BasketJackets: Game 13 vs Duquesne, Tue. Dec. 29, 7pm (ESPN-3)

[GTJT622]

The Dukes of Pittsburgh are off to their best start in 36 years at 10-2. This should be a good test for our guys in prep for the opening of the ACC schedule at Chapel Hell this upcoming Saturday at noon. Equally, the Dukes are looking to see how they stand before their A-10 lid lifter against conference favorite, Dayton, next weekend.

Duquesne has 2 double digit per game scorers in seniors, 5'11" Derrick Colter (18.6 ppg) and 6'2" Micah Mason (16.0 ppg). Both attempt over 7 3-pt shots per game and each are hitting around that strong 40% accuracy mark. They each also log near 34 mpg so their team will ride them. Mason is also dishing out near 5 assists per game.

Duquesne is currently #129 in the RPI but sports the RPI's #281 schedule. They defeated Penn State by 26 pts. Lost to cross-town rival, Pitt, by 21.

Tech has a chance to tie its best start at 10-3 to the season under CBG.

Game preview from Duquense: http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122615aaj.html

 

[GTJT622]

FWIW, the opening line won't be released until Monday afternoon, but my associate Guido advises me we can expect the Jackets to open at about a 9-point favorite.

 

[GTJT622]

The N&O provides a quick snapshot look for each ACC team pre-ACC and projection for ACC...

... http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article51810600.html

Can't argue too terribly much with the view of our Jackets. Hopefully, we can beat their best-case ceiling.

 

[Texwood]

This is the most winnable game remaining on our schedule so I sure hope we get this one. The next four on the slate after Duquesne are all about finding a way to win one. One and Three in the ACC would be a victory for the program.

The optimist in me says it's a good thing to put this group through the boot camp that is the opening of our conference schedule. We have an experienced group that hasn't experienced success. Losing doesn't faze anyone on this team. If there is a team that can weather the storm of an 0-4 start, learn from it, get better for it, this is it.

 

[GTJT622]

Agree, mate. Starting 0-7 in the ACC last year was very tough. We opened with a double OT loss at eventual ACC champion, Notre Dame. Followed that up with a loss by 1 at home to Cuse (where neither team got to the 50's in scoring). A 7-pt loss at Wake, a 3-pt loss at home vs the Irish, and a 5-pt loss at Pitt got us to 0-5 before the embarrassing loss at UVA where we scored 28 total pts.

I don't think we'll see a repeat of such a bad start this year. The team has more offensive firepower and should scratch a win in our first 4 (I'm optimistic). Though, I fully admit, prior to the season I had us at 9-4 heading into the ACC schedule (we will be favored to finish a game ahead of that projection) and I had/have us opening 0-4 vs the ACC.

Losses are very likely at UNC and home vs UVA, though being home against the French does give a bit of hope. Roadies to Pitt & ND will be tough of course, but we may match up much better in those games. Pitt really hasn't played anybody so far and for some odd reason, we tend to play the Irish pretty well. Since the Irish joined the ACC, they have a 3-1 record over us, but our 3 losses have been by 3 at their place two years ago and the 2 losses last year referenced above.

1-3 would be good. After that 4 game start to the conference schedule, we get 5 of our next 7 at home. Only 1 of those next 7 is a likely loss (home vs Duke).

I speak for many of course when I'd love to see these guys play a full 40 minutes without the long lulls in the game offensively as well as be able to develop some confidence of putting games away in the last 5 minutes. We've proven we can be in games with 5 minutes left. Heck, with 1 minute left. Not only did we play ACC champion, ND, tough as mentioned last year, but we were close at eventual national champion, Duke, last year with 5 minutes left at CIS.

 

[GTJT622]

Jackets open as 8 pt favorites.

GT preview: http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122815aaa.html

 

[stech81]

Jackets open as 8 pt favorites.

GT preview: http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122815aaa.html

So a little more then a touchdown.

 

[GTJT622]

So a little more then a touchdown.

4 safeties.

 

[stech81]

4 safeties.

You always liked the defense better.

 

[Buzzforlife]

I have found the year in G.T. athletics to be "offensive".
Excepting the CTO Gregory prefers, and the line coached by Sewak.

