Georgia Tech rebounding after tough start

RALEIGH, N.C. --- Forget the Alabama game, that’s in the past. At least that’s how Georgia Tech sees it.

The Yellow Jackets were creamed at home by the Crimson Tide just more than a week ago, but that game is so far in their past, they barely even identify with it now.

“I was not happy with our performance against Alabama in terms of our dedication and commitment to playing the way we’re supposed to play,” Tech coach Brian Gregory said following Wednesday night’s game at N.C. State.

Gregory is pleased now. In the three days separating the 25-point home loss to Alabama and a home game with Duke, Gregory’s team changed its shell. No longer soft, they adopted a physical and mental ruggedness necessary when navigating the treacherous waters of the ACC, even when it’s down, like it is this season.

And the only way to get through without imploding is to raise the level of focus, intensity and execution, and that’s exactly what Georgia Tech has done in losing to Duke at home by seven points and winning at previously-hot N.C. State by 11.

It’s almost as if the alarm clock to the season sounded last week, not in early November.

“There’s a pride that goes into playing in the ACC, and everybody knows it,” said Gregory, Tech’s first-year coach. “The intensity of the games might pick up and it’s the most important thing around, it’s the most prestigious league, and guys kind of get geared up a little bit more.”

Gregory’s task has been multi-pronged. The previous regime left a lot to be desired in skills development, defense, how the players think the game and in preparation. Even basic practices have radically changed.

And as the old adage goes, you have to walk before you can run; in sports you have to practice well before you play well. Georgia Tech is living proof.

A team that lost at home to Mercer, at Fordham and the blowout versus the Crimson Tide had no business competing with Duke and beating an N.C. State team that certainly passes the NCAA Tournament eye test.

Even with improved practices, Gregory couldn’t possibly have seen this coming, not yet, anyway.

“Hell no. No,” he said. “I liked the way we played on Saturday. Our guys are starting to grasp the idea that it’s hard to play well if you don’t practice well, and it’s hard to play well and practice well if you don’t play hard or practice hard every day.”

As Mfon Udofia learns Gregory’s system on both ends of the floor, Jason Morris and Glenn Rice Jr. will more quickly mesh playing with their point guard. Expect the Jackets’ win total will rise.

They are just 8-8 overall and 1-1 in the ACC after Wednesday’s win, but there’s no reason the Jackets can’t snare more than a handful more ACC games and build toward a possible springboard season next winter.

They already have the respect of the Wolfpack.

“They made some tough shots,” N.C. State senior C.J. Williams said. “They made shots with a lot of pressure on them, they made contested shots. That’s all you can really ask for is contest their shots, take away what they want to do and make them uncomfortable. But they were able to hit shots and they were able to win the game.”

Translation: Tech controlled the game. They beat a quality team in its own building on a night both teams played hard, but only one played well.

“I’m pleased with their commitment to the things that we need to do to be successful, and that’s rebound the ball and play pretty solid defense,” Gregory said. “I thought our half-court defense was good.”

The rough early ACC slate continues as Tech heads to Maryland on Sunday before hosting nationally ranked Virginia, visiting Clemson, hosting Miami, and traveling to North Carolina and Florida State.

It’s probable the conference record won’t indicate the team’s improvement, but given how the focus has changed, expect more consistent progress.