The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets entered Tuesday nights game against the No. 16 ranked Virginia Tech with a must-win scenario to remain in the conversation for the NCAA tournament.
GT head coach Josh Pastner had an interesting comment when it came to the ACC and Jackets’ place in the tournament.
Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner: "Really 11 teams from the ACC tournament should be in the NCAA tournament every year. This is the best league in the country."
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) February 22, 2021
Hokie Rust
Georgia Tech was coming off of a trouncing against Miami in which they pulled out the victory 87-60. And just a short three days later they continued their mini road trip to face the Hokies, who hadn’t laced up since Feb. 6, and it showed.
The Hokies couldn’t get it going offensively all night and couldn’t take care of the basketball turning it over 16 times. Even with their horrendous turnover margin, the two teams were tied up at 24 to end the first half.
However, that wouldn’t be the case for long, as the Yellow Jackets came out stinging in the second half, running away with the game thanks to a 12-0 run at one point. Although the Hokies made it interesting later on, it was obvious that being off for an extensive amount of time. And the absence of Hokies 4th leading scorer Jalen Cone, who was listed earlier on Tuesday as a go, but was later changed and out indefinitely, obviously hurt the Hokies’ chance of a comeback. As a result, the Jackets cruised to a 69-53 win.
After initially planning on having Jalen Cone (ankle) available for tonight's game against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech's Mike Young tells me now that Cone will not play tonight and is out indefinitely. https://t.co/hpUtajJI4L
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 23, 2021
Wright dominates
Moses Wright led the way for Georgia Tech grabbing a double-double dropping 26 points, with 17 of them coming in the second half and 10 rebounds on the night. Senior guard Jose Alvarado had 13 points and three assists in 39 minutes, while junior guard Michael Devoe finished with 12 points and four assists in 36 minutes.
After the game, Pastner continued the claim that the ACC should have several teams in the tournament.
Pastner said that the ACC should have 9 minimum bids for the NCAAT every year. He said it is the only league with multiple HOF coaches active and future.
— Kelly Quinlan (@Kelly_Quinlan) February 24, 2021
And truthfully, he isn’t wrong. With their win, Georgia Tech is sitting right on the bubble. If they finish the season out strong winning two of their next three games (Syracuse, Duke, at Wake Forest), then they will be in the tournament. No questions asked.
Yellow Jackets fan reactions:
I think it was huge. Definitely helps towards our tournament chances. https://t.co/fxOUoei2mb
— Patience Veitch (@PatienceVeitch) February 24, 2021
not totally shocked. we deserve a ncaa bid.
— Brian Gantt (@briangantt1) February 24, 2021
😤🔥😎🐝✊
— Philip Manavi (@PhilipManavi) February 24, 2021
— Mose Schrute’s burner (@TVill24) February 24, 2021
The true Tech won.
— An Uninteresting Bystander (@jacket951) February 24, 2021
— Chaz (@BizJacket) February 24, 2021
— Salty Life (@southernsheri) February 24, 2021
