12/31 - MBB vs. Notre Dame

[57jacket]

Georgia Tech basketball ends 2024 with ACC win over visiting Notre Dame

Tech survived an offensive barrage by the Fighting Irish in the second half to improve to 7-7 and 1-2 in ACC play.

www.ajc.com

 

[1979jacket]

Really good game by the yellow jackets today. It was great to be back in McCamish after missing a couple of games for kids’ sports. It was good to see @ramblinjacket and some other McCamish regulars.

After the game, CDS said he thought the first half today might be the best half of defense and offense that the team has played during his time here, and I agree. I’m not sure what all changed in the 2nd half when ND really got things going on offense. Thankfully though, GT didn’t fold under pressure this time when the opposition made a strong run. GT dug in, fought back, and finished stronger than ND.

If I get a chance I might rewatch the game to see if ND was doing anything different in the 2nd half. It could be that our guys just got tired from chasing ND and fighting through their screens. Regardless, great win. Hope the team can stack up a few more in a row.

They begun to get their three shooters some shots by setting screens and when Ndongo/Mutombo went out our interior defense was demolished by Davis. Fortunately we kept shooting well or we would have been in trouble. Good win!!!! I also thought at the end we were chasing and pressing their three point shooters better - particularly Mustaf

 

[g0lftime]

When Baye left with 4 fouls, we had almost a 20 point lead. Our interior defense went comatose and NB was in the paint on almost every possession. Our offense became Nait and Mccollum drippling and taking long, difficult shots while closely guarded. Powell hit a couple of open 3's from the corner but otherwise we were taking long, tough shots and they were scoring easily inside while drawing fouls. I told my son if they get it under ten and this style play continues, we will lose this game. We almost did. This team needs Baye to be competitive. Terry also started getting into the offense and he really made a difference when ND made their run. We may have tried to burn clock too early in the second half. Glad we hung on for the win. I always enjoy beating ND in any sport.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

When Baye left with 4 fouls, we had almost a 20 point lead. Our interior defense went comatose and NB was in the paint on almost every possession. Our offense became Nait and Mccollum drippling and taking long, difficult shots while closely guarded. Powell hit a couple of open 3's from the corner but otherwise we were taking long, tough shots and they were scoring easily inside while drawing fouls. I told my son if they get it under ten and this style play continues, we will lose this game. We almost did. This team needs Baye to be competitive. Terry also started getting into the offense and he really made a difference when ND made their run. We may have tried to burn clock too early in the second half. Glad we hung on for the win. I always enjoy beating ND in any sport.

Today I am a huge ND football fan for some reason.

 

[g0lftime]

Today I am a huge ND football fan for some reason.

Reluctantly I have to agree with you on this game.

 

[57jacket]

When Baye left with 4 fouls, we had almost a 20 point lead. Our interior defense went comatose and NB was in the paint on almost every possession. Our offense became Nait and Mccollum drippling and taking long, difficult shots while closely guarded. Powell hit a couple of open 3's from the corner but otherwise we were taking long, tough shots and they were scoring easily inside while drawing fouls. I told my son if they get it under ten and this style play continues, we will lose this game. We almost did. This team needs Baye to be competitive. Terry also started getting into the offense and he really made a difference when ND made their run. We may have tried to burn clock too early in the second half. Glad we hung on for the win. I always enjoy beating ND in any sport.

We desperately need another effective inside presence. Mutombo is not the answer. Do we have any other possibilities?

 

[AUFC]

We desperately need another effective inside presence. Mutombo is not the answer. Do we have any other possibilities?

Souare? Duncan? Sutton? O'Brien? Not really to be honest. Maybe DO comes back?

 

[GT33]

Well, I've not been able to watch the last several games and maybe we've gotten back to being watchable again?

 

[forensicbuzz]

Hate to say it but if these 2 events didn't get the crowd standing and making noise for the ensuing defensive possession then we are probably a fanbase beyond saving with regards to home court advantage.

