11/6 - MBB vs. West Georgia

[AUFC]

Okay folks, it's time. We made it to 1 week out.

UWG makes the leap up to Division 1 this season and has joined the Atlantic Sun, which is one of the least talented conferences in the country. They are predicted dead last (by a large margin) in both the ASUN coaches poll and media poll. However, this is the program's Super Bowl that they've probably been building towards since the program was founded. This is technically their 2nd game as they travel to Starkvegas to take on Mississippi State on college basketball's opening night 11/4 but their first in the Atlanta metro area. Let's hope for quadruple overtime and some tired legs before the Jackets take them on 48 hours later. You know their entire student base (it's a larger school than I thought) and alumni are going to be packing 114, 115, and 100 and making lots of noise. We can't let them get out to a hot start, build confidence, and get their crowd amped. Don't forget about the neck-and-neck opener with preseason Sun Belt #13 Georgia Southern last year.

Search your couch cushions to scrounge up $4 for tickets and show up to your favorite place in the city loud and proud, ready to help spur some scoring runs for Nait & Co.

Tickets:

• RamblinWreck.com - https://ramblinwreck.evenue.net/cgi...=&dataAccId=314&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_gatech
• SeatGeek - https://seatgeek.com/georgia-tech-y...s/ncaa-basketball/2024-11-06-7-30-pm/17074386

 

[brandon_cox]

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

In the GTAA basketball marketing effort to promote ticket sales, I would not have referred to the 1980-81 season for any reason.

Yes, the 1980-81 team had their first sever home games at home, winning 3 and losing 4. They went 4-23 for the season, losing all the D1 games. The 4 wins were against D2 schools. I do hope that the seven game home streak is the only similarity to the 1980=81 season. The best thing about that season is that a 34 year old coach from Appalachia State named "Cakes" Cremins came to Georgia Tech.

 

[spdrama]

Welcome back Lance Terry. Lots of West Georgia connections, including Dad, who was a walk-on & sister, who played for the ladies.

 

[AUFC]

Welcome home, Jackets.

 

[SecretAgentBuzz]

Any predictions on a starting 5? I don’t know about y’all, but I am sooo curious to see who we have this year and how it will all shake out. There is potential…but how will it all come together?

 

[forensicbuzz]

I don’t think it matters who starts. I think it matters who finishes. Especially with this coach.

 

[Peacone36]

NTG, Javian, Kowacie, O’Brien, Baye

 

[Connell62]

Welcome back Lance Terry. Lots of West Georgia connections, including Dad, who was a walk-on & sister, who played for the ladies.

So many people are sleeping on Lance "Scary" Terry. Not having him last year, I think a lot of us forgot what he can bring to the table.

Not to mention that he's an old dude... He'll bring a lot of experience to the younger guys. I'm big fan of Lance. Hope he goes out with a bang!

 

[Connell62]

Initial Starters: Nait, Lance, Kowacie, Baye, DO

Main Rotational Pieces: Javian, O'Brien, Powell, Mustaf

Possibly cracking rotation / Sprinkle Mins: Sutton

Key Players / Outlook:

Baye will be our top performer, and NTG will get his points and assists, those two have to be strong all season, but opponents will target our Pick-n-Roll game. To counter this, Damon is likely to push the ball in transition and increase our half-court tempo, making Javian McCollum and Lance Terry essential to our season's success.

JM is going to be a quicker, faster Kyle Sturdivant, who is especially deadly in the open court. He and NTG will be on the court together quite a bit. His ability to push the ball will open up a lot of transition 3's for Wacie and Lance. Last year, we must have missed a 1000 open looks from Nait driving and kicking. Lance should be able to feast on those corner 3's.

I’ve been very bullish on Doryan Onwuchekwa; he’ll have some standout offensive games, but his role in strengthening our defense and our ability to secure rebounds will be critical. Our defensive improvement will be the key to whether we make it to the tournament. Finally, I also believe Duncan Powell will be a fan favorite and add crucial depth to our frontcourt.

Less than a week from opening tip!!! LFG!

 

[AUFC]

I already love Dunc just from his interview with Andy Demetra. He's the biggest personality we've had since Ush. I don't really know what to expect from him productivity wise but I think his and-1's are going to get the students and crowd involved in the game come hell or high water.

 

[orientalnc]

Initial Starters: Nait, Lance, Kowacie, Baye, DO

If you are correct, DO will get lots of minutes this year. That said, this is West Georgia. East Georgia might create a bigger burden on him. I like Lance starting. Even it's just to show respect. I expect McCollum to be in that spot soon.

