ATLANTA- Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Damon Stoudamire and forward Baye Ndongo spoke to the media on Monday on the eve of Georgia Tech’s NIT opener against Jacksonville State Tuesday night at McCamish Pavilion.
Stoudamire had his team practice on Sunday and had them prepared in case the Jackets received a postseason bid to the NIT or another postseason tournament.
“Ever since we lost in the ACC Tournament I’ve just been trying to keep guys together and keep the focus. It is spring break here and there are a lot of different things going on so that is pretty much what I’ve been trying to do,” he said.
The Gamecocks come to Atlanta after a second place finish in Conference USA with a 22-12 record under ninth year coach Ray Harper. Jacksonville State lost to Liberty in the Conference USA Championship game Saturday.
“Jacksonville State is a team that plays really hard and they have a guy who can really score the ball so we know things about them, but obviously at the end of the day it is going to be about our energy and our effort,” Stoudamire said.
The Gamecocks leading scorer guard Jaron Pierre Jr. is averaging 21.5 points per game and attempting 7.5 threes per game hitting 38.2 percent.
Stoudamire said that going to the NIT is big for the program and big to help keep guys engaged over hopefully the next few weeks with extra games and practices and it is the next step in what he is building here and this is a big jump for them. They won 17 games and 10 conference games and had some big wins so they’ve taken some steps, but haven’t had a postseason before so that is the next thing and the goal is winning ACC Championships and playing in the NCAA Tournament but you got to crawl before you can walk.
Stoudamire said that Ibrahim Souare will be good to go tomorrow but he didn’t have updates on anyone else. Javian McCollum has been close to coming back.
Stoudamire said that the GT fans have given them good energy and it makes a difference, he said that helped Duke a lot in Charlotte because that was like a home game for them and GT’s fans give them energy and he expects it will be no different tomorrow.
I asked about the tournament lay out setting up nicely for a team with a small bench as they’ll play Tuesday and then not play again until Saturday or Sunday, he said that it is perfect for this team and on par with the ACC schedule model, so they can rest and still have time to prepare and practice enough. They can’t do a ton this time of year anyway.
Stoudamire said the recent success has been a result of the team playing more connected over the last two months.
I asked if everyone was still on board for the NIT and he laughed and said he hopes so. He hasn’t heard of anyone going in the portal yet, but he says what usually happens is someone just leaves.
Stoudamire said on his approach to adding players, he is a players coach and guys know that now and he lets the play but coaches them hard at the same time.
I asked about Darrion Sutton’s improvement and he said that people see the made shots against Duke, but it was more about him playing confident and being in the right position.
Stoudamire said he has called some team meetings and is just trying to keep everyone around and engaged right now and the players have done a good job of being locked in.
Ndongo said that he feels like they are playing really well and this is a great opportunity to keep playing for the seniors especially with so many of them getting hurt this year.
Ndongo said he is going to break his fast for the NIT and will pay for it later on. He said his energy was suffering too much.
Ndongo said that Coach Stoudamire told the team they had a shot at the postseason after they lost in Charlotte and to be ready and they practiced on Sunday after finding out they were going to the NIT.
Stoudamire had his team practice on Sunday and had them prepared in case the Jackets received a postseason bid to the NIT or another postseason tournament.
“Ever since we lost in the ACC Tournament I’ve just been trying to keep guys together and keep the focus. It is spring break here and there are a lot of different things going on so that is pretty much what I’ve been trying to do,” he said.
The Gamecocks come to Atlanta after a second place finish in Conference USA with a 22-12 record under ninth year coach Ray Harper. Jacksonville State lost to Liberty in the Conference USA Championship game Saturday.
“Jacksonville State is a team that plays really hard and they have a guy who can really score the ball so we know things about them, but obviously at the end of the day it is going to be about our energy and our effort,” Stoudamire said.
The Gamecocks leading scorer guard Jaron Pierre Jr. is averaging 21.5 points per game and attempting 7.5 threes per game hitting 38.2 percent.
Stoudamire said that going to the NIT is big for the program and big to help keep guys engaged over hopefully the next few weeks with extra games and practices and it is the next step in what he is building here and this is a big jump for them. They won 17 games and 10 conference games and had some big wins so they’ve taken some steps, but haven’t had a postseason before so that is the next thing and the goal is winning ACC Championships and playing in the NCAA Tournament but you got to crawl before you can walk.
Stoudamire said that Ibrahim Souare will be good to go tomorrow but he didn’t have updates on anyone else. Javian McCollum has been close to coming back.
Stoudamire said that the GT fans have given them good energy and it makes a difference, he said that helped Duke a lot in Charlotte because that was like a home game for them and GT’s fans give them energy and he expects it will be no different tomorrow.
I asked about the tournament lay out setting up nicely for a team with a small bench as they’ll play Tuesday and then not play again until Saturday or Sunday, he said that it is perfect for this team and on par with the ACC schedule model, so they can rest and still have time to prepare and practice enough. They can’t do a ton this time of year anyway.
Stoudamire said the recent success has been a result of the team playing more connected over the last two months.
I asked if everyone was still on board for the NIT and he laughed and said he hopes so. He hasn’t heard of anyone going in the portal yet, but he says what usually happens is someone just leaves.
Stoudamire said on his approach to adding players, he is a players coach and guys know that now and he lets the play but coaches them hard at the same time.
I asked about Darrion Sutton’s improvement and he said that people see the made shots against Duke, but it was more about him playing confident and being in the right position.
Stoudamire said he has called some team meetings and is just trying to keep everyone around and engaged right now and the players have done a good job of being locked in.
Ndongo said that he feels like they are playing really well and this is a great opportunity to keep playing for the seniors especially with so many of them getting hurt this year.
Ndongo said he is going to break his fast for the NIT and will pay for it later on. He said his energy was suffering too much.
Ndongo said that Coach Stoudamire told the team they had a shot at the postseason after they lost in Charlotte and to be ready and they practiced on Sunday after finding out they were going to the NIT.