Nah, it'll come. They didn't call it the Thriller Dome for no reason. It'll take consistent winning, but the heat will come back.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Long story & longer road. Texas kid. He was an ESPN 4* & committed to Musselman at Arkansas as a 16 yo. Might have become a 5*. Bad HS injury. Says he decommitted, but sounds like he was no longer welcomed with a fk’d up knee. Had family connections at NCA&T, but more injuries there. San Diego got him playing again with glimpses of what a 4* can do. CDS research got him interested. Visit sealed deal for both. And this is only his Junior year. Looks like hard work & never give up kind of kid. Cudos to him & CDS for finding him. Just giving some stuff I found when he first committed and nobody had heard of him. He’s not under anyone’s radar anymore.

He was at Sacramento State. I only remember this because my dad was a track star at Sac St.

 

[forensicbuzz]

When Baye left with 4 fouls, we had almost a 20 point lead. Our interior defense went comatose and NB was in the paint on almost every possession. Our offense became Nait and Mccollum drippling and taking long, difficult shots while closely guarded. Powell hit a couple of open 3's from the corner but otherwise we were taking long, tough shots and they were scoring easily inside while drawing fouls. I told my son if they get it under ten and this style play continues, we will lose this game. We almost did. This team needs Baye to be competitive. Terry also started getting into the offense and he really made a difference when ND made their run. We may have tried to burn clock too early in the second half. Glad we hung on for the win. I always enjoy beating ND in any sport.

Their interior offense came alive when Shrewsberry started draining 3s from the outside. He had 0 points in the first half. Streaky shooter.

 

[spdrama]

He was at Sacramento State. I only remember this because my dad was a track star at Sac St.

Yeah, good catch. Keep getting those Cal schools mixed up. Redshirted first year at NCA&T still healing from HS. Played 2nd year than really started to come to life again, but injured and missed last 5 games at Sac. The main point is Duncan was headed as a big time 4/5* recruit to a major program with unlimited ceiling and dropped from sight due to injuries. What he has been showing at Tech recently and for sure v ND is an almost elite kind of play at both ends. Staying injury free GT just might have found a gem for remainder of this year and next.

 

[Techwood Relict]

He was at Sacramento State. I only remember this because my dad was a track star at Sac St.

Yeah, but that was a looooong time ago......

 

[Techwood Relict]

Terry and McCollum both exceeded 30 minutes and each shot well. We shot 56% from the field and outrebounded the competition. Really nice game.

Health is my biggest takeaway from this one. We're not bad with our best players on the floor. I hope we come out motivated and ready to hoop next game.

 

[YlJacket]

We won this game when our defense in the first half gave us run out opportunities on offense. Best defense I have seen us play all year. Watching us go over screens and have the energy to play passing lanes aggressively was really fun to watch. ND backed down from our effort level in the first half. This statement is fun to make given where our defense was at the start of the year

Start of the second half ND upped their intensity/effort level and we backed off a bit and they almost caught up to us. They went small and with Ndongo's foul trouble we played with Sutton as the only big on the floor. So in addition to Shrewsbery making some 3's they shredded us in the paint/on the offensive boards. Credit to GT to bringing back their high level of intensity over the last 10 minutes - especially on the perimeter where we made ND's life difficult and started getting a few transition opportunities which we capitalized on.

As others have pointed out, McCollum's ability to get a basket is huge on the offensive end. Especially when the transition baskets are not there anymore as they were at the start of the second half. Had he been healthy throughout I think/hope/believe he would have more than replaced Kelley for us but alas .......

Again as others have said, I think this team is going to turn the corner and start playing legit middle of the pack ACC / possible bubble team level basketball. Problem is - is it too late? Probably so but I will enjoy watching to find out.

 

[jbix80]

Great win! It was nice to watch the past few games with Tech being in control the entire time. I am so proud of the work Souare has put it. I love his energy out there. Blocked several shots and throws it down on the other end. Guys are really coming together. Missed free throws was the only thing I was frustrated with today.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

I think I see now why this team was so perplexing. CDS lost three starters in untimely fashion at the beginning of the season and rearranging all the parts in a cohesive way took time.

If we were to get O’Brien, Reeves, and Onwuchekwa back in a timely fashion it could present an embarrassment of riches.

But, as has been pointed out, the chemistry on this team is looking really good right now.