Despite having a huge size advantage, Georgia Tech lost to No. 8-ranked Villanova 69-52 in the title game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Friday afternoon.
Here are four observations from the game:
1. Not ready for prime time. This may be the deepest and most talented roster in Brian Gregory's Tech tenure, but there's work to do before the Yellow Jackets reach their ACC schedule in January if they are to be competitive in the league. The Jackets found out what a top-10 team is like from an athletic, skill and intensity standpoint in Villanova (6-0). The Wildcats were the highest ranked non-conference opponent Tech had played since it faced Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
Gregory was not totally unhappy, especially since Tech out-rebounded Villanova 39-28. “There were a lot positives,” he said. “Unfortunately we have to have a lot more to beat a team like Villanova right now.”
2. On the run. In a game of runs, Villanova got the best of it. From a competitive 19-all tie late in the first half, Villanova went on an 11-0 burst. Tech matched that run over the closing moments of the first half and the first few minutes of the second to make it a 30-all tie, only to see the Wildcats stretch out in a 20-7 run and put the game out of reach. The Wildcats extended the lead to 18 even with some starters on the bench in the final five minutes. Tech (4-2) has lost two of its past three games.
3. Pass the ball. This finally was a game where the Tech guards appeared to be more like last season's group: They just couldn't get the ball inside to the dominant big men. Villanova's smaller inside guys used quickness, and the Tech guards in most cases were so wary that they never even attempted to pass the ball inside and couldn't withstand the various ways Villanova swarmed. Charles Mitchell, who made the all-tournament team, had 16 points and 11 rebounds, but the points were hard to come by.
4. In their defense. Tech did push Villanova, and the Wildcats responded by moving from their normal 3-point attack to driving to the rim for success in the second half. Villanova coach Jay Wright said: "We have to figure this out a little bit. We're not shooting well from 3. Teams are really getting out and taking away the 3-pointer from us, and they're doing a good job. We have to figure out a way to get more open 3's, but we really have to be efficient from two if they're going to do that." Villanova was 5-of-15 on 3s in the second half, 8-for-27 in the game.
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