2018-2019 GT hoops schedule

lauraee

Helluva Engineer
Messages
2,464
Nice write up on tech from howtheyplay.com

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2017-2018: 13-19, 6-12 (13th) in the ACC

Preseason Projection: 14th in the ACC

Departures: Josh Okogie (18.2 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 1.8 spg., 38.0% 3pt.) entered the NBA Draft; Ben Lammers (11.7 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 2.4 bpg.) and Tadric Jackson (12.7 ppg., 3.7 rpg.) graduated

After a promising first year under Josh Pastnor, Georgia Tech suffered a setback last season, and the team is likely to do so once more this year after being hit hard by graduation and the early departure of Josh Okogie for the NBA.

Even with the losses, Georgia Tech has talent, particularly on the perimeter. Point guard Jose Alvarado was among the bright spots for the Yellow Jackets prior to an elbow injury that ended his season prematurely. As a sophomore, he will suddenly find himself as the only established major contributor on the squad. Alvarado (12.1 ppg., 3.1 apg., 1.7 spg., 37.0% 3pt.) is a tough and aggressive 6-0 player in the mold of Virginia Tech’s Justin Robinson, and he will provide a strong foundation for a suddenly very young Georgia Tech team. He will likely be joined in the backcourt by 6-4 freshman Michael Devoe, a lean and athletic top 50 recruit that is a pass first point guard with a solid shooting stroke that could allow Alvarado to play off the ball at times. Without a go to scorer in Okogie, the extra ball movement will be very necessary for the team to find open shots. 6-3 junior Shembari Phillips, who provided limited production in extended minutes at Tennessee before transferring (6.2 ppg. In 20.9 mpg. 2 years ago), will at least provide an experienced hand in the backcourt. Curtis Haywood II, a 6-5 four star recruit a year ago, was playing extremely well (he put up 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 52.4% behind the arc during a five game stretch) prior to the lower leg injury that eventually ended his season after just 15 games and will likely return to small forward where he was the starter early in the year. Brandon Alston still has one more year of eligibility after transferring from Lehigh; he provides another capable spot up shooter at 6-5.

As important as the loss of Okogie was to the Yellow Jackets, Ben Lammers’ graduation likely leaves the biggest void. When Georgia Tech has won over the past two years, it has won with defense, and the rim protection and rebounding Lammers provided was the key to that success (the Yellow Jackets were a respectable 108th in overall fg% defense and an imposing 11th in blocks last season). He also played big minutes (36 mpg.), and the Yellow Jackets don’t really have a way to replace those contributions. 6-9 senior Abdoulaye Gueye (5.9 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 1.1 bpg.) will take many of the minutes at center, but his game is still a work in progress. He took a large step forward last season and does provide some rim protection, but at just 215 pounds he isn’t able to rebound or hold his position like Lammers. 6-8 Evan Cole took over at power forward late in the season and will return there as a sophomore; he improved as the season progressed and put up 6.3 ppg., 5.3 rpg., and shot 38.5% from behind the arc over the team’s last 8 games. 6-9 Moses Wright has the highest ceiling of the frontcourt candidates; he was the subject of a significant late growth spurt and didn’t have a chance to fill out before his freshman year. He was forced into action anyway due to the team’s lack of depth, and the results were understandably disappointing. Wright developed the skills of a guard prior to he rapid increase in height, and after having time to add weight could become a solid contributor as a skilled and athletic stretch 4. A pair of lean 4 star recruits will have a chance to contribute at forward; 6-9 Kristian Sjolund could play because of his length and ability to shoot the 3, while 6-7 Khalid Moore is a more fluid athlete that would be more likely to help on the boards. Either player could also redshirt to add strength.

While Georgia Tech lost three major contributors and suddenly finds itself very young, player development has been excellent under head coach Josh Pastnor, and the team has been able to remain competitive even when a rash of injuries decimated the roster. While the defense will take a step back without Lammers and rebounding will become a major challenge (they were just 193rd in the country with him), this team may actually improve at the offensive end with improved point guard play and a solid collection of perimeter shooters (Georgia Tech struggled mightily with offensive efficiency last year due in part to all of the injuries, finishing 283rd in overall fg%, 325th in 3pt.%, and 223rd in assist to turnover ratio). While the Yellow Jackets are likely a year away from being good again, they should still represent the conference well in non-conference play and remain competitive in the ACC.
 
Ramblingon

Ramblingon

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
565
We have a lot of the parts of a good team, but it won't happen this season. Still, most of this team will return next season so this is a building year. Will be fun to watch them develop with a lot of hiccups along the way.
 
orientalnc

orientalnc

Helluva Engineer
Retired Staff
Messages
9,901
Location
Oriental, NC
This is going to be brutal in the ACC. Plus we play Tenn, Arkansas, and NW on the road. St John's will be in Miami, so of those five, only uga is at home.
 
Top