Sunday evening, Georgia Tech guard Jose Alvarado’s dreams were cemented in reality. He was with his Yellow Jackets teammates in Greensboro, N.C., for the NCAA Tournament selection show when “Georgia Tech” popped up on the screen as a No. 9 seed in the Midwest region opposite No. 8 Loyola Chicago. The teams will play Friday at 4 p.m. (on TBS) at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Playing in the tournament has been an ambition of Alvarado’s from childhood, but one that escaped him and the Jackets through his first three years at Tech. Growing up, he said, “I used to always download the bracket app” to make his predictions. A tournament game that was particularly impactful was the thrilling championship game between Villanova and North Carolina way back in 2016.
“That was the most exciting game I’ve seen in my life and it was more like, I just want to there,” he said. “I want to be in that big dance. I want to be in that conversation. I want to be in March Madness.”
So when the Midwest bracket was revealed with his own team’s name in it, “It felt amazing,” he said. “I’m not shocked. I felt like we deserved to obviously be in the conversation, but it was more, like, let’s go. I want to play. Let’s go and play and let’s keep it rolling.”
What is a familiar exercise for many of Tech’s ACC brethren was an all-new experience for the Jackets, who last graced the NCAA Tournament in 2010. Before this year, it was the fourth-longest drought among power-conference teams. The longest absence among power-five schools also ended Sunday, as Rutgers (1991) received an at-large berth.
Tech earned an automatic berth by upsetting No. 15 Florida State for the ACC championship Saturday night in Greensboro. It was Tech’s first ACC Tournament title since 1993.
Winning the championship officially fulfilled coach Josh Pastner’s mission to lead the Jackets into the NCAA Tournament in this, his fifth season.
“Mission accomplished,” Pastner said. “Check that box.”
The next box to check, then, will be advancing. It will not be a simple task.
Loyola is best known for team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who became the beloved star of the 2018 NCAA Tournament during the Ramblers’ run to the Final Four (including Sweet 16 and Elite 8 wins at State Farm Arena).
“She’s famous,” Pastner said. “She’s the most famous person in the game between the two teams.”
Sister Jean told the Chicago Tribune that she was hoping to be permitted to make the trip to Indianapolis to watch the Ramblers in person.
Loyola has a team worthy of the 101-year-old nun.
The Ramblers are 24-4, champions of the Missouri Valley Conference and are ranked 10th in NET and ninth in KenPom. Tech, by comparison, is 33rd in NET and 32nd in KenPom. Loyola is coached by Porter Moser, a longtime friend of Pastner’s.
“I think they’re really good,” Pastner said. “I’ve watched them play a bunch, not only from this year, but even in years past. (Moser) has always run really good offense and they play great defense.”
Should the Jackets advance, they almost certainly would play No. 1 seed Illinois, the Big Ten champion at 23-6, on Sunday. The Illini’s first-round game is against No. 16 seed Drexel, which won the Colonial Athletic Association and is 12-7.
Sunday, though, was a day for the Jackets to decompress after the ACC championship, learn their tournament appointment and travel to Indianapolis. Tech was leaving the team hotel in Greensboro for the airport to fly to Indianapolis shortly after the selection show wrapped up. Pastner confirmed that everyone on the roster is “ready to go.”
Pastner said each travel party member will be quarantined in a hotel room until passing two COVID tests, after which he can leave the room to begin practicing for Loyola.
“We want to go win six games,” Pastner said. “But I can’t tell you the importance of having that name pulled up on that screen.”