Main Rotational Pieces: Javian, O'Brien, Powell, Mustaf

Absolutely. I might add Sutton to this list in a few weeks. Having 9-10 guys who can play is better than we have seen in a while.

 

[spdrama]

West Georgia’s tallest men at 6’9, are a freshman and senior with no Division 1 stats. From the October 4 press conference CDS is very high on Lance Terry, but a careful listening to his words lead me to think McCollum gets the start with Nait George and Lance garnering major minutes off the bench. Lance plays much taller than he measures and with a 5-out offense he is not going to be relegated to only the backcourt. Unless Javian has screwed up in practice or scrimmage since October 4, I think he gets the start with Nait, Kowacie Reeves, Baye Ndongo & Doryan Onwuchekwa. Terry, O’Brien first 2 in off the bench. Mustaf, Powell & Sutton get good minutes. Soaure will get minutes if game proves to be the blowout it is expected to be or multiple guys get in foul trouble, which should not happen in this game.

 

[spdrama]

Kowacie speaks as opener approaches

 

[Techster]

So many people are sleeping on Lance "Scary" Terry. Not having him last year, I think a lot of us forgot what he can bring to the table.

Not to mention that he's an old dude... He'll bring a lot of experience to the younger guys. I'm big fan of Lance. Hope he goes out with a bang!

I seem to remember Stoudamire saying Terry was one of our best players during camp last year before he had to sit out.

 

[forensicbuzz]

I seem to remember Stoudamire saying Terry was one of our best players during camp last year before he had to sit out.

I think this year's camp is much better than last year's camp, but I also think Terry's poise and leadership will be big. I can see him and McCollum on the court together a bunch, as well. Two seasoned veterans handling the ball against heavy press.

 

[Techster]

I think this year's camp is much better than last year's camp, but I also think Terry's poise and leadership will be big. I can see him and McCollum on the court together a bunch, as well. Two seasoned veterans handling the ball against heavy press.

All good problems. I'll take the headache of finding minutes for talent over not enough talent for the minutes.

 

[Jack]

Kowacie speaks as opener approaches

Kowacie has become my favorite GT player by his hustle and especially his thoughtful and articulate interviews. GT is lucky to have such a player.

 

[AUFC]

Interview notes from today (with my verbal language readings in parentheses):
CDS
- Javian played the 2nd closed scrimmage and CDS believes it's important to get him up to rhythm with the main guys.
- Too many unforced turnovers and some rebounding fundamentals issues
- Scheduled power conference secret scrimmages as opposed to D2/D3 home exhibitions because he wanted to know where the team was truly at versus shaking out the cobwebs of playing in front of a crowd...knows it's going to be important to calm players early Wednesday night
- (Very confidently) believes we are improved on defense
- Team is very healthy (with of course a knock-on-wood). We have bodies, we have depth. We have 9-10 guys and CDS doesn't mind going 10 deep.
- Says O'Brien and McCollum's senior leadership has been good (but it was a little coach speak-y) and emphasizes he wants to hear all voices and accountability.
- No hat tipping on starting lineups and doesn't really care about who starts and it's not a reflection on a player whether they start or not.
- More versatile, more length, and emphasizing more depth on this year's roster
- Luke O'Brien got a shoutout for his ability to guard 1-5
- Jaeden is hanging in there with the loss of his father and the whole team is there for both Ryan/Jaeden
- Expects a couple freshmen to emerge organically throughout the course of the season (but my read on his tone was not to expect any of them to come in and drop Baye numbers on opening night)
- Mentioned depth for a 3rd or 4th time in this interview

Luke O'Brien
- Tech staff reached out to LOB and made a positive impression because east coast schools were not reaching out to him.
- Grew up watching predominantly college basketball and ACC was a big draw for him
- Believes the coaching staff is very personal on and off the floor, likes the NBA experience from the staff
- Loves the spread, spaced out offense - played 5-out at Colorado last year and GT's offense is very similar. Team is very versatile and guys can put on many different hats.
- Impressed with Baye and Nait as Sophomores - think they are elite players when they slow down their minds, trust their process
- Excited and ready to guard anybody. Knows technique on how he needs to guard bigs but also has realistic expectations about how tough it is for him.
- Clicked really well with the guys on campus during his summer visit and part of GT's draw was to experience somewhere new after living in Denver suburbs for 22 years
- Thought Colorado had great chemistry last year and sees the same thing building at Tech now that guys are back from injuries and the team is healthy.
- Good defensive energy and versatility in the scrimmages, lots of defensive switching. Really dangerous when they play fast but echoed CDS' thoughts that they need to take care of the ball especially when operating quickly.
- Sees his role as the swiss army knife utility guy
- Introverted and trying to speak up more on the floor but most leadership is probably conveyed in 1:1 situations with teammates