 

[GTJT622]

Early money flying in on Tech as the spread has quickly moved from opening at 8 to now at 9.5.

 

[GTJT622]

Vegas sets the Over/Under at 151. Expecting a wide open game tonight.

Jackets are averaging scoring 78.1 ppg so far on the season. Previous decade's final offensive scoring per game averages by season...

2015 = 63.3
2014 = 66.7
2013 = 64.3
2012 = 60.2
Hewitt era
2011 = 67.8
2010 = 73.1 (NCAAT team)
2009 = 71.2
2008 = 77.6
2007 = 78.6 (NCAAT team)
2006 = 71.9

As you can see - at least so far without any ACC games played yet - the scoring is up significantly for the Jackets as was projected in the offseason. We are giving up 68.8 which is the highest per game under CBG, but not nearly the gap as the offensive output. We gave up 64.6 ppg last year.

Go Jackets! We won 12 games all season last year. We can get to 10 tonight.

 

[GTJT622]

As the ACC teams finish off their respective pre-ACC schedules, a few intriguing games tonight in addition to our game FWIW...

7pm (ESPN-2) Florida State at Florida -- Gators are 4.5 pt favorites

7pm (ESPN-U) Wake Forest at LSU -- Tigers are 7 pt favorites

others...

5pm (ESPN-U) Liberty at Notre Dame -- biggest religious affiliated university travels to the most famous religious affiliated university

7pm (RSN) Northeastern at NC State -- Pack is "only" a 5.5 pt favorite

7pm (ESPN-3) Princeton at Miami -- Canes are laying 16.5

(note, Wednesday features the Hokies hosting WVU at noon on ESPN-U for any wanting to get a look-see at some of our upcoming ACC competition)

 

[BornAJacket]

Good Luck to the Jackets! expecting some nice output inside on this game.

 

[GTJT622]

Need a good 2nd half obviously. This one looks like it will go down to the wire. Could be good prep for what's on the horizon. Hopefully we get it. Even better, hopefully we can win one before it needs to go down to the wire.

Go Jackets!!

(much better crowd and more engaged/loud than anticipated which is very nice to see)

 

[Buzzforlife]

C.J. was brought up from Brunswick to celebrate his birthday today, so I am missing the game as I'm certain the Band is missing him.

I respect teams out of the Northeast with good heritages(they play in gyms fall, winter, spring with cold weather going on for 8 months), however we have to beat the Dukes tonight.

 

[GTJT622]

Chuck is forcing shots now

 

[GTJT622]

Huge shot by Adam Smith. Let's go JACKETZZZZZ!!

 

[GTJT622]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM. Another one from Adam. Woohoo!

Right now is when I'm talking about with just under 7 minutes where Tech can bump a lead out and avoid having to go down to the wire.

Come on, Tech!!!

 

[Buzzforlife]

By 7 and the ball!!

 

[GTJT622]

Heath!! 9 straight points off 3 straight 3-pointers. Nice!

 

[Buzzforlife]

Biggest lead, 8 and the ball!

 

[Texwood]

We stepped it up defensively after starting out in a malaise. Wearing them down with our depth now.

 

[Buzzforlife]

17 for Smith. By 10!

 

[Buzzforlife]

Yeah, down 9 in the first half, was a concern.

 

[GTJT622]

What a huge shot by Jacobs. He's had a fantastic game tonight. Great to see him doing well.

Not one, but several guys hitting big shots down the stretch here.

 

[GTJT622]

Damn good win. Damn good crowd tonight. Kudos to those in the Humongous Boob.

Well done, Jackets!!!!!!

 

[Buzzforlife]

10 wins before January.

Mates, do we have a shot at Carolina Powder Pansies Blue on Saturday?

 

[Texwood]

Probably better to sit back and enjoy this one for a bit before thinking about that trip to Cheater Hill.

 

[GTJT622]

UNC's Meeks will miss the game Saturday which helps some I'd think. The team just needs to survive the first half. Get it to 10 minutes left within striking range and anything is possible.

