Georgia Tech Basketball: Will the Yellow Jackets win a game in league play?
Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets mascot Buzz performs during a timeout against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. East Tennessee State defeated Georgia Tech 69-68. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
What questions will Georgia Tech basketball have to answer in order to notch some conference wins this season?
With his job on the line, former head coach Brian Gregory used a group of graduate transfers and veterans to lead Georgia Tech through the ACC in 2015-16. Unfortunately for Gregory, it didn’t work out successfully as the Yellow Jackets finished 12th in the standings and the coach was fired at the end of the season.
In comes former Memphis head coach Josh Pastner, who struggled to live up to expectations at Memphis following John Calipari’s departure. Pastner has had success on the recruiting trial, but it will take him some time to rebuild this GT program.
The Yellow Jackets have hit rock bottom as they lose all four of their double digit scorers and their four best rebounders. On paper, they have the worst roster in the ACC and are unlikely to win many, if any, conference games.
With Marcus Georges-Hunt, Charles Mitchell, Nic Jacobs, Adam Smith and James White gone, Pastner will have to rely on forward Quinton Stephens, point guard Josh Heath, center Ben Lammers and guard Tadric Jackson.
All four are upperclassmen, but only Stephens played more than 20 minutes a game last season. Stephens is also the leading returning scorer at just five points per night.
Tech adds two graduate transfers, Eastern Michigan’s Jodan Price and Western Michigan’s Kellen McCormick, and three freshman, three-star forward Christian Matthews, two-star point guard Justin Moore and small forward Josh Okogie.
The two graduate transfers will add experience to a group that is lacking a lot of it, but none of these new players are going to move the needle.
If your a Georgia Tech fan, patience is the key. With that in mind, here are three questions the Yellow Jackets must answer in 2016-17 in order for them to be competitive.
Feb 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Josh Pastner during the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FedExForum. Memphis Tigers defeated Cincinnati Bearcats 63-59. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
3. Can Josh Pastner instill confidence in his team?
Even though the Memphis Tigers tailed off in the AAC the last two years, Josh Pastner was still a very successful coach. He helped them reach four straight NCAA Tournaments (2011-14) and won 20 or more games in five of his seven years on the job.
Expectations were difficult to live up to in Memphis, but the Georgia Tech job may be even tougher given the state of the roster.
The best shot the Yellow Jackets have of being competitive is if Pastner is capable of instilling confidence in his group and if he stressed a day-to-day approach.
Pastner knows the Yellow Jackets aren’t going to win a lot of games this season. The fan base knows they aren’t going to win a lot of games this season. And the players likely know the same.
But honestly, 2016-17 isn’t about the wins and the losses, it’s going to be more about the development of the younger players and about how Pastner adjusts to coaching in the ACC.
Losing can wear heavily on a team, but if Pastner can keep their spirits up, I don’t doubt they steal a game or two in ACC play.
Feb 13, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Josh Heath (11) protects the ball from Clemson Tigers forward Donte Grantham (15) and Clemson Tigers guard Avry Holmes (12) in the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports
2. Can Josh Heath lead this team at point guard?
Josh Heath’s minutes have dropped in every season since his freshman campaign at USF. Heath played 20 minutes per night that year, but failed to reach that mark in 2015-16 (17.6 minutes per game).
This upcoming season, Heath is not only going to run the show, but he is likely to play almost the entire game.
While Heath isn’t much of a scorer (he never averaged more than five points per game in a single season), he can set the table successfully for the rest of his teammates. He is a ball control point guard who will have to continue to cut down his turnovers and become a more efficient and effective playmaker.
He won’t have much of a supporting cast, but Quinton Stephens, Tadric Jackson and Ben Lammers are the three returnees who will have to increase their production. If Heath can get the ball to them, he is capable of leading this team.
However, when looking at the match-ups that he will have to face at the point guard position on a nightly basis in the ACC, Heath is likely to be overmatched nine times out of 10.
Feb 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets mascot Buzz entertains the crowd against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. Notre Dame defeated Georgia Tech 71-61. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
1. Does Georgia Tech have enough overall talent?
Frankly, this year they don’t, but this is college basketball and the Yellow Jackets could pull off an upset here and there.
Also, they will eventually develop into a much improved program. I am high on Josh Pastner as the proper coach to lead this program back to the success they had in the early-to-mid 2000s. Pastner has coached some big time players at Memphis and while he hasn’t coached in the ACC, he’s faced enough high level competition to prove that he is an above average head coach.
By reeling in point guard Jose Alvarado in 2017, the Yellow Jackets have their arrow pointing up. Alvarado isn’t the most talented lead guard, but he brings a competitive fire that is unmatched and vision and speed that is impressive.
Pastner knows how to sell a program. He can now explain to recruits that they will be playing in the best conference in college basketball, will have the opportunity to bring Georgia Tech back from rock bottom and have the chance to get noticed by NBA scouts over the course of time.
As I mentioned previously, this season is going to be a rough one in Atlanta. There is very little to look forward to if your a Georgia Tech fan, but the future is promising. Alvarado is the first step in the process, player development on the 2016-17 team is next, and more recruits joining the Yellow Jackets is expected to follow.
Then Pastner will have the tools to succeed in the ACC. But let’s remember, patience is the key.
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