Syracuse Sinks Tech
Fast Start Goes To Waste As Jackets Fall At Home 80-63
The plot line had a familiar feel. Georgia Tech started fast, scoring 21 points in the opening 7 minutes, good for an 11 point lead. Then the opponent (Syracuse, in today’s example) made a tactical adjustment– in this case a pressing defense– that threw the Jackets off their pace and into an offensive standstill. A 17-0 late first- half run by the visitors tilted the momentum, and Tech was never again back within one possession. As time wore on, Tech’s shot selection leaned more toward the 3 point shot. And though they shot better than last week vs NC State, (2 of 21 then) they don’t shoot very well as a team and thus they fell further behind and suffer a 17 point margin loss. Not close.
As for Jim Boeheim’s boys, they rode the press to a sustained momentum. As Boeheim noted post-game, ”…it wasn’t a matter of getting steals, but of them taking some shots and us getting the rebounds and getting back down for the score.” So the press did not generate instant turnovers, but it threw the Jackets off their early pace and forced them into a more patterned half-court offensive approach, which is not their strength.
Meanwhile, Syracuse guard Joseph Girard morphed into a latter day amalgam of Steve Nash plus Karl Malone– hitting 6 of 10 from 3, and also scoring several times on isolation plays in which he backed in against Tech’s guards. Tech’s Miles Kelly said they weren’t surprised by Girard’s all-around game since they had studied film on him during the week. But Girard led all scorers with 28 points, adding 7 assists and a steal for good measure.
As for the Jackets, Deebo Coleman led with 17 points on the strength of 5 of 8 shooting from distance. Unfortunately his teammates were a combined 5 of 23 from 3 point land, which becomes even tougher when the Jackets are out-rebounded as they were on this day.
Partner seems perplexed. He repeatedly praised his team’s effort level– and that assessment rang true. He lamented- again- the stark absence of any significant rim protectors on his roster, and noted longingly that his first 5 years at Tech were different in that regard. (Ben Lammers, James Banks and Moses Wright in the post during those years)
In Saturday’s game, 6-7 Jalen Moore was effective in the middle until he got 3 quick fouls in the first half. From that point on his effectiveness was muted and as Pastner said, their margin of error was narrow.
Tech also lacks consistency at the point guard position, making those half court possessions less likely to bear fruit. Sub-par play in the post and at the point make for an uphill climb in the ACC. Nearly midway through tbe season, the Jackets do not have an established lead point guard or post player. Perhaps not coincidentally, Tech is now 1-8 on the ACC season. Partner’s crew has 12 more games to play. There is time to improve, but the trend is not reassuring.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports