The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jackets looking to halt big slide
Tech gets two shots to grab win before ACC tournament.
Tech’s Sprinkled seven-game into Georgia losing streak are reasons to believe that the Yellow Jackets can stop the slide before the regular season ends Saturday.
Aside from his two games playing at point guard, Josh Okogie has been on a tear, and might have recorded the first triple-double of his career Saturday against Clem- son if not for foul trouble. Tech’s offensive efficiency (per KenPom.com), was the third highest allowed by the Tigers. The Jackets turned the ball over six times against Virginia, the fewest that a Cavaliers opponent has committed this season.
Recently elevated into the starting lineup, freshman forwards Evan Cole and Moses Wright have found ways to contribute after largely sitting on the bench for most of the ACC season. Center Ben Lammers’ ankle is healthier and he has played more assertively the past two games.
“We’ve gotten better,” coach Josh Pastner said. “Unfortunately, the wins haven’t validated us getting better in some areas, but we have gotten better.”
Tech will try to keep the streak from reaching eight tonight against N.C. State at McCamish Pavilion. It won’t be an easy task. The Wolfpack do a lot of things that can attack Tech’s weaknesses. N.C. State can hit from 3-point range (50.4 per--
cent in their past five games), and the Jackets have had consistent difficulty defending that shot (opponents have made 48 percent of their 3-point tries in the seven-game losing streak).
The Wolfpack play at a fast pace and lead the ACC in forcing turnovers (13.8 per game) in league games. The Jackets prefer a slower tempo and have lost the ball on 19 percent of their possessions (KenPom) in conference games, third from last in the league.
Tech has had difficulty stopping penetration. N.C. State guard Markell Johnson leads the ACC in assists at 8.7 per game.
“(Allerik) Freeman and (Torin) Dorn can really put in on the floor and get by you,” Pastner said. “They’re just a really, really good basketball team and we’re going to have to play really, really well.”
That said, it will be N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts’ first look at Tech’s unorthodox schemes. The Wolfpack do not defend well inside the arc, where Tech is stronger. It would be an upset for Tech to beat N.C. State, but not a monumental one.
The ACC tournament begins Tuesday in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Jackets will be the No. 13 or No. 14 seed depending on the result of Saturday’s game against Wake Forest.