Javian McCollum
- CDS reached out, he loves that CDS knows basketball and has been where Javian wants to get to
- Instantly clicked w/ Nait, complement each other and both love to push it up the court
- Loves the spacing in the offense, loves to penetrate and find gaps and kick, team has tons of shooters and likes that when teams run Tech off the 3 point line, they have the skills to finish at the rim or drop off to Baye...believes we are very well rounded.
- Very talented team, mistakes that were made were in their locus of control. Play fast, play defense with a lot of energy, lots of deflections on defense
- Excited for the game against OU when asked directly about that matchup
- Laughed at how different Atlanta is from Norman but he's adjusted now
- His play style is that he plays fast and has a motor, high effort, high energy
- CDS said we were missing a leader last year and wants Javian to be that guy
- His time in the Big 12 prepared him well to expect every game to be a battle where you can't have an off night

 

[Root4GT]

Interview notes from today (with my verbal language readings in parentheses):
CDS
- Javian played the 2nd closed scrimmage and CDS believes it's important to get him up to rhythm with the main guys.
- Too many unforced turnovers and some rebounding fundamentals issues
- Scheduled power conference secret scrimmages as opposed to D2/D3 home exhibitions because he wanted to know where the team was truly at versus shaking out the cobwebs of playing in front of a crowd...knows it's going to be important to calm players early Wednesday night
- (Very confidently) believes we are improved on defense
- Team is very healthy (with of course a knock-on-wood). We have bodies, we have depth. We have 9-10 guys and CDS doesn't mind going 10 deep.
- Says O'Brien and McCollum's senior leadership has been good (but it was a little coach speak-y) and emphasizes he wants to hear all voices and accountability.
- No hat tipping on starting lineups and doesn't really care about who starts and it's not a reflection on a player whether they start or not.
- More versatile, more length, and emphasizing more depth on this year's roster
- Luke O'Brien got a shoutout for his ability to guard 1-5
- Jaeden is hanging in there with the loss of his father and the whole team is there for both Ryan/Jaeden
- Expects a couple freshmen to emerge organically throughout the course of the season (but my read on his tone was not to expect any of them to come in and drop Baye numbers on opening night)
- Mentioned depth for a 3rd or 4th time in this interview

Luke O'Brien
- Tech staff reached out to LOB and made a positive impression because east coast schools were not reaching out to him.
- Grew up watching predominantly college basketball and ACC was a big draw for him
- Believes the coaching staff is very personal on and off the floor, likes the NBA experience from the staff
- Loves the spread, spaced out offense - played 5-out at Colorado last year and GT's offense is very similar. Team is very versatile and guys can put on many different hats.
- Impressed with Baye and Nait as Sophomores - think they are elite players when they slow down their minds, trust their process
- Excited and ready to guard anybody. Knows technique on how he needs to guard bigs but also has realistic expectations about how tough it is for him.
- Clicked really well with the guys on campus during his summer visit and part of GT's draw was to experience somewhere new after living in Denver suburbs for 22 years
- Thought Colorado had great chemistry last year and sees the same thing building at Tech now that guys are back from injuries and the team is healthy.
- Good defensive energy and versatility in the scrimmages, lots of defensive switching. Really dangerous when they play fast but echoed CDS' thoughts that they need to take care of the ball especially when operating quickly.
- Sees his role as the swiss army knife utility guy
- Introverted and trying to speak up more on the floor but most leadership is probably conveyed in 1:1 situations with teammates

Javian McCollum
- CDS reached out, he loves that CDS knows basketball and has been where Javian wants to get to
- Instantly clicked w/ Nait, complement each other and both love to push it up the court
- Loves the spacing in the offense, loves to penetrate and find gaps and kick, team has tons of shooters and likes that when teams run Tech off the 3 point line, they have the skills to finish at the rim or drop off to Baye...believes we are very well rounded.
- Very talented team, mistakes that were made were in their locus of control. Play fast, play defense with a lot of energy, lots of deflections on defense
- Excited for the game against OU when asked directly about that matchup
- Laughed at how different Atlanta is from Norman but he's adjusted now
- His play style is that he plays fast and has a motor, high effort, high energy
- CDS said we were missing a leader last year and wants Javian to be that guy
- His time in the Big 12 prepared him well to expect every game to be a battle where you can't have an off night

Good write up!