Pending what happens tomorrow night (likely a UNC blowout of Clemson), I expect the Tar Hells to be around 13 to 15 pt favorites when we arrive.

 

[GTJT622]

Fantastic night for the ACC. Noles win at Florida by 2. Wake get a very nice 6 pt win at LSU. Miami comes back to defeat Princeton at home. NC State gets by Northeastern at home behind Cat Barber's 29 pts. Northeastern is one of the favorites in the CAA, FWIW.

 

[Texwood]

The defensive effort in the 2nd half was very encouraging. I think this team has enough firepower to score points, but we haven't been very impressive defensively (with the exception of the VCU game and the final 30 of tonight's game).

The outside shooting from our point guards of late is also encouraging. Those two continue to distribute the ball without turning it over, if they can provide enough of an outside threat to keep the defensive rotations honest, that makes us much better.

The next four are going to be tough, but I've seen enough flashes of goodness from this group to stoke the embers of (guarded) optimism.

 

[GTJT622]

The key to beating the Tar Holes on the road is to score more points than them.

(note, I recently attended an stech81 coaching conference and learned this strategy...this is his new gig now that he is in retirement...another nugget I learned from him at the conference is that whenever he is coaching teams who are in a bit of a slump, the best advice to give them is and I quote..."play better"...definitely worth the $622 conference fee I paid)

 

[GTJT622]

The Hokies won 10 regular season games last year. So, Adam Smith has matched that before NYD this season as a Jacket. Of course, the Hokies did win 1 game at the ACCT too.

Hopefully, guys like MGH won't have to wait too long into January to get to 12 regular season wins to match last year's total.

We've kicked around how tough these next 4 are going to be to open the ACC schedule. The month of January features 8 games - 5 on the road. If we could win 3 of those 8 games somehow, I believe that would be a really good sign heading into February where we are at home for the first 3 and 5 of first 7.

 

[ESPNjacket]

Damn good win. Damn good crowd tonight. Kudos to those in the Humongous Boob.

Well done, Jackets!!!!!!

It was about half full, which was a pleasant surprise. Thank you on behalf of my 3,500 friends tonight.
This team deserves our support. They play hard.

 

[BornAJacket]

Lammers had a great game. He's playing good defense. He is averaging about 14 minutes, he needs to get more minutes, mainly because he needs the experience going into next season.

I think Smith already has more 3P than anyone all last season.

Georges Hunt continues to look good, I think the relief of the scoring pressure that he constantly had last season is letting him play a little more loose.

Duquesne has a very good transition offense. If you miss a shot watch out, they are going to push it. Their guards are probably the best the team has faced so far and are definitely ACC quality players. They were a good taste of what is to come.

 

[GTJT622]

The RPI is devalued in its importance and highly overhyped in how people think the selection committee uses it (read: they've said for many years that the committee doesn't even look at it for the most part). Having said that, it is an interesting gauge for us fans to kick around.

Tech moved up 32 spots to #79 with the win last night (9th best in the ACC). SOS moved up from the 200's to 139 as well. Our SOS is of course getting ready to soar right up those charts.

Upcoming January games for Tech (with current RPI in parenthesis):

at UNC (10)
at Pitt (25)
France (8)
at Notre Dame (63)
Va Tech (162)
Louisville (26)
at NC State (89)
at Syracuse (76)

Hopefully, the guys can somehow find 3 wins out of that January slate. 4 wins and we are onto serious discussion about dancing heading into February.

Side note, Ga State (who has a big road game tonight as 4-pt dogs at Texas Arlington) is 46th and the Cesspool is 47th.

 

[BornAJacket]

More on Lammers from Ken at the AJC.

http://georgiatech.blog.ajc.com/2015/12/30/what-kind-of-lift-can-ben-lammers-give-jackets/

 

[BornAJacket]

Tech's RPI is better than 2 of the next 8 games, basically tied with Syracuse and within grasp of Notre Dame. It'll be a tough start to the ACC schedule, as expected.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Too bad Lammers couldn't have been redshirted last year.

Is Corey Heyward eligible to graduate this coming spring? Opening up yet another spot.
Since the Grad. Student Transfer Rule has not changed(to my knowledge), possibly we take one or two of them?