ralph Sampson, started 23-0. Sampson was in attendance at John Paul Jones Arena Thursday night, watching his son Robert, a backup forward for the Jackets.
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