Know Your Opponent: Georgia Tech

By Bobby Hundley

Georgia Tech (RamblinWreck.com)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Rankings: No. 78 KenPom, NR AP
NET/SOS: No. 91 NET, No. 102 SOS
Record: 11-9, 3-4 ACC
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads 68-25 (UNC 80, GT 66, Jan. 20, 2018, Smith Center)

Like most teams at this point in the season, Georgia Tech has seen its recent fate decided by what personnel was able for each game. With seniors Brandon Alston and Abdoulaye Gueye out against Clemson and do-it-all point guard Jose Alvarado joining them against Louisville, the Yellow Jackets were brushed aside rather easily. But with Alvarado and Gueye back healthy last week, Tech beat Notre Dame at home and threatened Duke in Cameron four days later.

And while the status of Alston - GT's best outside shooter - is still up in the air for Tuesday, Josh Pastner's squad should be close to full strength for Carolina's visit. It will not be lost on anyone in either locker room that UNC's last trip to McCamish Pavilion resulted in a stunning 75-63 Georgia Tech win to kick off ACC play two seasons ago.

Alvarado has taken over as Tech's leading scorer with the departure of Josh Okogie to the NBA. The 6-0 Brooklyn native is a volume shooter who has been at his best in league play, where he is making nearly 40 percent of his 3s. Alvarado is joined as a double-digit scorer by Texas transfer James Banks. Banks, who is also the Jackets' leading rebounder, has helped to fill the rim-protector role vacated by the graduation of former ACC Defensive Player of the Year Ben Lammers.

Sophomore Curtis Haywood and freshman Michael Devoe have joined Alvarado in the starting backcourt with Alston out, but a whopping 10 GT players have started at least three games this season.

Overall, Pastner's Tech teams have been defined by their defense, and the 2019 Yellow Jackets are no exception. They rank 13th nationally in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency ratings and are especially adept at guarding the 3-point line. Opponents are making just 26.5 percent of their shots from deep, good for fourth-best (or worst, depending on your perspective) in the country.

Offensively, Georgia Tech is burdened by a mix of high turnover rate and poor rebounding. Among major conference teams, no one is getting fewer shots up in league play than the Jackets. And the shots they are getting aren't going in, as GT ranks 307th nationally in 3-point percentage.

After a 21-win campaign in Pastner's first season at the helm, Georgia Tech took a step back in 2018 with a 13-19 record that featured a 1-11 stretch in the heart of ACC play. The Yellow Jackets will need to hold serve at home over the coming weeks to avoid a similar fate this season.

Related Videos